A team from the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service has launched a new game to teach players about the effects of water use decisions. “Cozy River Valley” focuses on balancing water consumption, community, environment and financial well-being.
The media production team from NMSU’s Innovation Media Research and Extension and Learning Games Lab in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences developed the game, which is a data-informed simulation of changing climate conditions predicted during the next 60 years. Even though the crops are fictional, they are based on real crops with real data.
“Game design allows users to witness both the short- and long-term effects of their choices on the aquifer and asks that they make decisions in response to challenges faced daily by farmers, including extreme weather, market fluctuations, land use changes and even lawsuits,” said Amy Smith Muise, Innovative Media Research and Extension editor. “Players see how individual and community actions during dry years affect water availability, showcasing the value of talking with neighbors and seeking help from the local Cooperative Extension Service.”
This work was supported the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture and in collaboration with the University of California, Merced and the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute.
“I really love this game. It challenges players to grapple with water management tradeoffs in a new and interesting way,” said Sam Fernald, NM WRRI director and watershed management professor. “Groundwater impacts of different player choices are added to the bigger picture of changing surface water availability, keeping productive agriculture, and balancing environmental and community values. It is not easy, but by paying attention to the whole picture, it is possible to meet all the different water needs and win the game.”
Set in the fictitious Cozy River Valley, players are tasked with managing agricultural production on their farms while also meeting the water needs of the community and the environment. Players must make surface water and groundwater use decisions, work with neighbors to maintain and replenish the aquifer, and provide water to wetlands and downstream users.
To learn more or play the game, visit https://cozyrivervalley.nmsu.edu.