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Abstract
We compared the distribution of riparian forest and woodlands relative to water resource availability for a 2.3 million-acre region for the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan (SDCP). Most of Pima County’s riparian vegetation occurs along stream reaches that classify as ephemeral. Ninety percent or more of the mesquite woodlands, riparian scrub, and riparian strand classifications of the Brown, Lowe and Pase system are associated with ephemeral stream reaches in Pima County. Over half of the Sonoran cottonwood-willow vegetation is associated with stream reaches that classified as ephemeral. Conservation planning has often focused on protecting perennial stream habitat. Our results support the importance of identifying and protecting ephemeral and intermittent streams, particularly those having shallow groundwater tables, in the Southwestern United States.
Parent Publication
Keywords
Madrean Archipelago,
Sky Islands,
southwestern United States,
northern Mexico,
natural environment,
fauna,
flora,
research,
management,
biodiversity,
climate change
Citation
Fonseca, Julia E.; List, Mike. 2013. Distribution of riparian vegetation in relation to streamflow in Pima County, Arizona. In: Gottfried, Gerald J.; Ffolliott, Peter F.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Collins, Loa C. Merging science and management in a rapidly changing world: Biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago III and 7th Conference on Research and Resource Management in the Southwestern Deserts; 2012 May 1-5; Tucson, AZ. Proceedings. RMRS-P-67. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 119-123.
