** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** WATER IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF BOTH AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS. SEVERAL FACTORS INFLUENCE WATER AVAILABILITY, INCLUDING 1) ENVIRONMENTAL, LIKE RAINFALL OR GROUNDWATER AVAILABILITY; 2) LEGAL, LIKE THE PRIOR APPROPRIATION DOCTRINE, WHICH DETERMINES WHO CAN USE WATER AND HOW MUCH; AND 3) POLITICAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES THAT INFLUENCE WHO CAN USE WATER, HOW THEY USE IT, AND WHAT THEY CAN USE IT FOR. THESE POLITICAL, CULTURAL, AND SOCIAL BELIEFS AND PRACTICES ARE KNOWN AS HYDROSOCIAL IMAGINARIES, AND THIS RESEARCH STUDIES HOW HYDROSOCIAL IMAGINARIES AFFECT WATER CONFLICT, GOVERNANCE, AND COLLABORATION. ALTHOUGH MANY PREVIOUS RESEARCH PROJECTS HAVE FOCUSED ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL WATER USAGE, THIS PROJECT ASKS HOW TRIBAL CITIZENS, IRRIGATORS, CONSERVATIONISTS, AND OTHERS CAN NAVIGATE CONFLICT TO COLLABORATE IN WAYS THAT RESPOND TO DROUGHT, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND WATER SCARCITY.THIS PROJECT WILL GENERATE FRESH INSIGHTS AND NEW KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR FISH, WILDLIFE, AND RURAL COMMUNITIES BY TESTING THEORIES OF COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE IN THREE WAYS: 1) BY REVIEWING A PREVIOUS COLLABORATIVE WATER SHARING AGREEMENT, THE UPPER KLAMATH BASIN COMPREHENSIVE AGREEMENT, TO UNDERSTAND WHERE IT SUCCEEDED AND WHERE IT DIDN'T; 2) BY STUDYING A CONTESTED HYDROPOWER ENERGY STORAGE PROJECT IN KLAMATH COUNTY USING NEWS STORIES, PRESS RELEASES, AND OTHER MEDIA, AND BY INTERVIEWING STAKEHOLDERS, LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS; AND 3) BY INVITING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS, OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN A CREATIVE COLLABORATIVE MAPPING PROJECT THAT USES QUILTING TO LOCATE AND ILLUSTRATE HYDROSOCIAL IMAGINARIES. USING MULTIPLE RESEARCH METHODS CAN HELP DEVELOP A MORE COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY WATER GOVERNANCE AND COLLABORATION PRACTICES, AND THESE FINDINGS CAN BE USED TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS FOR FUTURE WATER GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT. AS WATER SCARCITY AND UNCERTAINTY INCREASE, IT IS CRUCIALLY IMPORTANT FOR COMMUNITIES TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO ADDRESS WATER MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES AND INCREASE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE AND WATER SUSTAINABILITY, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.