Castle Mountains National Monument springs and water resources inventory
Bailard JL. 2016. Castle Mountains National Monument springs and water resources inventory. Natural Resource Report. NPS/MOJN/NRR—2016/1345. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
On October 19 and 20, Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring (MOJN I&M) staff conducted an inventory of seven potential spring or water resource locations in the recently-established Castle Mountains National Monument (CAMO). Several of these springs have been reported in the past to be important water resources for wildlife, particularly bighorn sheep. Data were collected on several spring characteristics following the MOJN I&M Desert Springs monitoring protocol (Moret et al. in revision) as well as the protocol developed by Sada (2002) for the MOJN I&M Springs Inventory. Surface water was found only at Lewis Holes, which is just outside the park boundary in Nevada. Kidney Spring and Quail Spring were dry at the time of visit, although flowing water has been observed at both locations within the past 20 years. There was an active wildlife drinker system at Kidney Spring. Both Stray Cow Well and Stagecoach Spring appeared to be manmade features. Water was present in the wells at both locations; however, the water was several meters below the surface and not accessible to wildlife. No water resources were found at the locations of Mouser Water and Unnamed Spring 54.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Bailard, Jennifer
- Date of Issue
- 2016-12
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CAMO , MOJN , NRSS
- Keywords
- desert springs, discharge, inventory, Kidney Spring, monitoring, Mouser Water, Quail Spring, Stagecoach Spring, Stray Cow Well, surface water, water resources, well, wildlife