A mixed-methods analysis of the Quantification Settlement Agreement in Imperial Valley, California

Keywords: agriculture, water policy, water resources, mixed-methods
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

The Imperial Valley is an agricultural region in Southern California that produces a large share of winter crops for the United States. Situated south of the Salton Sea and along the United States-Mexico border, the Valley’s crop water irrigation system is entirely dependent upon water imported from the Colorado River. In 2003, the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) was enacted to reduce California’s dependence on the Colorado River. Central to the QSA was a series of agriculture-to-urban water transfers from the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) to surrounding water districts. To conserve the massive volumes of water for transfer, the QSA incentivized water-conserving fallowing and on-farm efficiency programs in the IID. While annual crop reports provide numerical clues to the Valley’s response to reductions in water supply, resulting hydrologic patterns, cropping choices, and responses by local stakeholders remain unknown. In this study, I asked: How did the Imperial Valley agricultural system respond to changes in water supplies brought on by the QSA? Using a mixed-methods approach, I synthesized data on hydrologic change, trends from cropped and fallowed fields, and key informant narratives to explain physical and human responses to the QSA and illustrate the Valley-wide reaction to QSA policy and programs. Results suggest that the Imperial Valley agricultural system adapted to an overall reduction in water supply by increasing water productivity, strategic crop switching, and implementing a more dynamic business model. Third-party impacts, including on the agricultural labor force and environmental impacts on the Salton Sea, require further consideration.