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Site Description

The Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge site (BDAS) was established in August-September 1999 and originally funded by NASA. The site is located between the river and the levee-FCC is at least 80 ha (198 acres), with an average width of about 350 m (1148 ft). It’s actual location is 33.781129˚N and 106.877225˚W at an elevation of 1374.93m above sea level. The soil at this site is strongly influenced by summer flood pulses from the Rio Puerco, as illustrated by the deep silty clay soil profile.

New Mexico State University installed 12.2 m (40 ft) tower in the saltcedar area with funding from the US Bureau of Reclamation. A full-time OPEC system was mounted on the tower at the time of construction. The University of New Mexico, with funding from the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), add a full-time 3SEC system to the tower. This site is currently operating.

Vegetation

The vegetation at this site is dense monospecific saltcedar (Tamarix chinensis). The overall canopy height is 6.1 m tall.

Hydrologic Status

This site has a 2-3 yr interflood interval. Most flooding is due to overland flow from an upstream overbank site. The site area has thick clay lenses (>2m), which prevents groundwater and surface floodwater interactions.

Instrumentation

Sensor Height (meters) relative to ground surface
CSAT 3-D Sonic Anemometer 8.19
KH2O Krypton Hygrometer (1999 - 2005) 8.19
LI7500 Open-Path Infrared Gas Analyzer (2004 - current) 8.19
Q7.1 REBS Net Radiometer 9.72
HMP45C Vaisala Temperature/ RH Probe 6.05
CS105 Vaisala PTB101B Barometric Pressure 1.94
TE525 Texas Electronics 6" Tipping Bucket Raingauge 8.87
HFT3 REBS Soil Heat FLux Plates (quantity 2) (0.08)
TCAV Averaging Soil Termocouple Probes (0.02 & 0.06)
CS616 Water Content Reflectometer (0.025)
03001 Wind Sentry 8.81
CR23X datalogger 1.94
OPEC system (NMSU) 12.8
LI190 Pyranometer 9.72
CM3 Up-looking Solar Radiometer 9.72

Additional Infrastructure

five groundwater wells, 2-inch PVC, hand augured to ca. 1-meter below winter water table depth, three wells equipped with long-term pressure transducers (EEI, Las Cruces, NM); upgraded temperature sensing pressure transducers (Solinst, Ontario, Canada)

2007 Results

BDAS Evapotranspiration Results
Updated August 2008

BDAS 2007 Temperature Results

BDAS 2007 Radiation Results

Additional Results/Data

 

Bosque Del Apache NWR Site Air View

Bosque Del Apache NWR Site Vegetation

Bosque Del Apache NWR View of Tower

Flood 2005

© 2009 James R Cleverly

Last Updated: January 14, 2008

For more information please contact: Dr. James Cleverly

Created by: Kimberly Bandy, January 2008