Geology topics

Research about Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2024

Post-wildfire curve number estimates for the southern Rocky Mountains in Colorado, USA

The curve number method first developed by the US Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) is often used for post-wildfire runoff assessments. These assessments are critical for land and emergency managers making decisions on life and property risks following a wildfire event. Three approaches (i.e., historical event observations, linear regression model, and regression tree model) were used to help estimate a post-wildfire curve number from watershed and wildfire parameters. For the first method, we used runoff events from 102 burned watersheds in Colorado, southern Wyoming, northern New Mexico, and eastern Utah to quantify changes in curve number values from pre- to post-wildfire conditions. The curve number changes from the measured runoff events vary substantially between positive and negative values. The measured curve number changes were then associated with watershed characteristics (e.g., slope, elevation, northness, and eastness) and land cover type to develop prediction models that provide estimates of post-wildfire curve number changes. Finally, we used a regression tree method to demonstrate that accurate predications can be developed using the measured curve number changes from our study domain. These models can be used for future post-wildfire assessments within the region.

Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming↗

USGS2023

Using public litigation records to identify priority science needs for managing public lands

Relevant science is essential for effective natural resource decision making, including on public lands managed by the United States Department of the Interior (DOI) Bureau of Land Management (BLM), that cover 1/10th of the United States. Most of the BLM’s management decisions require analyses under the National Environmental Policy Act, and the use of science in these decisions is often challenged. Using coproduction, we assembled an interagency team of scientists and resource managers to develop a method for using public litigation to identify priority science needs for the BLM. We searched publicly available case documents finalized from 2015–2019 in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico within federal courts and the DOI Office of Hearings and Appeals, and identified 108 case documents that involved challenges to the BLM’s use of science. We retained 48 case documents that contained at least one challenge about the BLM’s use of science for a specific resource. We categorized all challenges in each case document according to the proposed action, affected resource, type of science challenged (data about resources, science relevant to potential impacts, methods for analyzing potential impacts, and mitigation actions), and specific nature of the challenge (e.g., challenging direct effects analysis). We identified priority science needs based on the frequency of challenges, the number of states where similar challenges occurred, whether the BLM lost the challenge, and whether the case was remanded. Top needs related to oil and gas development actions and included science about effects on air quality and climate, water, and socioeconomics; data for air quality and climate; and methods for analyzing potential impacts to cultural resources and air quality and climate. The BLM can use this information to prioritize actions (e.g., funding new research or science syntheses) to strengthen its science foundation for decision-making.

Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming↗

USGS1917

Profile surveys in the Colorado River basin in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico

In connection with studies of the utilization of rivers the United States Geological Survey has from time to time made surveys and profiles of some of the more important streams of the country and published the results in its series of water-supply papers. In some parts of the country these surveys were made chiefly to determine the location of power sites on streams adapted to the development of power by low or medium heads of 20 to 100 feet; in others the purpose of the surveys was more closely related to the possibility of storing water at certain points and diverting it for use in irrigation. The earlier surveys, such as those of Green River above Fontenelle, Wyo., made in 1909 (Pls. I-V) were of a reconnaissance type and as a rule show no contours along the banks. The later surveys are typified by that of the Gila in the vicinity of Cliff and Redrock, N. Mex., made in 1915 (Pls. XLI-XLIII) and show conditions in much greater detail. These later surveys were made by means of plane table and stadia. Elevations are based on heights derived from primary or precise levels of the United States Geological Survey. The maps are made in the field and show not only the outlines of river banks, the islands, the positions of rapids, falls, shoals, and existing dams, and the crossings of all ferries and roads, but the contours of banks to an elevation high enough to indicate the possibility of using the stream.

Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming↗