Watershed-scale sustainable groundwater management using an agent-based modeling approach to policy interventions and stakeholder dynamics

This study investigates sustainable water management strategies within a groundwater-dominant irrigated watershed, focusing on the critical issue of groundwater depletion due to unsustainable extraction practices. Through agent-based modeling, the research evaluates the interactions among key stakeholders, including farmers, government agencies, and water consumers, to support improved water resource management. The modeling framework combines hydrological and behavioral approaches using SWAT for surface runoff and agricultural water demand, and MODFLOW for groundwater analysis to simulate individual and collective responses to resource scarcity and policy interventions. Five management scenarios are assessed, demonstrating that strategic interventions can substantially reduce groundwater withdrawals, increase aquifer levels, and positively impact farmers' economic outcomes. The findings from a thirteen-year simulation period provide a comprehensive decision-support framework aimed at guiding policymakers and stakeholders in fostering sustainable groundwater management through informed and effective policy implementation.