Reduced and Earlier Snowmelt Runoff Impacts Traditional Irrigation Systems

Journal Article · 30 November 2019 · Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1936-704X.2019.03318.x · OSTI ID:1596081

Bai, Yining ^[1]; Fernald, Alexander ^[1]; Tidwell, Vincent ^[2]; Gunda, Thushara ^[2]

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1. New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM (United States)
2. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

We show seasonal runoff from montane uplands is crucial for plant growth in agricultural communities of northern New Mexico. These communities typically employ traditional irrigation systems, called acequias, which rely mainly upon spring snowmelt runoff for irrigation. The trend of the past few decades is an increase in temperature, reduced snow pack, and earlier runoff from snowmelt across much of the western United States. In order to predict the potential impacts of changes in future climate a system dynamics model was constructed to simulate the surface water supplies in a montane upland watershed of a small irrigated community in northern New Mexico through the rest of the 21^st century. End-term simulations of representative concentration pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 suggest that runoff during the months of April to August could be reduced by 22% and 56%, respectively. End-term simulations also displayed a shift in the beginning and peak of snowmelt runoff by up to one month earlier than current conditions. Results suggest that rising temperatures will drive reduced runoff in irrigation season and earlier snowmelt runoff in the dry season towards the end of the 21^st century. Modeled results suggest that climate change leads to runoff scheme shift and increased frequency of drought; due to the uncontemporaneous of irrigation season and runoff scheme, water shortage will increase. Potential impacts of climate change scenarios and mitigation strategies should be further investigated to ensure the resilience of traditional agricultural communities in New Mexico and similar regions.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525
• OSTI ID: 1596081
• Report Number(s): SAND2020--0840J; 683127
• Journal Information: Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education, Journal Name: Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 168; ISSN 1936-7031
• Publisher: WileyCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English