Informative video portraying natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) in a watershed and descriptions of their documented climate-smart practices, graphic illustrated by Heartwood Visuals; animated by Hans J. Huth (Supplementary video 1; Norman et al. 2022).
Laura M Norman, Ph.D.
Dr. Laura M. Norman is a Supervisory Research Physical Scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey, where she has worked since 1998. Her research combines remotely-sensed imagery and other geospatial data in complex hydrological, hydraulic, and LULC models to predict the source, fate, and transport of non-point source pollutants, consider potential growth scenarios, and document impacts of change.
Aridland Water Harvesting Study
Rock detention structures have been used globally for thousands of years to improve the ecohydrology in dryland regions. This project documents their impacts in the US-Mexico border related to ecological restoration and climate resilience, with findings that provide nature-based solutions to mitigate flooding, drought, and erosion.
Tribal Land Vegetation Watershed Modeling
The San Carlos Apache Tribe is interested to determine cultural and natural values at risk of degradation resulting from changes in climate and land use. Remote sensing analysis of vegetation over time helps describe the relationship to change and how land management can help restore the landscape to pre-reservation conditions.
Recent Recorded Webinars and News:
- Watershed Health and Management in SW Fire-prone Aridlands
- Presenting Benefits of Rock Detention Structures
- A Jaguar's Field of Dreams
- Dr. Laura Norman receives prestigious 2020 Excellence in Leadership Award
- Dr. Laura Norman Awarded Medal for 2021 Excellence by the American Water Resour…
- Sky Island Restoration Collaboration (SIRC) at SERNews and new Documentary
- Visit Laura’s ORCID page for hyperlinked/detailed list of Publication “Works”
Laura couples methods and models across scientific disciplines to allow for a synthesis of results that simulate and communicate risk, impacts of land-use and climate change, and proposed interventions. She has conducted international research for decades, with focus on transboundary watersheds of the US-Mexico border and Tribal lands, where environmental and socioeconomic stressors disproportionately affect human health, well-being, and quality of life. Most recently her research is being used to help establish best management practices in arid lands; characterize trade-offs between ecological, economic, and social values for land use decision support; and the establishment of a binational monitoring and tracking strategy for mitigation of flood risk. She has published over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles on a wide-range of topics including cross-border policy, regional planning, climate resilience, environmental justice, restoration design, ecosystem services, hydrologic modeling, and watershed management.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:
- Ecological Restoration of Abandoned Mine Lands, 2022 – present.
- Aridland Water Harvesting Study, 2013 - present.
- Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling, 2018 - present.
- Santa Cruz Watershed Ecosystem Portfolio Model (SCWEPM), 2010 - 2013.
- Western Region- Border Environmental Health Initiative (BEHI), 2008 - 2012.
- Predicting Environmental Consequences of Urban Development on the US-Mexico Border, 2004 – 2010.
- Geospatial Analysis of the Lower Colorado River, 2004 - 2007
STUDENT MENTOR:
- Affiliated/Joint Faculty, Watershed Management and Ecohydrology Programs, School of Natural Resources & the Environment, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of Arizona (1998-Present).
- Lab Instructor & Teaching Assistant, GIS for Natural Resources (RNR 417/517). University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (08/00-12/04).
- NASA Space Grant Mentor (2010-2011).
- USGS Mendenhall Fellow (Post-Doc) mentor (FY12-13).
- NSF Graduate Research Internship Program (GRIP) adviser (FY16 - present).
- Paul D. Coverdell Fellow (M.S.) mentor (FY19 - present).
- Fulbright Garcia-Robles (Ph.D.) mentor (FY22-23)
- Graduate Advisor to students (M.S. and Ph.D.).
Professional Experience
2014 – Current: Supervisory Research Physical Scientist, USGS Western Geographic Science Center (WGSC)
2009 – 2014: Research Physical Scientist, USGS WGSC
2005 – 2009: Physical Scientist (TERM/PERM), USGS WGSC
2000 - 2005: Physical Scientist, USGS Student Career Experience Program (SCEP), USGS Minerals Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center (GMEGSC)
1998 - 2000: Research Assistant, Geospatial Analyst, USGS Minerals Program (Contracted), USGS Minerals Program, GMEGSC
1999 – 2004: Research Assistant/ GIS Lab Instructor, University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Watershed Resources, Minor in Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis, University of Arizona, 2005
Cert. in Computer Programming, Visual Basic, Pima Community College, 2001
M.S. Watershed Management, Advanced Resource Technology Option, University of Arizona, 2000
B.S. Forestry, Minor in Cultural Anthropology, Oregon State University, 1994
Affiliations and Memberships*
Academic Affiliate, Adjunct status (Designated Campus Colleague), University of Arizona (1998-Present).
