When The Water Dries Up: Strategies for Implementing Riparian Restoration Projects Without Water
Katelyn Cary1*, Linnea Spears-Lebrun2*, Tony Somers3, and Sharif Durzi4
1SWCA, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
2SWCA, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
3SWCA, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States
4SWCA, Denver, Colorado, United States
This presentation will discuss the planning and implementation strategies used to restore a private agricultural easement adjacent to the Rio Grande River in Socorro, New Mexico, that relies exclusively on overbank flooding events for regenerating historic riparian plant communities. In addition to facing a diminishing annual water supply and increasing variability of overbank flood events, other restoration challenges include non-native species removal, increasing soil salinity, threatened and endangered species habitat, and devising a climate resilient plant palette. Attendees will learn about the strategies used in decision making, data collection, hydrologic modeling, implementation methods, and more as we navigate restoration planning without a reliable water source.