Modeling Riparian Restoration Impacts on the Hydrologic Cycle at the Babacomari Ranch, SE Arizona, USA
Author
Norman, LauraCallegary, James
Lacher, Laurel
Wilson, Natalie
Fandel, Chloé
Forbes, Brandon
Swetnam, Tyson
Affiliation
Univ Arizona, Hydrol & Atmospher SciUniv Arizona, BIO5 Inst
Issue Date
2019-02
Metadata
Show full item recordPublisher
MDPICitation
Norman, L.M.; Callegary, J.B.; Lacher, L.; Wilson, N.R.; Fandel, C.; Forbes, B.T.; Swetnam, T. Modeling Riparian Restoration Impacts on the Hydrologic Cycle at the Babacomari Ranch, SE Arizona, USA. Water 2019, 11, 381.Journal
WATERRights
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
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 flow model is applied to simulate the amount of increase needed to raise groundwater levels. We used the average increase in infiltration measured in the field and projected on site, assuming all infiltration becomes recharge, to estimate how many gabions would be needed to increase recharge in the larger watershed. A watershed model was then applied and calibrated with discharge and 3D terrain measurements, to simulate flow volumes. Findings were coupled to extrapolate simulations and quantify long-term impacts of riparian restoration. Projected scenarios demonstrate how erosion-control structures could impact all components of the annual water budget. Results support the potential of watershed-wide gabion installation to increase total aquifer recharge, with models portraying increased subsurface connectivity and accentuated lateral flow contributions.Note
Open access journalISSN
2073-4441Version
Final published versionSponsors
Walton Family Foundation; Land Change Science (LCS) Program, under the Land Resources Mission Area of the US Geological Survey (USGS); NSF [DBI-0735191, DBI-1265383]ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3390/w11020381