Hydrology and Water Resources in Arizona and the Southwest, Volume 38 (2008) Item Type text; Proceedings Publisher Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science Journal Hydrology and Water Resources in Arizona and the Southwest Rights Copyright ©, where appropriate, is held by the author. Download date 26/09/2021 13:49:17 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/296676 Volume 38 HYDROLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES IN ARIZONA AND THE SOUTHWEST Proceedings of the 2008 Meetings of the Hydrology Section Arizona -Nevada Academy of Science March 29, 2008, Southwestern University, Phoenix, Arizona ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Spring 2008 meeting of the Hydrology Section of the Arizona- Nevada Academy of Science was held at Southwestern University, Phoenix, Arizona, on March 29, 2008. The organizers wish to thank Boris Poff, the Chairperson for the 2008 Hydrology Section meeting. Appreciation is also extended to Cody L. Stropki, School of Natural Resources, University of Arizona, for preparing these proceedings of the meeting. ii CONTENTS LONG -TERM CHANGES IN PEAK SNOWPACK ACCUMULATIONS ON ARIZONA WATERSHEDS 1 Peter F. Ffolliott INTERNATIONAL CO- OPERATIVE PROGRAM ON ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING OF AIR POLLUTION EFFECTS ON FORESTS: THE SIERRA 5 ANCHA EXPERIMENTAL FOREST, ARIZONA Boris Poff and Daniel G. Neary A CONTRAST AMONG NATIONAL FOREST WATERSHED PROGRAMS: 1978 - 2008 11 Robert E. Lefevre SOUTH -TO -NORTH WATER DIVERSION PROJECT IN CHINA Hui Chen and Peter F. Ffolliott 17 TRANSPIRATION OF OAK TREES IN THE OAK SAVANNAS OF THE SOUTHWESTERN BORDERLANDS REGION 23 Peter F. Ffolliott, Cody L. Stropki, Aaron T Kauffman, and Gerald J. Gottfried HOW USEFUL IS LiDAR IN ESTABLISHING A STREAM GAUGING NETWORK IN A TROPICAL EXPIRMENTAL FOREST 29 Boris Poff, Daniel G. Neary, and Gregory P. Asner COMPARING BEDLOAD CONDITIONS IN THE CASCABEL WATERSHEDS, CORONADO NATIONAL FOREST. 33 Karen A. Koestner, Daniel G. Neary, Gerald J. Gottfried CHARACTERISTICS AND BEHAVIOR OF A COOL -SEASON PRESCRIBED FIRE IN THEOAK SAVANNAS OF THE SOUTHWESTERN BORDERLANDS 41 Karen A. Koestner , Daniel G. Neary, Gerald J. Gottfried , and Ruben Morales\ HYDROLOGY AND EROSION IMPACTS OF MINING DERIVED COASTAL SAND DUNES, CHAÑARAL BAY, CHILE 47 Daniel G. Neary and Pablo Garcia -Chevesich CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON MUNICIPAL, MINING, AND AGRICULTURAL WATER SUPPLIES IN CHILE 53 Daniel G. Neary and Pablo Garcia -Chevesich The papers contained in these proceedings reflect the author(s) interpretations of the data sets, inferences, and interpretations presented therein. Editing of these papers by the compilers of the proceedings consisted largely of formatting for consistency of presentation. LONG -TERM CHANGES IN PEAK SNOWPACK ACCUMULATIONS ON ARIZONA WATERSHEDS Peter F. Ffolliott' Field observations and computer predictions indicate would (hopefully) retain a measurable snowpack that the magnitudes and timing of peak snowpack throughout the snowmelt- runoff season. accumulations in the western states might be The changing number of snow courses through changing, with magnitudes less and timing earlier in time is another issue.The first snow courses in the snowmelt- runoff season. These changes haveArizona were established in the middle 1930s. often been attributed to changes in the regional Additional snow courses were addedinthe climate. Because snowmelt -runoff is a major source following years, while other snow courses were of streamflows from Arizona watersheds (Ffolliott eliminated through time because of a lack of and Baker 2000, Baker and Ffolliott 2003), a study (statistical)significance in contributing to the of the long -term magnitudes and timing of peakregression models for predicting snowmelt- runoff snowpack accumulations has been initiated to volumes.The results presented in this paper, determine if thereported changes in snowpack therefore, must be interpreted within the framework conditions is also occurring in this state. Data sets of this variable sample. representing measurements from the network of Water equivalents on the snow courses were snow courses maintained by the Natural Resources originally measured with a snow tube on a bi- weekly ConservationService(formerlytheSoilbasis on the beginning and mid -point of a month Conservation Service) and their cooperators are the beginning in January and continuing to the end of basis for this study. Preliminary results of the study snowmelt -runoff season. Due to unfavorable are presented in this paper. weather conditions, the availability of personnel (especially cooperators), and other uncontrollable SOURCE DATA factors, however, this bi- monthly schedule could not Source data represent nearly 70 years ofalways be maintained. Snowpack measurements at snowpack measurements