WATER IN THE SOUTHWEST AND IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Lecture 2

Photo of Rain in Anasazi Ruin by Ray Rasmussen

WHERE IS THE WATER IN THE SOUTHWEST?

Colorado River drainage system Student activity: Map Colorado drainage system & highlight sources &

dams What’s the source of the Colorado River: San Juan

Mountains in Colorado Snowpack decreasing—and therefore stream flow-(http://

www.southwestclimatechange.org/feature-articles/river-ecosystems) Example: dust from a spring storm in NN landed on the snowpack, turning it brown, thereby causing an early melt because more sunlight was absorbed.

Sacred Peaks—current controversy Snowbowl Student Activity: Read Navajo-HopiPeaksArticle.pdf Arizona wants to divert water from reservations

2006 RUN-OFF IN CHUSKAS

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Increase loss of vegetation, erosion, dust storms Student Activity: Read Dunehandout.pdf With loss of vegetation increase invasive species,

such as (need photos) Russian thistle Spotted knapweed Cheat grass Bull-thistle

Extinction endangered species; Example: Hanging gardens

Migration north of species Student activity: Read BirdsAndClimateReport.pdf

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE - CONTINUED

Diseases moving North –West Nile virus, malaria; deaths due to extreme heat-Phoenix, reservations

Increase forest fires. Student Activity: Read FuelingTheFire.pdf Loss biodiversity---causes ecosystem instability Affect grazing, agriculture----Knowledge tribes of water

conservation systems and adaptation to drought for hundreds of years Navajo—from top of Chuskas see abandoned fields and

irrigation systems- How much traditional knowledge lost? How can that

knowledge be utilized? Canyon de Chelly fields, grazing----less water

FIELDS IN CANYON DE CHELLY

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Anasazi-system water collection/dams----Why abandoned?? (Anasazi Places: Ruins and Rock Art, A Photography Journey through some Anasazi Sites)

Ak-chin Farming Tohono O’odham---divert water by separating channels into branching

systems Hopi waffle gardens Student Activity: www.garynabhan.com/press

List 12 lessons on water conservation from traditional farmers of Colorado Plateau (TwelveLessons.pdf)

Lost species important culturally—medicinal, ceremonial, utilitarian plants/species

Need indigenous knowledge: species adapted to drought, dryland farming

Techniques, Drip –irrigation, cisterns, hydrology Student Activity: Read BreedingDroughtResistantPlants.pdf

GEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

The cliffs of Canyon de Chelly are made of sandstone showing this area was once like the Sahara

The layers in the rock of the Grand Canyon have marine fossils showing this was once under the ocean

Therefore climate change has been part of Earth’s history for billions of years but only today is it occurring at a very rapid rate and this is Due to Human Impact

MesquiteSweetgrass

Piñon Pine

IMPACTS TO SUBSISTENCE AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

http://nnhp.navajofishandwildlife.org/

Pediocactus bradyi Brady Pincushion

Cactus

NESL Group 2, ESA LE Only known from a 25 mile

stretch along Marble Canyon, Coconino County AZ. On the Navajo Nation from just north of Navajo Bridge south to the vicinity of Sheep Springs Wash.

Restricted to soils derived from Moenkopi Shale overlain by Kaibab Limestone chips.

Threatened by off-road vehicle use, illegal collecting, trampling, drought, global climate change.

Sclerocactus mesae-verde Mesa Verde Cactus

NESL G2, ESA LT Restricted to San Juan County

New Mexico, and Montezuma County, Colorado.

Occurs on sparsely vegetated low rolling clay hills formed from the Mancos or Fruitland shale formations at 4,900-5,500 ft.

Threatened by habitat destruction through urban development, off-road vehicle use, oil and gas development, pipeline and powerline construction, illegal collecting, drought related stresses, global climate change.

Astragalus cutleri Cutler’s Milk-vetch

NESL Group 2 Restricted to the Copper

Canyon area, San Juan County, Utah. 90% of known population are on Navajo Nation lands.

Occurs in warm desert shrub communities, on sandy, seleniferous soils with level to moderate slopes, on the Shinarump and Chinle Formations.

Threatened by feral donkeys, global climate change.

Astragalus cremnophylax

var. hevronii Marble Canyon Milk-

vetch

NESL Group 3 Restricted to the east rim of

Marble Canyon, in the vicinity of Shinumo Wash. Only known from the Navajo Nation.

Restricted to cracks in Kaibab Limestone slickrock formations.

Threatened by natural erosional processes, global climate change.

Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae Fickeisen Plains Cactus

NESL Group 3, Candidate Restricted to Coconino &

Mohave counties, AZ. On the Navajo Nation from Gray Mountain to southwest of Bitter Springs.

Occurs in soils overlain by Kaibab limestone along canyon rims and flat terraces along washes.

Threatened by off-road vehicle use, illegal collections, drought, trampling, invasion of exotic species, global climate change.

Astragalus beathii Beath’s Milk-vetch

NESL Group 4 Restricted to the Navajo

Nation, Coconino County, AZ. Occurs in sandy flats, red clay

knolls, and gullied washes in badlands, on selenium-bearing soils derived from Moenkopi Sandstone at 4000 to 4800ft.

Threatened by road development, drought, global climate change.

Erigeron rhizomatus Rhizome Fleabane

NESL Group 2, Listed Threatened

Only known from McKinley, San Juan, & Catron counties, NM and Apache County, AZ. On the Navajo Nation in the Chuska Mountains.

Restricted to steep slopes above 7000ft . Restricted to clays derived from the Chinle and Baca Formations.

Threatened mostly by energy development, possibly global climate change.

CULTURAL PLANTS

1)Plants like wildlife are migrating. Plants are migrating northward and upward (elevation). For instance, Piñon Pine is contracting in NM and extending its range in the NW.

2) Mesa Verde Cactus – Important to the Navajo. Navajo reports say the decline in precipitation has impacted the ability of the cactus to reproduce and survive. Drought and subsequent insect outbreaks have decimated cactus near Shiprock.

3)Mesquite – On the Cocopah Reservation in AZ, mesquite is being pushed out by invasive saltcedar, a more drought-tolerant species.

4) In 2002-2003 in NM, there was significant drought dieback that affected 3 ½ million acres of Piñon Pine and 2 million acres of Ponderosa.

FUTURE FOR TRIBES IN THE SOUTHWEST Make use of traditional knowledge of adaptation to drought

and new technologies Need to educate tribal people on water cycle and role of

vegetation in holding water and stopping erosion Have workshops on determining productivity of family’s land and stocking

rate and conservation practices to conserve water Reduce number of dirt roads Stop use of vehicles and ORVs to herd stock

Reduce Dependence on Fossil Fuels Stop Desert Rock proposed coal burning plant Student Activity: Read OilShale.pdf Develop alternative energy and heat conservation for homes (http://

www.southwestclimatechange.org/feature-articles/southwest-cities-carbon-footprint)

Develop plans for more efficient cars/vehicles on reservation