Proceedings of a USGS Workshop on Facing Tomorrow's Challenges Along the U.S.-Mexico Border - Monitoring, Modeling, and Forecasting Change Within the Arizona-Sonora Transboundary Watersheds

Norman, Laura M.; Hirsch, Derrick D.; Ward, Andrew

doi:10.3133/cir1322

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The US–Mexico border zone stretches about 3,000 km from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico and 100 km north and south of the line as defined by the 1983 La Paz Agreement (US Environmental Protection Agency 1983), which includes land in four American states and six Mexican states. People living in colonias , unincorporated communities that are lacking in water or wastewater infrastructure along the US–Mexico border, often face a disproportionately high level of environmental problems that are magnified by poverty, lack of education, and migratory status (Good Neighbor Environmental Board 2004; Lara-Valencia et al 2008; Norman 2008, 2010; Norman et al 2008, 2009, 2010a, 2012; Ramos et al 2001). Infrastructure (i.e., potable water, sewer, pavement and availability of electricity) is poorly developed among neighborhoods ( colonias marginales ) distant from the established core of Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-Environmental Health Analysis in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico

Norman

Caldeira

Callegary

et al. 2012

Water Qual Expo Health

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In Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, some neighborhoods, or colonias, have intermittent delivery of water through pipes from the city of Nogales’s municipal water-delivery system while other areas lack piped water and rely on water delivered by truck or pipas. This research examined how lifestyles, water quality, and potential disease response, such as diarrhea, differs seasonally from a colonia with access to piped water as opposed to one using alternative water-delivery systems. Water samples were collected from taps or spigots at homes in two Nogales colonias. One colonia reflected high socio-environmental conditions where residents are supplied with municipal piped water (Colonia Lomas de Fatima); the second colonia reflected low socio-environmental conditions, lacking access to piped water and served by pipas (Colonia Luis Donaldo Colosio). A survey was developed and implemented to characterize perceptions of water quality, health impacts, and quality of life. Water samples were analyzed for microbial and inorganic water-quality parameters known to impact human health including, Escherichia coli (E. coli), total coliform bacteria, arsenic, and lead. A total of 21 households agreed to participate in the study (14 in Colosio and 7 in Fatima). In both colonias metal concentrations from water samples were all well below the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA’s) maximum contaminant levels. E. coli concentrations exceeded the US EPA’s drinking-water standard in Colosio but not Fatima. Total coliform bacteria were present in over 50 % of households in both colonias. Microbial contamination was significantly higher in the summer than in the winter in both colonias. Resulting analysis suggests that residents in colonias without piped water are at a greater risk of gastrointestinal illness from consumption of compromised drinking water. Our survey corroborated reports of gastrointestinal illness in the summer months but not in the winter. Chloride was found to be significantly greater in Colosio (median 29.2 mg/L) although still below the US EPA’s maximum contaminant levels of 250 mg/L. Ongoing binational collaboration can promote mechanisms to improve water quality in cities located in the US–Mexico border.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Socio-Environmental Health Analysis in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico

Norman

Caldeira

Callegary

et al. 2012

Water Qual Expo Health

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“…Specifically, the USGS has examined and analyzed connections between human and environmental health through collaborative opportunities with natural resource scientists, managers, and public health officials (Norman, Hirsch, and Ward, 2008; Norman, Callegary, and others, 2010). The USGS has also assisted with sustainable development planning by providing integrated binational databases, maps, and predictive models.…”

Section: Usgs Capabilitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenge theme 5: Current and future needs of energy and mineral resources in the Borderlands and the effects of their development: Chapter 7 in <i>United States-Mexican Borderlands: Facing tomorrow's challenges through USGS science</i>

