Water resources during drought conditions and postfire water quality in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, Lincoln County, New Mexico, 2010-13

Sherson, L. R.; Rice, Steven E.

doi:10.3133/sir20155086

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Second, a primary goal of this study was to characterize postfire streamflow conditions during higher flow conditions that may cause flooding and associated health and safety concerns important to the NMDHSEM. A majority of precipitation (59 percent of annual precipitation for the 1942-2013 period of record) occurs in the summer months (June to September) from monsoon storms (Sherson and Rice, 2015). As a result, higher streamflow events that are a focus of this study typically occur because of these monsoonal convective storms during the summer to early fall period.…”

Section: Including Eaglementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The upper Rio Hondo Basin (fig. 1) has been described in detail by Tillery and Matherne (2013), Darr and others (2014), and Sherson and Rice (2015) and is briefly described in this section.…”

Section: Description Of Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Total annual precipitation varies spatially throughout the study area depending on elevation, ranging from 15 inches per year (in/yr) in the eastern lowland areas and valleys to 40 in/yr at high elevations (Matherne and others, 2010;Darr and others, 2014). Mean monthly precipitation data indicate that a majority of the precipitation falls during the summer months (June-September) as monsoon storms (Sherson and Rice, 2015). Summer precipitation accounts for an average of 59 percent of the total annual precipitation for the period (ponderosa pine) forests at mid-elevations; and desert grasses, cacti, and shrubs at lower elevations (Sherson and Rice, 2015).…”

Section: Climate Vegetation and Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mean monthly precipitation data indicate that a majority of the precipitation falls during the summer months (June-September) as monsoon storms (Sherson and Rice, 2015). Summer precipitation accounts for an average of 59 percent of the total annual precipitation for the period (ponderosa pine) forests at mid-elevations; and desert grasses, cacti, and shrubs at lower elevations (Sherson and Rice, 2015). Historically, the forested areas in the western part of the upper Rio Hondo Basin contained a tree density varying from 20 to 70 trees per acre with grass-dominated understories.…”

Section: Climate Vegetation and Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A major fire occurred in June 2012 in the upper Rio Hondo Basin in south-central New Mexico following record drought conditions in 2011 and 2012 (Sherson and Rice, 2015). The 2012 Little Bear Fire burned approximately 69 square miles (mi 2 ) (44,300 acres) in the high-elevation forests of the upper Rio Bonito and Eagle Creek watersheds (Snyder and others, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Calibration of Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) to simulate prefire and postfire hydrologic response in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, New Mexico

Douglas-Mankin¹

2019

Scientific Investigations Report

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Section: Including Eaglementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Description Of Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Climate Vegetation and Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Climate Vegetation and Soilsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Calibration of Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) to simulate prefire and postfire hydrologic response in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, New Mexico

Douglas-Mankin¹

2019

Scientific Investigations Report

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Hydrologic Effects of Fire in a Sub-Alpine Watershed: AgES Outperforms Previous PRMS Simulations

Mankin¹,

Wells²,

Kipka³

et al. 2022

Journal of the ASABE

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HighlightsAgES and PRMS accurately simulated the dramatic change in streamflow response to precipitation after fire.Measured annual streamflow increased by 170% in 4-year postfire period with similar precipitation.Postfire AgES parameters were drastically reduced for snow and rain interception, canopy density, and ET.Decreased soil depression storage and field capacity also contributed to increased streamflow in AgES.AgES shows promise for simulating hydrologic impacts of sub-alpine forest resource management and fire response.Abstract. Forest fires alter hydrologic responses to precipitation, and streamflow changes can be challenging to simulate. Streamflow data before and after wildfire in a 14 km2 mixed-conifer, sub-alpine watershed in south-central New Mexico were used to calibrate a watershed model (Agricultural Ecosystems Services, AgES) using four years of prefire and postfire conditions. Streamflow results and parameter values from AgES and a prior Precipitation Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) modeling study in the same watershed were compared. Both AgES and PRMS simulated the dramatic change in streamflow response to precipitation after a fire, including a smaller precipitation threshold to induce streamflow. Still, AgES had substantially less bias and better performance when comparing monthly metrics. Only AgES was assessed at the daily scale. AgES simulated daily streamflow accurately throughout the study period, with slight overestimation in the prefire period (Oct 2007 to Oct 2011, 1.2% bias, 0.90 Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency [NSE]) and in the postfire period (Oct 2013 to Oct 2017, 4.4% bias, 0.54 NSE). Although each 4-year model period had nearly identical cumulative precipitation, annual streamflow increased by 170% in the postfire period compared to the prefire period. Appropriate soil and vegetation parameters were modified by the stepwise calibration process to represent the effects of fire in AgES: interception storage was decreased for rain (-99.8%) and snow (-26%), two factors influencing ET were decreased, soil depression storage was reduced (-97%), and soil field capacity was reduced (-50%). AgES demonstrated an improved streamflow simulation compared with PRMS, calibrated parameter shifts that were more consistent to interpret, and particular skill in simulating daily streamflow response to fire. Knowledge gained from this study will guide future simulations of hydrologic responses to fires in the western USA using AgES. Keywords: Agricultural Ecosystems Services model, Forest, Landscape change, Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System, Streamflow change, Surface hydrology, Wildfire.

