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Proceedings of the Hydrology section of the Annual Meeting of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science. Full text manuscripts of work presented. Research related to water resources, water management, and hydrologic studies primarily focused regionally on southwestern US.

Volume 7. Proceedings of the 1977 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona Academy of Science.

April 15-16, 1977, Las Vegas, Nevada


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Recent Submissions

  • Effects of Brush to Grass Conversion on the Hydrology and Erosion of a Semiarid Southwestern Rangeland Watershed

    Simanton, J. R.; Osborn, H. B.; Renard, K. G.; United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Western Region, Southwest Watershed Research Center, Tucson, Arizona 85705 (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    Increased nutritional and economic demands for agricultural products have dictated the need for greater and more efficient use of western grass forage. Vegetation manipulation is the quickest and most economical means of increasing forage. However , the hydrologic effects must be taken into consideration before embarking on a large scale vegetation manipulated program. This study discusses the hydrologic and erosion changes measured from a 110-acre semiarid watershed which was converted from brush to grass by root plowing and seeding. Significant changes were observed in rainfall-runoff relationships as average summer runoff was considerably in excess of predictions. Sediment yield also varied, and both of these results were tied to the change in vegetative cover and post conversion rainfall conditions.
  • Root System of Shrub Live Oak in Relation to Water Yield by Chaparral

    Davis, Edwin A.; USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Tempe, Arizona (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    The root system of shrub live oak (Quercus turbinella) was studied in an initial effort to classify the major Arizona chaparral shrubs as potential users of soil water based on root system characteristics. The root system was of the generalized type with a taproot, many deeply penetrating roots, and a strong lateral root system. Roots penetrated 21 feet to bedrock through cracks and fractures in the rocky regolith. A dense network of small surface laterals radiated from the root crown and permeated the upper foot of soil. Because of its root system, shrub live oak is well adapted to utilize both ephemeral surface soil moisture as well as deeply stored moisture. Emphasis is placed on the importance of a knowledge of the root systems of chaparral shrubs and depth of the regolith in planning vegetation conversions to increase water yield.
  • Variations in Soil Moisture Under Natural Vegetation

    Sammis, T. W.; Weeks, D. L.; Agricultural Engineering Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces; Experimental Statistics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    Soil water content was measured every two weeks during 1974-1975, using a neutron probe, at selected locations around the desert plant species creosote (Larria divaricata), bursage (Ambrosia deltoidea), and in an open space. The purpose of taking the measurements was to enable one to estimate the evapotranspiration rate of the desert plants by measuring soil moisture depletion. The sampling problem associated with measuring soil moisture, using neutron access tubes, is the number, location, and installation depth of the tubes. Analyses of the total soil moisture beneath the creosote plant showed greater variability between access tubes located near different plants the same distance from the crown of the plant than between tubes located around the same plant. Because of the size of the bursage plant, the variability in total soil moisture beneath the plant was greater among tubes around the same plant than between tubes at the same location at different plants.
  • Snowpack Density on an Arizona Mixed Conifer Forest Watershed

    Ffolliott, Peter F.; Thompson, J. R.; School of Renewable Natural Resources, The University of Arizona, Tucson; Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, USDA Forest Service, Tempe, Arizona (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
  • An Application of Multidisciplinary Water Resources Planning and Management for the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation: Gila River Case

    Novelle, M. E.; Percious, D. J.; Wright, N. G.; Office of Arid Lands Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    The Laboratory of Native Development, Systems Analysis and Applied Technology (NADSAT) was established to provide technical assistance to southwestern Indian Tribes as an aid in the development and use of their natural resources according to their goals and objectives. NADSAT 's role is assistance and technology transfer, with an emphasis on alternative formulation and performance analysis and communicating the technological approach to tribal decision makers. The cost-effectiveness methodology provides a coherent framework and affords a mechanism for technology transfer, which makes it a useful tool in achieving tribal goals. This method was applied to the formulation of possible alternatives for use of the land and water resources of the Gila River Basin within the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. Criteria for devising various alternative utilization schemes are discussed, and the advantages of the cost effectiveness methodology.
  • A Utility Criterion for Real-time Reservoir Operation

