HR: 1340h
AN: B23A-1039    [Abstracts]
TI: Hydrologic Variability in Rio Grande Riparian Ecosystems, New Mexico, USA
AU: * Thibault, J R
EM: jrtebo@sevilleta.unm.edu
AF: Department of Biology, MSC 03 2020, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 United States
AU: Cleverly, J R
EM: cleverly@sevilleta.unm.edu
AF: Department of Biology, MSC 03 2020, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 United States
AU: Dahm, C N
EM: cdahm@sevilleta.unm.edu
AF: Department of Biology, MSC 03 2020, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 United States
AB: Water consumption by invasive vegetation and restoration of native riparian ecosystems are receiving considerable attention along the Rio Grande corridor in central New Mexico, USA. Since 2000, we have measured evapotranspiration (ET) to estimate water use at several sites composed of native and exotic vegetation. We have also monitored water table (WT) depths and flood events to help determine restoration capability. Drought conditions and below normal runoff have prevailed during this time. Annual growing season rates of ET varied from 70 to 134 cm. ET was greatest in a native cottonwood forest with a dense, exotic understory, lowest in a less dense stand of exotic saltcedar mixed with native saltgrasses, and intermediate at a dense, monospecific saltcedar stand. In 2004, after exotics had been removed from the cottonwood site, ET declined 8% from the previous three year mean, while rising 3% to 6% at the other, untreated sites. WT hydrographs ranged from relatively shallow (<1.5 m) and uniform to relatively deep (>2.5 m) and highly variable. As the drought continued, the WT at the dense saltcedar site dropped below 3 m during much of the growing season. This site was also the only location that received flooding, although it was inundated very little from 2000 to 2003. Given the physical alterations and climatic variability inherent to this riverine system, long term data from different locations targeted for restoration help capture the range of hydrological conditions and provide valuable information for water resource management and restoration planning.
DE: 1812 Drought
DE: 1818 Evapotranspiration
DE: 1829 Groundwater hydrology
DE: 1860 Streamflow
SC: Biogeosciences [B]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005