Integrated Water Resource Management
As defined by the Global Water Partnership, integrated water resource management is a process which promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. Resources available within this theme provide guidance on how to conserve and restore watersheds, reduce pollution, adapt to climate change and reduce risks from floods and droughts.
Integrated Water Resource Management Resources
U.S. Drought Monitor Classification Scheme
Published:
January 1, 2014National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture
explanation of Drought Monitor and severity classificationsRead more
U.S. Drought Monitor Metadata
Published:
January 1, 2014National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture
Drought Monitor metadata Read more
Western Irrigated Agriculture: Production Value, Water Use, Costs, and Technology Vary by Farm Size
Published:
September 2, 2013U.S. Department of Agriculture
The largest irrigated farms in the region averaged about 3,300 acres, of which 1,020 were irrigated in 2008; the smallest farms averaged 244 acres, of which 47 were irrigated. Use of improved water-management practices can help producers maximize the economic efficiency of their irrigation systems...Read more
The Role of Conservation Program Design in Drought Risk Adaptation
Published:
July 1, 2013U.S. Department of Agriculture
Drought-risk adaptation involves farmers taking actions or making investments that reduce their vulnerability to drought. These actions and investments will generally be of greater benefit to farmers in areas that face a higher risk of drought during the growing season. As a result, other things...Read more
Improving Air and Water Quality Can Be Two Sides of the Same Coin
Published:
September 1, 2005U.S. Department of Agriculture
Air quality policies have traditionally focused on urban areas and industrial emissions. Extending these laws to cover agriculture would require an understanding of how farmers respond to different policy incentives. Farmers have many choices in deciding on what to produce and the production...Read more
Irrigation and Water Use - Briefing Room
Published:
November 22, 2004U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agriculture is a major user of ground and surface water in the United States, accounting for 80 percent of the Nation's consumptive water use and over 90 percent in many Western States. This ERS research program investigates water allocation, water conservation, and water management issues...Read more
Irrigation and Water use: Glossary
Published:
October 26, 2004U.S. Department of Agriculture
An overview of agricultural methods, systems, and practices to increase land and water productivity. Several definitions are offered for terms associated with water use and agriculture. Read more
Water Quality Index for Runoff Water from Agricultural Fields (WQIag)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Water Quality Index for Runoff from Agricultural Fields (WQI) is currently being developed by the USDA/NRCS-WNTSC National Water Quality/Quantity Team in Portland, Oregon. The purpose/benefits of this tool include: comparative assessment over time & space, no substitute for monitoring/...Read more
Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX)
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Agricultural Policy/Environmental eXtender (APEX) model was developed for use in whole farm/small watershed management. The model was constructed to evaluate various land management strategies considering sustainability, erosion (wind, sheet, and channel), economics, water supply and quality,...Read more
Soil and Water Assessment Tool
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a public domain model jointly developed by USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, part of The Texas A&M University System. SWAT is a small watershed to river basin-scale model to simulate the quality and...Read more
Regional focus:
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