Arizona Floodplain Management Association - 2021+
American Water Resources Association (AWRA) - 2020 +
Society for Ecological Restoration - 2014 +
Western Social Science Association - 2009
National Ground Water Association - 2009
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing– 2009
Honors and Awards
Selected as Climate Embassy Science Fellow by U.S. Department of State, to reduce vulnerability and increase local capacity, to respond to flooding and drought at Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (2021).
Awarded William C. Ackermann Medal for Excellence in Water Management by American Water Resources Association (AWRA) for eminence in design and exemplary water management practices (2021).
Awarded USGS Excellence in Leadership Award for protecting threatened water resources of the US-Mexico Borderlands and developing and fostering collaborative relationships and partnerships (2020)
Nominated Senior Fellow, Borderlands Restoration Network to help restoration economy, ecosystems, and border communities through shared learning (2019 - present).
Elected President, Society for Ecological Restoration, Southwest Chapter (SER-SW) to facilitate communication of land managers, researchers, and restorationists in SW USA (2014-2017).
Elected as Region Director, Southwest US Region of American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) (2010-2012).
Selected for USGS Student Career Experience Program (SCEP; 2000- 2005).
Research Assistantship at University of Arizona, in GIS development, design, and application of cartographic and spatial analysis for agriculture, natural resources, and rural development (1999-2000).
Science and Products
Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling
Mapping Riparian Vegetation Response to Climate Change on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed to Inform Restoration Priorities: 1935 to Present (Phase 2)
Cienega Ranch - Semi-desert Native Grassland Restoration
Research in the Los Planes Watershed – Water Cycle Augmentation
Mapping Riparian Vegetation Response to Climate Change on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed to Inform Restoration Priorities: 1935 to Present (Phase 1)
Soil Compaction and Erosion
Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling
Ciénega San Bernardino - Wetland Restoration
Patagonia - Gully Restoration
Nogales, Sonora - Flood Control
Chiricahua Mountains - Reduction of Channel Gradients
Babocomari - Managed Aquifer Recharge
Aridland Water Harvesting Study
Data Release of Final Report to Bureau of Reclamation: Case Study Using KINEROS Model to Assess Potential Hydrologic and Geomorphic Impacts of Installing Gabions in a Developing Subwatershed near Buckeye, Arizona, USA
Database of Riparian Floodplain Boundaries for the San Carlos and Gila Rivers on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935 - 2021)
Database of Trends in Vegetation Properties and Climate Adaptation Variables on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935-2021)
Maps of cumulative energy expenditure models for jaguar in southern Arizona
Annual (1986-2020) land-use/land cover maps of the Santa Cruz Watershed and Tucson metropolitan area, Arizona
Spatial Database of Known and Potential Cienegas in the Greater Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion
Burn probability models calibrated using past human and lightning ignition patterns in the Madrean Sky Islands, Arizona
Hydrologic Data Collected at Leaky Weirs, Cienega Ranch, Willcox, AZ (March 2019 - October 2020)
Database of Cienega Locations in Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico
Watershed Pairing of Sub-Basins within Smith Canyon Watershed using a Hierarchical Clustering Approach
Short Term Vegetation Response Study at Watershed Restoration Structures in Southeastern Arizona, 2015 - 2019
Perceived Social Value of the Sonoita Creek Watershed using the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) Tool, Arizona, U.S.A.
Informative video portraying natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) in a watershed and descriptions of their documented climate-smart practices, graphic illustrated by Heartwood Visuals; animated by Hans J. Huth (Supplementary video 1; Norman et al. 2022).
Photographs of Natural Infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS), including a. leaky weir, b. sandbag dams, c. wood log jams, and d. gabions
Photographs of Natural Infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS), including a. leaky weir, b. sandbag dams, c. wood log jams, and d. gabions
Installing natural infrastructure can impact the water and carbon budgets of dryland streams and watersheds
linkAn illustration of a mountain with water flowing from the top down to a river with smaller rivers flowing off the sides. Multiple items appear along the various rivers including leaky weirs, one rock dams, log dams, gabions, check dams, trincheras, and earthen berms. Informational bubbles appear alongside these various item in the illustration.
