Framing Scenarios of Binational Water Policy with a Tool to Visualize, Quantify and Valuate Changes in Ecosystem Services

Norman, Laura M.; Villarreal, Miguel L.; Niraula, Rewati; Meixner, Thomas; Frisvold, George B.; Labiosa, William

doi:10.3390/w5030852

Cited by 21 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…As a watershed is urbanized and vegetation is replaced by impervious surfaces, the area where infiltration to groundwater can occur is greatly reduced, compromising soil-water storage capability. As the model used is uncalibrated, we feel it important to note that usual calibration for this river system and nearby rivers would start with removing most of the lateral flow component [14,16,53,54,57,65,66]. This is because arid lands do not support a great amount of soil water-moisture transfer.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…SWAT has been applied to predict the effect of land use, management practices, and climate change on water, sediment, and agricultural chemical yields in small-to large-scale watersheds with varying soils, land use, and management over extended periods of time [48,49]. It is oft used in assessing erosion control, non-point source pollution control, and best management in watersheds [13,14,16,[50][51][52][53][54].…”

Section: Hydrological Model Applicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modelling Development of Riparian Ranchlands Using Ecosystem Services at the Aravaipa Watershed, SE Arizona

Norman

Villarreal

Niraula

et al. 2019

Land

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This paper describes how subdivision and development of rangelands within a remote and celebrated semi-arid watershed near the US–Mexico border might affect multiple ecohydrological services provided, such as recharge of the aquifer, water and sediment yield, water quality, flow rates and downstream cultural and natural resources. Specifically, we apply an uncalibrated watershed model and land-change forecasting scenario to consider the potential effects of converting rangelands to housing developments and document potential changes in hydrological ecosystem services. A new method to incorporate weather data in watershed modelling is introduced. Results of introducing residential development in this fragile arid environment portray changes in the water budget, including increases in surface-water runoff, water yield, and total sediment loading. Our findings also predict slight reductions in lateral soil water, a component of the water budget that is increasingly becoming recognized as critical to maintaining water availability in arid regions. We discuss how the proposed development on shrub/scrub rangelands could threaten to sever imperative ecohydrological interactions and impact multiple ecosystem services. This research highlights rangeland management issues important for the protection of open space, economic valuation of rangeland ecosystem services, conservation easements, and incentives to develop markets for these.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Hydrological Model Applicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling Development of Riparian Ranchlands Using Ecosystem Services at the Aravaipa Watershed, SE Arizona

Norman

Villarreal

Niraula

et al. 2019

Land

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“…Previous flood vulnerability assessments incorporated climate uncertainties (Norman et al 2010a) and calibration analysis for the region, accentuated its importance for watershed modeling, but suggested that is not essential for examining alternative future scenarios due to climate variability (Niraula et al 2012;Niraula et al 2015). Other relevant studies include a modeling framework for water resources planning for the Santa Cruz River (Shamir et al 2007a, b) and an analysis of binational water policy scenarios to determine the impact of effluent discharge reductions to ecosystem services (Norman et al 2013 (CONAGUA 2015(CONAGUA , 2018).…”

Section: Previous Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several studies have analyzed the uncertainties associated with the ownership and reuse of sewage and effluent from Nogales, Sonora and Nogales, Arizona (Sprouse and Atondo 2004;Norman et al 2013;Prichard and Scott 2014); the impact of increased groundwater demands (Erwin 2007;Nelson 2007;Shamir et al 2007a;Shamir 2017); and the impact of climate uncertainties within different TSCA regions (Norman et al 2010a, b;Scott et al 2012;Shamir et al 2015;. Although these studies address some of the main issues concerning land and water management in the area, none of them provide a comprehensive analysis for the effluent-dominated stretch of the TSCA.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of Variable Climate and Effluent Flows on the Transboundary Santa Cruz Aquifer

Villasenor¹

2019

Geological Society of America Abstracts With Programs

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Research Impact Statement: Conceptual water budget models are useful to guide and improve decision-making processes in transboundary settings.ABSTRACT: Assessing groundwater resources in the arid and semiarid borderlands of the United States and Mexico represents a challenge for land and water managers, particularly in the Transboundary Santa Cruz Aquifer (TSCA). Population growth, residential construction, and industrial activities have increased groundwater demand in the TSCA, in addition to wastewater treatment and sanitation demands. These activities, coupled with climate variability, influence the hydrology of the TSCA and emphasize the need for groundwater assessment tools for decision-making purposes. This study assesses the impacts of changes in groundwater demand, effluent discharge, and climate uncertainties within the TSCA from downstream of the Nogales International Wastewater Treatment Plant to the northern boundary of the Santa Cruz Active Management Area. We use a conceptual water budget model to analyze the long-term impact of the different components of potential recharge and water losses within the aquifer. Modeling results project a future that ranges from severe longterm drying to positive wetting. This research improves the understanding of the impact of natural and anthropogenic variables on water sustainability, with an accessible methodology that can be globally applied.(

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“…Mexico's portion of the discharge is approximately 55 percent and could be diverted away from the NIWTP and the river if Mexico decides such action would be in its best interest. This action would likely reduce flow in the river, with a negative impact on the downstream riparian ecosystem in Arizona [46].…”

Section: Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Opening the Black Box: Using a Hydrological Model to Link Stakeholder Engagement with Groundwater Management

Eden

Megdal

Shamir

et al. 2016

Water

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Abstract:Stakeholder participation is a foundation of good water governance. Good groundwater governance typically involves the co-production of knowledge about the groundwater system. Models provide a vehicle for producing this knowledge, as well as a "boundary object" around which scientists and stakeholders can convene the co-production process. Through co-production, stakeholders and scientific experts can engage in exchanges that create system knowledge not otherwise achievable. The process involves one-way transfer of information, active two-way conversations, and integration of multiple kinds of knowledge into shared understanding. In the Upper Santa Cruz River basin in Arizona, USA, the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) convened a project aimed at providing scientific underpinnings for groundwater planning and management. This project, entitled Groundwater, Climate, and Stakeholder Engagement, serves as a case study employing the first two stages of knowledge co-production using a hydrological model. Through an iterative process that included two-way communication, stakeholders provided critical input to hydrologic modeling analyses. Acting as a bridging organization, the WRRC facilitated a co-production process, involving location-specific and transferability workshops, which resulted in new knowledge and capacity for applying the model to novel problems.

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Framing Scenarios of Binational Water Policy with a Tool to Visualize, Quantify and Valuate Changes in Ecosystem Services

Cited by 21 publications

References 21 publications

Modelling Development of Riparian Ranchlands Using Ecosystem Services at the Aravaipa Watershed, SE Arizona

Modelling Development of Riparian Ranchlands Using Ecosystem Services at the Aravaipa Watershed, SE Arizona

Impacts of Variable Climate and Effluent Flows on the Transboundary Santa Cruz Aquifer

Opening the Black Box: Using a Hydrological Model to Link Stakeholder Engagement with Groundwater Management

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