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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #407217
Research Project: Impacts of Variable Land Management and Climate on Water and Soil Resources

Location: Agroclimate and Hydraulics Research Unit

Title: Agro-hydrologic tradeoffs of environmental water allocation in a desert river basin facing a water-scarce future

Author
item MIRCHI, ALI - Oklahoma State University
item SAMIMI, MARYAM - Oklahoma State University
item MANASARY, ABUBAKARR - Oklahoma Water Resources Board
item KHODKAR, KASRA - Oklahoma State University
item ALIAN, SARA - Oklahoma State University
item ARSHAD, ARFAN - Oklahoma State University
item Moriasi, Daniel
item HARGROVE, WILLIAM - University Of Texas - El Paso

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/23/2023
Publication Date: 12/11/2023
Citation: Mirchi, A., Samimi, M., Manasary, A., Khodkar, K., Alian, S., Arshad, A., Moriasi, D.N., Hargrove, W. 2023. Agro-hydrologic tradeoffs of environmental water allocation in a desert river basin facing a water-scarce future. Meeting Abstract. American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting 2023, Dec 11-15, 2023, San Francision, CA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The riparian vegetation along the Middle Rio Grande, stretching from upstream Elephant Butte Reservoir in NM to Presidio, TX, have experienced a concerning decline primarily due to human-centric water use. In light of this situation, it is essential to explore the feasibility and potential impact of creative water management approaches to allocate water to reestablish and preserve these riparian forests. Potential agro-hydrologic tradeoffs of environmental water allocations in terms of impacts on high-value perennial pecan crops under current and projected climate conditions were examined. Forty-eight environmental water allocation scenarios with different acreages of riparian forest, irrigation water requirement of cottonwood and willow trees, and irrigation scheduling options were simulated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool model. Results underscore that the region, particularly its irrigated agriculture, is generally vulnerable to droughts caused by diminishing river water, presenting challenges in allocating environmental water during prolonged dry spells in a warmer and drier future. However, despite facing chronic water scarcity, which is likely to intensify, allocating environmental water to preserve 2-10 km2 of riparian forest is not expected to significantly impact the availability of irrigation water for pecan orchards. Creative environmental water management approaches should account for the economic value of water during droughts and potential social vulnerability concerns depending on how crops may be altered to sustain pecan orchards while reestablishing ecosystem functions. “USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”