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The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology recently published an issue paper titled “Water, People, and the Future: Water Availability for Agriculture in the United States.” Water Resources Research Center Director Sharon Megdal wrote the Arizona section of the issue paper and also was the chair of the task force of eight scientists, educators, and resource analysts who worked on the CAST publication.
Through case studies, the issue paper discusses the diverse demands for water resources of four specific areas of the United States—California, Arizona, Florida, and the High Plains—with particular focus on the implications for agriculture.
One of the largest water users, agriculture will undoubtedly be significantly affected by changes in water availability and cost. Agriculture may not be able to take for granted an abundant, reliable supply of water.
Increased water use by the industrial and residential sectors will continue to be at the expense of agricultural water supplies. Less future available water means that irrigated agriculture must make substantial efforts to be more productive and water efficient.
The full text of the issue paper can be accessed free of charge at the CAST website (http://www.cast-science.org/); hard copies are available for a shipping/handling fee.