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Sustainable Water Management in the Southwestern United States: Reality or Rhetoric?

Published Article

Arizona

Publication date: July 1, 2010

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Published in PLoS ONE, this study models how growth and water strategies affect river flows. Results show some watersheds risk dewatering, while alternative management can sustain water for people and ecosystems.

Subject Tags

  • Rivers
  • Watersheds

Abstract

Published in PLoS ONE, this study used four scenarios to explore the potential effects of alternative growth and water management strategies on river flows. Under the base population projection, we found that rivers in seven of the 18 study watersheds could be dewatered due to municipal demand. Our approach provides a low-cost method to identify where alternative water and growth management strategies may have the most impact, and demonstrates that such strategies can maintain a continued water supply for both people and the environment.

Citation

Marshall, R.M., Robles, M.D., Majka, D.R. and Haney, J.A., 2010. Sustainable water management in the southwestern United States: reality or rhetoric?. PLoS One, 5(7), p.e11687.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0011687

TNC Authors

  • Marcos D. Robles
    Lead Scientist, Arizona
    The Nature Conservancy
    Email: mrobles@TNC.ORG