Status of climate and water resources at Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Water year 2018
Raymond K, Palacios L, McIntyre C. 2020. Status of climate and water resources at Guadalupe Mountains National Park: Water year 2018. Natural Resource Report. NPS/CHDN/NRR—2020/2132. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Climate and hydrology are major drivers of 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 springs at Guadalupe Mountains National Park (NP) to provide an integrated look at climate and water conditions during water year (WY) 2018 (October 2017–September 2018). Overall annual precipitation was below normal (1981–2010) for Guadalupe Mountains NP: 58% of normal for the Pinery Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) and 42% of normal for the Dog Canyon RAWS. Precipitation at the Dog Canyon RAWS is likely underrepresented due to missing data. A majority of the WY2018 total rain occurred from July through September (68–88% at the four RAWS). Temperatures at the Pinery RAWS were greater than normal for the whole year, up to 8.8°F warmer than normal. The reconnaissance drought index indicates that WY2018 was slightly wetter at the Guadalupe Peak RAWS and drier at the Pinery RAWS compared to the average for the period of record. Monitoring equipment was replaced at three groundwater wells in April 2018. Signal Peak Well water level was 1141.22 ft below ground surface (bgs) at the end of WY2018, indicating a decline of 8.92 ft since monitoring began in WY2010, and 11.32 ft since the well was installed in 1978. Lemonade Well water level was 29.22 ft bgs at the end of WY2017, 0.54 ft lower than in WY2017. Lemonade Well water level has been relatively stable over the monitoring period, except when nearby pumping or leaking pipes temporarily impacted groundwater levels. PX Well water level was 278.98 ft bgs at the end of WY2018, indicating a decline of 4.91 ft since monitoring began in WY2010. Five of the six monitored springs had surface water present when visited in WY2018. Four of the springs had obligate/facultative wetland plants, and two springs had invasive non-native plants. Although overall (median) disturbance ratings were low, each spring showed some sort of natural or anthropogenic disturbance.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Raymond, Kara; Palacios, Laura; McIntyre, Cheryl
- Date of Issue
- 2020-05
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CHDN , GUMO , NRSS
- Keywords
- climate, climate and water monitoring, water resources