With the West’s water situation getting worse, people versus agriculture stands out.
Although the precipitation that soaked the western United States was much needed and welcomed, it only offered a brief reprieve from the drought that has plagued the region for the past 20 years. The water resources in the area—the Colorado River Basin in particular—are diminishing and will soon force difficult choices to be made. The conflict between community and agricultural water needs will be highlighted during discussions.
All parties concerned will inevitably be unhappy with the decisions made. The choices chosen in the upcoming years will initiate a chain of events that will drastically alter the region’s agricultural output and water use.
Much of California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah are still experiencing moderate-to-extreme drought, according to the US Drought Monitor, which was updated on January 31. The recent snowfall and rainfall, according to the authors of the drought report, have put most of the region in a “holding pattern” rather than improving circumstances. Although reservoirs are filling up, only a very tiny quantity of rainwater is penetrating the ground and replenishing the region’s vital but dwindling aquifers.
Producers across the West are already feeling the effects of the prolonged drought, as seen by a survey conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation, which found that 74% of growers in the region saw a decrease in harvest yields as common or greater as a result of the drought. Regarding animal husbandry, two-thirds of those surveyed said they soldoff portions of their herd or flock, with average herd sizes expected to be down 36%.
In terms of immediate and major effects, the Colorado River Basin—which includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming—is the most affected. The Basin provides municipal water to between 35 million and 40 million people in the region. At the same time, agriculture uses 70% of the river’s water for output.
The US Bureau of Reclamation intervened to mediate a water-use reduction plan for the entire region because the situation had gotten so bad that priority access to the water was being determined by a convoluted system of water rights that dates back a century.
It is projected by the US Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation that by roughly 2040, the Colorado River Basin’s water demand would surpass its supply. Significant adjustments in water usage and conservation must be done in the 17 years that have passed.
The region’s agricultural output will be negatively damaged. Recognising this, farmers in the area are looking for innovative approaches to preserve water and cultivate drought-tolerant crops.
You may also like:
Food security in emerging nations: issues and remedies
Are drinks the secret to increasing cannabis use among consumers?
Managing the lack of labour for mushroom picking
In an effort to save water, environmental organisations like Food and Water Watch have already called for measures to halt the planting of new lucerne and almond plantations. It should be anticipated that as long as the drought lasts, further suggestions to outlaw the production of particular crops or restrict the use of particular agricultural techniques would be made.
In the western part of the United States, water is now somewhat scarce. It won’t be sufficient to only adopt conservation measures and switch to livestock and crops that can withstand drought. The agricultural landscape in the area will shift as a result of the impending changes, as will the worldwide supply chain for particular commodities.