Risk Analysis, Vol. 00, No. 0, 2017 DOI: 10.1111/risa.12950 Using the CAUSE Model to Understand Public Communication about Water Risks: Perspectives from Texas Groundwater District Officials on Drought and Availability Matthew S. VanDyke 1,* and Andy J. King 2 Public communication about drought and water availability risks poses challenges to a poten- tially disinterested public. Water management professionals, though, have a responsibility to work with the public to engage in communication about water and environmental risks. Be- cause limited research in water management examines organizational communication prac- tices and perceptions, insights into research and practice can be gained through investigation of current applications of these risk communication efforts. Guided by the CAUSE model, which explains common goals in communicating risk information to the public (e.g., creat- ing Confidence, generating Awareness, enhancing Understanding, gaining Satisfaction, and motivating Enactment), semistructured interviews of professionals (N = 25) employed by Texas groundwater conservation districts were conducted. The interviews examined how CAUSE model considerations factor in to communication about drought and water avail- ability risks. These data suggest that many work to build constituents’ confidence in their districts. Although audiences and constituents living in drought-prone areas were reported as being engaged with water availability risks and solutions, many district officials noted con- stituents’ lack of perceived risk and engagement. Some managers also indicated that public understanding was a secondary concern of their primary responsibilities and that the pub- lic often seemed apathetic about technical details related to water conservation risks. Over- all, results suggest complicated dynamics between officials and the public regarding infor- mation access and motivation. The article also outlines extensions of the CAUSE model and implications for improving public communication about drought and water availability risks. KEY WORDS: CAUSE model; environmental communication; qualitative methods; risk communica- tion; water conservation 1. INTRODUCTION Water resource management requires the communication of complicated information and 1 Department of Communication, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA. 2 College of Media and Communication, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA. ∗ Address for correspondence to Matthew S. VanDyke, Depart- ment of Communication, Appalachian State University, ASU Box 32039, Boone, NC 28608-2039, USA; tel: +1-828-262-7760; vandykems@appstate.edu. imminent risks, such as climate change, population growth, and displacement of freshwater resources. Freshwater supply will meet current estimates of present and future need, but challenges may arise re- lated to geographic accessibility and displacement of water resources over time. (1) For example, changes in climate are expected to propel competition for water resources among municipalities, energy producers, and agriculture. (2) Additionally, the increasing frequency and intensity of precipitation events (i.e., heavy rain downpours) may result in geographic 1 0272-4332/17/0100-0001$22.00/1 C  2017 Society for Risk Analysis