{
"@context": "http://schema.org/", "@type": "WebPage", "additionalType": "Project", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/centers/western-geographic-science-center/science/aridland-water-harvesting-study", "headline": "Aridland Water Harvesting Study", "datePublished": "March 14, 2018", "author": [ { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laura M Norman, Ph.D.", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/laura-m-norman", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0002-3696-8406" } }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Natalie R Wilson", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/natalie-r-wilson", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0001-5145-1221" } }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Roy Petrakis", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/roy-petrakis", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0001-8932-077X" } }, { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barry Russell Middleton", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/barry-russell-middleton", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "orcid", "value": "0000-0001-8924-4121" } } ], "description": [ { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "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." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "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." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "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." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Project Objectives" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "6. To increase surface water?" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Acknowledgements" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "People living in arid land environments all over the globe have developed ways to manipulate the earth\u2019s 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." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "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." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "7. To armor landscapes?" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "1. For flood prevention?" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "5. To reduce erosion and nonpoint source pollution (sedimentation in streams)?" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Scientific methodology" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "4. For groundwater recharge?" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "3. To \u201cheal\u201d the land?" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "As such, we have developed a series of scientific questions to address their impacts both qualitatively and quantitatively, and the list keeps growing." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "2. For vegetation and habitat?" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "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)." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "Broad Science Questions" }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "II. Work with partners to determine where new structures should be\u2026.." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "I. Determine metrics to discern effectiveness of rock detention structures (quantifiable results)." }, { "@type": "TextObject", "text": "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)" } ], "funder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Western Geographic Science Center", "url": "https://www.usgs.gov/centers/western-geographic-science-center" }, "about": [ { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Geology" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Water and Drought" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Environmental Health" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Water Availability and Sustainability" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Energy" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Methods and Analysis" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Water for Agriculture" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Information Systems" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Land Cover and Change" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Climate" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Water" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Science Technology" }, { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arid Lands Water Harvesting" } ]
}