Progress 09/30/03 to 07/14/07
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The overall objective of this cooperative research is to determine how the spatial and temporal patterns of surface and sub-surface water influence the riparian ecosystem along the San Pedro River. The specific goal is to quantify relationships between stream flood magnitude, rates of channel migration and meandering, and rates of formation of new alluvial seed-beds for flood-dependent pioneer tree species (notably Fremont cottonwood and Goodding willow). Formerly 5342-13610-007-00D. (03/2007). Approach (from AD-416) Relationships will be defined between riparian vegetation structure and site hydrology, and assessing the relative importance of each hydrologic factor (ground water level, low flows, flood flows) to various measures of vegetation such as biomass, composition, diversity, and population structure across a series of 17 transects along the San Pedro riparian corridor. The vegetation measures will then be used to assign the three standard condition classes (properly functioning condition, functioning- at risk, non-functional) used by BLM and other agencies, to describe proper functioning condition of the riparian vegetation. Discrete reaches of the SPRNCA will be classified as to functioning condition, using a rating system, and the hydrologic conditions needed to maintain various levels of functional condition. Documents SCA with AZ State University. Formerly 5342-13610-007-15S (3/07). Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement 5342-13610-010-05S - San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area (SPRNCA) Riparian Water Needs Study between ARS and Arizona State University (ASU). Additional details of research can be found in the report for the in-house associated project #5342-13610-010- 00D, �Hydrologic Processes, Scale, Climate Variability, and Water Resources for Semiarid Watershed Management." Formerly 5342-13610-007- 00D. This report serves as the final report for this project. The culmination of this project was the following joint USGS, ARS, ASU publication: Leenhouts, J., Scott, R.L., Stromburg, J. 2006. Hydrologic requirements of and evapotranspiration by riparian vegetation along the San Pedro River, Arizona. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigation Report. 2005-5163. 154 p. This publication was designed directly with the Upper San Pedro Partnership to provide quantitative estimates of SPRNCA water needs, riparian evapotranspiration, and the level of riparian ecological function to address requirements established in Sec. 321 of PL108-136. The ADODR monitored this project with several site visits, frequent conference calls and in person meeting at the ARS Water Conservation Lab. in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
Progress Report 4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement #58-5342-3-0314 between ARS and Arizona State University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5342-13610-007-00D, "Hydrologic Processes, Scale, Water Resources, and Global Change for Semiarid Watershed Management." Hydrologic Requirements of and Evapotranspiration by Riparian Vegetation along the San Pedro River, Arizona. Annual evapotranspiration was quantified for five different and predominant riparian land cover types at six different sites along the San Pedro River of southeastern Arizona. This information was used in conjunction with meteorological, hydrological, and geographical data to estimate total reach-scale groundwater use for different riparian segments within the Upper San Pedro Basin. This accomplishment addresses NP201, Comp. 1, Problem Area 1.2 on "Watershed Characteristics,
Process, and Responses". As a part of multi-agency and multi-investigator team, ARS researchers have contributed to a major report that quantified riparian vegetation water use for an important southwestern U.S. watershed. Impact: This information is being incorporated into basin groundwater budgets that are being used to assess the sustainability of groundwater resources in the basin as Congressionally mandated by Section 321 of P.L. 108-136. Data from this study are also essential to developing new remote sensing techniques and methods to estimate riparian vegetation water use along many important western U.S. watercourses.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
4d Progress report. This report serves to document research conducted under a Specific Cooperative Agreement #58-5342-3-0314 between ARS and Arizona State University. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 5342-13610-007-00D, "Hydrologic Processes, Scale, Water Resources, and Global Change for Semiarid Watershed Management." The structure of riparian vegetation, and therefore its water use, are highly dependent of channel geomorphology. Using a time series of historic (1935-2002) aerial photographs and a GIS, the changes in the position and area of the active channel at 12 study sites on the San Pedro River were quantified. Dramatic changes have occurred to the channel of the San Pedro over the last 70 years. The histories of channel narrowing, widening, and migration have led to diverse patterns of floodplain and vegetation age among sites. Many sites have large areas of floodplain surface created prior to 1935, and in the
1935-55 or 1955-73 intervals. Most sites also show significant areas of floodplain that date to the 1983-92 period and a few to 1992-96, reflecting widening associated with late 1970s and early 1980s floods, followed by channel narrowing. Within the SPRNCA, channel narrowing following the widening events of 1973-78 and 1978-83 formed significant areas of new floodplain surfaces. Differences in ages among floodplain surfaces likely have strong effects on ecosystem processes and vegetation successional trajectories, particularly of pioneer species like Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii), Goodding willow (Salix gooddingii), and saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima).
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