Tucson Chapter

Cost covers food and beverages; note that registration closes at 1 PM on the day of the talk. Zoom invitations are provided in your registration confirmation (email us if you do not receive this).

Looking Ahead…

July / August: Summer break — no meetings

September: TBD

October: TBD

November: TBD

December: Holiday party

Demonstrating a New Reservoir Implementation in ParFlow, a Fully Integrated Physical Hydrology Model

Recent advancements in computational and earth systems modeling have enabled increasingly high-fidelity models of hydrologic systems, which are critical for our ability to understand and predict the hydrological cycle. However, many of these models do not incorporate the effect of human built structures such as dams. By not accounting for these impacts, our models are limited both in their accuracy and in the scope of questions they are able to investigate. Therefore, we present a methodology and initial implementation of dams and reservoirs in ParFlow-an integrated hydrologic model along with test cases on idealized domains demonstrating its robustness. We also present results from incorporating reservoirs into an existing model of a real domain. Our results will improve current ParFlow models and, as ParFlow’s integrated solver is well suited to capture surface-ground water interactions, they will enable us to ask new questions regarding conjunctive management of ground and surface water.

Ben West is a PhD student with Dr. Laura Condon at the UA. He is interested in using mathematical and computational modeling to better understand how societies interact with their surrounding environments, as well as how our infrastructure may respond to changes in the environment.

Determining the Source and Quality of Groundwater in the Upper Babocomari Watershed 

The sustainability of groundwater resources in the face of climate change and overextraction is a major concern for many communities with growing populations and/or evolving land use regimes. However, many such communities lack comprehensive hydrologic studies that would help identify the location, nature, and quality of groundwater recharge in these areas. The Babocomari Watershed, which encompasses numerous communities like Huachuca City, Fort Huachuca, Sierra Vista, and Elgin, is undergoing land-use change from ranching to agricultural irrigation. The Babocomari Cienega is also fed by groundwater, and its ability to provide habitat for numerous endangered flora and fauna may be threatened by declines in groundwater levels. Determining the source and quality of groundwater in the Cienega and the surrounding areas can improve the forecasting of the watershed’s hydrology and inform future management decisions. This research project builds upon previous studies using solute chemistry, stable water isotopes, and age tracers (tritium, radiocarbon).

Jonathan Hasenstab is a graduate student who obtained his B.S. in hydrology and atmospheric sciences (water resources emphasis) at the UA in 2024, with the eventual goal of obtaining a masters in hydrology. Having lived in Tucson his whole life, Jonathan’s interest in hydrology stemmed from the many unique conditions that define the city, from its beautiful monsoon season to the area’s groundwater dependence and the efforts to recharge its aquifer with Colorado River water.