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Hydrological elements for ecosystem conservation: a comprehensive water management for a binational wetland in the arid northwest of Mexico.
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  • Marcelo A. Lomeli-Banda,
  • Jorge Ramírez-Hernández,
  • J. Eliana Rodríguez-Burgueño,
  • Carlos Salazar-Briones
Marcelo A. Lomeli-Banda
Universidad Autonoma de Baja California

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Jorge Ramírez-Hernández
Universidad Autonoma de Baja California
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J. Eliana Rodríguez-Burgueño
Universidad Autonoma de Baja California
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Carlos Salazar-Briones
Universidad Autonoma de Baja California
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Abstract

The water agreements between Mexico and the United States have been crucial to restore and preserve the wetlands of the Colorado River Delta. Nowadays, the increase of water demand and climate change in the northwest of Mexico could threaten the conservation of the Cienega de Santa Clara, a coastal wetland composed of 4,709 ha of marsh area in the limits of the Sonoran Desert. This ecosystem was recognized internationally by the international Ramsar convention for playing vital ecological roles, including the habitat service for endemic, endangered and migratory species. Since the inflow reductions by the trial run of the Yuma Desalting Plant during 2010-2011, and earlier events, the hydrology of the wetland has not been completely understanding due to accessibility. Therefore this study was conducted to obtaining the hydrological elements to conserve the wetland, analyzing three scenarios: 1] normal inflow conditions of the Wellton-Mohawk canal; 2] inflow reductions, and; 3] an increase of temperature in consequence of global warming. Water and mass balances were conducted every month during one year; in-situ measurements of inflows were carried out on Wellton-Mohawk, Riíto Drain, groundwater, and precipitation; also were including evapotranspiration outputs estimated using local weather registers and Penman-Monteith formulations. The implications of the increase in temperature considered include the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projections for the one hundred years. Finally, the results showed superficial water disconnections between the hydrological system of the wetland and the Gulf of California. This behavior was observed in the three scenarios, mainly in the summer months. A continuous disconnection reduced the wetland area and the water storage. Therefore, the hydrological functionality of the wetland depends on the water supply thru Wellton-Mohawk canal, which was determinate that at least a continuous discharge of 5.10 m3 s-1 during summer months is needed to maintain its functionality.
05 Jul 2020Submitted to Hydrological Processes
07 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
07 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
07 Jul 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
08 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Major
26 Oct 20201st Revision Received
26 Oct 2020Submission Checks Completed
26 Oct 2020Assigned to Editor
26 Oct 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
26 Oct 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Oct 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
17 Nov 20202nd Revision Received
17 Nov 2020Submission Checks Completed
17 Nov 2020Assigned to Editor
17 Nov 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
18 Nov 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Nov 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
11 Dec 20203rd Revision Received
12 Dec 2020Submission Checks Completed
12 Dec 2020Assigned to Editor
12 Dec 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Dec 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Dec 2020Editorial Decision: Accept