using spring inventories to facilitate management donald w. sada desert research institute, reno, nv...
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Using Spring Using Spring Inventories to Inventories to
Facilitate ManagementFacilitate Management
Donald W. SadaDonald W. SadaDesert Research Institute, Reno, NVDesert Research Institute, Reno, NV
June 27, 2007June 27, 2007
U. S. National Park ServiceU. S. National Park Service
Mojave Network Inventory and Monitoring ProgramMojave Network Inventory and Monitoring Program
Groundwater ResearchGroundwater Research
Chemistry
Aquifer Provenance, Water Age, Dimensions, etc.
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
Importance of SpringsImportance 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.)
Natural and Human DisturbanceNatural and Human DisturbanceN = 1590N = 1590
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1.0
Fire Flood Recreation Cattle Diversion
Disturbance
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f S
pri
ng
s
Undisturbed
Slight
Moderate
High
The Conceptual ChallengeThe 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
The Practical ChallengeThe Practical Challenge Locate resources Identify/prioritize
problems and issues
Design & implement management
Restoration Monitoring Rare species
Design & conduct appropriate research
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
I & M ProtocolI & 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
What is a Spring ?What is a Spring ?
Aquatic system supported by water traveling through a confined geology and discharging
onto the land surface through
natural processes
Springs vs. StreamsSprings 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
Arid Land Aquifer GeneralitiesArid 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
Ecologically Important Stresses 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
Ecological Effect of Stressors
Relative to:
– Magnitude– Frequency– Duration
Stress
RichnessTolerance
Low
High
ResultsResultsMojave Network Water FeaturesMojave Network Water Features
• Death Valley—637
• Joshua Tree—156
• Grand Canyon-Parashant—228
• Lake Mead—80
• Great Basin—210
• Mojave Preserve—183
• Manzanar—0
DEVA Water FeaturesDEVA Water Features
0
100
200
300
400
500
Rheocre
ne
Helocr
ene
Limnoc
rene
DrySeep
Unknown
Other
Quanat
Wel
l
Nu
mb
er o
f S
pri
ng
s
DEVA
Death Valley
Saline Valley
Panamint Valley
Location of DEVA SpringsLocation of DEVA Springs
0
100
200
300
400
<4200 4201 -5000
5001 -5800
5801 -6800
>6800
Feet Elevation
Num
ber o
f Spr
ings
DEVA
Death Valley
Saline Valley
Panamint Valley
Basic Water ChemistryBasic Water Chemistry
0
50
100
150
200
250
<5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 >45Degrees Celsius
Num
ber
of S
prin
gs
DEVA
Death Valley
Saline Valley
Panamint Valley
0
30
60
90
120
150
180
<500 1000 2000 3000 >3000
Microseimens/Centimeter
Num
ber
of S
prin
gs
DEVA
Death Valley
Saline Valley
Panamint Valley
Basic Biological CharacteristicsBasic Biological Characteristics
0
50
100
150
200
250
Palm
tree
s
Bacch
aris
sp.
Eleoch
aris
sp.
Juncu
s sp
.
Populus
freem
onti
Phragm
ates
aust
ralis
Proso
pis s
p.
Rorippa
sp.
Salix
sp.
Scirp
us sp
.
Tamar
ix s
p.
Typha
sp.
Vitis
sp.
Nu
mb
er
of
Sp
rin
gs
DEVADeath ValleySaline ValleyPanamint Valley
0
30
60
90
Springsnails Fish Clams Amphipods
Nu
mb
er o
f S
pri
ng
s DEVA
Death Valley
Saline Valley
Panamint Valley
StressorsStressors
0
200
400
600
Undisturbed Slight Moderate High
Num
ber
of S
prin
gs
DEVADeath ValleySaline ValleyPanamint Valley
0
90
180
270
360
Num
ber
of S
prin
gs
DEVA
Death Valley
Saline Valley
Panamint Valley
DEVA SummaryDEVA 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
Identify Priority Monitoring SitesIdentify 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
Monitoring PrioritiesMonitoring PrioritiesMatrix AnalysisMatrix 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, < 500 > 200 = 7, < 200 > 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--
Priority Monitoring SitesPriority Monitoring Sites
Saratoga Spring DV
Grapevine Ranch Springs DV
Salt Creek DV
Badwater Springs Province DV
Annie Oakley Spring DV
McLean Spring DV
Travertine Springs Province DV
Upper Hall Canyon Spring PV
Unnamed Darwin Hills DV
Waucoba Spring SV
Flicker Spring DV
Bangbang Spring DV
SummarySummary
• 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
What Next?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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