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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #325963
Title: Climate change, agriculture and water resources in the Southwestern United States

Author
item Elias, Emile
item Rango, Albert
item SMITH, RYANN - New Mexico State University
item Maxwell, Connie
item STEELE, CAITI - New Mexico State University
item Havstad, Kris

Submitted to: Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/21/2016
Publication Date: 8/1/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5695463
Citation: Elias, E.H., Rango, A., Smith, R., Maxwell, C.J., Steele, C., Havstad, K.M. 2016. Climate change, agriculture and water resources in the Southwestern United States. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education. 158:46-61.

Interpretive Summary: Since 2014, the SW hub has established programs to help farmers, ranchers and foresters adapt to a changing climate. These programs include an online tools database, webpage and JournalMap collection. They also include a host of workshops in cooperation with Cooperative Extension service and an educational module on climate change and hydrology. One of the most detrimental impacts of climate change in the Southwest is increased temperatures and changes in available water. We evaluate past agricultural water use and expected changes in available water.

Technical Abstract: In February 2014 the USDA established regional climate hubs across the United States to assist farmers, ranchers and foresters in adapting to the effects of climate change. The Southwest (SW) region encompasses six states which provide highly diverse agricultural crops including cotton, stone fruit and grapes. Here we report on the establishment of programs to assist SW working landowners with the impacts of climate change, with focus on the water resources of the region. Water is a critical component of agricultural vulnerability in the SW, where high agricultural production can occur with sufficient irrigation. Since 1978, crop yield declines were reported on 11-21% of total irrigated acres, mostly due to surface water shortage. Southwestern agriculture relies heavily on groundwater, using it to supply more than one-third of the agricultural water demand since 1955. Regional groundwater use varies over time, with a decline in the agricultural groundwater fraction in Arizona, but an increase in the fraction in Nevada and Utah. Observed and predicted changes in the southwestern hydrologic cycle can impact regional agriculture. Observed records show an increase in the fraction of precipitation falling as rain, which is expected to continue with future warming. Warming causes the snowmelt to peak earlier in the season and can reduce water available to crops during the summer months without additional water storage. Observed records indicate streamflow has shifted earlier in the year, most notably in snow dominated watersheds a continuation of this trend may challenge regional agriculture by further limiting water supply.