Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2017AR396B

Assessment of strategies to address future irrigation water shortage in the Arkansas Delta

Institute: Arkansas
Year Established: 2017 Start Date: 2017-03-01 End Date: 2018-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $5,067 Total Non-Federal Funds: $10,406

Principal Investigators: Qiuqiong Huang

Abstract: Understanding how farmers respond to groundwater shortage is critical to the long-term viability of irrigated agriculture in the Arkansas Delta. Using a unique set of producer survey data collected by the PI and collaborators, the proposed research documents producers’ current irrigation practicies, awareness of groundwater shortage in the Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer, and preferred strategies for mitigation of, and adaptation to, groundwater shortage. Critically, this project will use regression analysis to estimate agricultural producers’ willingness to pay for surface water from irrigation districts. The results will help the University of Arkansas Extension Service improve education and outreach by promoting mitigation measures tailored to producers in the region, and will inform policy regarding current and future construction of surface water irrigation districts in the Arkansas Delta.