A GIS-Based Evaluation of Fremont Cottonwood Stand Dynamics in the SRLCC

In the drier, mid- and low-elevation portions of the Southern Rockies LCC, Fremont cottonwood represents the only native vegetation of tall stature, and cottonwood-dominated woodlands provide critical habitat for a large array of neotropical migratory birds and other animals. These woodlands likely dominated alluvial reaches of all streams where a snowmelt-driven spring flood was the major factor driving geomorphic and vegetation dynamics. These woodlands were also among the first habitats to undergo transformation as the regions land and water resources were developed.The PI coauthored a paper (Andersen et al. 2007) on assessing the amount of native Fremont cottonwood forest remaining on floodplains in 26 subbasins...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: GeoTIFF, Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service, Raster; Tags: AZ-01, AZ-04, Applications and Tools, Arizona, CO-02, All tags... CO-03, CO-05, Colorado, Colorado River Basin, Conservation NGOs, Datasets/Database, Decision Support, Federal resource managers, Four Corners, GIS, Green River Basin, Informing Conservation Delivery, LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, NM-01, NM-02, NM-03, New Mexico, Project, SRLCC, SRLCC, State agencies, Streamflows, UT-01, UT-02, UT-03, Upper Colorado River Basin, Utah, completed, cottonwood, cottonwood, floodplain, floodplain, floodplain, fremont cottonwood, fremont cottonwood, land cover, land cover, land use, land use, stand dynamics, stand dynamics, Fewer tags

Improving Crop Coefficients for the Middle Rio Grande

Water resource managers rely on hydrologic planning and decision-making models to understand and evaluate current and future water operations in the face of endangered species needs, drought, and climate change. Current climate change projections, such as those used in the West-Wide Climate Risk Assessment programs, are trending toward more extreme instances of drought within the Southern Rockies LCC region. Accurately estimating agricultural water consumption both under present conditions and under modeled future scenarios will help water resource managers project how much water might be available for allocation toward current ecological projects. It will also improve their understanding of the challenges a more...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: Decision Support, Federal resource managers, Informing Conservation Delivery, LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, All tags... Middle Rio Grande, NM-01, NM-02, NM-03, New Mexico, New Mexico, Project, SRLCC, State agencies, Streamflows, Upper Rio Grande, Upper Rio Grande, Upper Rio Grande Basin, agricultural water use, agricultural water use, climate change, climate change, completed, crop coefficients, crop coefficients, drought, drought, evapotranspiration, evapotranspiration, hydrologic planning, hydrologic planning, Fewer tags

WaterSMART: Building Decadal Prediction of Extreme Climate for Managing Water Supply in Intermountain West

By collaborating with water managers and combining climate modeling and paleoclimate methods, the project team will incorporate prediction tools to assess risk of extreme wet/dry climate conditions for the next 10-15 years (i.e. decadal prediction). Our target area is the Wasatch Range Metropolitan Area that includes Salt Lake City one of the largest population centers within the Southern Rockies LCC. We will focus on projecting future water availability and quality with a specific goal for decadal prediction. The project team has partnered with numerous water agencies in the Wasatch Range who have made in-kind contributions towards this project. This partnership guarantees that the results will be disseminated,...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: Downloadable, GeoTIFF, Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service, Raster; Tags: Decision Support, Federal resource managers, LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, Project, All tags... Regional & county planners, SRLCC, State agencies, Streamflows, UT-01, UT-02, UT-04, Utah, Utah, Wasatch Front, Wasatch Front, Wasatch Mountains, Wasatch Range, climate change, climate change, climate modeling, climate modeling, completed, decadel prediction, decadel prediction, paleoclimate, paleoclimate, tree-ring data, tree-ring data, water, water, water availability, water availability, water quality, water quality, water scarcity, water scarcity, Fewer tags

Improving Seasonal Water Supply Predictions and Water Management in the Upper Rio Grande River Basin through use of Enhanced Observations of Snowfall, Snowpack and Physics-Based Modeling Systems

