Water scarcity and fish imperilment driven by beef production

Brian D. Richter (), Dominique Bartak, Peter Caldwell, Kyle Frankel Davis, Peter Debaere, Arjen Y. Hoekstra, Tianshu Li, Landon Marston, Ryan McManamay, Mesfin M. Mekonnen, Benjamin L. Ruddell, Richard R. Rushforth and Tara J. Troy
Additional contact information
Brian D. Richter: Sustainable Waters
Dominique Bartak: Water Asset Management
Peter Caldwell: USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station
Kyle Frankel Davis: University of Delaware
Peter Debaere: University of Virginia
Arjen Y. Hoekstra: University of Twente
Landon Marston: Kansas State University
Ryan McManamay: Baylor University
Mesfin M. Mekonnen: University of Nebraska
Benjamin L. Ruddell: Northern Arizona University
Richard R. Rushforth: Northern Arizona University
Tara J. Troy: Lehigh University

Nature Sustainability, 2020, vol. 3, issue 4, 319-328

Abstract: Abstract Human consumption of freshwater is now approaching or surpassing the rate at which water sources are being naturally replenished in many regions, creating water shortage risks for people and ecosystems. Here we assess the impact of human water uses and their connection to water scarcity and ecological damage across the United States, identify primary causes of river dewatering and explore ways to ameliorate them. We find irrigation of cattle-feed crops to be the greatest consumer of river water in the western United States, implicating beef and dairy consumption as the leading driver of water shortages and fish imperilment in the region. We assess opportunities for alleviating water scarcity by reducing cattle-feed production, finding that temporary, rotational fallowing of irrigated feed crops can markedly reduce water shortage risks and improve ecological sustainability. Long-term water security and river ecosystem health will ultimately require Americans to consume less beef that depends on irrigated feed crops.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-0483-z

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