Installing natural infrastructure can impact the water and carbon budgets of dryland streams and watersheds
linkAn illustration of a mountain with water flowing from the top down to a river with smaller rivers flowing off the sides. Multiple items appear along the various rivers including leaky weirs, one rock dams, log dams, gabions, check dams, trincheras, and earthen berms. Informational bubbles appear alongside these various item in the illustration.
The installation of thousands of rock detention structures in the Turkey Pen Watershed, of the Chiricahua Mountains in SE Arizona, provided a 30-year case study to consider low-tech and low-cost Natural Infrastructure in dryland watersheds.
The installation of thousands of rock detention structures in the Turkey Pen Watershed, of the Chiricahua Mountains in SE Arizona, provided a 30-year case study to consider low-tech and low-cost Natural Infrastructure in dryland watersheds.
The opening screen for a video about the Re-greening a dryland watershed. T.e study took place in Arizona.
The opening screen for a video about the Re-greening a dryland watershed. T.e study took place in Arizona.
This is a map of the Sky Islands of Madrean Archipelago. It is located in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States and in Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico.
This is a map of the Sky Islands of Madrean Archipelago. It is located in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States and in Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Picture of the Rosemont hills showing grasses and shrubs with clouds in the background.
Picture of the Rosemont hills showing grasses and shrubs with clouds in the background.
Rock gabion installed in arroyo in La Paz, Baja California Sur. (Laura Norman, USGS)
Rock gabion installed in arroyo in La Paz, Baja California Sur. (Laura Norman, USGS)
Ancient infrastructure offers sustainable agricultural solutions to dryland farming
Riparian vegetation response amid variable climate conditions across the Upper Gila River watershed: Informing Tribal restoration priorities
Editorial: Advanced physico-chemical technologies for water detoxification and disinfection
Five year analyses of vegetation response to restoration using rock detention structures in southeastern Arizona, United States
Spatial models of jaguar energy expenditure in response to border wall construction and remediation
Natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) can establish regenerative wetland sinks that reverse desertification and strengthen climate resilience
Commentary: Dryland watershed restoration with rock detention structures: A nature-based solution to mitigate drought, erosion, flooding, and atmospheric carbon
Wildfire probability models calibrated using past human and lightning ignition patterns can inform mitigation of post-fire hydrologic hazards
Flood resilience in paired US–Mexico border cities: A study of binational risk perceptions
Integrating urban planning and water management through green infrastructure in the United States-Mexico border
A shared vision for enhancing ecological resilience in the U.S. - Mexico borderlands: The Sky Island Restoration Collaborative
Hierarchical clustering for paired watershed experiments: Case study in southeastern Arizona, U.S.A.
Science and Products
- Science
Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling
San Carlos Apache Reservation covers 1.8 million acres in east-central Arizona, and has diverse ecosystems and vegetation types that support a natural resource-based economy.Filter Total Items: 13Mapping Riparian Vegetation Response to Climate Change on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed to Inform Restoration Priorities: 1935 to Present (Phase 2)
Recently intensifying drought conditions have caused increased stress to non-native tamarisk vegetation across riparian areas of the San Carlos Apache Tribe (hereafter Tribe) and the Upper Gila River watershed in Arizona and New Mexico. This also increases wildfire risk in the area, making the removal of tamarisk vegetation a primary restoration and climate adaptation objective for the Tribe. TCienega Ranch - Semi-desert Native Grassland Restoration
At the Cienega Ranch, near Willcox, Arizona, in the foothills of the Dos Cabeza Mountains, a rancher is working to restore and conserve high- quality native grasslands and critical wildlife habitat, while keeping the land as a working cattle ranch. Our objectives were to estimate the hydrological effect of water harvesting on grassland restoration and quantify how grassland conservation efforts...Research in the Los Planes Watershed – Water Cycle Augmentation
The USGS is working with partners to understand the impacts of installing structures made from rock, sandbags and wood in channels at a dryland ranch in southern Baja California. Hydrogeological instrumentation, recording observations, modeling hydrogeological scenarios, and an interdisciplinary scientific study of the watershed interactions between water, ecological systems, and human activities...Mapping Riparian Vegetation Response to Climate Change on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed to Inform Restoration Priorities: 1935 to Present (Phase 1)
