Tony WillardsonWestern States Water Council

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Water Policy and GrowthWater Policy and Growth

Population growth is continuing at an unprecedented rate in the West with ramifications not only for cities but rural communities and agricultural areas.

In the future, we may not be able to sustain unlimited growth and still maintain our current quality of life. Difficult political choices will be necessary….

Decisions about where and how to Decisions about where and how to grow are rarely influenced by water grow are rarely influenced by water policy or by the availability of water policy or by the availability of water

Changing demographics and values placed Changing demographics and values placed on various water uses are transforming the on various water uses are transforming the future of water management.future of water management.

With limited opportunities to develop new With limited opportunities to develop new supplies, new uses to accommodate supplies, new uses to accommodate growth must largely rely on water obtained growth must largely rely on water obtained from changes to existing uses of water. from changes to existing uses of water.

This will result in the reallocation of water This will result in the reallocation of water to “higher valued uses.” to “higher valued uses.”

Water continues to move from farms to Water continues to move from farms to cities.cities.

2008 WGA Water Report2008 WGA Water ReportExecutive SummaryExecutive Summary

1. States working with interested stake-holders, 1. States working with interested stake-holders, should identify innovative ways to allow water should identify innovative ways to allow water transfers from agricultural to urban uses while transfers from agricultural to urban uses while avoiding or mitigating damages to avoiding or mitigating damages to

agricultural economies and environ-agricultural economies and environ-

mental values.mental values.

Water Law 101Water Law 101• Law of Prior AppropriationLaw of Prior Appropriation

• First in Time, First in UseFirst in Time, First in Use

• Priority Dates and Water DutiesPriority Dates and Water Duties

• Consumptive Water UseConsumptive Water Use

• Use it or Lose it! (Non-speculation)Use it or Lose it! (Non-speculation)

• Prohibits Wasting WaterProhibits Wasting Water

• Water Rights TransfersWater Rights Transfers

• No Injury No Injury

Priority Water Priority Water Information NeedsInformation Needs

•Available Surface and Ground Water Supplies

•Present Water Uses

•Snowpack (NRCS)

•Streamflow (USGS)

•Evapotranspiration

(Landsat)

•Climate Change Impacts

& Adaptation

Major Irrigatedareas in Idaho and

areas of METRIC application

Idaho from Landsat

Seasonal ET for SE Idaho

Vegetation, Vegetation, Water and Water and ET are ET are variable variable in space in space and timeand time

http://maps.idwr.idaho.gov/et/

Kc

0.00

0.3

0.6

0.9

1.2

1.4

ET from individual fields is essential for:Water Rights, Water Transfers, Farm Water Management

Why use High Resolution Imagery?Why use High Resolution Imagery?ET from Landsat 5with thermal sharpened to 30 m

Arkansas RiverArkansas River

Landsat False Color8/26/2002 10:33am

MODIS False Color8/26/2002 11:02am

Landsat vs MODIS

Why use High Resolution Imagery?Why use High Resolution Imagery?

Middle Rio Grande near Albuquerque

ET from wetlands and ET from wetlands and riparian systemsriparian systems

Wetland

Boise Valley Seasonal ET 2000

Lake Powell and the Lake Powell and the Upper Colorado Upper Colorado RiverRiver

ShortageShortage

Sharing and Sharing and

IntentionallyIntentionally

CreatedCreated

Surplus (ICS)Surplus (ICS)

WaterWater

Imperial Valley, CAvia Landsat 7

ET (mm)0

100

200

300

400433

Imperial Valley

ET during January – March, 2003

Priority Water Information NeedsPriority Water Information Needs

• Gather and disseminate real-time dataGather and disseminate real-time data

• Increase support and funding for dataIncrease support and funding for data

• Identify data gaps and ways to close Identify data gaps and ways to close gapsgaps

• Foster remote sensing capabilitiesFoster remote sensing capabilities

• Reduce costs through technological Reduce costs through technological innovationinnovation

ConclusionConclusion

• Good decisionmaking and risk management Good decisionmaking and risk management require sound science and adequate data.require sound science and adequate data.

• The states have a primary and critical role in The states have a primary and critical role in western water management.western water management.

• Sustainable water use in the West will depend in Sustainable water use in the West will depend in large part on state initiative and innovation.large part on state initiative and innovation.

• Landsat TIR represents an important innovation.Landsat TIR represents an important innovation.

• Landsat TIR is critical tool for measuring water Landsat TIR is critical tool for measuring water use and facilitating transfers between uses use and facilitating transfers between uses

• Continuing Federal financial support is essentialContinuing Federal financial support is essential

Tony Willardson, Executive DirectorTony Willardson, Executive Director

Western States Water CouncilWestern States Water Council

801-685-2225801-685-2225

twillards@wswc.state.ut.ustwillards@wswc.state.ut.us