| STUDY AREA
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The Ojos Negros valley is located in Baja California, Mexico, about 80 km south of
the U.S.-Mexico border (Fig. 1
and Fig. 2).
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Recorded human settlement originated with the discovery of gold mining in 1870.
- In the 20th century, the local
economic activities shifted first to animal husbandry and then to agriculture.
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At present, agriculture
is the most important economic activity in the valley.
-
The products of its irrigated agriculture, which include
alfalfa, green onions, onions, watermelons and other staples, are commercialized on both
sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
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The valley has approximately 3100 ha under irrigation and about 5000 head of cattle.
- Irrigated
agriculture is entirely supported by groundwater (Fig. 3).
- A significant portion of the agriculture in the valley is supported by dryland farming.
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