Status of Climate and Water Resources at Tonto National Monument: Water Year 2018
Gwilliam EL, Palacios L, Raymond K. 2019. Status of Climate and Water Resources at Tonto National Monument: Water Year 2018. Natural Resource Report. NPS/SODN/NRR—2019/2000. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Climate and hydrology are major drivers of ecosystems. They dramatically shape ecosystem structure and function, particularly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. Understanding changes in climate, groundwater, streamflow, and water quality is central to assessing the condition of park biota and key cultural resources. This report combines data collected on climate, groundwater, and surface water at Tonto National Monument (NM) to provide an integrated look at climate and water conditions during water year 2018 (October 2017–September 2018). Overall annual precipitation was 32% of normal, with all months except June and August receiving substantially less than normal rainfall. The largest precipitation event was 0.49" on August 12, 2018. Extremely cold days (<35°F) occurred on five days, and temperatures remained below 32°F for 24 hours just once. Shallow groundwater was monitored at Cave Canyon Creek and Cinda’s Seep. Mean wa-ter level in Cave Canyon Creek in WY2018 was 1.03 feet above the sensor, the same as in WY2017. The water level rose in response to winter rains and decreased through the dry, warm months. After the monsoon rains started, the water level increased. Data from Cinda’s Seep indicated that the water level did not rise above the sensor in WY2018. Disturbance surveys at Cave Canyon Spring resulted in a median value of 1 = undisturbed for both anthropogenic and natural disturbance. Temperature sensors indicated that the spring was wetted throughout the entire sampling period. Sampled parameters for water quality and water chemistry were all within the expected ranges for this site.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Gwilliam, Evan; Palacios, Laura; Raymond, Kara
- Date of Issue
- 2019-09
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- NRSS , SODN , TONT
- Keywords
- climate, groundwater, monitoring, streams, water quality
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Air and Climate | Weather and Climate | Weather and Climate , Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Groundwater Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Water | Hydrology | Surface Water Dynamics