and, therefore, are thethe prescribed bi- weekly time interval were not longest record of snowpack conditions in the state. always possible as a consequence. It should be noted, however, that these data are Measurements of water equivalents with a snow biased because of the selected locations of the snow tube have been largely replaced in recent years by courses, varying number of snow courses in the transmitting data collected on selected snow courses network, snowpack measurement intervals, andby pressure pillows (snow pillows) to a central changes in measurement technique. processing center by SNOWTEL (the Snow Data The snow courses were established to provide Telemetry System).The data obtained by this an index of snowpack magnitudes (in inches ofmethod represent the real -time conditions on a snow snowmelt -runoff waterequivalent)topredict course and, importantly, are available to be accessed volumes, not necessarily to represent the average and retrieved for almost analysis at any time (Brooks snowpack conditions on the watershed in question. et al. 2003). Therefore, the snow courses were located in The magnitudes and timing of peak snowpack accessible areas to facilitate obtaining the necessary accumulations,therefore,are more accurately snowpack measurements and they were situated on estimated with these data sets, therefore, than was sites that were relatively flat, protected from thepossible with the earlier estimates obtained with a prevailing wind to minimize blowing of snow, and snow tube on a bi- weekly basis. 'School ofNatural Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 2 ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES of conserving and augmenting the states water The magnitudes and timing of peak snowpack supplies to accommodate the growing population of accumulations on snow courses with the longest people (Fox et al. 2000). continuous records were averaged for 10 year A steady decline in the magnitudes of peak intervals(thatis,1930,1940, 1950,etc.)for snowpack accumulation between the decades of analysis. However, there were less than 10 years of 1960 and 2000 is indicated in figure 1, reflecting record in the 1930 decade because the first snowabout a 50 percent reduction in water equivalents for courses were established in the middle 1930s, while the period. This reduction is similar to that reported the record for the 2000 decade remains incomplete. for other western states. Whether this decline will Another consideration of importance in analyzingcontinue into the future is open to conjecture. the data sets centered on the varying number of snow coursesinthesamplefora specified snowmelt- runoff season. The sampling frame was not constant throughout the study period because of the establishment of additional snow courses and the discontinued monitoring of some of the established courses through the years of data collection. Snow courses selected for analysis in this preliminary study were all located on watersheds within the major river basins in Arizona including the Gila, Salt, Verde, San Francisco, and Little Colorado. They ranged in elevations from about 6,500 to over 8,500 feet, an elevational strata representing the historically expected snowfall snowpack region in the state (Beschta 1974). While some ofFigure 1. Magnitudesofpeak these snow courses were situated on sites with aaccumulations on selected snow courses. Average forest overstory, most of the courses had beenwater equivalents for the 10 year intervals of 1930 to established in openings adjacent to a forest structure.2000 are shown. *Less than 10 years of record. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION It should be noted that the severe drought of the Magnitudes of Peak Snowpack Accumulations 1950s is illustrated by the magnitude of peak The magnitudes ofpeak snowpack snowpack accumulation for this decade. This accumulations (in inches of water equivalents) for drought was followed by a decade of above average the study period are presented in figure 1.The precipitation, again, reflected by the high magnitude magnitudes prior to 1950 are likely to be indicative of peak snowpack accumulation for this decade. of the A historical variability in peak snowpackOnce again, the magnitudes of peak snowpack accumulations normally expected in the state. accumulation before 1950 are likely indicative of the While some of the snow courses in a samplenormal variability to be expected in the state. period in this time span attained seasonal peaks on a particular date, other snow course often attained this Timing of Peak Snowpack Accumulations condition either before or after that date, with the The timing of peak snowpack accumulations averagesnowpackconditionsreflectingthis areshown in figure 2.That the timing of peak variability.It is also important to note that thesnowpack accumulations is occurring earlier in the decade of