PROTOCOLS FOR SURVEYING AND MONITORING DESERT SPRINGS

The importance of arid-land springs as aquatic and riparian habitats for wildlife is becoming increasingly apparent. Research endeavors of DRI’s Don Sada have been aimed at examining relationships between environmental factors and the structure and function of aquatic communities. These areas are known now as “biodiversity hotspots,” supporting large proportions of aquatic and riparian species in desert regions. Sada has developed protocols for the National Park Service to use in surveying and monitoring springs in the national parks and historic sites comprising the Mojave Network. This network includes the Great Basin, Death Valley, and Joshua Tree national parks; Mojave National Preserve; Lake Mead National Recreational Area; Manzanar National Historic Park; and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument.

Dr. Sada’s unique program includes a series of protocols used in inventorying and monitoring characteristics of these western springs. These protocols are detailed in the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Network for the Mojave Parks and were designed to serve as investigative and data-gathering tools based on four hierarchical elements, described as follows.

1. Background Assessment—Thorough review of documented research and investigations maintained in office files and archives.

2. Level I—Periodic (5–10 years) inventory to locate springs and describ e present conditions, or extent of change in important biota, under existing management practices and provide preliminary guidance for future management practices.

3. Level II—Rigorous analysis of physical aquatic habitats; structural and functional characteristics of aquatic and riparian communities; and water chemistry to evaluate (a) temporal changes in spring environments and resident biota and (b) effectiveness of management programs within whole management regions or individual sites where monitoring programs are needed.

4. Level III—Highly quantitative description of variations in physiochemical characteristics of springs and structure of aquatic and riparian communities. In addition, data will describe the abundance, distribution, and habitat preferences for important organisms in a statistically rigorous manner.

These elements may be incorporated into monitoring programs to address various management issues and to evaluate management priorities.

Dr. Sada’s data-gathering protocols are being used to assess thousands of springs that never before have been assessed or evaluated. Ultimately, land managers will use the data in prioritizing management actions, monitoring responses to human activity, and identifying or cataloging plants and animals inhabiting the springs.

Written by Jennifer Lease