    Duckstein, Lucien; Krzysztofowicz, Roman; Departments of Systems and Industrial Engineering and Hydrology & Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson 85721 (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    A dual purpose reservoir control problem can logically be modelled as a game against nature. The first purpose of the reservoir is flood control under uncertain inflow, which corresponds to short -range operation (SRO); the second purpose, which the present model imbeds into the first one, is water supply after the flood has receded, and corresponds to long-range operation (LRO). The reservoir manager makes release decisions based on his SRO risk. The trade-offs involved in his decision are described by a utility function, which is constructed within the framework of Keeney's multiattribute utility theory. The underlying assumptions appear to be quite natural for the reservoir control problem. To test the model, an experiment assessing the utility criterion of individuals has been performed; the results tend to confirm the plausibility of the approach. In particular, most individuals appear to have a risk-averse attitude for small floods and a risk-taking attitude for large ones.
  • Residual Waxes for Water Harvesting

    Fink, Dwayne H.; U. S. Water Conservation Laboratory, Phoenix, Arizona 85040 (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    This study was undertaken to compare the water harvesting potential of several residual waxes with that of refined paraffin. These residual waxes could possibly have advantages over refined paraffin as a soil treatment for water-harvesting catchments in that they are byproducts rather than an end product (constituting an energy savings), are slightly cheaper, and are more adhesive and less brittle. However, these residual waxes have high physical - chemical property variability which complicates testing for utility in water-harvesting. The lack of an easily obtainable ' characterization index ' is a particular deficiency. Upon laboratory testing, several of the residual waxes were found to be superior to refined paraffin in water-repellancy, structural stability, erosion and freeze-thaw resistance and ozone and ultraviolet radiation effects. The need for further laboratory and field testing was noted.
  • Stable Isotopes of Oxygen in Plants: A Possible Paleohygrometer

    Ferhl, A. M.; Long, A.; Lerman, J. C.; University "Pierre & Marie Curie", Department of Earth Sciences, Paris, France; Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    Ratios of oxygen-18 to oxygen-16 in cellulose of dated rings from trees grown in nature and from plants grown in controlled environments have significance for retrieving information about the environment in which they grew. Phaseolus vulgaris was grown under varying conditions of controlled temperature, humidity and ¹⁸O/ ¹⁶O of irrigation water. The ¹⁸O/ ¹⁶O in plant tissue responds mostly to different environmental relative humidity; plant tissue grown under conditions of low relative humidity produce tissue relatively high in oxygen-18. Reasons for this response are not clear to us, but the relationship may prove a useful complement to established dendroclimatologic techniques.
  • Effect of Illuviated Deposits on Infiltration Rates and Denitrification During Sewage Effluent Recharge

    Montgomery, Errol L.; Korkosz, Emily; Dalton, Russell O., Jr.; DeWitt, Ronald H. (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    This study, conducted to determine the interrelationships among nitrogen transformations, infiltration rates, and development of the black layer found in the Santa Cruz River downstream of the Tucson (Arizona) sewage treatment plant, tested these interrelationships by percolating sewage effluent through clear acrylic columns uniformly packed with river sand for the first run, with gravel for the second run. Sewage effluent was continuously applied to three of the columns for 28 and 64 days during the first and second runs respectively. The remaining column was continuously flooded with tap water to serve as a control. Infiltration rates decreased rapidly upon application of the sewage, and within a few days a black layer developed, its thickness inversely related to the infiltration rate but not a cause of reduced flow, which is attributed, rather, to clogging of the surface by suspended solids. There was an average reduction in total nitrogen of 62.9% for the first run, and 15.9% for the second. The mechanisms of removal for run 1 were predominately absorption and denitrification, whereas the predominate removal mechanism in run 2 was filtering of organic nitrogen with adsorption and denitrification also playing an important role.
  • Barometric Response of Water Levels in Flagstaff Municipal Wells

    Hibbert, Alden R.; Department of Geology, Northern Arizona University; Harshbarger and Associates, Tucson, Arizona (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
  • Distribution of Precipitation on Rugged Terrain in Central Arizona

