Highland and lowland waters : The Western Sierra Madre, the water tower of Northern Mexico - article ; n°3 ; vol.92, pg 17-26

Luc Descroix, David Viramontes, José Joséluisgonzalezbarrios, Eva Anaya, Laurent Brouste, Arnaud Bollery

Description

Revue de géographie alpine - Année 2004 - Volume 92 - Numéro 3 - Pages 17-26
Abstract: The Western Sierra Madré constitutes a natural water tower for the whole of northern Mexico. Rainfall amounts and runoff coefficients have enabled it to provide water to its neighbouring arid and semi-arid areas. However, considerable degradation of the mountain landscape has been observed for some decades. Overgrazing and deforestation have lead to soil degradation that has resulted in hydrological changes, and particularly a reduction in soil water retention in the catchment areas. In addition, piedmont oases have been transformed into irrigated areas. The Laguna irrigated area is located at the outlet of the Nazas river in the plain, to the south of the Chihuahuan desert. This area suffers not only from a reduction in water supply, relating to the severe drought conditions (since 1992), but also from substantial over-consumption of water. The need to ensure the natural equilibrium, in both mountain and piedmont areas, and to achieve a sustainable farming system should help reinforce the current changes taking place in water management.
10 pages

Sujets

• Sciences et techniques

Informations

• Publié par: REVUE_DE_GEOGRAPHIE_ALPINE
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2004
• Nombre de lectures: 66
• Langue: English

Extrait

Monsieur Luc Descroix

M. José Luis Gonzalez Barrios

Monsieur David Viramontes

Eva Anaya

M. Laurent Brouste

Monsieur Arnaud Bollery

Highland and lowland waters : The Western Sierra Madre, the

water tower of Northern Mexico

In: Revue de géographie alpine. 2004, Tome 92 N°3. pp. 17-26.

Abstract

Abstract: The Western Sierra Madré constitutes a natural water tower for the whole of northern Mexico. Rainfall amounts and

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degradation of the mountain landscape has been observed for some decades. Overgrazing and deforestation have lead to soil

degradation that has resulted in hydrological changes, and particularly a reduction in soil water retention in the catchment areas.

In addition, piedmont oases have been transformed into irrigated areas. The Laguna irrigated area is located at the outlet of the

Nazas river in the plain, to the south of the Chihuahuan desert. This area suffers not only from a reduction in water supply,

relating to the severe drought conditions (since 1992), but also from substantial over-consumption of water. The need to ensure

the natural equilibrium, in both mountain and piedmont areas, and to achieve a sustainable farming system should help reinforce

the current changes taking place in water management.

Citer ce document / Cite this document :

Descroix Luc, Gonzalez Barrios José Luis, Viramontes David, Anaya Eva, Brouste Laurent, Bollery Arnaud. Highland and

lowland waters : The Western Sierra Madre, the water tower of Northern Mexico. In: Revue de géographie alpine. 2004, Tome

92 N°3. pp. 17-26.

doi : 10.3406/rga.2004.2305

http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/rga_0035-1121_2004_num_92_3_2305