UC Blogs
Water risks to agriculture: Too little and too much
Water is among the most precious resources on the planet. Some areas don't get enough; some get too much. And climate change is driving both of those circumstances to ever-growing extremes.
Two UC Merced experts in civil and environmental engineering took part in a recent report by the Environmental Defense Fund examining the issue and potential solutions. Associate Professor of Extension Tapan Pathak and Professor Josué Medellín-Azuara co-authored the report, "Scarcity and Excess: Tackling Water-Related Risks to Agriculture in the United States," and wrote the section pertaining to California.
In addition to climate change, disruptive human interventions such as groundwater over-extraction, sprawling drainage networks and misaligned governance are driving up water-related agricultural costs, particularly in midwestern and western states, the researchers found.
The problem is magnified in California, which hosts the largest and the most diverse agricultural landscape in the U.S., Pathak and Medellín-Azuara wrote, with gross revenues from farms and ranches exceeding $50 billion.
"Due to the favorable Mediterranean climate, unique regional microclimate zones, a highly engineered and developed water supply system, and a close connection between producers and research and cooperative extension institutions, California's agricultural abundance includes more than 400 commodities, some of which are produced nowhere else in the nation," the UC Merced researchers wrote.
But the state's varying climate and water needs pose a challenge. Though most of the precipitation falls in the northern part of California, the southern two-thirds of the state account for 85% of its water demand. And all of those crops must be watered in the summer, when there is little, if any, rainfall.
Some of the water comes from snowpack developed through winter storms and stored in reservoirs as it melts. Much of it comes from the Colorado River.
"Substantially less water is captured and stored during periods of drought, imperiling California's water supply and putting agricultural water needs at risk," Pathak and Medellín-Azuara wrote.
Climate change, with increasing periods of drought between excessively wet winters, magnifies that risk.
"Further, the rate of increases in the minimum temperatures in the Sierra Nevada is almost three-fold faster than maximum temperatures, resulting in potential decrease in the snowpack, earlier snowmelt, and more water in liquid form as opposed to snow," the researchers wrote. "According to the California Department of Water Resources, by 2100, the Sierra Nevada snowpack is projected to experience a 48% to 65% decline from the historical average."
Climate change is also expected to affect the availability of water from the Colorado River.
Climate extremes such as heat waves, drought and flooding - giving rises to increased weeds, pests and disease - are already significantly impacting agriculture and the broader economy, Pathak and Medellín-Azuara wrote.
The state's drought from 2012 to 2016 led to about 540,000 acres of fallow farmland in 2015, costing the state's economy $2.7 billion in gross revenue and 21,000 jobs. With the lack of precipitation, farmers increasingly pumped groundwater to irrigate crops, depleting those resources.
The report goes on to recommend policies, programs and tools be developed for agricultural resilience, including:
- Changing land use and crop management practices to support a transition to an agriculture footprint that can be sustained by the available water supplies.
- Increasing farmer and water manager access to important data and innovative technological tools to support their efforts.
- Reimagining built infrastructure and better using natural infrastructure so regions are better equipped to handle weather extremes.
- Developing policy and funding mechanisms to support mitigation and adaptation to water-related risks, avoid maladaptation and ensure food and water security.
"California's innovative agriculture needs to rapidly adapt to more volatile water availability, climate-driven higher water demands, and regulation protecting groundwater reserves, communities and ecosystems," Medellín-Azuara said. "The early adoption of more sustainable practices in agriculture will likely pay off dividends both in the short and long terms."
Added Pathak, "California faces significant challenges related to climate change, but it also presents opportunities for innovations, collaborations and sustained growth. To make agriculture resilient to climate risks, we need to engage in holistic solutions that integrates environmental, social, economic and policy considerations."
My Thailand Vacation Adventure at the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden
Part 1
BREATHTAKING would be the word I used for Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden which was one of our destinations during our Thailand Vacation. Over 2,500 acres, this garden is situated at the edge of the Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Chaing Mai. The garden sprawls over a hillside reaching the highest point (in a conservation zone) at about 4,000 ft.