    Osborn, Herbert B.; David, Donald Ross; USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Tempe, Arizona (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    A 3-year study was conducted using tilted, vertical, directional, and recording rain gages (52 in all) to evaluate rainfall distribution on the Three Bar experimental watersheds in central Arizona. The tilted gages did not improve the determination of mean areal precipitation on the small watersheds because about as many tilted gages caught less rain as caught more. Although rugged and steep, the local topography exerted only minor effects on rainfall distribution compared to the major influence exerted by the Mazatzal Mountains to the windward (southwest). Forty-nine percent of wind travel was from the southwest quarter and wind averaged 4.4 mph when rain was actually falling. Wind exceeded 10 mph 9 percent of the time and 15 mph 0.4 percent of the time. Mean annual precipitation on the 600-acre study area ranged from 30 inches at 5,000 feet elevation to 22 inches at 3,400 feet (5 inches per 1,000 feet). Results of this study indicate that precipitation averages about 36 inches at 6,200 feet elevation along the Mazatzal crest near Four Peaks, about 6 inches more than published data show for the site.
  • Simulation of Summer Rainfall Occurrence in Arizona and New Mexico

    Yakowitz, Sidney; Southwest Watershed Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, Tucson, Arizona; Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    Thunderstorms produce most of the annual rainfall and almost all runoff from arid and semiarid rangelands in the southwest U.S. A model was developed to be used for predicting runoff in river basins, flood plane zonings, estimating flood damage, erosion, and sediment transport, and estimating precipitation available for forage growth. This rainfall occurrence model has three parameters: elevation, latitude and longitude, and takes into account rainfall occurrence in 22 stations located in Arizona and New Mexico. From these variables, mathematical equations were developed in an effort to predict point rainfall occurrence. Estimates of the number of seasonal occurrences were used as a check of the equations within the model.
  • Statistical Models and Methods for Rivers in the Southwest

    Hagan, Robert M.; Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    Riverflow modeling is believed useful for purposes of decision making with respect to reservoir control, irrigation planning, and flood forecasting and design of structures to contain floods. This author holds the view that present riverflow models in vogue are unsatisfactory because, for one thing, sample simulations according to these models do not resemble observed southwestern river records. The purpose of this paper is to outline a general Markov model which assumes only that rivers have a finite memory. We show how to calibrate the model from river records and then present evidence to support our contention that some success has been realized in mimicking typical flows by our simulation procedure.
  • Reducing Phreatophyte Transpiration

    Davenport, David C.; Department of Land Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    Transpiration rates (T) of riparian phreatophytes can be high. Antitranspirant (AT) sprays can curtail T without the ecological imbalance made by eradication. Saltcedar (Tamarix sp.) and cottonwood (Populus sp.) in 15-gal. drums enabled replicated trials on isolated plants or on canopies. T of isolate saltcedar plants could be 2x that of plants in a fairly dense canopy. T for a unit ground area of saltcedar varied from 2.2 (sparse -) to 15.8 (dense-stand) mm/day in July at Davis. Extrapolation of experimental T data to field sites must, therefore, be made carefully. Wax -based ATs increased foliar diffusive resistance (R), and reduced T of saltcedar and cottonwood 32-38% initially and 10% after 3 weeks. R increased naturally in the afternoon when evaporative demand was high and if soil water was low. Nocturnal T of salt cedar was 10% of day T. AT effectiveness increased with a higher ratio of day: night hours, and with lower soil water stress. Therefore, AT will be most effective on long summer days in riparian areas where ground water is available.
  • Estimating Phreatophyte Transpiration

    Gay, Lloyd W.; Sammis, Theodore W.; School of Renewable Natural Resources, The University of Arizona, Tucson; Department of Agricultural Engineering, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    Phreatophyte transpiration on the Colorado River floodplain in western Arizona was evaluated under hot, dry, midsummer weather conditions. The simple transpiration model used related transpiration to the vapor pressure deficit of the air and to the area and the diffusion resistance of the transpiring foliage. There were no independent transpiration measurements for verification of the results. On a relative basis, however, mesquite (Prosopis sp.) transpired more rapidly per unit of leaf area than did saltcedar (Tamarix chimensis, Lour.).
  • Transpiration and Photosynthesis in Saltcedar

