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Irrigation and Water Management By Steven Apfelbaum An Ecologist's View of Water and Irrigation tion all rely on predictable availability of water resources. When phenomena such as flooding, drought, severe rainstorms and erosion upset this operational functionality, productivity and supply chains become disrupted. Severe events that impact our access to water resources will continue to exercise control over our economic, eco- logical, social and cultural systems — and, ultimately, at the global level, our future survival — unless we change our approach to conventional water management. Many areas in the United States are now W experiencing the fallout from extreme weather and severe drought conditions. Unfortunately, this problem is long- standing. During our country's settlement, settlers drained landscapes in order to pro- mote agricultural and ultimately regional ater is one of the most coveted, yet vilified, resources on earth. Our food, energy and industrial produc- and economic development. Poor drainage systems hampered mobility and expansion while contributing to human and livestock diseases and crop failures. Now, despite a wealth of technological and scientific advances, we're still facing the same issues our ancestors did. Water is an asset or a liability, depending upon the availability and timing of precipitation, and effective water management is critical. To date, in the non-arid areas of the United States, the primary strategy has been eliminating what has been viewed to be ex- cessive water from the root zone and soil surface. In long-recognized droughty land- scapes, irrigation has been the primary focus. But in lands receiving excessive amounts of water early in the growing sea- son, and then drought stress later in the sea- son, both drainage to remove water and irrigation to introduce water are often used. However, as we recently witnessed, no amount of irrigation will solve the pressing problems where entire counties and even states or regions suffer from severe drought. We're still unable to properly manage the limitations and excesses of water resources. Therefore, it's clear that we need to re- define how we manage water beyond a short-term focus. The role of irrigation may change drastically as surface water reservoirs subjected to extreme heat may not have the water reserves necessary to serve as a source of irrigation water. And with declining ground water levels in many locations, and predicted accelerated reductions, high-volume wells may also represent a serious challenge. An ecological approach to irrigation needs How can we reconcile our contradic- tory relationship with water and improve our approach to future water-resource management? No single technological fix can address the complex package of outcomes needed now and in the future. But by understand- ing the stressors that are adding to the problem, we can work together to develop national strategic plans that address these factors and find practical, cost-effective so- lutions that provide a long-term solution. "Stressors" include overgrazing, fire, erosion, invasive plants and animals, water depletion and salinity — all of which can impact the structure and functionality of All photos provided by Applied Ecological Services, Inc. 18 Landscape and Irrigation October 2012 www.landscapeirrigation.com