Project Description

With the exception of seasonal water provided by winter snow and summer thunderstorms, the majority of water for wildlife and most humans in the Great Basin is derived from groundwater and springs. Springs systems are small, relatively rare, 'biodiversity hot spots' in arid lands. Climate change in northern Nevada is anticipated to decrease precipitation and increase temperatures with a resulting decrease in recharge to the groundwater system (IPCC 2007). It can be assumed that a reduction in spring flow will occur because of decreased groundwater recharge, and that this reduction in discharge will affect dependent aquatic ecosystems. We propose quantifying the potential effect of decreased spring discharge by examining changes in water chemistry, physical habitat, and structure of the benthic macroinvertebrate community by monitoring no more than 12 springs for one year before discharge is decreased during a second year by 0 (control) 10, 25, and 40 percent in replicated (3 replicates per treatment) treatments. This will provide insight into physicochemical and biological change that can be anticipated along a gradient from unaltered to altered flows that may occur from climate change. This study will be coordinated with work by U.S. Geological Survey scientists examining characteristics of northwestern Nevada groundwater flow patterns and recharge.