This project aims to improve seasonal water supply forecasts on the Upper Rio Grande River basin and, in doing so, help to minimize the substantial costs associated with erroneous forecasts and related sub-optimal allocations of water for surface irrigation, groundwater recharge and endangered specifies management. Erroneous seasonal water supply forecasts in the Upper Rio Grande River basin have a profound impact on water management, agricultural production and economic vitality.The specific goals of this project are to: Develop state-of the art precipitation and snowpack monitoring products through the use of experimental radar, surface observations and land data assimilation systems Improve the spatial and...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: ArcGIS REST Map Service, ArcGIS Service Definition, Downloadable, GeoTIFF, Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service, Raster; Tags: CO-03, Colorado, Colorado, Data Acquisition and Development, Federal resource managers, All tags... LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, Monitoring, NM-03, New Mexico, New Mexico, Project, SRLCC, State agencies, Streamflows, Upper Rio Grande, Upper Rio Grande, colorado, completed, hydrologic planning, hydrologic planning, hydrologic planning, new mexico, physics-based hydrologic modeling, physics-based hydrologic modeling, physics-based hydrologic modeling, precipitation monitoring, precipitation monitoring, precipitation monitoring, snowpack monitoring, snowpack monitoring, snowpack monitoring, srlcc, streamflow predictions, streamflow predictions, streamflow predictions, upper rio grande basin, water, water, water, water supply forecasting, water supply forecasting, water supply forecasting, Fewer tags

A Regional Model for Building Resilience to Climate Change: Development and Demonstration in Colorado

The Gunnison Climate Working Group is a chartered partnership of 14 public and private organizations in Colorados Upper Gunnison Basin. The Southern Rockies LCC (SRLCC) funded The Nature Conservancy to complete a comprehensive vulnerability assessment identifying species and ecosystems most at risk from climate change. The assessment included a set of habitat adaptation strategies for priority species, such as the Gunnison sage-grouse. As a final product, local demonstration projects were designed and installed.The financial support and partnership provided by the SRLCC was critical to the Gunnison Climate Working Groups success and progress towards addressing climate change. As a direct result of the SRLCC involvement,...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: Applications and Tools, CO-03, Colorado, Colorado, Gunnison Basin, All tags... Gunnison Basin, Gunnison sage-grouse, Gunnison sage-grouse, Informing Conservation Delivery, LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, Map, Native Fish, Private land owners, Project, Regional & county planners, Report, SRLCC, Sage-steppe, Southern Rockies LCC, State agencies, Streamflows, Vulnerability Assessment, adaption strategies, adaption strategies, brooding habitat, brooding habitat, climate change, climate change, completed, vulnerability, vulnerability, wet meadows, wet meadows, Fewer tags

Modeling Low Stream Flows and Assessing the Ecological Impacts of Potential Stream Drying under Climate Change in the Upper Colorado River Basin

Streamflows in late spring and summer have declined over the last century in the western U.S. and mean annual streamflow is projected to decrease by six to 25% over the next 100 years. In arid and semi-arid regions of the western US, it is likely that some perennial streams will shift to intermittent flow regimes in response to climate-driven changes in timing and magnitude of precipitation, runoff, and evaporation. The project will address the following two research question: how will small stream (1st-3rd order) low flow hydrology be impacted by predicted longer, drier summers in the Upper Colorado River Basin under climate change and in turn, what will be the resulting impacts on riparian plant communities?...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: ArcGIS REST Map Service, ArcGIS Service Definition, Downloadable, Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: AZ-01, Applications and Tools, Arizona, CO-03, Colorado, All tags... Colorado Plateau, Conservation NGOs, Conservation Planning, Decision Support, Federal resource managers, Four Corners, GIS, GIS, Green River Basin, LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, NM-03, Native Fish, New Mexico, Project, SRLCC, SRLCC, SRLCC boundary, Southern Rocky Mountains, State agencies, Streamflows, UT-01, UT-02, UT-03, Upper Colorado River Basin, Upper Colorado River Basin, Upper Colorado River Basin, Upper Rio Grande, Utah, Vulnerability Assessment, WY-00, Wasatch and Uinta Mountains, Wyoming, climate change, climate change, completed, low flow hydrology, low flow hydrology, riparian, riparian, riparian vegetation, riparian vegetation, small streams, small streams, stream drying, stream drying, stream drying, stream flows, streamflows, streamflows, upper colorado river basin, Fewer tags

Science-Based Riparian Restoration Planning on the Colorado and Dolores Rivers: A Decision Support Tool and Investigation of Habitat Complexity at Tributary Junctions

Stream flow in the Colorado River and Dolores River corridors has been significantly modified by water management, and continued flow alteration is anticipated in future decades with projected increases in human water demand. Bottomland vegetation has been altered as well, with invasion of non-native species, increases in wildfire and human disturbance, and currently, rapid shifts in riparian communities due to biological and mechanical tamarisk control efforts. In light of these conditions, land managers are in need of scientific information to support management of vegetation communities for values such as healthy populations of sensitive fish and wildlife species and human recreation. We propose to address these...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: Downloadable, GeoTIFF, Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service, Raster; Tags: CO-03, Colorado, Colorado River, Conservation NGOs, Decision Support, All tags... Dolores River, Federal resource managers, Informing Conservation Delivery, LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, Native Fish, Project, SRLCC, State agencies, Streamflows, UT-03, Upper Colorado River Basin, Utah, Utah, aquatic, aquatic, completed, decision support tool, decision support tool, native species, native species, non-native species, non-native species, riparian, riparian, riparian habitat, riparian habitat, riparian restoration, riparian restoration, streamflows, streamflows, Fewer tags

Modeling Woody Plant Regeneration and Debris Accumulation under Future Streamflow and Wildfire Scenarios in the SRLCC

Rivers in the SRLCC differ from one another in flow characteristics, levels of regulation, and vulnerability to wildfire; characteristics that will be influenced by climate change (Seager et al. 2007, Mortiz et al. 2012). An understanding of how changes in streamflow and wildfire frequency will affect structure of live and dead woody vegetation is needed to for managers assess the vulnerability of riparian obligate species to climate change. We are developing stochastic transition models for cottonwood trees and snags along the Middle Rio Grande by modifying Lytle and Merritts (2004) stage-structured cottonwood population model. By incorporating influences of flood and wildfire into stage transition rates, we can...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: Downloadable, Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: Conservation NGOs, Cultural Resources, Decision Support, EARTH SCIENCE > LAND SURFACE > LANDSCAPE, Federal resource managers, All tags... Informing Conservation Delivery, LCC, LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, Middle Rio Grande, NM-01, NM-02, NM-02, NM-03, NM-03, New Mexico, Project, SRLCC, State agencies, Streamflows, Tribes, Upper Rio Grande, Upper Rio Grande, Upper Rio Grande, climate change, climate change, climate change, completed, cottonwood, cottonwood, cottonwood, debris, debris, debris, environment, fire, fire, population model, population model, population model, riparian, riparian, riparian, riparian obligates, riparian obligates, riparian obligates, vegetation, vegetation, vegetation, vulnerability, vulnerability, vulnerability, watershed management, watershed management, watershed management, wildlife, wildlife, woody vegetation, woody vegetation, woody vegetation, Fewer tags

Evaluation of Decision Support System Platforms and Tools for Integrated Water Management in the Colorado River Basin

The project will result in recommendations for a decision support platform that links coarse and fine scale tools and for improving the Colorado River Simulation System (CRSS) as the central analytical tool for basinwide water supply planning. The work will largely be accomplished by assembling an exceptionally qualified team in cross-disciplinary, water management decision support systems, in the CRSS, and in two finer scale water management decision supports within the basin and by responding to an advisory group oflead water management agencies.The project will immediately build on the Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study being led by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, will extend the interface between...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: AZ-01, AZ-02, AZ-03, AZ-04, AZ-05, All tags... AZ-06, AZ-07, AZ-08, AZ-09, Arizona, CA-08, CA-36, CA-51, CO-02, CO-03, California, Colorado, Colorado River Basin, Colorado River Basin, Conservation Planning, Decision Support, Federal resource managers, Green River Basin, LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, NM-02, NM-03, NV-01, NV-03, NV-04, Native Fish, Nevada, New Mexico, Project, SRLCC, State agencies, Streamflows, UT-01, UT-02, UT-03, Utah, WY-00, Wyoming, completed, decision support systems, decision support systems, decision support tools, decision support tools, ecological flows, ecological flows, water, water, water management, water management, water supply planning, water supply planning, Fewer tags

Vulnerability and Connectivity of Natural Landscapes and Riparian Habitat in the SRLCC

