Status of climate and water resources at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument: Water year 2017
Raymond K and Filippone C. 2018. Status of climate and water resources at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument: Water year 2017. Natural Resource Report. NPS/SODN/NRR—2018/1691. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Climate is a major driver of ecosystems. It helps shape ecosystem structure and function, particularly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Understanding changes in climate is central to assessing the condition of park biota and key cultural resources. This report summarizes climate conditions at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument (NM) for water year 2017 (October 2016–September 2017). Air temperatures at Casa Grande Ruins NM were generally higher than normal for most of the year (up to +7.0°F), with the exception of slightly below-normal temperatures during the summer months (up to -1.5°F). There were substantially fewer extremely cold days than normal. Annual precipitation was only 73% of normal (6.70" vs. 9.18") in WY2017 when compared to normalized climate data for 1981–2010. Both the winter rainy season and sum-mer monsoon started with near- or above-normal rainfall, which tapered off quickly. The normally dry spring months were especially dry in WY2017. There were no extreme precipi-tation events (>1") in WY2017, reflecting the overall drier-than-normal conditions. Groundwater levels near Casa Grande Ruins NM in WY2017 declined 13.3 feet from WY2016, consistent with a general downward trend since 1995. Irrigation districts in the Eloy basin near the Central Arizona Project canal began receiving water in 1987. However, the San Carlos Irrigation District, adjacent to the park, is outside the Central Arizona Proj-ect service area, and groundwater levels have generally declined. Land subsidence at Casa Grande Ruins NM was 0–1 centimeter in most of the park, and up to two centimeters in some areas of the park from March 2016 to April 2017.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Raymond, Kara; Filippone, Colleen
- Date of Issue
- 2018-08
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CAGR , NRSS , SODN
- Keywords
- climate, groundwater, monitoring, SODN, Sonoran Desert Network
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Air and Climate | Weather and Climate | Weather and Climate , Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Groundwater Dynamics