Aridland Water Harvesting Study Active
Most of western North America has been severely grazed by cattle, causing grasslands to deteriorate and desert scrub expansion. Climate in arid and semi-arid regions is often typified by short, intense rainfall events which contribute to short-term flooding and erosion. Associated arroyo cutting occurs when ephemeral creek beds are carved into the floodplain when erratic overland flow occurs; this lowers water tables, depleting surface and subsurface water supplies. When surface runoff is high, little recharge infiltrates to the basin aquifer, and high-intensity flow transports heavy sediment loads to channels, contributing to nonpoint source pollution in surface water bodies.
People living in arid land environments all over the globe have developed ways to manipulate the earth’s surface to benefit and sustain agricultural practices via water harvesting. Archaeologists have discovered such features dating back to Before the Common Era and in the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion (Sky Islands) built over a thousand years ago.
Federal agencies, including the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Parks Service, and Bureau of Land Management, are major land managers in this region, concerned with developing sustainable water supplies and vegetation for future generations and engage in best management practices. Additionally, private ranch owners have identified an immediate need for the adoption of proper conservation strategies in this area to control the eutrophication in downstream water supplies and to prevent further watershed degradation.
One solution is to install rock detention structures, such as (i.) a one rock dam (one-rock high) bed of rocks (en espanol: trinchera) can be in channels or hillslopes, (ii.) a check dam (gully plug), usually ~3 foot high loose rock structure set into channel, and/or (iii.) a rock gabion, which consists of rocks rapped in wire cage and keyed into channel (see Drawings)
An effort to develop soil and water conservation measures in local riparian zones has recently been revived in both private and public lands in this region using rock detention structures to restore landscapes and create resiliency to change. Specific ally, structures are built to detain rainwater-runoff to (i.) increase infiltration and improve recharge, (ii.) increase surface water for plants and animals, and (iii.) reduce erosion, stabilize soil and prevent downstream transport. These goals have been identified colloquially, but not qualified nor quantified scientifically. We have broken these expected results into a list of Ecosystem Services.
Broad Science Questions
As such, we have developed a series of scientific questions to address their impacts both qualitatively and quantitatively, and the list keeps growing.
Project Objectives
I. Determine metrics to discern effectiveness of rock detention structures (quantifiable results).
II. Work with partners to determine where new structures should be…..
1. For flood prevention?
2. For vegetation and habitat?
3. To “heal” the land?
4. For groundwater recharge?
5. To reduce erosion and nonpoint source pollution (sedimentation in streams)?
6. To increase surface water?
7. To armor landscapes?
Scientific methodology
Our research is based on the hydrologic cycle that describes water as either: a) evaporated or transpired to the atmosphere; b) stored in the soil or in underground aquifers; or c) discharged to a nearby waterway (Fig. 3).
- Terrestrial monitoring documents the hydrological impacts of water harvesting devices and helps identify sites for future installation in Patagonia.
- Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery and the derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values are being used to monitor changes in vegetation greenness at a desert wetland in San Bernardino.
- Hydrological geospatial models, including the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and the Kinematic Runoff and Erosion Model (KINEROS2) are being used (with Terrestrial LiDAR (T-LiDAR) datasets) to monitor changes in surface flow, infiltration, and sediment build-up at new check dams and detention features in Nogales, Patagonia, and at the Babocomari.
- T-LiDAR data and 2-D hydraulic models are also being used to examine changes in vegetation structure and channel dimensions in Patagonia.
- Hydrographs are developed using Continuous Slope Area methods to be input to calibrate watershed models for long-term predictions in the Chiricahua Mountains.
Acknowledgements
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is a Federal agency that conducts science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment. This research is part of the Core Science Systems (CSS) Change Mission Area of the USGS, which undertakes scientific research using monitoring, remote sensing to address the effects of climate and land use change. The CSS provides the scientific foundation upon which policymakers, natural resource managers, and the public make informed decisions about the management of natural resources. Funding comes from the Land Change Science Program (LCSP) to understand the patterns, processes, and consequences of changes using models to predict scenarios of future conditions, and conduct integrative, holistic assessments.
Below are science projects managed under the Aridland Water Harvesting Study.
Below are data releases published by the Aridland Water Harvesting Study.
Below are journal articles and reports published by the Aridland Water Harvesting Study.
Natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) can establish regenerative wetland sinks that reverse desertification and strengthen climate resilience
Mapping perceived social values to support a respondent-defined restoration economy: Case study in southeastern Arizona, USA
A mosaic of land tenure and ownership creates challenges and opportunities for transboundary conservation in the US-Mexico borderlands
Modelling development of riparian ranchlands using ecosystem services at the Aravaipa Watershed, SE Arizona
Modeling riparian restoration impacts on the hydrologic cycle at the Babacomari Ranch, SE Arizona, USA
Urban growth and landscape connectivity threats assessment at Saguaro National Park, Arizona, USA
Analysis of vegetation recovery surrounding a restored wetland using the normalized difference infrared index (NDII) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)
Quantifying geomorphic change at ephemeral stream restoration sites using a coupled-model approach
Multi-index time series monitoring of drought and fire effects on desert grasslands
Comparison of remote sensing indices for monitoring of desert cienegas
Model analysis of check dam impacts on long-term sediment and water budgets in southeast Arizona, USA
Urban effects on regional climate: a case study in the Phoenix and Tucson ‘sun’ corridor
Hydrologic response of streams restored with check dams in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona
Below are news stories and announcements about the Aridland Water Harvesting Study.
Researchers, partners and stakeholders
Sky Island Restoration Collaboration (SIRC)
A new consortium is working to share and integrate conservation efforts in the Madrean Sky Island Archipelago. The collective goal is to conduct a landscape-level resource assessment, at a multiple watershed scale, to evaluate condition and prioritize areas and methods for restorative treatment.
- Overview
Most of western North America has been severely grazed by cattle, causing grasslands to deteriorate and desert scrub expansion. Climate in arid and semi-arid regions is often typified by short, intense rainfall events which contribute to short-term flooding and erosion. Associated arroyo cutting occurs when ephemeral creek beds are carved into the floodplain when erratic overland flow occurs; this lowers water tables, depleting surface and subsurface water supplies. When surface runoff is high, little recharge infiltrates to the basin aquifer, and high-intensity flow transports heavy sediment loads to channels, contributing to nonpoint source pollution in surface water bodies.
People living in arid land environments all over the globe have developed ways to manipulate the earth’s surface to benefit and sustain agricultural practices via water harvesting. Archaeologists have discovered such features dating back to Before the Common Era and in the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion (Sky Islands) built over a thousand years ago.
Federal agencies, including the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Parks Service, and Bureau of Land Management, are major land managers in this region, concerned with developing sustainable water supplies and vegetation for future generations and engage in best management practices. Additionally, private ranch owners have identified an immediate need for the adoption of proper conservation strategies in this area to control the eutrophication in downstream water supplies and to prevent further watershed degradation.
One solution is to install rock detention structures, such as (i.) a one rock dam (one-rock high) bed of rocks (en espanol: trinchera) can be in channels or hillslopes, (ii.) a check dam (gully plug), usually ~3 foot high loose rock structure set into channel, and/or (iii.) a rock gabion, which consists of rocks rapped in wire cage and keyed into channel (see Drawings)
An effort to develop soil and water conservation measures in local riparian zones has recently been revived in both private and public lands in this region using rock detention structures to restore landscapes and create resiliency to change. Specific ally, structures are built to detain rainwater-runoff to (i.) increase infiltration and improve recharge, (ii.) increase surface water for plants and animals, and (iii.) reduce erosion, stabilize soil and prevent downstream transport. These goals have been identified colloquially, but not qualified nor quantified scientifically. We have broken these expected results into a list of Ecosystem Services.
Broad Science Questions
As such, we have developed a series of scientific questions to address their impacts both qualitatively and quantitatively, and the list keeps growing.
Project Objectives
I. Determine metrics to discern effectiveness of rock detention structures (quantifiable results).
II. Work with partners to determine where new structures should be…..
1. For flood prevention?
2. For vegetation and habitat?
3. To “heal” the land?
4. For groundwater recharge?
5. To reduce erosion and nonpoint source pollution (sedimentation in streams)?
6. To increase surface water?
7. To armor landscapes?
Scientific methodology
Our research is based on the hydrologic cycle that describes water as either: a) evaporated or transpired to the atmosphere; b) stored in the soil or in underground aquifers; or c) discharged to a nearby waterway (Fig. 3).
- Terrestrial monitoring documents the hydrological impacts of water harvesting devices and helps identify sites for future installation in Patagonia.
- Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery and the derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values are being used to monitor changes in vegetation greenness at a desert wetland in San Bernardino.
- Hydrological geospatial models, including the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and the Kinematic Runoff and Erosion Model (KINEROS2) are being used (with Terrestrial LiDAR (T-LiDAR) datasets) to monitor changes in surface flow, infiltration, and sediment build-up at new check dams and detention features in Nogales, Patagonia, and at the Babocomari.
- T-LiDAR data and 2-D hydraulic models are also being used to examine changes in vegetation structure and channel dimensions in Patagonia.
- Hydrographs are developed using Continuous Slope Area methods to be input to calibrate watershed models for long-term predictions in the Chiricahua Mountains.
Acknowledgements
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is a Federal agency that conducts science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment. This research is part of the Core Science Systems (CSS) Change Mission Area of the USGS, which undertakes scientific research using monitoring, remote sensing to address the effects of climate and land use change. The CSS provides the scientific foundation upon which policymakers, natural resource managers, and the public make informed decisions about the management of natural resources. Funding comes from the Land Change Science Program (LCSP) to understand the patterns, processes, and consequences of changes using models to predict scenarios of future conditions, and conduct integrative, holistic assessments.
- Science
Below are science projects managed under the Aridland Water Harvesting Study.
- Data
Below are data releases published by the Aridland Water Harvesting Study.
- Publications
Below are journal articles and reports published by the Aridland Water Harvesting Study.
Natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) can establish regenerative wetland sinks that reverse desertification and strengthen climate resilience
In this article we describe the natural hydrogeomorphological and biogeochemical cycles of dryland fluvial ecosystems that make them unique, yet vulnerable to land use activities and climate change. We introduce Natural Infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS), which are structures naturally or anthropogenically created from earth, wood, debris, or rock that can restore implicit function of theseAuthorsLaura M. Norman, Rattan Lal, Ellen Wohl, Emily Fairfax, Allen C. Gellis, Michael M. PollockFilter Total Items: 28Mapping perceived social values to support a respondent-defined restoration economy: Case study in southeastern Arizona, USA
Investment in conservation and ecological restoration depends on various socioeconomic factors and the social license for these activities. Our study demonstrates a method for targeting management of ecosystem services based on social values, identified by respondents through a collection of social survey data. We applied the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) geographic information sysAuthorsRoy Petrakis, Laura M. Norman, Oliver Lysaght, Benson C. Sherrouse, Darius J. Semmens, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Richard PritzlaffA mosaic of land tenure and ownership creates challenges and opportunities for transboundary conservation in the US-Mexico borderlands
In the Madrean Sky Islands of western North America, a mixture of public and private land ownership and tenure creates a complex situation for collaborative efforts in conservation. In this case study, we describe the current ownership and management structures in the US-Mexico borderlands where social, political, and economic conditions create extreme pressures on the environment and challenges fAuthorsMiguel L. Villarreal, Sandra L. Haire, Juan Carlos Bravo, Laura M. NormanModelling development of riparian ranchlands using ecosystem services at the Aravaipa Watershed, SE Arizona
This paper describes how subdivision and development of rangelands within a remote and celebrated semiarid watershed near the US-Mexico border might affect multiple ecohydrological services provided, such as recharge of the aquifer, water and sediment yield, water quality, flow rates and downstream cultural and natural resources. Specifically, we apply an uncalibrated watershed model and land-chanAuthorsLaura Norman, Miguel Villarreal, Rewati Niraula, Mark Haberstich, Natalie WilsonModeling riparian restoration impacts on the hydrologic cycle at the Babacomari Ranch, SE Arizona, USA
This paper describes coupling field experiments with surface and groundwater modeling to investigate rangelands of SE Arizona, USA using erosion-control structures to augment shallow and deep aquifer recharge. We collected field data to describe the physical and hydrological properties before and after gabions (caged riprap) were installed in an ephemeral channel. The modular finite-difference floAuthorsLaura M. Norman, James B. Callegary, Laurel Lacher, Natalie R. Wilson, Chloé Fandel, Brandon T. Forbes, Tyson SwetnamUrban growth and landscape connectivity threats assessment at Saguaro National Park, Arizona, USA
