Water is not the limitless natural resource it appears to be when a faucet, sprinkler or irrigation system is turned on.
As evidence, consider Taghvaeian’s recent research on previous droughts in Oklahoma and their impact on irrigated agriculture.
“In parts of the state that have access to groundwater they can pump during drought, it’s usually a more rapid decline of water resources during drought years,” Taghvaeian said.
“It’ll impact the future of that water resource and its availability in that region.” Particularly in the case of groundwater resources, which are harder to quantify because they are below the surface, Taghvaeian said people should think of it like a savings account.
“You learn that’s just part of nature.
However, the advent and evolution of long-range weather forecasting has been critical in helping Kinder manage the operation, including during times of drought.
For instance, Kinder has a good idea of his crop rotations a year in advance and the long-range weather forecasts play a role in those determinations.
For others who live and work outside agriculture circles, drought obviously takes on a very different meaning.
“Generally, they don’t feel the impact immediately like a farmer or water manager might,” said McManus.
“Our producers are well aware of the value of our natural resources.