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  1. Water scarcity and fish imperilment driven by beef production

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    Author(s): Brian D. Richter; Dominique Bartak; Peter Caldwell; Kyle Frankel Davis; Peter Debaere; Arjen Y. Hoekstra; Tianshu Li; Landon Marston; Ryan McManamay; Mesfin M. Mekonnen; Benjamin L. Ruddell; Richard R. Rushforth; J. Tara. Troy
    Date: 2020
    Source: Nature Sustainability
    Publication Series: Scientific Journal (JRNL)
    Station: Southern Research Station
    PDF: Download Publication  (6.0 MB)

    Description

    Human consumption of freshwater is now approaching or surpassing the rate at which water sources are being naturally replenished in many regions; creating water shortage risks for people and ecosystems. Here we assess the impact of human water uses and their connection to water scarcity and ecological damage across the United States; identify primary causes of river dewatering and explore ways to ameliorate them. We find irrigation of cattle-feed crops to be the greatest consumer of river water in the western United States; implicating beef and dairy consumption as the leading driver of water shortages and fish imperilment in the region. We assess opportunities for alleviating water scarcity by reducing cattle-feed production; finding that temporary rotational fallowing of irrigated feed crops can markedly reduce water shortage risks and improve ecological sustainability. Long-term water security and river ecosystem health will ultimately require Americans to consume less beef that depends on irrigated feed crops.

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    Citation

    Richter, Brian D.; Bartak, Dominique; Caldwell, Peter; Davis, Kyle Frankel; Debaere, Peter; Hoekstra, Arjen Y.; Li, Tianshu; Marston, Landon; McManamay, Ryan; Mekonnen, Mesfin M.; Ruddell, Benjamin L.; Rushforth, Richard R.; Troy, J. Tara. 2020. Water scarcity and fish imperilment driven by beef production. Nature Sustainability. 3: 319-328. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-0483-z

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