Urban and exurban expansion results in habitat and biodiversity loss globally. We hypothesize that a coupled-model approach could connect urban planning for future cities with landscape ecology to consider wildland habitat connectivity. Our work combines urban growth simulations with models of wildlife corridors to examine how species will be impacted by development to test this hypothesis. We levAuthorsRyan Perkl, Laura M. Norman, David Mitchell, Mark R. Feller, Garrett Smith, Natalie R. WilsonAnalysis of vegetation recovery surrounding a restored wetland using the normalized difference infrared index (NDII) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)
Watershed restoration efforts seek to rejuvenate vegetation, biological diversity, and land productivity at Cienega San Bernardino, an important wetland in southeastern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico. Rock detention and earthen berm structures were built on the Cienega San Bernardino over the course of four decades, beginning in 1984 and continuing to the present. Previous research findings sAuthorsNatalie R. Wilson, Laura NormanQuantifying geomorphic change at ephemeral stream restoration sites using a coupled-model approach
Rock-detention structures are used as restoration treatments to engineer ephemeral stream channels of southeast Arizona, USA, to reduce streamflow velocity, limit erosion, retain sediment, and promote surface-water infiltration. Structures are intended to aggrade incised stream channels, yet little quantified evidence of efficacy is available. The goal of this 3-year study was to characterize theAuthorsLaura M. Norman, Joel B. Sankey, David Dean, Joshua J. Caster, Stephen B. DeLong, Whitney Henderson-DeLong, Jon D. PelletierMulti-index time series monitoring of drought and fire effects on desert grasslands
The Western United States is expected to undergo both extended periods of drought and longer wildfire seasons under forecasted global climate change and it is important to understand how these disturbances will interact and affect recovery and composition of plant communities in the future. In this research paper we describe the temporal response of grassland communities to drought and fire in souAuthorsMiguel L. Villarreal, Laura M. Norman, Steven Buckley, Cynthia S.A. Wallace, Michelle A. CoeComparison of remote sensing indices for monitoring of desert cienegas
This research considers the applicability of different vegetation indices at 30 m resolution for mapping and monitoring desert wetland (cienega) health and spatial extent through time at Cienega Creek in southeastern Arizona, USA. Multiple stressors including the risk of decadal-scale drought, the effects of current and predicted global warming, and continued anthropogenic pressures threaten aquatAuthorsNatalie R. Wilson, Laura M. Norman, Miguel L. Villarreal, Leila Gass, Ron Tiller, Andrew SalywonModel analysis of check dam impacts on long-term sediment and water budgets in southeast Arizona, USA
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of check dam infrastructure on soil and water conservation at the catchment scale using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). This paired watershed study includes a watershed treated with over 2000 check dams and a Control watershed which has none, in the West Turkey Creek watershed, Southeast Arizona, USA. SWAT was calibrated for streamfAuthorsLaura M. Norman, Rewati NiraulaUrban effects on regional climate: a case study in the Phoenix and Tucson ‘sun’ corridor
Land use and land cover change (LULCC) due to urban expansion alter the surface albedo, heat capacity, and thermal conductivity of the surface. Consequently, the energy balance in urban regions is different from that of natural surfaces. To evaluate the changes in regional climate that could arise due to projected urbanization in the Phoenix-Tucson corridor, Arizona, we applied the coupled WRF-NOAAuthorsZhao Yang, Francina Dominguez, Hoshin Gupta, Xubin Zeng, Laura M. NormanHydrologic response of streams restored with check dams in the Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona
In this study, hydrological processes are evaluated to determine impacts of stream restoration in the West Turkey Creek, Chiricahua Mountains, southeast Arizona, during a summer-monsoon season (June–October of 2013). A paired-watershed approach was used to analyze the effectiveness of check dams to mitigate high flows and impact long-term maintenance of hydrologic function. One watershed had beenAuthorsLaura M. Norman, Fletcher C. Brinkerhoff, Evan Gwilliam, D. Phillip Guertin, James B. Callegary, David C. Goodrich, Pamela L. Nagler, Floyd Gray - News
Below are news stories and announcements about the Aridland Water Harvesting Study.
Filter Total Items: 35 - Partners
Researchers, partners and stakeholders
Sky Island Restoration Collaboration (SIRC)
A new consortium is working to share and integrate conservation efforts in the Madrean Sky Island Archipelago. The collective goal is to conduct a landscape-level resource assessment, at a multiple watershed scale, to evaluate condition and prioritize areas and methods for restorative treatment.
Filter Total Items: 44