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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