Riparian systems are critical to the human and ecological communities that interact with them. For the members of San Carlos Apache Tribe, this is particularly true, as riparian systems provide immense cultural and natural values such as ceremonial grounds and recreation areas. However, the riparian areas within the San Carlos Apache Reservation are at risk of degradation due to climate change andSoil Compaction and Erosion
Extensive off-highway vehicle (OHV) use on desert lands can directly and indirectly lead to human health problems and impact soil, vegetation, and wildlife habitat. Soil pulverization and loosening caused by OHVs contribute to dust hazards, and to respiratory illnesses and diseases (e.g., valley fever) in adjacent, downwind communities. Repeated soil compaction by OHVs can also degrade natural...Tribal Land Vegetation and Watershed Modeling
San Carlos Apache Reservation covers 1.8 million acres in east-central Arizona, and has diverse ecosystems and vegetation types that support a natural resource-based economy.Ciénega San Bernardino - Wetland Restoration
Desert marshes and wetlands, or “ ciénegas ”, are extremely biodiverse habitats imperiled by anthropogenic demands for water and changing climates. Given their widespread loss and increased recognition as important wildlife habitat, remarkably little is known about restoration techniques.Patagonia - Gully Restoration
The Deep Dirt Farm Institute (DDFI), founded and directed by Kate Tirion, comprises 34 acres with deep agricultural soils, bisected by an ephemeral stream/wildlife corridor. The farm lies within a folded topography of hills, small sheltered valleys & broad meadow. A deep gully has diverted flows and needs repair.Nogales, Sonora - Flood Control
Flooding in Ambos Nogales often exceeds the capacity of the channel and adjacent land areas, endangering people and property. Goals of rock detention structures (RDS) are to diminish impacts of flooding and sedimentation on wastewater infrastructure thereby reducing the incidence of sanitary sewer overflows. We are studying the Nogales Wash to prevent future flood disasters and RDS are being...Chiricahua Mountains - Reduction of Channel Gradients
Drainages in the Chiricahua Mountains are impacted by large rain events that cause gullying effects in the headwaters, overflow at road crossings, flooding of campgrounds, and overwhelming sediment loads at outlets (Chiricahua National Monument). Monsoon rains following recent fires cause severe flooding in most drainages and debris flows in many others. Watershed restoration has been a major goal...Babocomari - Managed Aquifer Recharge
We are working to investigate the most cost-efficient way to recharge the Sierra Vista sub-basin aquifer using rainwater harvesting in the tributaries of the San Pedro River using low-technology methods. Research is being conducted on the Babacomari Ranch, property of the Brophy family. The Walton Family Foundation (WFF) is supporting our research with partners, Borderlands Restoration (BR)...Aridland Water Harvesting Study
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... - Data
Filter Total Items: 14
Data Release of Final Report to Bureau of Reclamation: Case Study Using KINEROS Model to Assess Potential Hydrologic and Geomorphic Impacts of Installing Gabions in a Developing Subwatershed near Buckeye, Arizona, USA
This data release provides results from a watershed modelling effort to depict the use of natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS), i.e., gabions, as a low-tech and low-cost, nature-based solution for increased water availability in the Buckeye area, west of the White Tank mountains and northwest of Phoenix, AZ, USA. Our goal was to identify impacts of current management and hypothetical iDatabase of Riparian Floodplain Boundaries for the San Carlos and Gila Rivers on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935 - 2021)
We developed this spatial database of historic and current floodplains to analyze trends in vegetation conditions, identify areas more at risk of degradation, and assess the relationship between riparian vegetation dynamics and climate conditions.Our study area is the riparian areas along the San Carlos River and Gila River within the San Carlos Apache Reservation and the Upper Gila River Level-4Database of Trends in Vegetation Properties and Climate Adaptation Variables on the San Carlos Apache Reservation and Upper Gila River Watershed (1935-2021)
We apply a research approach that can inform riparian restoration planning by developing products that show recent trends in vegetation conditions identifying areas potentially more at risk for degradation and the associated relationship between riparian vegetation dynamics and climate conditions. The vegetation is characterized using a series of remote sensing vegetation indices developing usingMaps of cumulative energy expenditure models for jaguar in southern Arizona
