Unrestricted.2016-11-142011-02-182016-11-141998-12http://hdl.handle.net/2346/14759This research considers a natural resource that may be a limiting factor to municipal growth and the municipal growth machine members attitudes toward that resource. Though several studies of the growth machine are available, little attention has been paid to attitudes toward natural resources that might eventually cause a slowing or cessation of the growth that is important to its financial well being. The research was conducted through the use of mail surveys administered to two categories of respondents: (1) growth machine members (growth coalition), and (2) water experts. Research questions addressed include (1) whether the growth coalition opinion on growth and size differs from water experts, (2) whether the growth coalition agrees with water experts on the status of the water supply, and (3) whether the growth coalition agrees with water experts on types of solutions to water shortages best suited for their situation. In addition, the research considers whether the severity of the of shortage impacts the opinions of the growth coalition relative to water experts by comparing the opinions of the two respondent categories in two cities with projected water shortages, Albuquerque and El Paso with those held by the respondent categories in two cities with adequate water supplies, Amarillo and Lubbock.application/pdfengMunicipal water supplyMunicipal financeWater-supplyWater resources developmentDissertation