Water in California is a tale of two extremes: droughts and floods. Today, state and local agencies working on these issues require a more integrated and resilient view of water management activities from headwaters to groundwater, to better maximize water supply and support cities, agriculture, industries and the environment. The specific practice of Flood-MAR is defined as the use of flood water resulting from rainfall or snow melt for managed aquifer recharge on agricultural lands, working landscapes and managed natural lands. Today, multiple water agencies and the CA Department of Water Resources are using an innovative ArcGIS based web app named GRAT (Groundwater Recharge Assessment Tool) to fully integrate a spatial/temporal optimization for where, when, and how much water could be used to replenish our depleted aquifers. Importantly, this is all being done in a financial context, enabling best available investments done in a cost effective manner. What’s notable is that these Flood-MAR practitioners are not GIS experts, but actual water decision makers. The use of the tool allows them to test unlimited user defined scenarios (accounting for variability and unpredictability of water availability triggered by climate change) while optimizing outcomes across agronomy, agriculture, hydrology, the environment and societal benefits. GRAT today provide a compelling example of Big Data and GIS made practical and accessible. Use of the tool is already leading to real-world outcomes across the Central Valley, which is critical given it is the main source of irrigated agriculture for the entire nation.
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