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1. Can Managed Aquifer Recharge Overcome Multiple Droughts?

   https://doi.org/10.3390/w13162278  

   Zhao, Mengqi; Boll, Jan; Adam, Jennifer C.; Beall King, Allyson (August 2021, Water)

   null (Ed.)

   Frequent droughts, seasonal precipitation, and growing agricultural water demand in the Yakima River Basin (YRB), located in Washington State, increase the challenges of optimizing water provision for agricultural producers. Increasing water storage through managed aquifer recharge (MAR) can potentially relief water stress from single and multi-year droughts. In this study, we developed an aggregated water resources management tool using a System Dynamics (SD) framework for the YRB and evaluated the MAR implementation strategy and the effectiveness of MAR in alleviating drought impacts on irrigation reliability. The SD model allocates available water resources to meet instream target flows, hydropower demands, and irrigation demand, based on system operation rules, irrigation scheduling, water rights, and MAR adoption. Our findings suggest that the adopted infiltration area for MAR is one of the main factors that determines the amount of water withdrawn and infiltrated to the groundwater system. The implementation time frame is also critical in accumulating MAR entitlements for single-year and multi-year droughts mitigation. In addition, adoption behaviors drive a positive feedback that MAR effectiveness on drought mitigation will encourage more MAR adoptions in the long run. MAR serves as a promising option for water storage management and a long-term strategy for MAR implementation can improve system resilience to unexpected droughts. 

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2. Modeling the Impacts of Climate Change on Crop Yield and Irrigation in the Monocacy River Watershed, USA

   https://doi.org/10.3390/cli8120139  

   Paul, Manashi; Dangol, Sijal; Kholodovsky, Vitaly; Sapkota, Amy R.; Negahban-Azar, Masoud; Lansing, Stephanie (December 2020, Climate)

   null (Ed.)

   Crop yield depends on multiple factors, including climate conditions, soil characteristics, and available water. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of projected temperature and precipitation changes on crop yields in the Monocacy River Watershed in the Mid-Atlantic United States based on climate change scenarios. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was applied to simulate watershed hydrology and crop yield. To evaluate the effect of future climate projections, four global climate models (GCMs) and three representative concentration pathways (RCP 4.5, 6, and 8.5) were used in the SWAT model. According to all GCMs and RCPs, a warmer climate with a wetter Autumn and Spring and a drier late Summer season is anticipated by mid and late century in this region. To evaluate future management strategies, water budget and crop yields were assessed for two scenarios: current rainfed and adaptive irrigated conditions. Irrigation would improve corn yields during mid-century across all scenarios. However, prolonged irrigation would have a negative impact due to nutrients runoff on both corn and soybean yields compared to rainfed condition. Decision tree analysis indicated that corn and soybean yields are most influenced by soil moisture, temperature, and precipitation as well as the water management practice used (i.e., rainfed or irrigated). The computed values from the SWAT modeling can be used as guidelines for water resource managers in this watershed to plan for projected water shortages and manage crop yields based on projected climate change conditions. 

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3. Potential for Managed Aquifer Recharge to Enhance Fish Habitat in a Regulated River

   https://doi.org/10.3390/w12030673  

   Kirk, Robert W.; Contor, Bryce A.; Morrisett, Christina N.; Null, Sarah E.; Loibman, Ashly S. (March 2020, Water)

   null (Ed.)

   Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) is typically used to enhance the agricultural water supply but may also be promising to maintain summer streamflows and temperatures for cold-water fish. An existing aquifer model, water temperature data, and analysis of water administration were used to assess potential benefits of MAR to cold-water fisheries in Idaho’s Snake River. This highly-regulated river supports irrigated agriculture worth US $10 billion and recreational trout fisheries worth $100 million. The assessment focused on the Henry’s Fork Snake River, which receives groundwater from recharge incidental to irrigation and from MAR operations 8 km from the river, addressing (1) the quantity and timing of MAR-produced streamflow response, (2) the mechanism through which MAR increases streamflow, (3) whether groundwater inputs decrease the local stream temperature, and (4) the legal and administrative hurdles to using MAR for cold-water fisheries conservation in Idaho. The model estimated a long-term 4%–7% increase in summertime streamflow from annual MAR similar to that conducted in 2019. Water temperature observations confirmed that recharge increased streamflow via aquifer discharge rather than reduction in river losses to the aquifer. In addition, groundwater seeps created summer thermal refugia. Measured summer stream temperature at seeps was within the optimal temperature range for brown trout, averaging 14.4 °C, whereas ambient stream temperature exceeded 19 °C, the stress threshold for brown trout. Implementing MAR for fisheries conservation is challenged by administrative water rules and regulations. Well-developed and trusted water rights and water-transaction systems in Idaho and other western states enable MAR. However, in Idaho, conservation groups are unable to engage directly in water transactions, hampering MAR for fisheries protection. 

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4. Greenhouse gas emissions from US irrigation pumping and implications for climate-smart irrigation policy

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44920-0  

   Driscoll, Avery W; Conant, Richard T; Marston, Landon T; Choi, Eunkyoung; Mueller, Nathaniel D (December 2024, Nature Communications)

   Irrigation reduces crop vulnerability to drought and heat stress and thus is a promising climate change adaptation strategy. However, irrigation also produces greenhouse gas emissions through pump energy use. To assess potential conflicts between adaptive irrigation expansion and agricultural emissions mitigation efforts, we calculated county-level emissions from irrigation energy use in the US using fuel expenditures, prices, and emissions factors. Irrigation pump energy use produced 12.6 million metric tonnes CO2-e in the US in 2018 (90% CI: 10.4, 15.0), predominantly attributable to groundwater pumping. Groundwater reliance, irrigated area extent, water demand, fuel choice, and electrical grid emissions intensity drove spatial heterogeneity in emissions. Due to heavy reliance on electrical pumps, projected reductions in electrical grid emissions intensity are estimated to reduce pumping emissions by 46% by 2050, with further reductions possible through pump electrification. Quantification of irrigation-related emissions will enable targeted emissions reduction efforts and climate-smart irrigation expansion. 

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5. Inspecting the Food–Water Nexus in the Ogallala Aquifer Region Using Satellite Remote Sensing Time Series

   https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12142257  

   Zhou, Yuting; Gholizadeh, Hamed; LaVanchy, G. Thomas; Hasan, Emad (July 2020, Remote Sensing)

   null (Ed.)

   Agricultural production in the Great Plains provides a significant amount of food for the United States while contributing greatly to farm income in the region. However, recurrent droughts and expansion of crop production are increasing irrigation demand, leading to extensive pumping and attendant depletion of the Ogallala aquifer. In order to optimize water use, increase the sustainability of agricultural production, and identify best management practices, identification of food–water conflict hotspots in the Ogallala Aquifer Region (OAR) is necessary. We used satellite remote sensing time series of agricultural production (net primary production, NPP) and total water storage (TWS) to identify hotspots of food–water conflicts within the OAR and possible reasons behind these conflicts. Mean annual NPP (2001–2018) maps clearly showed intrusion of high NPP, aided by irrigation, into regions of historically low NPP (due to precipitation and temperature). Intrusion is particularly acute in the northern portion of OAR, where mean annual TWS (2002–2020) is high. The Oklahoma panhandle and Texas showed large decreasing TWS trends, which indicate the negative effects of current water demand for crop production on TWS. Nebraska demonstrated an increasing TWS trend even with a significant increase of NPP. A regional analysis of NPP and TWS can convey important information on current and potential conflicts in the food–water nexus and facilitate sustainable solutions. Methods developed in this study are relevant to other water-constrained agricultural production regions. 

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