Spatiotemporal evolution of land use and land cover in the Cuauhtémoc aquifer, Chihuahua

The spatiotemporal distribution of land use and vegetation cover —LULC (best translation approach to Land Use and Vegetation)— in the Cuauhtémoc aquifer, Chihuahua, Mexico, was analyzed using thematic cartography from the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI), Series I to VII corresponding to the years 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021. A Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to map, clip, and calculate polygon areas for the seven dates available for these land cover datasets. The vector data are publicly accessible. It was found that in 1997, 36.25 km² (1.06 %) of the aquifer area was used for irrigated agriculture, increasing to 1 016.19 km² (29.79 %) by 2021. In contrast, over the same period, the area covered by oak forest decreased from 116.85 km² (3.42 %) to 104.88 km² (3.07 %). The expansion of agricultural land and the reduction of forested areas coincide with the context of statewide drought and the regional development model, based on agriculture, deforestation of native forest, and the integration of induced grassland. The results indicate the need to pay attention to land use and vegetation changes, such as erosion, desertification, fertilizer-related contamination, and reduced aquifer recharge. The use of drone flights for specific areas, satellite imagery, and GIS is recommended to monitor agricultural land within the aquifer. Understanding the dynamics of LULC change in the aquifer is essential for designing sustainable management strategies that balance agricultural production, water resource conservation, and forest ecosystems in the region.