Conflicts over the use of scarce fresh water by agriculture,historically limited to the West, are likely to spread eastward, according to a UC Davis soil and water scientist. "Supplemental crop irrigation in the East is on the rise with the greatest increases in the Southeast and Delta regions," says Kenneth K. Tanji, a professor of water science. "Since irrigated agriculture withdraws the largest amount of fresh water and is also the largest consumptive user of water, there is increasing competition for water between agriculture and urban uses, fish and wildlife, and recreation and aesthetic purposes." To more efficiently manage limited water supplies, agriculturists should improve their irrigation systems to ensure uniform water application and should make better use of weather data to schedule irrigations, Tanji suggests. Irrigation water also should be recycled for use on crops until it is no longer usable, and water pricing strategies should be implemented to encourage conservation, he says. Tanji presented his findings at the recent national meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.