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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

A Tool to Predict the Effects of Land Management on Water and Sediment Yield

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

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

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 No. 16-12-008. Washington Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. 216 pp.

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.  Publication No. 16-12-001. Washington Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA. 216 pp.

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, X., & Zhu, J. (2012). BioEarth: A regional-scale earth system model to inform land and water management decisions. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting, Cincinnati, OH.22 October 2012.  The poster can be downloaded via link.

2011 Columbia River Basin Long Term Water Supply and Demand Forecast Technical Report

2012. Ecology Publication 12-12-001.

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

2012. Ecology Publication 11-12-011.

Additional Publications

Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on Columbia River Basin Agriculture through Integrated Crop Systems, Hydrologic, and Water Management Modeling

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.

Microbiology of Water: Irrigation to Ingredient

A powerpoint created by Dr. K. Killinger, WSU.

Micro Plastic Pollution in Puget Sound and Northwest Straits – August 2009

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

Anaerobic Digesters and Water Quality: Helping Hood Canal – September 2005

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

Water Quality Education Workshop a Grand Success – June 2005

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

Liability & Public Use of Your Land – December 2004

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

Reed Canarygrass: A Formidable Foe for Washington’s Riparian Areas – September 2004

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

A Partnership for Fish & Farms – September 2003

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

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