Using irrigation water as drought insurance for growing urban areas is an unwise course that could threaten the nation’s food supply, a new study looking at climate change reports. A Family Farm Alliance study says climate change could reduce snowpack, increase the need for water and decrease groundwater recharge. The group recommends more reservoirs to capture earlier runoff and balance stream flows. It also cites effective programs in which agricultural needs are incorporated into planning for future water shortages. The study, however, has harsh criticism for water policies that rely on ag water to meet supplies for cities, a major thrust in Colorado, where a Statewide Water Supply Initiative identified a municipal supply “gap” that would most likely be filled by converting farm water to supplies for cities. “Relying on agriculture to be a shock absorber to soften or eliminate the impending water shortage is not planning,” said Patrick O’Toole, president of the alliance. “It is a choice to put our heads in the sand and hope for the best. It is a decision that could worsen the overall impact of climate change on our nation’s economy and security.”

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