Abstract
BackgroundWhile freshwater sustainability is generally defined as the provisioning of water for both people and the environment, in practice it is largely focused only on supplying water to furnish human population growth. Symptomatic of this is the state of Arizona, where rapid growth outside of the metropolitan Phoenix-Tucson corridor relies on the same groundwater that supplies year-round flow in rivers. Using Arizona as a case study, we present the first study in the southwestern United States that evaluates the potential impact of future population growth and water demand on streamflow depletion across multiple watersheds.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe modeled population growth and water demand through 2050 and used four scenarios to explore the potential effects of alternative growth and water management strategies on river flows. Under the base population projection, we found that rivers in seven of the 18 study watersheds could be dewatered due to municipal demand. Implementing alternative growth and water management strategies, however, could prevent four of these rivers from being dewatered.Conclusions/SignificanceThe window of opportunity to implement water management strategies is narrowing. Because impacts from groundwater extraction are cumulative and cannot be immediately reversed, proactive water management strategies should be implemented where groundwater will be used to support new municipal demand. Our approach provides a low-cost method to identify where alternative water and growth management strategies may have the most impact, and demonstrates that such strategies can maintain a continued water supply for both people and the environment.
Highlights
The concept of sustainability is widely touted as an ideal for urban growth policies, achieving sustainability can be difficult
We present the first study in the southwestern United States that evaluates the potential impact of population growth and water demand on streamflow depletion across multiple watersheds
Empirically-derived thresholds that predict species’ persistence exist for some riparian plant species [26], most aquatic and riparian-dependent species in our study area lack such thresholds. In lieu of these thresholds, we present risk to base flow in relative terms by categorizing base flow demand index (BDI) values into 3 ranges: low BDI ~ municipal water demand ƒ 50% of river base flow stressed BDI ~ municipal water demand w 50 À 100% of river base flow exceeds critical threshold BDI ~ municipal water demand w 100% of river base flow
Summary
The concept of sustainability is widely touted as an ideal for urban growth policies, achieving sustainability can be difficult Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of water and water uses. While freshwater sustainability is generally defined as the provisioning of water for both people and the environment, in practice it is largely focused only on supplying water to furnish human population growth. Symptomatic of this is the state of Arizona, where rapid growth outside of the metropolitan Phoenix-Tucson corridor relies on the same groundwater that supplies year-round flow in rivers. Using Arizona as a case study, we present the first study in the southwestern United States that evaluates the potential impact of future population growth and water demand on streamflow depletion across multiple watersheds
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
