Irrigation in California's Central Valley strengthens the southwestern U.S. water cycle

Predictors of Chinook salmon extirpation in Californias Central Valley

Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), populations have declined rapidly along the western coast of North America since the year 2000, possibly because of factors such as habitat loss, altered hydrology and barriers to migration. However, few analyses have rigorously examined which of these factors actually explain historical patterns of extirpation. Data were compiled on flow regi...

Groundwater depletion and sustainability of irrigation in the US High Plains and Central Valley.

Aquifer overexploitation could significantly impact crop production in the United States because 60% of irrigation relies on groundwater. Groundwater depletion in the irrigated High Plains and California Central Valley accounts for ~50% of groundwater depletion in the United States since 1900. A newly developed High Plains recharge map shows that high recharge in the northern High Plains result...

The summertime atmospheric hydrologic cycle over the southwestern US

The diurnal cycle of the summertime atmospheric hydrologic cycle over the southwestern US

Satellite imagery can support water planning in the Central Valley

Critics of this approach argue its intrinsic shortcomings. First, the annual compilation of data by human observation is expensive, incomplete and sometimes erroneous. Second, too much time is required to observe and compile land-use information and develop a water balance. Lastly, agricultural land-management objectives change from year to year as reflected by visible changes in crop cover; an...