Rainfall uncertainty and water availability: Elements for planning water allocation to users in irrigation districts of Mexico. Study case: Irrigation District 041, Yaqui River

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Ignacio Sánchez Cohen
Maritza Argelia Macías-Corral
Gerardo Esquivel Arriaga
Julián Cerano Paredes
Fernando Cabrera Carbajal
Marco Antonio Inzunza Ibarra
Gabriel Díaz Padilla
Rafael Alberto Guajardo Panes

Abstract

The aim of this work is to present a protocol for analyzing readily available climatic and hydrological information on watersheds, in order to achieve a rational planning of irrigation water allocation under rainfall uncertainty conditions. We present as case study the Yaqui River watershed and Irrigation District (ID) No. 041 in the state of Sonora, Mexico. The watershed is divided into three sub-watersheds that drain into three reservoirs. Our findings indicate a strong dependence of water availability on the reservoirs, conditioned by El Niño phenomenon. In addition, rainfall-runoff relationships indicate the capability to produce a runoff for each sub-watershed and the differentiated impact of El Niño. The three sub-watersheds require about the same amount of antecedent rainfall for initiating the runoff (5 mm). A standardized precipitation index (SPI) highlights the dynamics of dry and wet spells and the impact on the planted area within the irrigation district. Overall, the functional relationships between El Niño, the SPI, and the planted area in the irrigation district may serve for planning purposes under climate uncertainty scenarios.

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Author Biographies

Ignacio Sánchez Cohen, Centro Nacional de Investigación Disciplinaria en la Relación Agua-Suelo-Planta-Atmósfera Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales y Agrícolas y Pecuarias Margen Derecha Canal de Sacramento Gómez Palacio, Durango, CP. 35140

SNI: Nivel 2

Maritza Argelia Macías-Corral, Autonomous University of Coahuila

SNI I

Gerardo Esquivel Arriaga, INIFAP CENID RASPA

Watershed Modeling

Julián Cerano Paredes, INIFAP CENID RASPA

SNI I

Fernando Cabrera Carbajal, INIFAP CIRNO

nATIONAL rESEARCHER

Marco Antonio Inzunza Ibarra, INIFAP CENID RASPA

SNI I

Gabriel Díaz Padilla, INIFAP CIRGOC

SNI I

Rafael Alberto Guajardo Panes, INIFAP CIRGOC

National Researcher

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