No hayagua : Water Scarcity Affecting Farmers in Ensenada BC, Mexico Catalyzing the Requirement for Adaptation Methods to be Implemented

Abstract

Farmers in the Ejido of Maneadero wake up to the recurring nightmare of the phrase "no hay agua"(there is no water). Maneadero, a coastal town part of the municipality of Ensenada Baja California Mexico, is composed of land that is primarily used for agricultural production and relies on water from the Maneadero aquifer. Due to increasing population, water demand has increased drastically. Most of the water that is extracted from the aquifer is not used for agricultural practice in the area, rather it is sent to the city of Ensenda for domestic purposes. This causes water levels to plumtnet in the aquifer and forces farmers to continue extracting water to irrigate their crops although levels are low. Furthermore, due to climate change and drought, the aquifers have not been properly recharged in years. This exploitation has caused extreme low water levels causing sea water intrusions into the aquifer and private wells of many farmers in Maneadero. Therefore, farmers who irrigate their crops using the available water with high levels of seawater contaminate the soil, leading to decreases in production and the decrease of the agricultural industry in the area. This study addresses the various methods that farmers, researchers, and stakeholders have thought to implement in order to adapt to changes in the climate, mitigate the harm done to the Maneadero aquifer, and find better methods of water management to support farmers.