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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #350297
Title: Relationships among snow depth, snow water equivalent, streamflow and virus activity in two Colorado watersheds (2004 to 2016)

Author
item WARD, DUSTIN - New Mexico State University
item Elias, Emile
item Peters, Debra
item PELZEL-MCCLUSKEY, ANGELA - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item Derner, Justin
item McVey, David
item Rodriguez, Luis

Submitted to: Western Snow Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/15/2018
Publication Date: 4/16/2018
Citation: Ward, D., Elias, E.H., Peters, D.C., Pelzel-Mccluskey, A., Derner, J.D., Mcvey, D.S., Rodriguez, L.L. 2018. Relationships among snow depth, snow water equivalent, streamflow and virus activity in two Colorado watersheds (2004 to 2016) [abstract]. 86th Annual Western Snow Conference Proceedings, April 16-19, 2018, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is the most common viral vesicular disease affecting livestock (horses, cattle, pigs) throughout the Americas. VS is a vector-borne disease with more than >1500 incidents of VS infected equine premises in the western US from 2004-2016. The ecology of the host-vector-virus-environment system is the subject of a large, collaborative USDA research effort. Initial findings indicate VS incidents were spatially distributed near the stream network and temporally related to streamflow conditions with all first incidents (n=35) occurring following peak annual streamflow. These spatial and temporal relationships showcase the importance of hydrological contributions to the emergence and distribution of VS and indicate that snow conditions may play an important role in VS emergence. Peters et al (2017) report that VS infected premises can be evaluated based upon outbreak (2004, 2014) and expansion (2005, 2015) years. Here we evaluate the relationships between monthly snow depth, snow water equivalent, streamflow and the number of VSV infected equine premises in two watersheds (Big Thompson and Saint Vrain) with a high number VS infected premises. The water content of snowpack and snow depth within both watersheds the months prior to a VS outbreak were both lower (2004) and higher (2014) than years with no infected premises. Conversely, outbreak years had higher autumnal and late season monthly streamflow than years with few or no VS infected premises. The complex water management system of reservoirs and irrigation canals along the Front Range of Colorado and VS vectors may buffer the relationship between SWE, snow depth and virus transmission observed in other locations. More detailed analyses of water conveyance associated with VS infection is needed in these watersheds to evaluate the impacts of local water conditions on the vector-host relationship, particularly related to observed elevated autumnal and summer streamflow co-occurring during outbreak years.