MS-GIST 2014 student Natalie Wilson recently presented at the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers (APCG) Conference, hosted here in Tucson, AZ. Natalie’s presentation took a close look at desert wetlands called cienegas in southeastern Arizona—particularly those found at Las Cienegas National Conservation Area—to monitor changes in hydrological functioning at the landscape level. Natalie views this research as an opportunity to learn a great deal about past, current, and possibly future desert landscape well-being, stating “cienegas are little known but important indicators of landscape health. By tracking cienega trends through time, we can identify conservation priorities and assess past management effects.” By utilizing remotely sensed data with specialized indices, Natalie is working with USGS to assess productivity of desert wetlands between 1984 and 2011. The information gleaned from her findings will help many different agencies and stakeholders make decisions regarding planning, development, and conservation efforts in the future.

We are very proud of Natalie for a successful presentation, and we look forward to hearing about her final findings in December when she presents her Master’s Project to the public. Way to go, Natalie!