Landscape Based Agricultural Water Demand Modeling—A Tool for Water Management Decision Making in British Columbia, Canada

Abstract

acreage. Similar shifts for other agricultural sectors may require financial support. Ongoing development of regional drought management will require collaborative decision making by water suppliers and users.

Irrigation Water Demand Model as a Comparative Tool for Assessing Effects of Land Use Changes for Agricultural Crops in Fraser Valley, Canada

“…As climate change and human water withdrawals continue to pressure the water resource base in the LFV, the impacts of inefficient use of irrigation water will only increase. In British Columbia, potential increases in irrigation water demand in response to climate change have been estimated to range from 21% to 58%, to as high as 30% to 114% depending on climate change estimates [10]. Furthermore, agricultural land development scenarios could result in significant potential increases in regional irrigation water demand, up to 2400% [10].…”

“…In British Columbia, potential increases in irrigation water demand in response to climate change have been estimated to range from 21% to 58%, to as high as 30% to 114% depending on climate change estimates [10]. Furthermore, agricultural land development scenarios could result in significant potential increases in regional irrigation water demand, up to 2400% [10]. A change of land use or irrigation system on a singular parcel may not have a large impact on regional water dynamics, but at a large scale shifting land use can greatly affect regional water demand and water availability.…”

“…Compounding the challenge of water supply is the concern for food security, as less than 5% of BC's total land is suitable for agriculture [26]. In addition, because the highly productive land in the LFV is also desirable for urban development, urban areas and agriculture co-exist in lowland areas, leading to increased competition for water [10].…”

“…In the LFV, it is estimated that agricultural use comprises about half of all groundwater withdrawals [8] [10]. Surface water and groundwater supply and demand vary among agricultural uses, and as a result, ecosystems and hydrological cycle dynamics are impacted differently by different agricultural uses [10]. For instance, in the LFV, crops such as blueberry and corn need to be irrigated with only groundwater resources due to their intolerance to salinity and the high electrical conductivity of surface water from the Fraser River.…”

Development of a decision support system at the stages of pre‐design studies and design of irrigation systems based on IDEFo functional modelling methodology*

“…In this aspect, agriculture is no exception (Borozenets and Tsysar, 2013; Udias et al, 2018). Thus, information and communication technologies have found application, in particular, in the field of agriculture (Chimonyo et al 2016; Graetskaya et al 2018), ecology (Pulsani, 2017; Anandhi et al 2018; Kazak and Świaçder, 2018), forestry management (Khanina et al 2009; Sakellariou et al, 2017; Kašpar et al, 2018; Kazak et al 2018) and water resources (Pulido‐Velazquez et al, 2016; Cavazza et al, 2018; Neilsen et al, 2018). For example, the Agrophysical Research Institute has been conducting studies on development of the theoretical and methodological foundations for constructing a ‘single computerized technological space in the field of agronomy’ for many years, and there is experience in the creation and operation of various agrotechnological solutions with help of DSS (Yakushev, 2007).…”