Surrounding this area are gardens, twelve glasshouses, trails, and natural vegetation ranging from hill evergreen through dry dipterocarp forest (family of 16 genera and about 695 known species of tropical lowland rainforest) to pine forest found in the higher elevation.
Within the garden we explored walking trails, gardens and glasshouses all displaying a diversity of plants either in their natural settings or arranged according to a theme or classification.
The Queen's Botanic Garden's focus is strengthening “ex situ” (outside, off site, away from the natural location) conversation of valuable Thai flora. Where they have breeding programs for native Thai orchids.
Our first stop in the botanical garden was a “Canopy Walk,” which is a trail made of steel, mesh metal, glass, and fiberglass (stretches for approximately 1,211 feet), winds through the jungle canopy, providing a bird's-eye view of the forest below. As you stroll along, you will feel like you are living among the wildlife, surrounded by the vibrant foliage.
Of course, there was scenic vista overlook and walkways which provide stunning viewpoints.
There was wildlife but you needed to keep your eyes peeled for fascinating creatures! While we did not spot any “flying dragons” (Draco Maculatus divergens) also known as a flying lizard during our visit, they are known to inhabit the area. this was the beginning of our adventure in the gardens!
In my next article, I will talk about the incredible gardens arranged in themes!
Sol Wantz Sheds Light on Jerusalem Crickets and Other Insects
Those Jerusalem crickets aren't as scary as some folks imagine them to be. UC Davis third-year entomology student Sol Wantz, an intern at...
UC Davis student entomologist Sol Wantz begins her presentation on "Grasshoppers, Crickets and Katydids" at the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The Jerusalem cricket can reach 2.5 inches in length. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Sol Wantz with her parents Adam Wantz and Patti-Leggett Wantz of Belmont, and UC Davis researcher Ernest Walker, a UC Davis alumnus (biology). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Spring is Around the Corner
Drive by beauty in Vallejo!
Rain makes the Flowers grow
Poppies are hardy survivors
They are back! A little traffic island on Georgia Street in Vallejo is again a home for the California State flower: the Golden Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)! Every year this brilliant eruption of orange poppies appears! Nature is working hard to make us smile; when I drive by them, I smile back.
Where did these beautiful flowers come from? There is no cut out in the concrete island, there is no soil, there are no hanging baskets, how do they survive? Look closely and you can see where they are anchored. They are growing between the cracks of the concrete! Originally the first seeds were probably windblown and took hold in the small concrete cracks, found some soil, and sprouted. The poppies must like it here because they reseed every year!
Poppies are easy to grow and are drought tolerant. They will grow almost anywhere where they can get at least 6 hours of sun. They need little water and germinate in the fall after the first rains or in the spring when the soil warms. They will self-germinate if they find the soil and other conditions favorable. You may have several years of golden poppy heaven before you have to re-seed. Ideally, they prefer sandy well drained soil but as you can see, they are pretty good in almost any soil. They flower February through September.
I guess these poppies could be considered a weed. A weed is an unintended, unwanted plant. If the City wanted the poppies, they would have put a flower planter there. Unintended but unwanted? I think it is a wanted plant. I enjoy them! I am sure their bright colors bring joy to everyone who sees them.
Now is the time to look for and plant poppies! There are other varieties of poppies white, red, and other colors. A packet of 50 seeds costs less than $4.00. Re-wild our open spaces with our State Flower!
This small wonderland of poppies in an urban setting is spectacular.
If you get a chance visit amazing super blooms now erupting throughout California. According to the LA Times, Lancaster CA has some spectacular displays of poppies. For up to date info on super blooms visit: https://www.parks.ca/gov
ca poppies 2
How Many Spiders Have You Saved Today?
It's National Save-a-Spider Day. I did not save a spider today. I did not save one yesterday, either. Or the day before. That's because I did not...
A redfemured spotted orbweaver, Neoscona domiciliorum, visiting a pollinator garden in Vacaville, Calif. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A jumping spider eyes the photographer. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)