Coupling groundwater and riparian vegetation models to assess effects of reservoir releases

Springer, Abraham E. and Wright, Julie M. and Shafroth, Patrick B. and Stromberg, Juliet C. and Patten, Duncan T. (1999) Coupling groundwater and riparian vegetation models to assess effects of reservoir releases. Water Resources Research, 35 (12). pp. 3621-3630. ISSN 0043-1397

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Abstract

Although riparian areas in the arid southwestern United States are critical for maintaining species diversity, their extent and health have been declining since Euro-American settlement. The purpose of this study was to develop a methodology to evaluate the potential for riparian vegetation restoration and groundwater recharge. A numerical groundwater flow model was coupled with a conceptual riparian vegetation model to predict hydrologic conditions favorable to maintaining riparian vegetation downstream of a reservoir. A Geographic Information System(GIS) was used for this one-way coupling. Constant and seasonally varying releases from the dam were simulated using volumes anticipated to be permitted by a regional water supplier. Simulations indicated that seasonally variable releases would produce surface flow 5.4-8.5 km below the dam in a previously dry reach. Using depth to groundwater simulations from the numerical flow model with conceptual models of depths to water necessary for maintenance of riparian vegetation, the GIS analysis predicted a 5- to 6.5-fold increase in the area capable of sustaining riparian vegetation.

Item Type:	Article
Publisher’s Statement:	Copyright 1999 by the American Geophysical Union.
ID number or DOI:	10.1029/1999WR900233
Keywords:	Agua Fria River; Arizona; drainage; flows; geographical information systems; GIS; Groundwater; ground water; groundwater flow; groundwater recharge; Groundwater resources; Reservoirs; riparian environment; riparian vegetation; vadose zone; Vegetation; Water Resources;
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences
Department/Unit:	College of Engineering, Forestry, and Natural Science > School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
Date Deposited:	04 Feb 2016 23:18
URI:	http://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/1893

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