Changes in riparian vegetation communities of the Gila Box, Arizona, an area subject to periodic floods

The objective of this work is to estimate the effect of floods on the riparian veg­ etation communities of the Gila Box, Arizona, based on historical maps, satellite images, and GPS-referenced airborne video. The condition and extent of selected riparian vegetation communities in 1973, 1982, and 1991 are documented. Changes in riparian vegetation communities for the time period from 1973 to 1982 and from 1982 to 1991 are analyzed to assess the potential effect of floods that occurred in 1978 and 1983, respectively. The results indicate that the floods in 1978 and 1983 may have had an impact on the mesquite riparian community. The effect of floods on ri­ parian vegetation is most apparent in the downstream portion of the Gila River. The information collected and presented in this work can be used to formulate effective management plans to the Gila Box area.