Raster data depicting estimated jaguar energy expenditure required to move north from the US-Mexico border to reach important water sources. The data were generated for five scenarios: walled, un-walled crossing and three remediation scenarios: a border crossing through the wall in rugged terrain towards the west end of the wall, a crossing in a dry wash centrally located, one in less rugged terraAnnual (1986-2020) land-use/land cover maps of the Santa Cruz Watershed and Tucson metropolitan area, Arizona
Annual (1986-2020) land-use/land cover maps at 30-meter resolution of the Tucson metropolitan area, Arizona and the greater Santa Cruz Watershed including Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. Maps were created using a combination of Landsat imagery, derived transformation and indices, texture analysis and other ancillary data fed to a Random Forest classifier in Google Earth Engine. The maps contain 13 classeSpatial Database of Known and Potential Cienegas in the Greater Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion
This dataset provides location information and some limited attributes of known and potential cienegas in the Madrean Archipelago ecoregion and closely surrounding area. This was created using point data and information provided by Dean Hendrickson and Thomas Minckley, combined with potential locations derived from analysis of classified raster land cover images and other specialized datasets. CieBurn probability models calibrated using past human and lightning ignition patterns in the Madrean Sky Islands, Arizona
Burn probability (BP) models involve the simulation of multiple individual wildfires across a landscape to obtain estimates of fire likelihood at any given location based on ignition source, local terrain, fuels and weather. We used FlamMap software to generate BP for 10,000 simulated fires under the three ignition scenarios: human ignition scenario (HIS), lightning ignition scenario (LIS) and ranHydrologic Data Collected at Leaky Weirs, Cienega Ranch, Willcox, AZ (March 2019 - October 2020)
This dataset contains hydrological data collected at a series of leaky weirs on a working ranchland site in a semiarid ecosystem in Cochise County, Arizona, from 2018-2020. Leaky weirs are a type of structure being experimented with by land managers in aridlands to reduce peak flow events and increase recharge to the aquifer. The weirs are constructed of rock cemented into place in areas of exposeDatabase of Cienega Locations in Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico
Cienegas, as defined here, are wetlands in arid and semi-arid regions associated with groundwater or lotic components that ideally result in perennial waters on temporal scales of decades to centuries. Cienegas are typically no lower than 0 m, and higher than 2000 m, rarely lower but sometimes higher elevation localities occur. Cienegas are typified by significant differences in flora and fauna reWatershed Pairing of Sub-Basins within Smith Canyon Watershed using a Hierarchical Clustering Approach
This data release contains data used in an upcoming associated publication currently in review. The overarching effects and benefits of land management decisions, such as through watershed restoration, are often not fully understood due to a lacking control within an experimental design. This can be addressed through the application of a paired watershed approach, allowing for comparison betweenShort Term Vegetation Response Study at Watershed Restoration Structures in Southeastern Arizona, 2015 - 2019
This dataset contains vegetation data collected at a variety of watershed restoration sites across southeastern Arizona over 5 years. The semiarid habitats in the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion, which extends from southern Arizona into northern Mexico, are facing many challenges from climate change to land use change which threaten the ecological and cultural values of the region. Watershed restoraPerceived Social Value of the Sonoita Creek Watershed using the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) Tool, Arizona, U.S.A.
Mapping the spatial dynamics of perceived social value across the landscape can help develop a restoration economy that can support ecosystem services in the region. Many different methods have been used to map perceived social value. We used the Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES) GIS tool, version 3.0, which uses social survey responses and various environmental variables to map social - Multimedia
Aridland Water Harvesting Study Animation
Informative video portraying natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) in a watershed and descriptions of their documented climate-smart practices, graphic illustrated by Heartwood Visuals; animated by Hans J. Huth (Supplementary video 1; Norman et al. 2022).
Informative video portraying natural infrastructure in dryland streams (NIDS) in a watershed and descriptions of their documented climate-smart practices, graphic illustrated by Heartwood Visuals; animated by Hans J. Huth (Supplementary video 1; Norman et al. 2022).
