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Use of water by riparian vegetation, Cottonwood Wash, Arizona

Water Supply Paper 1858
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/wsp1858

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Abstract

The change in water use as a result of the modification of riparian vegetation was measured in Cottonwood Wash, Mohave County, Ariz. A 4.1-mile length of the stream channel was selected and divided into a 2.6-mile upper reach and a 1.5-mile lower reach. Measurements of streamflow, ground-water levels, vegetation, and meteorological phenomena in the area defined the use of water by riparian vegetation under natural hydrologic conditions. Subsequent defoliation and eradication of the vegetation in the lower reach permitted the determination of the change in water use as a result of the modification. The computed average loss of water from the lower reach before modification was 80 acre-feet per growing season, a quantity which represented about 18 percent of the average flow entering the reach in the same period. The average loss after modification of the vegetation was 42 acre-feet per growing season, a quantity which represented about 12 percent of the average flow entering the reach in the same period.

Suggested Citation

Bowie, J.E., Kam, W., 1968, Use of water by riparian vegetation, Cottonwood Wash, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Water Supply Paper 1858, Report: iv, 62 p.; 1 Plate: 26.50 x 22.0 inches, https://doi.org/10.3133/wsp1858.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Use of water by riparian vegetation, Cottonwood Wash, Arizona
Series title Water Supply Paper
Series number 1858
DOI 10.3133/wsp1858
Year Published 1968
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description Report: iv, 62 p.; 1 Plate: 26.50 x 22.0 inches
Country United States
State Arizona
County Mohave County
Scale 12000
Additional publication details