Sustainable development and management of water resources requires a broad understanding of the inter-relationships between the competing agricultural, urban, and environmental uses, both presently and with an eye to the future. We leverage our experience in water resource planning for agriculture and the environment to examine water resource problems holistically, offering innovative solutions to resolve these issues collaboratively rather than in a confrontational manner.

The increased demand for food, and now bio-fuels, together with competition for water for urban and environmental uses, places pressure on agriculture to produce more crops with less water. Driven by our commitment to the development and management of high-efficiency, cost-effective, sustainable irrigation, we have worked with small growers, large commercial farms, and entire irrigation districts to improve their systems and operations to produce more “crop per drop.”

Urbanization in agricultural areas brings unique challenges and opportunities. KB's integrated approach to community planning incorporates the needs of both sectors and minimizes environmental impact. For example, linking the unique features of agricultural water transportation facilities with open space needs and finding synergistic opportunities for water exchange can create a more compatible interface between urban and agricultural land use.