The Confluence

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The Confluence is the blog of the California Institute for Water Resources (CIWR) within University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. We cover timely topics of water management in California, highlight innovative research and voices.

CIWR's mission is to integrate California's research, extension, and education programs to develop research-based solutions to water resource challenges. We do this by facilitating collaborative research and outreach on water issues across California's academic institutions and with international, federal, state, regional, nonprofit, and campus communities.

Visit us at: ciwr.ucanr.edu | follow us on Bluesky @ucanrwater.bsky.social, LinkedIn, and Twitter/X @ucanrwater

University of California
Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources
California Institute for Water Resources

Trees can be watered by drip irrigation systems or soaker hoses as well as hand-held devices. Photo by Janet Hartin.

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Save trees first: Tips to keep them alive during drought

June 10, 2022

By Pamela S Kan-Rice

Water restrictions prompted by drought are driving Californians to prioritize how they will use their limited water. Because landscape irrigation is a major water use for many households, residents are looking outdoors to conserve water.

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Rob Schuh and son-in-law Andrew Carroll standing in their almond orchard. Photo by Caddie Bergren.

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California Farmer Implements Cover Cropping in Almond Orchard to Improve Soil Quality and Reduce Inputs

May 11, 2022

Ten years ago, Rob Schuh was on the verge of retiring. As a lifelong farmer, he had become disillusioned by how his work had become a series of numbers adding and subtracting pounds of fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide every year.

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The Tubbs Fire was the first known wildfire that had direct impacts on water infrastructure. Photo by Faith Kearns.

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How Can California Protect Its Water Supply From Wildfire?

December 8, 2021

It's intuitive that wildfires can affect ecosystems, harm wildlife, and contaminate streams and rivers. But wildfires can also have complex, severe, and direct effects on our water supply and infrastructureeffects that have only become clear in recent years.

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Zuppan’s manure solid separator system funded by a CDFA AMMP grant. Photo by Dana Yount.

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Climate-smart agriculture in California: Increasing the resilience of livestock operations

August 16, 2021

When liquid manure sits in storage lagoons on dairies or other livestock operations for too long, methane can form and contribute to climate change.

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Irrigation scheduling can be used to reduce the amount of water needed to maintain a landscape. Photo by John Karlik.

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Tips for saving water and money in home landscapes

May 24, 2021

By John Karlik, UC Cooperative Extension, Environmental Horticulture/Environmental Science Advisor, Kern County In a previous article, I noted another dry year is underway. Excessive landscape irrigation is wasteful and can lead to turf and landscape diseases.

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