Updike¹,

Ellis²,

Page³

et al. 2013

Circular

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For more information on the USGS-the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment-visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1-888-ASK-USGS For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, visit http: //www.usgs.gov/pubprod To order this and other USGS information products, visit http://store.usgs.gov Suggested citation: Updike, R.G., Ellis, E.G., Page, W.R., Parker, M.J., Hestbeck, J.B., and Horak, W.F., eds., 2013, United States-Mexican Borderlands-Facing tomorrow's challenges through USGS science: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1380, 336 p., 1 pl.Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataUnited States-Mexican borderlands : facing tomorrow's challenges through USGS science / edited by Randall G. Updike, Eugene G. National Park, Potential Nogales ............................................................................................... 136 Mercury Contamination in Big Bend AGAVES-Assessment of Goods and Valuation of Ecosystem Services in the Chapter 10The Borderlands and Climate Change 1 A note on the terminology in this report -The United States-Mexican border region is alternatively referred to as the Borderlands; the term Borderlands has become an accepted name for this region and conveys the appropriate degree of inclusiveness for this binational area. Also, because this is a publication of the U.S. Geological Survey, American names for features will be used, in accordance with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency GeoNames database and the USGS Geographic Names Information System. For example, the river forming the eastern portion of the border will be referred to as the Rio Grande, though it is known as the Rio Bravo in Mexico, and the body of water between Baja California and Sonora will be referred to as the Gulf of California, also known as the Sea of Cortez. U N I T E D S T A T E S M E X I C O MEXICOThe United States-Mexican Border-A Land of Conflict and Opportunity 5As the principal science bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a unique role to play in the resolution of a multitude of natural and sociological issues in the Borderlands, the area in both countries along the United StatesMexican border ( fig. 1-1). The USGS applies geographical, geospatial, biological, hydrological, and geological sciences to these complex issues, and the results of that scientific research provide insight into the area's natural systems and their relation to human activity. This information is useful to Federal land management bureaus in the DOI, such as the Bureau of Land Management, and other Federal agencies associated with ho...

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Flood resilience in paired US–Mexico border cities: a study of binational risk perceptions

et al. 2022

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Disastrous floods in the twin cities of Nogales, Arizona, USA, and Nogales, Sonora, Mexico (collectively referred to as Ambos Nogales) occur annually in response to monsoonal summer rains. Flood-related hazards include property damage, impairment to sewage systems, sewage discharge, water contamination, erosion, and loss of life. Flood risk, particularly in Nogales, Sonora, is amplified by informal, “squatter” settlements in the watershed floodplain and associated development and infrastructure. The expected increase in precipitation intensity, resulting from climate change, poses further risk to flooding therein. We explore binational community perceptions of flooding, preferences for watershed management, and potential actions to address flooding and increase socio-ecological resilience in Ambos Nogales using standardized questionnaires and interviews to collect data about people and their preferences. We conducted 25 semi-structured interviews with local subject matter experts and gathered survey responses from community members in Ambos Nogales. Though survey response was limited, expected frequencies were high enough to conduct Chi-squared tests of independence to test for statistically significant relationships between survey variables. Results showed that respondents with previous experience with flooding corresponded with their level of concern about future floods. Additionally, respondents perceived greater flood-related risks from traveling across town and damage to vehicles than from inundation or damages to their homes or neighborhoods. Binationally, women respondents felt less prepared for future floods than men. On both sides of the border, community members and local experts agreed that Ambos Nogales lacks adequate preparation for future floods. To increase preparedness, they recommended flood risk education and awareness campaigns, implementation of green infrastructure, additional stormwater infrastructure (such as drainage systems), enhanced flood early warning systems, and reduction of flood flows through regulations to reduce the expansion of hard surfaces. This study contributes systematic collection of information about flood risk perceptions across an international border, including novel data regarding risks related to climate change and gender-based assessments of flood risk. Our finding of commonalities across both border communities, in perceptions of flood risk and in the types of risk reduction solutions recommended by community members, provides clear directions for flood risk education, outreach, and preparedness, as well as measures to enhance cross-border cooperation.

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Proceedings of a USGS Workshop on Facing Tomorrow's Challenges Along the U.S.-Mexico Border - Monitoring, Modeling, and Forecasting Change Within the Arizona-Sonora Transboundary Watersheds

Cited by 4 publications

References 2 publications

Socio-Environmental Health Analysis in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico

Socio-Environmental Health Analysis in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico

Challenge theme 5: Current and future needs of energy and mineral resources in the Borderlands and the effects of their development: Chapter 7 in <i>United States-Mexican Borderlands: Facing tomorrow's challenges through USGS science</i>

Flood resilience in paired US–Mexico border cities: a study of binational risk perceptions

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