Narrator: This is Science Today. The Salton Sea, located in the southeastern corner of California, is the largest body of water in the state and it provides a significant habitat for fish and wildlife. But surface-run off from nearby agricultural production is threatening these habitats. To minimize surface runoff, Khaled Bali, a University of California irrigation and water management expert, has developed improved irrigation practices.

Bali: About 17% of the applied water ends up as surface runoff and all the water ends up in the Salton Sea. So we basically worked on a method where we reduce the surface of run off from the average of 17% to less than about 5%. So we can save about 15% or so of the applied water. At the same time, we reduce the subsurface of drainage and you increase the water table contribution, so you have another source for the crop to use water from the water table.

Narrator: The added benefit of water conservation lowers irrigation costs and increases the availability of good quality water for use elsewhere. For Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin.