Untitled DocumentSabino Canyon kiosk, display, Web
Macro Theme Area:
Knowledge Transfer [Project ID: K05]
PI:
Gary Woodard
CO-PI(s):
N/A
Basin focus:
N/A
Specific area in
basin /
field sites:
Mt. Bigelow field site down to Sabino Canyon
Summary/Goals: The Sabino Canyon displays contain information on Sabino Creek, an ephemeral stream that rises in the Sky Island mountaintops and descends through several biomes to the Sonoran Desert. The kiosk and website display near-real-time data from weather stations at the top, center, and base of the canyon that are operated by SAHRA, USGS, and the Forest Service, respectively. The overall goal is to raise the hydrologic literacy on desert mountain streams of those who make more than a million visits to the canyon yearly, and especially the one-third million who visit the visitors center.
Activities and outcomes during past year:
Added webcam to Mt. Bigelow tower to show conditions near headwaters of Sabino Creek. Several local TV stations used the Mt. Bigelow webcam to show live pictures during weather reports. A second camera was added at the stream near Sabino Canyon Dam in 2005. Initiated an email service in 2004 so subscribers can get daily reports on streamflow within the canyon and compare the information with normal and extreme readings for the date. Added graphs for streamflow and temperature to Web site. Received USGS's 2005 Shoemaker Award for Communication Product
Excellence, for both the exhibit and website. The awards cited "providing extraordinary examples of communicating and translating complex scientific concepts and discoveries into words and pictures that capture the interest and imagination of the American public."
Plans for the upcoming year:
Add information on the impact of fires on sky island environments and new SAHRA research initiatives in this area. Get reliable, live feeds from "dam cam" to Web site and kiosk. Work with Forest Service to replace camera on Mt. Bigelow tower.
