1. Using Spring Inventories to Facilitate Management Donald W. Sada Desert Research Institute, Reno, NV June 27, 2007 U. S. National Park Service Mojave Network Inventory and Monitoring Program

2. Groundwater Research  Chemistry  Aquifer Provenance, Water Age, Dimensions, etc.

3. Biological Research HISTORICAL Fish –Taxonomy –Biogeography –Physiology –Conservation Biology –Life History –Ecology RECENT Macroinvertebrate & Riparian Communities –Community Ecology –Crenobiontics Taxonomy Biogeography Ecology Demography –Effects of Stressors

4. Importance of Springs  Ecology is Closely Associated with Physiochemical Characteristics of Groundwater Systems and Environmental Stress  Biodiversity & Cultural Hot Spots in Arid Lands (Native Americans, Rural Economies, Birds, Mammals, Riparian Vegetation, Aquatics)  Sole Habitat for Crenobiontic Species (Springsnails, Fishes, Aquatic Insects, etc.)

6. Natural and Human Disturbance N = 1590

7. The Conceptual Challenge  So many (survey, manage)  Broad diversity of types, sources, landscapes  Most in degraded condition  Historically not considered to be important biological resources  Limited knowledge of physicochemical- biological relationships

8. The Practical Challenge  Locate resources  Identify/prioritize problems and issues  Design & implement management  Restoration  Monitoring  Rare species  Design & conduct appropriate research

9. Spring I and M Program Develop inventory and monitoring protocols –Characterize resources Size Access Stressors (Natural & Human) Location Physicochemical attributes –ID location of rare species –ID potential management issues –Prioritize management & restoration programs Inventory water features (springs, wells, etc.) Compile information in reports and common database

10. I & M Protocol Level I –Reconnaissance survey, infrequent –Locate, characterize aquatic & riparian environments, ID presence and absence of important species –15 data elements Level II –Periodic visits (e.g., annual, biannual, every 5 years) –Quantitatively assess physiochemical environment and aquatic and riparian community structure Level III –Long term and more frequent (e.g., Seasonal) –Quantitatively document spatial & temporal variation in community structure, demography, and environment (aquatic & riparian) –Quantify habitat preferences for important (indicator) species

11. What is a Spring ? Aquatic system supported by water traveling through a confined geology and discharging onto the land surface through natural processes

12. Springs vs. Streams Springs Relatively static –Discharge –Water Temperature –Water Chemistry –Turbidity –Etc. Weak hydraulic processes Streams Relatively variable –Discharge –Water temperature –Water chemistry –Turbidity –Etc. Strong hydraulic processes

13. Arid Land Aquifer Generalities  Mountain  Small (Watershed)  Springs Discharge on Mountain or Ridge Blocks  Short Residence Time (seasonal or annual)  Many Not Persistent, Frequently Dry  Local  Larger (Mountain Range)  Springs Discharge at Lower Elevations (Bajada or Valley Floor)  Elevated Residence Time (> annual)  Persistence > 20 yr.  Regional  Large (Basin & Range)  Springs Discharge on Valley Floor  Long Residence Time (millennial)  Geologically Persistent

14. Ecologically Important Stresses NATURAL Persistence Chemistry –pH –Conductance –Temperature –Solute Concentrations & Ratios Disturbance –Flood –Fire –Avalanche –Etc. ANTHROPOGENIC Diversion –Pipe –Channelization –Impoundment –Groundwater use Non-native species –Ungulates Cattle, Horses, Burros –Aquatics Vertebrates  Fishes, Amphibians Invertebrates  Crayfish  Mollusks Recreation

15. Ecological Effect of Stressors Relative to: –Magnitude –Frequency –Duration Stress Richness Tolerance Low High

16. Results Mojave Network Water Features Death Valley—637 Joshua Tree—156 Grand Canyon-Parashant—228 Lake Mead—80 Great Basin—210 Mojave Preserve—183 Manzanar—0

17. DEVA Water Features

18. Location of DEVA Springs

19. Basic Water Chemistry

20. Basic Biological Characteristics

21. Stressors

22. DEVA Summary Large number of springs over wide area and fed by different aquifers Mostly small Many stressed and unstressed by natural and human factors –Drought –Flooding –Diversion –Ungulates Wide diversity of important riparian and aquatic species

23. Identify Priority Monitoring Sites Highest biological richness –Persistent aquatic systems –Largest springs (highest discharge longer brooks) –Presence of obligate spring dwelling inverts –Minimally stressed by natural & human factors Easy access

24. Monitoring Priorities Matrix Analysis Presence of Important Aquatic Species –Absent = 1, Present = 10, >1 Present = 15 Ease of Access –1 or 2 = 0, 3 = 5, 4 = 10, 5 =15 Spring Brook Length –> 500 m = 10, 200 = 7, 50 = 5, < 50 = 2 Scouring –None = 10, Occasional = 5, Frequent = 0 Aquatic Habitat Persistence –Persistent = 10, Ephemeral = 0 Stressor Level –Unstressed/Slight = 10, Moderate = 2, High =0--

25. Priority Monitoring Sites Saratoga SpringDV Grapevine Ranch SpringsDV Salt CreekDV Badwater Springs ProvinceDV Annie Oakley SpringDV McLean SpringDV Travertine Springs ProvinceDV Upper Hall Canyon SpringPV Unnamed Darwin HillsDV Waucoba SpringSV Flicker SpringDV Bangbang SpringDV

26. Summary Level 1 Inventories characterize environmental and biological features of individual springs Over an area, this information can be used to: –Identify management issues –Prioritize management –Prioritize restoration –Qualitatively describe baseline conditions for future monitoring

27. What Next? Understand spatial and temporal variation in biotic and abiotic systems Quantify reference conditions Implement ‘holistic’ monitoring Quantify relationship between stress levels and environmental and biological integrity

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