Attributes of successful stock water ponds in southern Arizona

Abstract

The attributes of 20 ponds (or stock tanks) on the Nogales Ranger District of the Coronado National Forest were studied in detail by groups. Two contrasting groups, judged to be either functional (n = 11) or nonfunctional (n = 9) were used in the study. Differences between the groups were evaluated on the basis of attributes of the ponds themselves, the contributing watersheds, and the local climate and modeled hydrology. There are no differences associated with the pond shape, materials used for dam construction, watershed Curve Number, hydrologic soil group, geology, range or hydrologic condition, mean number of days at capacity per year, or the fraction of runoff trapped. Differences are more apparent when considering pond depth, maximum pond capacity, watershed drainage area, and percent of days with no stored water.

Parent Publication

• Land Stewardship in the 21st Century: The Contributions of Watershed Management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ

Citation

Imler, Barry L.; Wawkins, Richard H.; Guertin, D. Phillip; Young, Don W. 2000. Attributes of successful stock water ponds in southern Arizona. In: Ffolliott, Peter F.; Baker Jr., Malchus B.; Edminster, Carleton B.; Dillon, Madelyn C.; Mora, Karen L., tech. coords. Land Stewardship in the 21st Century: The Contributions of Watershed Management; 2000 March 13-16; Tucson, AZ. Proc. RMRS-P-13. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 383-386.