Photographs of Natural Infrastructure in Dryland StreamsPhotographs of Natural Infrastructure in Dryland StreamsPhotographs of Natural Infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS), including a. leaky weir, b. sandbag dams, c. wood log jams, and d. gabions
Photographs of Natural Infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS), including a. leaky weir, b. sandbag dams, c. wood log jams, and d. gabions
Installing natural infrastructure can impact the water and carbon budgets of dryland streams and watershedsInstalling natural infrastructure can impact the water and carbon budgets of dryland streams and watershedsInstalling natural infrastructure can impact the water and carbon budgets of dryland streams and watersheds
linkAn illustration of a mountain with water flowing from the top down to a river with smaller rivers flowing off the sides. Multiple items appear along the various rivers including leaky weirs, one rock dams, log dams, gabions, check dams, trincheras, and earthen berms. Informational bubbles appear alongside these various item in the illustration.
Installing natural infrastructure can impact the water and carbon budgets of dryland streams and watersheds
linkAn illustration of a mountain with water flowing from the top down to a river with smaller rivers flowing off the sides. Multiple items appear along the various rivers including leaky weirs, one rock dams, log dams, gabions, check dams, trincheras, and earthen berms. Informational bubbles appear alongside these various item in the illustration.
Re-greening a Dryland WatershedThe installation of thousands of rock detention structures in the Turkey Pen Watershed, of the Chiricahua Mountains in SE Arizona, provided a 30-year case study to consider low-tech and low-cost Natural Infrastructure in dryland watersheds.
The installation of thousands of rock detention structures in the Turkey Pen Watershed, of the Chiricahua Mountains in SE Arizona, provided a 30-year case study to consider low-tech and low-cost Natural Infrastructure in dryland watersheds.
Re-greening a Dryland WatershedThe opening screen for a video about the Re-greening a dryland watershed. T.e study took place in Arizona.
The opening screen for a video about the Re-greening a dryland watershed. T.e study took place in Arizona.
Sky Islands of Madrean ArchipelagoThis is a map of the Sky Islands of Madrean Archipelago. It is located in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States and in Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico.
This is a map of the Sky Islands of Madrean Archipelago. It is located in Arizona and New Mexico in the United States and in Sonora and Chihuahua in Mexico.
The Sky Island Restoration CollaborativeScientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Trailer — The Sky Island Restoration CollaborativeTrailer — The Sky Island Restoration CollaborativeTrailer — The Sky Island Restoration CollaborativeScientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey's Aridland Water Harvesting Study are partnering with restoration practitioners and land and water resource managers to build resilience in the United States-Mexico border. Respresentatives from various backgrounds are joining together across administrative boundaries of the Madrean Archipelago Ecoregion of North America.
Rosemont HillsPicture of the Rosemont hills showing grasses and shrubs with clouds in the background.
Picture of the Rosemont hills showing grasses and shrubs with clouds in the background.
Rock gabion, La Paz, Baja California SurRock gabion installed in arroyo in La Paz, Baja California Sur. (Laura Norman, USGS)
Rock gabion installed in arroyo in La Paz, Baja California Sur. (Laura Norman, USGS)
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 74
Ancient infrastructure offers sustainable agricultural solutions to dryland farming
For 1000 years, human populations in dryland regions of the North American Southwest (NAS) extensively constructed diverse forms of agricultural infrastructure, including canals, linear rock alignments, check dams, stock ponds, and other earthworks and rock structures. The long-term hydrological impacts of these and the demographic and socio-political drivers of construction and maintenance have yAuthorsMatthew C. Pailes, Laura M. Norman, Christopher H. Baisan, David Meko, Nicolas E. Gauthier, Jose Villanueva-Diaz, Jeff Dean, Jupiter Martinez, Nicholas V Kessler, Ron TownerRiparian vegetation response amid variable climate conditions across the Upper Gila River watershed: Informing Tribal restoration priorities
Riparian systems across the Southwest United States are extremely valuable for the human and ecological communities that engage with them. However, they have experienced substantial changes and stresses over the past century, including non-native vegetation expansion, vegetation die-offs, and increased fire activity. Vegetation management approaches, such as ecological restoration, may address somAuthorsRoy Petrakis, Laura M. Norman, Barry R. MiddletonEditorial: Advanced physico-chemical technologies for water detoxification and disinfection
