Irrigation: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 22:00, 2 March 2026

Irrigation from dams and related infrastructure has made desert agriculture feasible

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Ten percent of American cropland is irrigated using water stored behind dams. Dams can be used to both store water and divert it to where it is needed for crops or livestock. For example, in arid regions, adjacent watersheds generally experience higher precipitation in winter and spring than in the summer and fall. Water from snowmelt and rainfall can be stored during these wetter months then released during the drier months. This helps growers plan their crops, prolongs the growing season, and increases agricultural production. Growers supplied with such irrigation can rely less on pumping groundwater for irrigation, which consumes energy and can lead to groundwater overdraft and land subsidence.

Some guidance for these types of dams can be found at:

USDA Irrigation Reservoir Code https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-09/Irrigation_Reservoir_436_CPS_9_2020.pdf

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Revision Date: 03/02/2026

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-Ten percent of American cropland is irrigated using water stored behind dams. Dams can be used to both store water and divert it to where it is needed for crops or livestock. Water is captured and stored during the winter and spring when most watersheds experience the most amount of [[precipitation]]. The stored water can be released during the summer and fall months when precipitation is less frequent, prolonging the growing season and increasing agricultural output in a given year.
+Ten percent of American cropland is irrigated using water stored behind dams. Dams can be used to both store water and divert it to where it is needed for crops or livestock. For example, in arid regions, adjacent watersheds generally experience higher [[precipitation]] in winter and spring than in the summer and fall. Water from [[snowmelt]] and rainfall can be stored during these wetter months then released during the drier months. This helps growers plan their crops, prolongs the growing season, and increases agricultural production. Growers supplied with such irrigation can rely less on pumping [[groundwater]] for irrigation, which consumes energy and can lead to groundwater overdraft and land subsidence.
 Some guidance for these [[Types of Dams|types of dams]] can be found at: