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Cristina González-Maddux Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals. Dune Stabilization and WIND-Blown dust. Dust storms in Northern AZ (NASA Earth Observatory, April 11, 2009). Regional dust storms.
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Cristina González-Maddux Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Dune Stabilization and WIND-Blown dust
Dust storms in Northern AZ (NASA Earth Observatory, April 11, 2009) Regional dust storms
Increased dust may aggravate respiratory ailments (indoor and outdoor air quality concerns) Decreased visibility Damage to infrastructure Deposition of dust on snowpack – decreases snow albedo, speeds snowpack melt positive feedback loop Consequences for human health and landscapes
EEOP is cosponsoring dune stabilization projects along with the US Geological Survey • Techniques • Mud balls • Native plant seeds • “Sand sausages” • Wind erosion buffer Dune Stabilization
USGS Research, Lead:Margaret Hiza USGS Assessment of sand dunes and the affects of climatic variation on dune mobility in Navajo land http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/navajo/pubs/Dunehandout.pdf Factors affecting sand dune mobility on the Navajo Nation, Arizona, U.S.A. http://www.csrl.ars.usda.gov/wewc/icarv/106.pdf
Native seeds for revegetation • Sporobolus cryptandrus (sand dropseed) • Oryzopsis hymenoides (Indian ricegrass) • Hilaria jamesii (galleta viva)
Passive dust monitoring – Diné college • Adapted from USGS methodology • Teflon coated pan • Hardware cloth • Marbles (reduces deflation) • 7 ft. tall T-posts • ----------------- • Dust flux measurement
http://www4.nau.edu/eeop/dunes/index.asp EEOP’s Sand Dune Website