One of the most critical challenges we face today is access to clean water. Climate change, industrialization, high rates of urbanization, and population growth have resulted in many countries suffering from water crises, especially in the arid and semi-arid areas. Countries in different regions of the world have also been struggling over regional water availability and it is anticipated that thesAuthorsYaneth A. Bustos-Terrones, Laura M. Norman, Leonidas Perez-Estrada, Ahmed El Nemr, Erick R. BandalaFive year analyses of vegetation response to restoration using rock detention structures in southeastern Arizona, United States
Rock detention structures (RDS) are used in restoration of riparian areas around the world. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of RDS installation on vegetation in terms of species abundance and composition. We present the results from 5 years of annual vegetation sampling which focused on short term non-woody vegetation response within the riparian channel at 3 restoration sitesAuthorsNatalie R. Wilson, Laura M. NormanSpatial models of jaguar energy expenditure in response to border wall construction and remediation
The construction of a wall at the United States-Mexico border is known to impede and deter movement of terrestrial wildlife between the two countries. One such species is the jaguar, in its northernmost range in the borderlands of Arizona and Sonora. We developed an anisotropic cost distance model for jaguar in a binational crossing area of the Madrean Sky Islands at the United States-Mexico bordeAuthorsSamuel Norton Chambers, Miguel L. Villarreal, Laura M. Norman, Juan Carlos Bravo, Myles B. TraphagenNatural 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. PollockCommentary: Dryland watershed restoration with rock detention structures: A nature-based solution to mitigate drought, erosion, flooding, and atmospheric carbon
No abstract available.AuthorsLaura M. NormanWildfire probability models calibrated using past human and lightning ignition patterns can inform mitigation of post-fire hydrologic hazards
Most wildfires are started by humans, however, geographic variation of potential ignition sources is not often explicitly accounted for in wildfire simulation modelling or risk assessments. In this study, we investigated how patterns of human and lightning ignitions can influence modelled fire simulations and demonstrate how these data can be used to assess post-fire flooding and sediment transporAuthorsMiguel L. Villarreal, Laura M. Norman, Erika Yao, Caroline Rose ConradFlood resilience in paired US–Mexico border cities: A study of binational risk perceptions
Disastrous floods in the twin cities of Nogales, Arizona, USA, and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (collectively referred to as Ambos Nogales) occur annually in response to monsoonal summer rains. Flood-related hazards include property damage, impairment to sewage systems, sewage discharge, water contamination, erosion, and loss of life. Flood risk, particularly in Nogales, Sonora, is amplified by informaAuthorsChristopher A. Freimund, Gregg M. Garfin, Laura M. Norman, Larry A. Fisher, James BuizerIntegrating urban planning and water management through green infrastructure in the United States-Mexico border
Creating sustainable, resilient, and livable cities calls for integrative approaches and collaborative practices across temporal and spatial scales. However, practicability is challenged by institutional, social, and technical complexities and the need to build collective understanding of integrated approaches. Rapid urbanization along the United States-Mexico border, fueled by industrialization,AuthorsFrancisco Lara-Valencia, Margaret Garcia, Laura M. Norman, Alma Anides Morales, Edgar E. Castellanos-RubioA shared vision for enhancing ecological resilience in the U.S. - Mexico borderlands: The Sky Island Restoration Collaborative
No abstract available.AuthorsLaura M. Norman, Michele Girard, H. Ron Pulliam, Miguel L. Villarreal, Valer Austin Clark, Aaron D. Flesch, Roy Petrakis, Jeremiah Leibowitz, Deborah Tosline, Kurt Vaughn, Tess Wagner, Caleb Weaver, Trevor Hare, Jose Manuel Perez, Oscar E. Lopez Bujanda, Josiah T. Austin, Carianne Funicelli Campbell, James B. Callegary, Natalie R. Wilson, Jeff Conn, Tom Sisk, Gary L. NabhanHierarchical clustering for paired watershed experiments: Case study in southeastern Arizona, U.S.A.
Watershed studies are often onerous due to a lack of data available to portray baseline conditions with which to compare results of monitoring environmental effects. A paired-watershed approach is often adopted to simulate baseline conditions in an adjacent watershed that can be comparable but assumes there is a quantifiable relationship between the control and treated watersheds. Finding suitablyAuthorsRoy Petrakis, Laura M. Norman, Kurt Vaughn, Richard Pritzlaff, Caleb Weaver, Audrey J Rader, H. Ronald Pulliam - News
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