Title

Water Supply For Agricultural, Environmental And Urban Uses In California'S Borderlands

Abstract

This chapter explores optimal water supply portfolios for agricultural, environ-mental, and urban uses in Southern California, US and in BajaCalifornia, Mexico using a hydro-economic modeling approach. Hydro-economic models provide useful insights into water related problems in the borderland of both Californias. Fast growing cities, prominent agriculture and growing concerns for maintaining ecosystem functions characterize competing water uses in these arid regions. In California, water transfers from agricultural uses west of the south coast are limited by current conveyance capacity. Continuing current water imports from up north basins may become more challenging in the future as mandated flows for protecting fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta will likely limit the aforesaid water imports. Water conservation and augmenting water supply via wastewater reuse or desalination may alleviate possible shortages for cities in California's south coast. In the northern BajaCalifornia, Mexico surface water from the Colorado River supplies agricultural water in Mexicali along with most urban water uses in the northern border cities. Water supply for maintaining ecosystems in the Colorado River Delta can be found among existing uses and sources in the region. Increased conveyance capacity from east to west of northern Baja California and augmenting water supply via wastewater reuse are among the most promising alternatives to cope with population growth without compromising recommended environmental water uses for the Colorado River Delta. Enhancements in water conveyance capacity along with conjunctive use in Southern California and northern Baja California appear to be among the promising water management alternatives. © 2011 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.

Publication Date

12-1-2011

Publication Title

Agricultural Policies: New Developments

Number of Pages

201-212

Document Type

Article; Book Chapter

Personal Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

84877677842 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84877677842

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