Author(s): Jay Lund
Linked Author(s): Jay Lund
Keywords: IAHR; Hydrolink; interbasin water transfers; climate change;
Abstract:
The western US is becoming drier from greater evaporation and variability due to climate change. Also, the loss of snowpack from a warmer climate is shifting runoff from spring to winter, when capturing runoff in reservoirs is more difficult because of the need to retain empty reservoir storage for winter floods (which are becoming more extreme). This drier climate widens the gap between water availability and use in much of the western US. This increase in water scarcity both increases interest in interbasin water transfers and diminishes the availability of water to transfer .
Year: 2023