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Simulating Hydrologic Effects of Wildfire on a Small Sub-Alpine Watershed in New Mexico, U.S.

Douglas-Mankin¹

2021

Transactions of the ASABE

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HighlightsThis study calibrated a hydrologic model for pre- and postfire conditions and simulated postfire hydrologic response.Postfire rainfall-runoff was more influenced by canopy and soil water factors and less by antecedent soil moisture (ASM).For moderate to low ASM, postfire streamflow responded linearly to precipitation; prefire showed little response.Postfire streamflow increased and shifted from baseflow- to runoff-dominated, and runoff occurred across all ASM.Abstract. Streamflow records available before and after wildfire in a small, mixed conifer, sub-alpine monsoonal dominated watershed in New Mexico provided a unique opportunity to calibrate a watershed model (PRMS) for pre- and postfire conditions. The calibrated model was then used to simulate the hydrologic effects of fire. Simulated postfire surface runoff averaged 14.7 times greater than prefire for the 29-year simulation period. The relationship between precipitation and streamflow changed dramatically after wildfire, largely from a decreased influence of antecedent soil moisture (ASM) and increased influence of canopy factors (less interception) and soil factors (greater hydrophobicity, less infiltration) in controlling surface runoff. For higher ASM, simulated pre- and postfire streamflow was similarly variable. However, for moderate and lower ASM, soil water storage was too low to contribute baseflow for either prefire or postfire conditions, and thus postfire streamflow maintained a linear, surface runoff-dominated response to precipitation, whereas prefire streamflow showed little response. Postfire streamflow efficiency increased with ASM from a mean of 0.02 at the lowest ASM to 0.30 at the highest ASM, whereas prefire conditions showed no sensitivity to ASM at low to moderate ASM. Postfire streamflow increased (2.1 times greater median flow than prefire), particularly from increased surface runoff (14.7 times greater), which occurred across all ASM conditions. As a result, streamflow shifted from baseflow-dominated to surface runoff-dominated after wildfire. This result indicates that substantial increases in runoff efficiency (20% or more of precipitation volume) can occur across a range of ASM postfire, which may have severe consequences for flooding. This result also indicates that monitoring of soil moisture would enhance raingauge networks for early flood warning. Keywords: Landscape change, PRMS, Runoff change, Wildfire.

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Water resources during drought conditions and postfire water quality in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, Lincoln County, New Mexico, 2010-13

Abstract: Graph showing average total annual and average total summer (June-September) precipitation at the Ruidoso, New Mexico, precipitation station (CL1) and maximum snow-water equivalent at the Sierra Blanca SNOpack TELemetry (SNOTEL) station (CL2), Sierra Blanca, N. Mex.

Cited by 4 publications

References 16 publications

Calibration of Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) to simulate prefire and postfire hydrologic response in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, New Mexico

Calibration of Precipitation-Runoff Modeling System (PRMS) to simulate prefire and postfire hydrologic response in the upper Rio Hondo Basin, New Mexico

Hydrologic Effects of Fire in a Sub-Alpine Watershed: AgES Outperforms Previous PRMS Simulations

Simulating Hydrologic Effects of Wildfire on a Small Sub-Alpine Watershed in New Mexico, U.S.

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