Assessment of Water Dynamics with Changing Land use in the Lower Fraser Valley, B.C.

Changing agricultural land use has impacted field water dynamics, as different crops and management practices have different water requirements. Thus, information is required to assess these changes in field water dynamics and develop strategies to manage water resources more efficiently, including assessment of alternative irrigation systems. Water stress in the Lower Fraser Valley (LFV): the conflict between growing agricultural water consumption demand and limited water resources. The LFV is one of the most densely populated and intensively farmed areas in BC. The unequal temporal distribution of rainfall makes irrigation demand even higher during the crop growing season. Agricultural development in the LFV relies on water resources, but climate change is likely to cause drier and warmer summers and wetter winters[4]. This tends to increase water stress due to the higher demand for irrigation.