Open AccessAdaptation to Future Water Shortages in the United States Caused by Population Growth and Climate Change
Author(s) -
Brown Thomas C.,
Mahat Vinod,
Ramirez Jorge A.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
earth's future
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.641
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2328-4277
DOI - 10.1029/2018ef001091
Subject(s) - economic shortage , population growth , climate change , adaptation (eye) , natural resource economics , water scarcity , agriculture , population , water resource management , environmental science , business , environmental planning , environmental resource management , geography , economics , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , demography , government (linguistics) , sociology , biology , physics , archaeology , optics
Population growth and climate change will combine to pose substantial challenges for water management in the United States. Projections of water supply and demand over the 21st century show that in the absence of further adaptation efforts, serious water shortages are likely in some regions. Continued improvements in water use efficiency are likely but will be insufficient to avoid future shortages. Some adaptation measures that have been effective in the past, most importantly large additions to reservoir storage, have little promise. Other major adaptations commonly used in the past, especially instream flow removals and groundwater mining, can substantially lower shortages but have serious external costs. If those costs are to be avoided, transfers from irrigated agriculture probably will be needed and could be substantial.