Sustainability of Engineered Rivers In Arid Lands
Challenge and Response

Interdisciplinary volume considers how nine arid/semi-arid river basins with irrigated agriculture will survive future climate change, siltation, and decreased flow.

Jurgen Schmandt (Edited by), Aysegül Kibaroglu (Edited by), Regina Buono (Associate editor), Sephra Thomas (Associate editor)

9781108417037, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 September 2021

500 pages
28.5 x 21.9 x 1.9 cm, 1.01 kg

'… an important contribution to the very timely topic of the challenges associated with using and protecting [river] resources. In particular, this unique group of contributors jointly show that the effects, both potential and observed, of climate change will necessitate changes in resource management. By considering prevailing conditions and the approaches currently taken with respect to such widely spread and differently managed systems, they offer readers many needed lessons … Recommended.' I. D. Sasowsky, Choice Connect

This interdisciplinary volume examines how nine arid or semi-arid river basins with thriving irrigated agriculture are doing now and how they may change between now and mid-century. The rivers studied are the Colorado, Euphrates-Tigris, Jucar, Limarí, Murray-Darling, Nile, Rio Grande, São Francisco, and Yellow. Engineered dams and distribution networks brought large benefits to farmers and cities, but now the water systems face multiple challenges, above all climate change, reservoir siltation, and decreased water flows. Unchecked, they will see reduced food production and endanger the economic livelihood of basin populations. The authors suggest how to respond to these challenges without loss of food production, drinking water, or environmental health. The analysis of the political, hydrological, and environmental conditions within each basin gives policymakers, engineers, and researchers interested in the water/sustainability nexus a better understanding of engineered rivers in arid lands.

Introduction
1. Introduction: Sustainability of Engineered Rivers in Arid Lands Jurgen Schmandt
Part I. Challenge: 2. Global Climate Change and the Rivers Gerald R. North
3. Reservoirs: Design, Functions, Challenges George H. Ward
4. Depletion of Groundwater: the Surface-Groundwater Connection Stephanie Glenn
5. Endangered Food Security Olcay Unver, Eduardo Mansur and Melvyn Kay
6. Declining Environmental Flows Stephanie Glenn and R. James Lester
Part II. Engineered Rivers: Past, Present and Future: 7. The Nile River Basin Muhammad Khalifa, Sephra Thomas and Lars Ribbe
8. The Euphrates-Tigris River Basin Aysegül Kibaroglu
9. The Yellow River Basin James E. Nickum and Jia Shaofeng
10. The Murray-Darling River Basin Daniel Connell
11. The São Francisco River Basin Antonio R. Magalhães, Eduardo Sávio and P. R. Martins
12. The Limarí River Basin Alexandra Nauditt, Justyna Sycz and Lars Ribbe
13. The Colorado River Basin Douglas S. Kenney, Michael Cohen, John Berggren and Regina M. Buono
14. The Rio Grande/Río Bravo River Basin George H. Ward and Jurgen Schmandt
15. The Jucar River Basin Jose Albiac, M. T. Kahil and Encarna Esteban
Part IV. Response: 16. River Basin Management and Irrigation François Molle
17. 'Intelligent' Water Transfers Eduardo Sávio, P. R. Martins, Antonio Magalhães and James E. Nickum
18. Better Basin Management with Stakeholder Participation Jurgen Schmandt and Aysegül Kibaroglu
Part V. Conclusion: 19. Conclusion: What We Found and What We Recommend Aysegül Kibaroglu, Jurgen Schmandt and George H. Ward
Index.

Subject Areas: Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], Environmental factors [MBNH2]