we must also implement advanced irrigation techniques to maximize return flows or limit systems losses with drip. Canal and ditch linings, split season leasing, diversion infrastructure for return flows and other factors can benefit the system.

That almost chastises the wasteful flood irrigation practiced by most of the farms in California’s Imperial Valley (where most of the US winter vegetables are grown), but not quite. And then they seem to go on to say that we shouldn’t necessarily force such users to increase their efficiency:

It is easy to say that we need to take water away from farms. But what will that look like in practice? The reality in the Colorado River Basin is that taking away water from downstream agriculture in Southern California and Western Arizona will likely mean less water for the Salton Sea, the Colorado River Delta, and reservoirs like Lakes Mead, Mojave, and Havasu. Undoubtedly, unless management regimes are mindful to not repurpose water, agricultural water in the Lower Basin will not be conserved. It will likely be dammed and diverted in the Upper Basin.

This report doesn’t seem to be saying much of value other than that there’s a problem and it’s complicated.

I don’t see a link to the report in the article, so here’s a copy.

I just took a course on Coursera on hydrology. I’m surprised by how international it gets. They’re engaged in building hydrological systems in Indochina as if it was all one global de facto government making decisions.

Bioregionalism offers some interesting perspectives on hydrology issues. I still consider myself a student of it. It would mean conforming jurisdictional structures to landforms and ecological reality keeping the core operations local.

Sorry if this sounds unrelated.