ENSO impacts on regional water management: case study of the Edwards Aquifer (Texas, USA)

This study investigates the water management actions required for, and regional benefits of, conditioning Edwards Aquifer water and agricultural management on the phases of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), using data on ENSO frequency from 1970 to 1996. Water management adjustments would involve changes in agricultural crop mixes and urban water use to exploit seasonal climatic changes associated with ENSO. The value of ENSO-dependent management ranges from $1.1 to $3.5 million yr(-1), depending on initial water level elevations in the aquifer. Exploitation of ENSO events has the potential to help offset the costs of diminishing regional pumping due to legislative mandates.