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Some reports on water resources available online

Posted by: Maven on November 29, 2009 at 7:52 am

Some reports on water resources & management now available (hat tip to the Water Sisweb):

Better water resources management – Greater resilience today, more effective adaptation tomorrow: “Water is a primary medium through which climate change will have an impact on people, ecosystems and economies. Water resources management should therefore be an early focus for adaptation to climate change. Water resources management does not hold all of the answers to adaptation, a broad range of responses will be needed. But water is both a key part of the problem, and an important part of the solution. It is a good place to start. … ”

Read this report from the World Water Council by clicking here (17 page pdf).

Peter Gleick: The changing water paradigm: A look at twenty-first century water resources development: Water resources management approaches around the world are changing dramatically. This changing water paradigm has many components, including a shift away from sole, or even primary, reliance on finding new sources of supply to address perceived new demands, a growing emphasis on incorporating ecological values into water policy, a re-emphasis on meeting basic human needs for water services, and a conscious breaking of the ties between economic growth and water use. A reliance on physical solutions continues to dominate traditional planning approaches, but these solutions are facing increasing opposition. At the same time, new methods are being developed to meet the demands of growing populations without requiring major new construction or new large-scale water transfers from one region to another. More and more water suppliers and planning agencies are beginning to explore efficiency improvements, implement options for managing demand, and reallocating water among users to reduce projected gaps and meet future needs. The connections between water and food are receiving increasing attention as the concerns of food experts begin to encompass the realities of water availability. These shifts have not come easily; they have met strong internal opposition. They are still not universally accepted, and they may not be permanent. Nevertheless, these changes represent a real shift in the way humans think about water use. This paper summarizes the components of this ongoing shift and looks at the new paths being explored. It evaluates the major reasons for the change in approach and discusses the applicability of these new concepts in different parts of the world. … ”

Read this paper from the International Water Resources Association& Peter Gleick (March 2000) by clicking here (12 page pdf).

Water, People, and the Future: Water Availability for Agriculture in the United States: With a projected 25% and 50% increase in U.S. and world population, respectively, by the year 2050, substantial increases in freshwater use for food, fiber, and fuel production, as well as municipal and residential consumption, are inevitable. This increased water use will not come without consequences. Already, the United States has experienced the mining of groundwater, resulting in declining water tables, increased costs of water withdrawal, and the deterioration of water quality. Long-term drought conditions have greatly decreased surface water flows. Climate change predictions include higher temperatures, decreases in snowpack, shifts in precipitation patterns, increases in evapotranspiration, and more frequent droughts. Not surprisingly, conflicts over water use are continually emerging. As one of the largest users of water in the United States, agriculture will be impacted significantly by changes in water availability and cost. Approximately 40% of the water withdrawn from U.S. surface and groundwater sources is used for agricultural irrigation. Although the proportion of available freshwater used in agriculture varies widely among geographical areas, it is a major proportion of total water use in every area.

Read this issue paper from CAST by clicking here (20 page pdf).

November 29, 2009 · Filed Under Agriculture, Storage and supply

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