Long-term Water Table Monitoring of Rio Grande Riparian Ecosystems for Restoration Potential Amid Hydroclimatic Challenges

Thibault, JR; Cleverly, JR; Dahm, CN

Long-term Water Table Monitoring of Rio Grande Riparian Ecosystems for Restoration Potential Amid Hydroclimatic Challenges

Thibault, JR Cleverly, JR

Dahm, CN

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Environmental Management, 2017, 60 (6), pp. 1101 - 1115
Issue Date:: 2017-12-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Thibault, JR	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Cleverly, JR https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2731-7150	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dahm, CN	en_US
dc.date.available	2017-09-26	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017-12-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Environmental Management, 2017, 60 (6), pp. 1101 - 1115	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0364-152X	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/125050
dc.description.abstract	© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. Hydrological processes drive the ecological functioning and sustainability of cottonwood-dominated riparian ecosystems in the arid southwestern USA. Snowmelt runoff elevates groundwater levels and inundates floodplains, which promotes cottonwood germination. Once established, these phreatophytes rely on accessible water tables (WTs). In New Mexico’s Middle Rio Grande corridor diminished flooding and deepening WTs threaten native riparian communities. We monitored surface flows and riparian WTs for up to 14 years, which revealed that WTs and surface flows, including peak snowmelt discharge, respond to basin climate conditions and resource management. WT hydrographs influence the composition of riparian communities and can be used to assess if potential restoration sites meet native vegetation tolerances for WT depths, rates of recession, and variability throughout their life stages. WTs were highly variable in some sites, which can preclude native vegetation less adapted to deep drawdowns during extended droughts. Rates of WT recession varied between sites and should be assessed in regard to recruitment potential. Locations with relatively shallow WTs and limited variability are likely to be more viable for successful restoration. Suitable sites have diminished greatly as the once meandering Rio Grande has been constrained and depleted. Increasing demands on water and the presence of invasive vegetation better adapted to the altered hydrologic regime further impact native riparian communities. Long-term monitoring over a range of sites and hydroclimatic extremes reveals attributes that can be evaluated for restoration potential.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Environmental Management	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s00267-017-0945-x	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Ecology	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Populus	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Ecosystem	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Desert Climate	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Fresh Water	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Water Movements	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Environmental Monitoring	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Southwestern United States	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Droughts	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Floods	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Groundwater	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Environmental Restoration and Remediation	en_US
dc.title	Long-term Water Table Monitoring of Rio Grande Riparian Ecosystems for Restoration Potential Amid Hydroclimatic Challenges	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	6	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	60	en_US
utslib.for	0502 Environmental Science and Management	en_US
utslib.for	MD Multidisciplinary	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Science/School of Life Sciences
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	6	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	60	en_US

Abstract:

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. Hydrological processes drive the ecological functioning and sustainability of cottonwood-dominated riparian ecosystems in the arid southwestern USA. Snowmelt runoff elevates groundwater levels and inundates floodplains, which promotes cottonwood germination. Once established, these phreatophytes rely on accessible water tables (WTs). In New Mexico’s Middle Rio Grande corridor diminished flooding and deepening WTs threaten native riparian communities. We monitored surface flows and riparian WTs for up to 14 years, which revealed that WTs and surface flows, including peak snowmelt discharge, respond to basin climate conditions and resource management. WT hydrographs influence the composition of riparian communities and can be used to assess if potential restoration sites meet native vegetation tolerances for WT depths, rates of recession, and variability throughout their life stages. WTs were highly variable in some sites, which can preclude native vegetation less adapted to deep drawdowns during extended droughts. Rates of WT recession varied between sites and should be assessed in regard to recruitment potential. Locations with relatively shallow WTs and limited variability are likely to be more viable for successful restoration. Suitable sites have diminished greatly as the once meandering Rio Grande has been constrained and depleted. Increasing demands on water and the presence of invasive vegetation better adapted to the altered hydrologic regime further impact native riparian communities. Long-term monitoring over a range of sites and hydroclimatic extremes reveals attributes that can be evaluated for restoration potential.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/125050