Proposed Agricultural
Water Security Program
What Is Agricultural Water Security?
As population continues to increase across
the U.S. and around the world, there is a
growing demand for safe, reliable sources
of water to meet the needs of the expanding
population. Farmers, ranchers, and rural
communities are particularly susceptible
to the mounting pressures to provide more
water to urban and urbanizing areas at the
expense of water supplies in rural and agricultural
communities. The term “agricultural
water security” describes the need
to maintain adequate water supplies to meet
the food and fiber needs of the expanding
population—maximizing the efficiency
of water use by farmers, ranchers, and rural
communities.
Drought and the reliability of water supplies
for agriculture and rural communities historically
have been linked to Western states. However,
issues surrounding agricultural water security
have expanded beyond Western states and now
represent a national crisis. Water supplies
for irrigated agriculture in Georgia, South
Carolina, and Florida are being consumed
by expanding urban populations. Shifts in
the allocation of these water resources could
have dramatic impacts on the long-term supply
of food and fiber in the U.S.
On June 5, 2003, Interior Secretary Gale
A. Norton and Agriculture Secretary Ann M.
Veneman signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) aimed at promoting improved water management
and rapid response to emerging water supply
shortages in the West. This MOU highlights
the need for expanding the research and education
programs focused on better management of
water resources. The MOU also sets the stage
for improved cooperation between the Departments.
What Are the Research Needs in Agricultural
Water Security?
There is considerable scientific information
regarding the efficient use of water for
agricultural irrigation. Similarly, much
is known about the impacts of drought on
plant growth and productivity. This proposed
program will focus on expanding the knowledge
base of agricultural water security through
research programs aimed at:
- Risk assessment associated with drought—links
to global change
- Risk management for farmers and ranchers
facing impacts of drought
- Economics of water supply and water conservation
- The role of water banks—environmental
credit trading opportunities
- Development of drought-tolerant or water-conserving
plant species for agriculture and landscaping
- Impacts of water reuse on downstream
water supplies—does upstream efficiency
lead to decreased supply downstream?
What Are the Educational Needs in Agricultural
Water Security?
Vast amounts of educational materials exist
for improving water conservation and water
management. Much of this information has
not been adapted to local watershed conditions.
Moreover, citizens often fail to recognize
their role in advancing or threatening agricultural
water security. This proposed program will
provide outreach and educational programs
aimed at:
- Understanding the limits of water supply
in western watersheds
Improved/expanded application of known/existing science for irrigation and
water management through educational programs
- Place-based education—eliminating
sub-tropical lifestyles in desert climates
- Educating water managers—impacts
of water supply will be disproportionately
felt by lower income families
- Educating landscapers—use of drought-tolerant
trees, reduce/eliminate turf and lawns,
use of drip irrigation (instead of sprinklers),
reuse of irrigation water
- Educating residential pool designers—can
we develop pools that serve the recreational
need and minimize water losses?
- Educating the public (adults)—public
service ads, include water supply as part
of the local television/radio weather reports,
campaigns to convert toilets and showers
to water-conserving models
- Educating the public (youth)—building
water conservation as part of the basic
curriculum, “water wise” school
programs
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