:: ITRC Projects ::
Water Balances
A water balance is an accounting of all
water volumes that enter and leave a 3-dimensional space
over a specified period of time. A complete water
balance is not limited to irrigation water, but includes
all water that enters and leaves that space, including
irrigation, rainwater, groundwater, etc.
Water balances are essential for making wise decisions
regarding water conservation and water management.
ITRC conducts water balances at the on-farm and
district level, in order
to facilitate future planning and water conservation
efforts.
ITRC has performed water balance studies for numerous
irrigation districts, including Westlands Water
District, Imperial Irrigation District, and Klamath
Basin irrigation projects. Past projects in
California have included:
- Crop and soil evapotranspiration
- Evaporation from irrigated agricultural land in California
- Estimation of project water diversions from the Sacramento River
In addition, in 2003 ITRC completed a hydrologic assessment of the upper Klamath Basin, Oregon, which was intended to provide decision makers and stakeholders with a scientific framework for understanding the realistic potential for water conservation from agricultural land and wildlife refuges, as well as for management of the water resources for other purposes, such as improving water quality.