This study is the first to assess the impact of climate change on irrigation decisions, crop yield, and water demand in California. The study uses an econometric model to estimate irrigation decisions by crop type under different climate and weather conditions. The researchers then project changes in irrigated areas under future climate changes and propose a multi-disciplinary approach to account for dynamic human decisions and water systems. The research aims to guide farmers in adaptive decision-making processes and has important policy implications for local and regional groundwater management plans and collective adaptation strategies.
California’s Water for Farms: Irrigation Decisions Under Climate Change
