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Water

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/.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

2011 Columbia River Basin Long Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast Legislative Report (PDF)

2012. Ecology Publication 11-12-011.

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.