How can we better manage water and land use to meet agricultural and ecosystem needs?
Given the large possibility for drought in the future, it is essential to understand water vulnerability and availability in order to better manage it. In areas such as Pescadero, where intensive agriculture remains the primary method of land use, this question is particularly pertinent. Furthermore, a well-developed hydrologic understanding of the area is necessary in order to monitor net ecosystem carbon fluxes in a changing landscape. This includes a thorough understanding of surface and near surface interactions such as vegetation impacts and changes in soil moisture. Net ecosystem carbon flux data is vital to ranching communities in order to prove to government agencies that sustainable measures have been taken. This leads to increased government funding and support.
To start to address this question, we need a hydrologic model that can be used to evaluate the spatial couplings and connections between recharge, groundwater, and surface water and groundwater and streamwater extractions for residential and agricultural purposes (i.e., livestock and irrigation).
This project will start to address the issues of Pescadero watershed by developing a high-resolution hydrologic model of one sub-watershed of the Pescadero watershed, using newly collected hydrologic, geologic and geophysical data as well as historical stream, spring and well monitoring data and GIS information.
Go With The (Hydrologic) Flow 