Springs in the Mojave Desert Network—Surface water monitoring at desert springs: Protocol narrative version 1.0
Moret GJ, Bailard JL, Lehman M, Hupp NR, Tallent NG, Calvert AW. 2018. Springs in the Mojave Desert Network—Surface water monitoring at desert springs: Protocol narrative version 1.0. Natural Resource Report. NPS/MOJN/NRR—2018/1718. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The National Park Service (NPS) created the Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program to collect and analyze data on the status and trends of natural resources within ecoregional networks. This protocol describes methods to monitor surface water at springs in the Mojave Desert Network (MOJN), including Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Mojave National Preserve, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument. The primary measurable objectives for this protocol are: • Determine the status and trends of water availability (flow condition, discharge, and surface water dimensions) at a subsample of springs in each of the five monitored parks. • Determine the status and trends of water quality (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductance) at a subsample of springs in each of the five monitored parks. Springs are selected at each park using a Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) spatially-balanced random sample. Quantitative measurements of water availability and water quality will be made each time the springs are visited in order to detect changes over time. A smaller number of springs will be visited more frequently and will be equipped with data-logging sensors to provide continuous records of the seasonal presence of surface water. This protocol also includes qualitative measurements of site condition that can be collected rapidly during spring visits. Because network staff will often be the only NPS staff visiting the springs regularly, these qualitative measurements will provide park managers with important and useful information about spring resources that would not be collected otherwise. Information on site condition includes qualitative measurements of dominant vegetation, invasive plants, and disturbance, as well as repeat photographs. This protocol consists of a narrative and a set of standard operating procedures, which detail the steps required to collect, manage, and disseminate the data. Data collected for this protocol, along with other monitoring protocols, will provide a context for interpreting the status and trends of natural resources within the network. More intensive monitoring of high priority springs chosen by park managers is addressed in a separate protocol.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Moret, Geoffrey; Bailard, Jennifer; Lehman, Mark; Hupp, Nicole; Tallent, Nita; Calvert, Allen
- Date of Issue
- 2018-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- DEVA , JOTR , LAKE , MOJA , MOJN , NRSS , PARA
- Keywords
- discharge, dissolved oxygen, disturbance, flow, Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified, GRTS, pH, repeat photograph, specific conductance, springs, surface water, temperature, vegetation, water availability, water quality
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Surface Water Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants