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SALSA Answers Questions About Upper San Pedro River Basin
The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), in cooperation with other federal, state, and local agencies, is conducting a long-term study of the Upper San Pedro River basin in southeastern Arizona and northeastern Sonora, as part of the ongoing United States Global Change research effort. The "SALSA" (Semi-Arid Land-Surface-Atmosphere) Program, as it is called, seeks to understand the consequences of natural and human-induced environmental change on the hydrology and ecology of river basins in semi-arid regions, and specifically within the Upper San Pedro River Basin.
One of the key questions about the hydrology of the Upper Basin is: "how much water is consumed by trees along the riparian corridor?" Riparian transpiration is known to be a major component in the basin water balance but one that has not been adequately quantified. This information is urgently needed to improve the accuracy of hydrology models being used to make water management decisions. In response to this need, SALSA researchers initiated a study to measure the rate of evapotranspiration from the riparian corridor and to examine stream-aquifer interactions. Three field experiments have already been conducted this year: the forth and most-involved experiment will be conducted this August 11th to 13th.
The SALSA riparian research focuses on a study site located within the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, about 8 miles east of Sierra Vista on State Highway 90. A variety of sensors and dataloggers have been installed at the site to record atmospheric, groundwater, surface water, and soil moisture conditions. During the field experiments, SALSA researchers collect additional hydrological and biophysical data both on-the-ground and by satellite and airborne remote sensors. In August, several "high-tech" devices will be used by Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, ARS, and other research teams to measure atmospheric moisture over the riparian canopy.
SALSA is a good example of cooperative research among federal, state, local, and international agencies and an efficient use of public resources. Participants and contributors to the program include the ARS, US Bureau of Land Management, US Geological Survey, Arizona Department of Water Resources, Cochise County Flood Control District, University of Arizona, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Utah State University, University of Iowa, and the US Army-Fort Huachuca. Equally important to SALSA are scientists from Mexico, France, and Denmark who are conducting complementary research on the Mexican side of the basin, as well as assisting in the US research.
SALSA emphasizes "participatory science," and encourages interested citizens to join in the field activities. To date, over 60 volunteers, associated with the University of Arizona, Cochise County, City of Sierra Vista, Friends of the San Pedro, Huachuca Audubon Society, or simply on their own, have contributed hundreds of free hours to the research effort and, in the process, have helped disseminate information about the riparian research to the community. Although SALSA is not a part of the economic/environmental study of the San Pedro River recently proposed by the tri-national Commission for Environmental Cooperation, SALSA researchers have offered to share their unique knowledge and understanding of the basin with Commission representatives should they request such information.
For further information on the SALSA Program and this year's riparian research effort, contact:
Dr. David C. Goodrich
SALSA Program Leader
tel: 520-670-6380 x 175
email: goodrich@tucson.ars.ag.gov
or
Dr. Bruce F. Goff
SALSA Program Coordinator
tel: 520-670-6380 x 149
email: bgoff@tucson.ars.ag.gov
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