(1) Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, USA, (2) Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, USA, (3) Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, USA, (4) Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, USA, (5) Geosciences, Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, USA,
Abstract:
This study investigates how channel morphology of the Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley has evolved in response to temporal variations in river discharge, with particular emphasis on the roles of anthropogenic water diversions and regional climate variability. By integrating historical discharge data, climate records, and geospatial analysis of channel form, this research aims to assess the relative contributions of natural hydrologic shifts (e.g., droughts, snowmelt timing) and human interventions (e.g., irrigation withdrawals, reservoir operations) to fluvial dynamics. Understanding these interactions will provide insight into the resilience and sensitivity of the Rio Grande’s channel system in an arid, heavily managed watershed.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025