Program
Water Resources Program
College
Interdisciplinary
Student Level
Master's
Location
PAÍS Building
Start Date
10-11-2022 11:00 AM
End Date
10-11-2022 1:00 PM
Abstract
New Mexico's water supply is decreasing under climate change, driven by a decrease in snowpack and resulting runoff and an increase in evaporation under warmer temperatures. Current models predict that in the next 50 years, less water will be available for all water users in the state, which will require community leaders to make difficult decisions to manage a finite water supply. About 80% of New Mexico's total water use is currently used in agriculture, making up the largest water use by sector in the state. For this reason, agriculture is often looked to as an area of opportunity to use less water. Using less water in agriculture requires changes on individual farms. More efficient water use can extend the irrigation season, making the same amount of water available for a longer period through the growing season, while water conservation on farms can reduce the amount of overall water used in agriculture. Additionally, shifting from growing low value crops, such as alfalfa hay, to high value crops, including fruits and vegetables, can provide a greater profit per the amount of water used to grow the crop. In the Middle Rio Grande area, mechanisms used to distribute water to individual agricultural water users can create barriers that prevent farmers from implementing these changes. These barriers include: • Regulations that dictate where water can be stored locally and regionally. • Inflexible delivery schedules for irrigation water. • Damage and inefficiencies in the publicly owned infrastructure used to convey water to farms. Using perspectives gained in interviews with agricultural water users, water managers and people who work with these two groups, this qualitative analysis will explore these barriers and their impact on farmer decision making and regional water management in the Middle Rio Grande.
Distribution of irrigation water creates barriers to more efficient water use on Middle Rio Grande farms
PAÍS Building
New Mexico's water supply is decreasing under climate change, driven by a decrease in snowpack and resulting runoff and an increase in evaporation under warmer temperatures. Current models predict that in the next 50 years, less water will be available for all water users in the state, which will require community leaders to make difficult decisions to manage a finite water supply. About 80% of New Mexico's total water use is currently used in agriculture, making up the largest water use by sector in the state. For this reason, agriculture is often looked to as an area of opportunity to use less water. Using less water in agriculture requires changes on individual farms. More efficient water use can extend the irrigation season, making the same amount of water available for a longer period through the growing season, while water conservation on farms can reduce the amount of overall water used in agriculture. Additionally, shifting from growing low value crops, such as alfalfa hay, to high value crops, including fruits and vegetables, can provide a greater profit per the amount of water used to grow the crop. In the Middle Rio Grande area, mechanisms used to distribute water to individual agricultural water users can create barriers that prevent farmers from implementing these changes. These barriers include: • Regulations that dictate where water can be stored locally and regionally. • Inflexible delivery schedules for irrigation water. • Damage and inefficiencies in the publicly owned infrastructure used to convey water to farms. Using perspectives gained in interviews with agricultural water users, water managers and people who work with these two groups, this qualitative analysis will explore these barriers and their impact on farmer decision making and regional water management in the Middle Rio Grande.
