Walton Family Foundation

Effects of climate change in arid regions include increased variability in water supplies and changes in water demand due to increased temperatures. These effects pose great challenges for water managers and water users in regions already facing water scarcity. Voluntary arrangements between agricultural water users and those seeking more reliable supplies for urban and environmental needs are an important regional adaptation tool. This guidebook series is intended to assist public agencies, non-profit organizations, irrigation districts, cities, and businesses with design and implementation of water acquisition programs to improve water supply reliability during drought and under climate change.

Persistent drought and climate change affect water and energy costs, and hence choices made by farms, cities and industrial water and energy users, as well as energy and water providers’ operations. This project examines potential climate change and variability adaptation strategies related to water and energy in the Colorado River and Rio Grande Basins, including northwestern Mexico. Researchers are investigating how climate influences the market price of water and developing a menu of water and energy supply reliability tools with guidelines for using these tools.