WATER DEMAND VS. SUPPLY, KINGS RIVER BASIN CALIFORNIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR CALIFORNIA AND THE AMERICAN WEST

Water demand has exceeded supply in the Kings River Basin since 1945, with chronic groundwater overdrafts. Precipitation and surface water deliveries for irrigation have increased through time and all surface water is used, on average, in three out of four years. The best correlation with declining groundwater levels is with Fresno County population increases, which are projected to double by 2050. The economic base for the area is irrigated agriculture which uses the vast majority of the available water. Several water management scenarios are shown that would achieve basin wide water sustainability and include or consider retirement of irrigated land, irrigation efficiency, soil salinity, and domestic water use cuts. Climate change will exacerbate the water management options for achieving basin sustainability. The ultimate solutions for sustainable basin management will be based on societal choices carried out by political and judicial decisions.