Science & Technology Center forScience & Technology Center forSSustainability of semi-ustainability of semi-AArid rid HHydrology and ydrology and

RRiparian iparian AAreas (SAHRA)reas (SAHRA)

“ “ SAHRA’s mission is to promote sustainable SAHRA’s mission is to promote sustainable management of water resources by conducting management of water resources by conducting water resources-related science, outreach, and water resources-related science, outreach, and

education in the context of critical water education in the context of critical water management issues of semiarid and arid regionsmanagement issues of semiarid and arid regions.”.”

1998 20001999 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 20102004

A Successful Working Partnership of ~300 A Successful Working Partnership of ~300 University and Laboratory ResearchersUniversity and Laboratory Researchers

NEVADA

MEXICO

                      

COLORADO

Other

ARIZONA

UTAH

NEW MEXICOCALIFORNIA

To To significantly improvesignificantly improve the understanding the understanding and management of water resources in and management of water resources in semi-arid regionssemi-arid regions

identify and fill gaps in the scientific understanding of identify and fill gaps in the scientific understanding of critical hydrological processescritical hydrological processes

develop management tools firmly based on physical develop management tools firmly based on physical understanding and realism understanding and realism

facilitate knowledge transfer to stakeholders, facilitate knowledge transfer to stakeholders, managers, decision makersmanagers, decision makers

Role of SAHRA ScienceRole of SAHRA Science

Hydrology focused on semi-Hydrology focused on semi-arid river basinsarid river basins

Process researchProcess researchInfrastructure developmentInfrastructure developmentDatabase developmentDatabase developmentIntegrated modelingIntegrated modeling

Knowledge transfer and Knowledge transfer and education outreacheducation outreach

Basin Basin StateStateRegionRegionNationalNationalInternationalInternational

San Pedro River

Salt & VerdeRivers

Upper Rio

Grande

Rio Conchos

What does SAHRA do?What does SAHRA do?

What are the costs and benefits of What are the costs and benefits of riparian restoration and preservation?riparian restoration and preservation?

What kinds if water markets and What kinds if water markets and water banking are feasible?water banking are feasible?

What are the impacts What are the impacts of vegetation change of vegetation change on basin-scale water on basin-scale water balance?balance?

Three Integrating QuestionsThree Integrating QuestionsAll SAHRA research activities are All SAHRA research activities are designed to address one of three designed to address one of three integrating science questionsintegrating science questions

ANSWERING THESE QUESTIONSREQUIRES MODELS!

SAHRA Integrated Modeling OverviewSAHRA Integrated Modeling Overview

StakeholderDecision-

maker

StakeholderDecision-

maker

Geospatial DatabaseGeospatial Database

Models in support of Vegetation

Change

Models in support of Vegetation

Change

Modelsin support of

Water Markets

Modelsin support of

Water Markets

Models in support of

River Restoration

Models in support of

River Restoration

ScenarioDevelopme

nt

Conceptual

Model

IntegratedAssessmen

t

5 Project Areas

Important components requiredImportant components requiredfor policy assessment and for policy assessment and

operational decision makingoperational decision making

Integrated Modeling Approach – 3 overlapping Integrated Modeling Approach – 3 overlapping resolutionsresolutions