Land managers have incorporated threats to biodiversity for nearly two decades, but very few efforts have included threats from future conditions and fewer still have assessed vulnerability to climate change. This project will address two themes: 1) providing foundational information about habitat fragmentation and connectivity and 2) identifying the degree of vulnerability of key habitats to climate change.For development of understanding broadextent, a landscape-level pattern of climate change is an important complement to approaches to estimate rangeshifts for certain key focal species. Ecological system types (i.e. coarsefilters) are widely used in conservation planning because they contain valuable resources...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: ArcGIS REST Map Service, ArcGIS Service Definition, Downloadable, Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: AZ-01, AZ-04, Applications and Tools, CO-02, CO-03, All tags... CO-05, Conservation Planning, Cultural Resources, Datasets/Database, Federal resource managers, Four Corners, GIS, Green River Basin, LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, Map, NM-01, NM-02, NM-03, Native Fish, Private land owners, Project, SRLCC, SRLCC, Sage-steppe, State agencies, Streamflows, UT-01, UT-02, UT-03, Upper Rio Grande, Vulnerability Assessment, climate change, climate change, completed, connectivity, connectivity, energy development, impact, impact, riparian habitat, riparian habitat, sensitivity, sensitivity, terrestrial habitat, terrestrial habitat, urban development, urban development, vulnerability, vulnerability, Fewer tags

Watershed Disturbance and Restoration Impacts on Hydrologic Function Relative to Increased Snowmelt Water Yields, Stream Water Quality, and Species Conservation in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico: Model Calibration and Validation on a Landscape Scale

The overall project goal is to understand and model the watershed impacts of forest restoration actions (thinning, prescribed fire) and climate change on the hydrologic function, particularly with respect to (1) changes in soil moisture and water yield during snowmelt, (2) inter-annual and directional changes in stream water quality, and (3) the resulting impacts on watershed management for wildlife species threatened by disturbance and climate change.Specifically, we will: use known relationships of forest structure on snow-water equivalent (SWE) values and processes of sublimation (ablation), infiltration and run-off in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico to model forest-stand restoration prescriptions,...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: Cultural Resources, Decision Support, Federal resource managers, Informing Conservation Delivery, Jemez Mountains, All tags... Jemez Mountains, Jemez River, LCC, LCC Network Science Catalog, NM-03, Native Fish, New Mexico, New Mexico, Project, SRLCC, State agencies, Streamflows, Tribes, Upper Rio Grande, Upper Rio Grande, Valles Caldera, climate change, climate change, completed, forest restoration, forest restoration, forest structure, forest structure, forest thinning, forest thinning, prescribed fire, prescribed fire, snowmelt, snowmelt, soil moisture, soil moisture, stream water yield, stream water yield, streamflows, streamflows, upper rio grande basin, water, water, watershed management, watershed management, Fewer tags

Erosion and Sediment Analysis in the Upper Green River Basin

Information on the sources of sediment production and amount is necessary to better understand the relationship between landscape-scale ecosystem drivers (fire, large-scale invasive species removal, recreation, oil and gas development, and grazing) and sediment loading in rivers, streams, and reservoirs. An improved understanding of the sources of sediment production and the contribution of each source to total sediment load would enable resource managers to better locate and design conservation strategies to reduce sediment loading, and improve water quality, native fish habitats, and upland vegetation cover.This project will conduct an erosion and sediment supply analysis in a portion of the Upper Green River...

Categories: Data, Project; Types: ArcGIS REST Map Service, ArcGIS Service Definition, Downloadable, Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service; Tags: CO-03, Colorado, Data Acquisition and Development, Datasets/Database, Decision Support, All tags... Federal resource managers, Green River Basin, Green River Basin, LCC Network Science Catalog, Map, Native Fish, Project, SRLCC, Southern Rockies LCC, State agencies, Streamflows, Tribes, UT-01, Upper Green River Basin, Utah, WY-00, Wyoming, Wyoming, completed, ecosystem drivers, ecosystem drivers, erosion, erosion, erosion, fire, fire, fire, green river basin, invasive species removal, invasive species removal, invasive species removal, oil and gas development, oil and gas development, oil and gas development, recreation, recreation, recreation, sediment, sediment, sediment, sediment loading, sediment loading, sediment loading, upper green river basin, Fewer tags