ALTERNATIVE WATER: AUGMENTATION Files

Central Yavapai Highlands Water Resource Management Study

The Central Yavapai Highlands Water Resource Management Study (CYHWRMS) reports can be downloaded here.

Ecohydrological Implications of Woody Plant Encroachment

Increases in the abundance or density of woody plants in historically semiarid and arid grassland ecosystems have important ecological, hydrological, and socioeconomic implications. Using a simplified water-balance model, we propose a framework for conceptualizing how woody plant encroachment is likely to affect components of the water cycle within these ecosystems. We focus in particular on streamflow and the partitioning of evapotranspiration into evaporation and transpiration. On the basis of this framework, we suggest that streamflow and evaporation processes are affected by woody plant encroachment in different ways, depending on the degree and seasonality of aridity and the availability of subsurface water. Differences in landscape physiography, climate, and runoff mechanisms mediate the influence of woody plants on hydrological processes. View Document.

Emerging Chemical Contaminants

There is growing concern worldwide about aquifer pollution by large numbers of emerging, anthropogenic chemicals (ECs) that escape standard wastewater treatment. Inasmuch as the rapidly-growing, arid Southwest uses such effluent to recharge depleting aquifers, there is an acute need for a better understanding of and a more complete treatment process to protect human and environmental health. Important among these contaminants is a broad suite of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that include natural or synthetic hormones as well as compounds that mimic hormones and may interfere with the operation of endocrine systems even at concentrations of parts per trillion. Indeed, evidence now indicates that some aquatic organisms are adversely affected at these levels where treated wastewater is discharged into streams. The paper will elaborate on these points building a case that this issue deserves attention. By Frank Butterworth, Ken Janecek, and Ed Wolfe. View Document.

EPA Handbook for Managing Onsite and Clustered Wastewater Treatment Systems

An introduction to management tools and information for implementing EPA's management guidelines for small wastewater treatment systems. View Document.

Harvesting Rainwater for Landscape Use

Excellent booklet published by U of A describing active and passive methods of harvesting rainwater for landscape use. View Document.

History of Rainwater Harvesting

Journal article from USDA giving a brief history of rainwater harvesting and asserting that the technique deserves increased attention. View Document.

Rainwater Harvesting in Israel

Bulletin describing the use of microcatchments to harvest water for desert revegetation. View Document.

Reconnaissance Watershed Analysis on the Upper and Middle Verde Watershed

The quantity, quality, and timing of water generated in the watershed is the result of land uses and condition at smaller scales. Grazing, fire suppression, timber harvesting, roads, mining, urbanization, and other human uses have resulted in significantly changed hydrologic condition. Prepared by Lloyd Barnett and Richard Hawkins, U of A. View Document.

Using Gray Water at Home

Two page brochure from ADEQ describing rules for using gray water. View Document.

Vegetation Management

CWAG's view of the watershed improvement project under consideration by the UVRWPC. View Document.

Water Harvesting Systems in Australia

Non-technical review of various water harvesting methods used in Austrialia. 38 pages. View Document.

Water Harvesting: An Aid to Rangeland Management

Cost estimates for rainwater harvesting systems used in ranching. View Document.