Remote Sensing Analysis to Quantify Change in Woodland Canopy Cover on the San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona, USA (1935 vs. 2017)

Since the late 1800s, pinyon–juniper woodland across the western U.S. has increased in density and areal extent and encroached into former grassland areas. The San Carlos Apache Tribe wants to gain qualitative and quantitative information on the historical conditions of their tribal woodlands to use as a baseline for restoration efforts. At the San Carlos Apache Reservation, in east-central Arizona, large swaths of woodlands containing varying mixtures of juniper (Juniperus spp.), pinyon (Pinus spp.) and evergreen oak (Quercus spp.) are culturally important to the Tribe and are a focus for restoration. To determine changes in canopy cover, we developed image analysis techniques to monitor tree and large shrub cover using 1935 and 2017 aerial imagery and compared results over the 82-year interval. Results showed a substantial increase in the canopy cover of the former savannas, and encroachment (mostly juniper) into the former grasslands of Big Prairie. The Tribe is currently engaged in converting juniper woodland back into an open savanna, more characteristic of assumed pre-reservation conditions for that area. Our analysis shows areas on Bee Flat that, under the Tribe’s active restoration efforts, have returned woodland canopy cover to levels roughly analogous to that measured in 1935.

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Prehistoric Water Sources of the Point of Pines Area

American Antiquity ◽

10.2307/276357 ◽

1952 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 185-196 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Joe Ben Wheat

Keyword(s):

Surface Water ◽

Water Supply ◽

Archaeological Survey ◽

East Central ◽

Field School ◽

University Of Arizona ◽

The University ◽

San Carlos ◽

Central Arizona ◽

Considerable Period

In the course of an archaeological survey of the Point of Pines area, San Carlos Apache Reservation in east-central Arizona, E. W. Haury and E. B. Sayles, of the University of Arizona, noted the presence of a number of depressions which held surface water for a considerable period of time beyond the normal time for runoff. Furthermore, these depressions, or basins, appeared to be associated to some extent with specific archaeological ruins. The possibility that these depressions were made by the aboriginal inhabitants for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a water supply, led the writer in 1948 to excavate several of the depressions to determine their nature and date of construction, length of usage, time of abandonment, and other cultural information. The work was carried on during the 1948 season of the University of Arizona archaeological field school.

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An Alluvial Site on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, Arizona

American Antiquity ◽

10.2307/277276 ◽

1957 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 2-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Emil W. Haury

Keyword(s):

Mountainous Region ◽

Human History ◽

Indian Reservation ◽

Alluvial Deposits ◽

Subsistence Economy ◽

East Central ◽

Village Life ◽

San Carlos ◽

Central Arizona ◽

Early Human

The Mountainous belt of east-central Arizona has produced little evidence bearing on the problem of human history prior to the introduction of pottery and agriculture and the development of village life. In terms of the Christian calendar the events since about A.D. 1 are understood with varying degrees of clarity and reliability, but before the beginning of the Christian era the record for this region is still largely a void. The nature of the terrain, composed mainly of mountains with narrow, steeply pitching, and deeply entrenched valleys, has been unfavorable for the formation of the kind of alluvial deposits in which early human remains are often found. But there is no reason to suppose that the ecology of a mountainous region was less attractive to people of a primitive subsistence economy than were the plains or the broad low-lying intermountain valleys.

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Flow characteristics of streams that drain the Fort Apache and San Carlos Indian reservations, east-central Arizona, 1930-86

10.3133/wri904053 ◽

1990 ◽

Keyword(s):

Flow Characteristics ◽

East Central ◽

Indian Reservations ◽

San Carlos ◽

Central Arizona

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Dietary intake and a food-frequency instrument to evaluate a nutrition intervention for the Apache in Arizona

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980007662302 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 948-956 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Sangita Sharma ◽

Xia Cao ◽

Joel Gittelsohn ◽

Jean Anliker ◽

Becky Ethelbah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Portion Size ◽

Nutrition Intervention ◽

Food Sources ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Food Frequency ◽

East Central ◽

San Carlos ◽

Central Arizona ◽

Final Instrument

AbstractObjectiveTo demonstrate how dietary data collected from 24-hour dietary recalls were incorporated into the development of a quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) for the Apache in Arizona.DesignA cross-sectional study was first conducted using 24-hour dietary recalls to identify foods for inclusion on a QFFQ that would be used to evaluate a nutrition intervention.SettingThe White Mountain and San Carlos Apache reservations in East-central Arizona.SubjectsThe 24-hour dietary recalls were collected from a random sample of 53 adults (34 women and 19 men).ResultsA QFFQ was developed that included all foods reported by two or more respondents, plus traditional and seasonal foods. Portion size was assessed using familiar household units and culturally appropriate food models. The final instrument contains 155 foods. Frequency of consumption is assessed using eight categories ranking from ‘never or less than once a month’ to ‘2 or more times a day’. Nutrient intakes and the five major food sources of energy, fat and sugar are presented.ConclusionThe QFFQ developed is complete and up-to-date for assessing usual food and nutrient intake for the Apache in Arizona. The instrument will be used to evaluate a food store-based nutrition intervention to reduce risk of chronic diseases.

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