2003 NSF REU

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2003 NSF REU

• Soil Evaporation and Classification
• Kacey Cubine, Scott Horton, Rose Rotter, and Noah
  Friesen

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Featuring

• Brief Overview
• Project Objectives
• Procedure
• Results
• Conclusions
• Continuing Research

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From Birth to Extinction

• Over 1,800 miles in length
• Draws water from Southern Colorado Rockies
• Water used for irrigation, residential, tribal,
  recreation, and habitat.

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The Debates

• Drought
• Current Events
• Restoration Projects

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Salt Cedar Removal
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The Salt Cedar
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Objectives

• To locate appropriate sites for field research
• To classify the soils at those locations
• To infer soil evaporation behavior from soil
  conditions

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• Middle Rio Grande Valley

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Shirk
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Belen
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Sevilleta
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Bosque Del Apache - North
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Bosque Del Apache - South
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Classification Tests

• Sieve tests
• Hydrometer
• Atterberg limits

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Soil Properties

• In situ Density
• Specific Gravity
• Hydraulic Conductivity
• Suction
• Moisture Characteristic Curve

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Tensiometers
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Results
Shirk Data
Sevilleta
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Results
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Conclusions
Location

• Sites were found, but are not perfect.
• Water table depths between 122 cm and 162 cm.

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Conclusions
Characterization

• Layers are not consistent throughout the Bosque.
• Predominant soil types.

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Conclusions
Tensiometers

• There is a potential gradient.
• Equipment is not perfect.
• Time is of the essence.

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Future Research