Water Use Policies and Soil and Water Conservation: Are Our Policies in Sync With the Reality of a Changing Climate?.

Climate influences and is influenced by land and water use, agriculture, forestry, and grazing patterns. The effects of climate change are predicted to intensify. These include prolonged drought, increased precipitation intensity, reduced snow pack, earlier run-off, more frequent and intense wildfires, and a range of adverse effects on wildlife and plants. Dry periods are likely to last longer reducing groundwater recharge. Lower minimum river flows will reduce water available for agriculture, energy production, manufacturing, drinking, navigation, and thermal plant cooling. Increased rainfall intensity, melting glaciers and deforestation will accelerate soil erosion and reduce topsoil nutrients; the deterioration of these ecosystems will reduce biodiversity. Water resource management which happens predominantly at local and regional levels will require a national commitment to climate change research. Climate change research must incorporate an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to objectively examine and revise dated water use policies. While agriculture historically has been a primary water user, competing alternative uses will increase steadily; including energy, recreation, commerce, land use planning, and wildlife habitat. Sustainable management and development of water resources, while addressing food security, will play a pivotal role in adapting to climate change. Thinking must shift concerning the way water development and management issues are addressed. Finally, changes in policy necessitate the transfer of knowledge to and involvement of stakeholders, collaborators, and decision makers tasked with local water resource management. In order to facilitate necessary and effective policy changes, the results of climate change research and potential mitigation technologies must be communicated as broadly as possible.