Remotely-sensed observations of the unrestored riparian corridor of the Colorado River Delta in Mexico, 2019-2022

These data were compiled for evaluating plant water use, or river-reach level evapotranspiration (ET) data, in the unrestored riparian corridor of the Colorado River delta as specified under Minute 319 of the 1944 Water Treaty. Additionally, these data were compiled for evaluating restoration-level data in Reach 2 and Reach 4, as specified under Minute 323 of the 1944 Water Treaty. Objectives of our study were to measure the peak growing season evapotranspiration (ET) for the average of months in summer-fall (May to October) for the seven reaches, for the full riparian corridor, and for four restoration sites, from 2019 through 2022. The seven reach areas from the Northerly International Boundary (NIB) to the end of the delta at the Gulf of California were defined for research activities. These data represent measurements of the enhanced vegetation index 2 (EVI2) and ET using EVI2, along with potential ET from meteorological station data in Yuma, Arizona. These ET and EVI2 data depict a Landsat time series from three sensors over the 3-year period. These data were collected using Landsat satellite data (30 m resolution) over the delta of the Colorado River starting near Yuma, AZ and continuing another 150km to the Gulf of California along the river corridor. These data were collected by Pamela Nagler, Ph.D. of the U.S. Geological Survey-Southwest Biological Science Center, and Ibrahima Sall, Ph.D. of the University of Arizona, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and Armando Barreto-Muñoz, Ph.D. and Kamal Didan, Ph.D. of the University of Arizona, Vegetation Index and Phenology Lab. These data can be used to evaluate riparian vegetation community water use in the Lower Colorado River delta region where there is active restoration efforts. Additionally, the time-series data can be used by land and water managers to monitor spatial and temporal riparian zone trends and changes, and document riparian ecosystem health and its water use in the riparian corridor of the Lower Colorado River delta near Yuma, AZ and continuing another 150km to the Gulf of California.