Fresh water is a critical, and limited, natural resource. Within our region, most rain falls during the winter. Stored in higher elevations as snowpack, it melts in the summer, providing water to meet competing demands for ecosystems, wildlife, power generation, residential, agricultural, and industrial needs. Climate change and increased demands place pressure on this delicate balance. In addition to water supply, water quality is also an important issue in our urban, suburban, rural and agricultural areas throughout the region.
Featured Publications
Concurrently Assessing Water Supply and Demand is Critical For Evaluating Vulnerabilities to Climate Change
Hall, Sonia A., Aaron Whittemore, Julie Padowski, Matthew Yourek, Georgine G. Yorgey, Kirti Rajagopalan, Sasha McLarty et al; 2024. “Concurrently Assessing Water Supply and Demand is Critical For Evaluating Vulnerabilities to Climate Change.” JAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association 60 (2): 543–571. https://doi.org/10.1111/1752-1688.13192.
A Tool to Predict the Effects of Land Management on Water and Sediment Yield (PDF)
Kirkpatrick, A.W. 2021. A Tool to Predict the Effects of Land Management on Water and Sediment Yield. FireEarth Science Brief No. 13. Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources, Washington State University. csanr.wsu.edu/publications/fireearth-brief13/. ↑ Back to top
Lessons Learned from the Listening Sessions for the Technology for Trade Project (PDF)
Yorgey, G.G. 2019. Lessons Learned from the Listening Sessions for the Technology for Trade Project ↑ Back to top
Food-Energy-Water: Innovations in Storage for Resilience in the Columbia River Basin (PDF)
Hall, S.A., Yorgey, G.G., Padowski, J.C., Adam, J.C. 2019. Progress Report for the Columbia River FEW Project. Available online at www.fewstorage.wsu.edu ↑ Back to top
Modeling Environmental Change: Scenarios in the Washington Water Supply and Demand Forecast
Allen, E., Hall, S.A., Yorgey, G., Rajagopalan, K., Adam, J., Brady, M., Barber, M., Stockle, C., Barik, M., Kruger C. 2019. Washington State University Extension Publication FS327E, Pullman, WA. ↑ Back to top
Impacts of near-term climate change on irrigation demands and crop yields in the Columbia River Basin
Rajagopalan, K., K.J. Chinnayakanahalli, C.O. Stockle, R.L. Nelson, C.E. Kruger, M.P. Brady, K. Malek, S. Dinesh, M.E. Barber, A.F. Hamlet, G.G. Yorgey, and J.C. Adam. 2018. Water Resources Research. ↑ Back to top
Technical Supplement for the Columbia River Basin Long-Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast
Adam, J.C., M. Barik, J. Yoder, M.P. Brady, D. Haller, M.E. Barber, Hall, S.A., C.E. Kruger, G.G. Yorgey, M. Downes, C.O. Stockle, B. Aryal, T. Carlson, G. Damiano, S. Dhungel, C. Einberger, K. Hamel-Reiken, M. Liu, K. Malek, S. McClure, R. Nelson, M. O’Brien, J. Padowski, K. Rajagopalan, Z. Rakib, B. Rushi, W. Valdez. 2017. Publication […]
Climate science information needs among natural resource decision-makers in the Northwestern U.S.
