Navigating Water Scarcity and Ecological Change: A Synthesis of Modern Hydrologic and Rangeland Management in the American Southwest

Abstract

The arid and semi-arid rangelands of the American Southwest are defined by inherent water scarcity characterized by irregular rainfall patterns and the intermittent presence of water This makes water a critical limiting resource for all biological activity within these ecosystems The unique hydrological regime profoundly influences the structure and function of these environments impacting everything from the distribution and composition of vegetation to wildlife habitat and overall ecosystem health