    Anderson, Jay E.; Department of Biology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    Factors controlling transpiration and photosynthesis of saltcedar were investigated in the field near Bernardo, New Mexico. Transpiration rates were similar to those for several herbaceous species, but photosynthesis and water use efficiency were significantly lower in saltcedar. Photosynthesis was light saturated at an irradiance equal to 44% of full sunlight, while the stomata were apparently fully open at light levels greater than one-third full sunlight. Optimum leaf temperatures for photosynthesis were between 23° and 28 °C, considerably lower than typical daytime ambient temperatures. Photosynthesis was reduced about 20% at 35 °C. Stomatal resistance increased linearly with increases in leaf temperature between 14° and 50 °C, with relative humidity held constant. The increase in stomatal resistance could have been caused by direct effects of temperature on the stomata, by increases in the absolute humidity gradient from leaf to air, or by both. Increased stomatal resistance at high temperatures and low relative humidities would account for observed afternoon depressions in transpiration and photosynthesis and increases in canopy resistance. Estimates of stomatal resistance for twigs in full sunlight ranged from 2 to 6 sec cm⁻¹, with most values falling between 3 and 5 sec cm-, when leaves were at 30 °C.
  • Diurnal Trends in Water Status, Transpiration, and Photosynthesis of Saltcedar

    Williams, Mary Ellen; Anderson, Jay E.; Department of Biology, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    Relative water content (RWC), water potential (P), and gas exchange were measured on saltcedar at the Bernardo, New Mexico, lysimeter site. RWC and s were closely correlated; but, water potential measurements, taken with a pressure bomb, were more convenient and reliable. RWC and r decreased sharply from sunup until about 0900, when minimum values of about -26 bars T or 80% RWC were reached. Water status then remained constant or improved slightly through late afternoon. Transpiration rates typically remained high until about noon and then began a steady, gradual decrease that continued throughout the afternoon. The data suggest that water stress may be a factor in initiating stomatal closure; however, transpiration continued to decline despite a constant or improved leaf water status. Maximum net photosynthetic rates occurred by 0900, and depressions throughout the remainder of the day were largely accounted for by increased leaf temperatures. Afternoon depressions in transpiration and photosynthesis occurred in twigs held at constant temperature and relative humidity, suggesting that a diurnal rhythm may be involved in control of gas exchange. Water status of plants growing on the lysimeters was comparable to that of plants in adjacent natural stands; gas exchange rates were slightly higher for the lysimeter-grown plants.
  • Chemical Oxygen Demand of the Antitranspirant, Folicote

    Garrett, R. H.; Kynard, B. E.; School of Renewable Natural Resources, The University of Arizona, Tucson (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    During a standard bioassay using fish and the antitranspirant Folicote, a significant deoxygenation of the water was observed. Oxygen demand tests without fish using distilled water indicated that at 25 °C Folicote reduced D.O. from saturation (8 ppm) to 0.1 ppm within 60 hrs. Oxygen consumptive qualities of Folicote should be taken under consideration during actual field applications.
  • Bottom Sediment Analysis of the Recreational Waters of Upper Sabino Creek

    McKee, Patrick L.; Brickler, Stanley K.; School of Renewable Natural Resources, The University of Arizona, Tucson (Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science, 1977-04-16)
    Bottom sediment quality of the upper four miles of Sabino Creek in the Santa Catalina mountains near Tucson, Arizona was examined from September, 1975 through August, 1976. Two primary bottom sediment parameters were examined: 1) sediment fecal bacterial concentrations, and 2) sediment particle size distribution. Analyses of bottom sediment parameters and selected surface water parameters were conducted to ascertain interrelationships between bottom sediment quality and surface water quality. Results indicate the importance of bottom sediments in the overall quality of the Creek. Bottom sediment fecal bacterial concentrations have a significant influence on surface water fecal bacterial concentrations through suspension of sediment stored bacteria into the overlying water. Significantly higher bacterial concentrations were observed during highest recreational use periods.

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