Allen, E., J. Stephens. G.G. Yorgey, C.E. Kruger, S.M. Ahamed, and J.C. Adam. 2017. Climate Services, 5, 11-22. ↑ Back to top
2016 Washington State Legislative Report, Columbia River Basin Long-Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast
Hall, S.A., J.C. Adam, M. Barik, J. Yoder, M.P. Brady, D. Haller, M.E. Barber, C.E. Kruger, G.G. Yorgey, M. Downes, C.O. Stockle, B. Aryal, T. Carlson, G. Damiano, S. Dhungel, C. Einberger, K. Hamel-Reiken, M. Liu, K. Malek, S. McClure, R. Nelson, M. O’Brien, J. Padowski, K. Rajagopalan, Z. Rakib, B. Rushi, W. Valdez. 2016. […]
Rancher to Rancher Case Study Video: Maximizing Water Through Holistic Management
Yorgey, G.G., C.E. Kruger, and T. Hudson. 2016. Produced by Darrell Kilgore and CAHNRS Communications. Pullman, WA. Maurice Robinette and his daughter Beth use holistic management practices to run their ranch near Cheney, WA. See also a video describing their experience with summer calving ↑ Back to top
Modeling environmental change: A guide to understanding model results that explore the impacts of climate change on regional environmental systems
Allen, E., G. Yorgey, K. Rajagopalan, and C. Kruger. 2015. WSU Extension Fact Sheet FS159E. ↑ Back to top
BioEarth: A regional-scale earth system model to inform land and water management decisions
Adam, J.C., Rajagopalan, K., Stockle, C.O., Kruger, C.E., Brady, M.P., Barber, M.E., Chinnayakanahalli, K.J., Yorgey, G.G., Nelson, R.L., Dinesh, S., Malek, K., Yoder, J., Chung, S., Vaughan, J.K., Leung, F., Lamb, B.K., Evans, R.D., Harrison, J., Stephens, J., Guenther, A., Kalyanaraman, A., Leung, L.R., Liu, M., Tague, C., Perleberg, A.B., Chen, Y., Norton, T.M., Jiang, […]
2011 Columbia River Basin Long Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast Technical Report (PDF)
2012. Ecology Publication 12-12-001. ↑ Back to top
2011 Columbia River Basin Long Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast Legislative Report (PDF)
2012. Ecology Publication 11-12-011. ↑ Back to top
Additional Publications
Unlocking the Biofuel Power of Cover Crops in Washington State: Enhancing Potential Through Hydrothermal Liquefaction. Biomass and Bioenergy
Santosa, D. M., Potter, T., Pierobon, F., Göreke, D., Meyer, P. A., Kruger, C. E., Norberg, S., Collins, D., & Male, J. (2025). Unlocking the biofuel power of cover crop in Washington State: Enhancing potential through hydrothermal liquefaction. Biomass and Bioenergy, 203, 108311. Study explores whether Washington cover crops can serve as profitable, low-carbon feedstocks […]
Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Columbia River Basin Agriculture through Integrated Crop Systems, Hydrologic, and Water Management Modeling (PDF)
Rajagopalan, K., K. Chinnayakanahalli, J.C. Adam, C.S. Stockle, R. Nelson, M. Brady, M.E. Barber, S. Dinesh, K. Malek, G. Yorgey, C. Kruger, T. Marsh, and J. Yoder, 2011. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, San Francisco, CA, Dec. 6. ↑ Back to top
Microbiology of Water: Irrigation to Ingredient (PDF)
A powerpoint created by Dr. K. Killinger, WSU. ↑ Back to top
Micro Plastic Pollution in Puget Sound and Northwest Straits – August 2009 (PDF)
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter ↑ Back to top
Anaerobic Digesters and Water Quality: Helping Hood Canal – September 2005 (PDF)
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter ↑ Back to top
Water Quality Education Workshop a Grand Success – June 2005 (PDF)
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter ↑ Back to top
Liability & Public Use of Your Land – December 2004 (PDF)
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter ↑ Back to top
Reed Canarygrass: A Formidable Foe for Washington’s Riparian Areas – September 2004 (PDF)
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter ↑ Back to top
A Partnership for Fish & Farms – September 2003 (PDF)
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter ↑ Back to top
External Links
- eXtension
- National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) Master Publications List
- Plant and Life Sciences Publishing
- Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Project Reports
Some WSU Extension websites provide links to external sites for the convenience of users. These external sites are not managed by WSU Extension. Furthermore, WSU Extension does not review, control or take responsibility for the content of these sites, nor do these sites implicitly or explicitly represent official positions and policies of WSU Extension.