Agricultural development and water conflicts in California

Abstract

The physical and human configuration of each country is absolutely crucial in the functioning of the hydrological cycle and in the water management. Hence it is always difficult to draw lessons from what others do regarding hydraulic matters. However, globalization, particularly important in agricultural markets, from which the largest water demand comes, makes relevant some comparisons. This is the background of the study of the situation in California, which has agriculture avid of water and with important similarities with Catalonia and other parts of the Mediterranean.

Keywords: water resources, irrigation, agricultural development, water policy.