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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414855
Research Project: Knowledge Systems and Tools to Increase the Resilience and Sustainablity of Western Rangeland Agriculture

Location: Range Management Research

Title: An atlas of solutions to water scarcity in the Southwest

Author
item SILBER-COATS, NOAH - New Mexico State University
item STEELE, CAITRIANA - New Mexico State University
item HROZENCIK, AARON - Economic Research Serivce (ERS, USDA)
item TANNER, SOPHIA - Economic Research Serivce (ERS, USDA)
item Ostoja, Steven
item Williamson, Jebediah - Jeb
item YAO, YIQING - University Of California
item Elias, Emile
item Holguin, Jennifer

Submitted to: Proceedings American AGU Chapman Conference on the GIS in the Vadose Zone
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2023
Publication Date: 2/16/2024
Citation: Silber-Coats, N., Steele, C., Hrozencik, A., Tanner, S., Ostoja, S.M., Williamson, J.C., Yao, Y., Elias, E.H., Holguin, J. 2024. An atlas of solutions to water scarcity in the Southwest. Proceedings American AGU Chapman Conference on the GIS in the Vadose Zone. Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Wildfires pose significant threats to human health, safety, and cultural heritage, with devastating impacts on native Hawaiian ecosystems. Key ecosystem impacts include losses of native species, enhanced spread of non-native plant species (D’ Antonio et al., 2011), and decline in the health of nearshore environments (e.g., see Hamilton et al., 2022). Across the state of Hawai'i, wildland fire risk and burned areas have increased dramatically, especially in the 21st century (Trauernicht et al., 2015a; Hawbaker et al., 2017). Our understanding of the drivers of wildfires in Hawai'i is improving (Trauernicht et al., 2015a; Hawbaker et al., 2017), but relative to continental ecosystems, wildfire research, fire management, and fire mitigation strategies in Hawai'i remain limited (Trauernicht et al., 2015a; Trauernicht, 2019; Ritchey, 2022). Here, we provide an overview of fire management strategies and challenges for Hawai'i, with a focus on prescribed burning. We describe historical uses of fire and associated land cover changes, current wildfire trends and drivers of those trends, the potential utility of prescribed burning in Hawai'i, and the broad challenges associated with prescribed burning and fire management in general. We conclude by discussing possible future research and management directions.