Flooding an X area field is more water exposed to the air than direct application to a smaller Y area no? So by your own logic more water evaporates into the air with flooding
And once it evaporates, it will move east with the air, over the mountains, and into a different watershed.
It is true that the water will flow somewhere, so isn't "lost", but the point is that the diversion decreases how much makes it downstream to the Salt Lake.
I thought the water cycle causes almost all of the precipitation to happen before going over the mountains? It's why the west side of the Sierras are wet and the east side dry.
It is true that the water will flow somewhere, so isn't "lost", but the point is that the diversion decreases how much makes it downstream to the Salt Lake.