Modelling Development of Riparian Ranchlands Using Ecosystem Services at the Aravaipa Watershed, SE Arizona

Laura M. Norman, Miguel L. Villarreal, Rewati Niraula, Mark Haberstich and Natalie R. Wilson
Additional contact information
Laura M. Norman: U.S. Geological Survey, Western Geographic Science Center, 520 N. Park Avenue, Ste. #102K, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA
Miguel L. Villarreal: U.S. Geological Survey, Western Geographic Science Center, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
Rewati Niraula: Texas Institute of Applied Environmental Research (TIAER), Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX 76402, USA
Mark Haberstich: The Nature Conservancy, Aravaipa Canyon Preserve, Willcox, AZ 85643, USA
Natalie R. Wilson: U.S. Geological Survey, Western Geographic Science Center, 520 N. Park Avenue, Ste. #102K, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA

Land, 2019, vol. 8, issue 4, 1-21

Abstract: This paper describes how subdivision and development of rangelands within a remote and celebrated semi-arid watershed near the US–Mexico border might affect multiple ecohydrological services provided, such as recharge of the aquifer, water and sediment yield, water quality, flow rates and downstream cultural and natural resources. Specifically, we apply an uncalibrated watershed model and land-change forecasting scenario to consider the potential effects of converting rangelands to housing developments and document potential changes in hydrological ecosystem services. A new method to incorporate weather data in watershed modelling is introduced. Results of introducing residential development in this fragile arid environment portray changes in the water budget, including increases in surface-water runoff, water yield, and total sediment loading. Our findings also predict slight reductions in lateral soil water, a component of the water budget that is increasingly becoming recognized as critical to maintaining water availability in arid regions. We discuss how the proposed development on shrub/scrub rangelands could threaten to sever imperative ecohydrological interactions and impact multiple ecosystem services. This research highlights rangeland management issues important for the protection of open space, economic valuation of rangeland ecosystem services, conservation easements, and incentives to develop markets for these.

Keywords: hydrology; watershed modelling; water resources; scenario planning; sustainable management; ecosystem services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/8/4/64/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/8/4/64/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:8:y:2019:i:4:p:64-:d:223230

Access Statistics for this article

Land is currently edited by Ms. Carol Ma

More articles in Land from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().