Springs, seeps, and tinajas monitoring protocol: Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert Networks: Standard Operating Procedures
McIntyre C, Gallo K, Gwilliam E, Hubbard JA, Christian J, Bonebrake K, Goodrum G, Podolinsky M, Palacios L, Cooper B, Isley M, whitenack. 2025. Springs, seeps, and tinajas monitoring protocol: Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert Networks: Standard Operating Procedures. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Springs, seeps, and tinajas are relatively rare but ecologically important natural resources in the American Southwest. Monitoring arid-land springs provides information on several high-priority vital signs in Chihuahuan Desert and Sonoran Desert network parks, including water quantity, water quality, and invasive non-native plants. The overall goal of arid-land springs monitoring is to detect broad-scale changes in aquatic and riparian ecological condition by observing selected drivers, stressors and processes. Monitoring is conducted at “sentinel springs” (a targeted design) once per year in the vernal (spring) season. This protocol describes four modules (water quantity, water quality, site condition, and site characterization), with a core set of minimum parameters that monitor the status and long-term trends of spring, seep and tinaja ecosystems. Data are collected on persistence of springs, spring discharge, wetted extent, core water quality parameters, water chemistry, disturbance, obligate/facultative wetland plants, invasive non-native plants and wildlife, spring type, and descriptions/documentation of the spring site. This protocol outlines the background, objectives and methods for long-term monitoring of arid-land springs in National Park Service units of the Chihuahuan Desert and Sonoran Desert networks. The protocol narrative describes the (1) background information on springs and the monitoring program, (2) monitoring goals and objectives, (3) sampling design, (4) field methods, (5) data management, (6) reporting and analysis, (7) personnel requirements and training, (8) operational requirements, and (9) procedures for revising the protocol. The ten standard operating procedures (SOPs) that describe the details of the protocol (preparation, field methods, data management) are electronically available at the National Park Service’s Integrated Resource Management Applications portal.
- Type
- Standard Operating Procedure
- Authors
- McIntyre, Cheryl; Gallo, Kirsten; Gwilliam, Evan; Hubbard, J.; Christian, Julie; Bonebrake, Kristen; Goodrum, Greg; Podolinsky, Megan; Palacios, Laura; Cooper, Benjamin; Isley, Mark; whitenack
- Date of Issue
- 2025-05-22
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- AMIS , BIBE , CAVE , CHDN , CHIR , CORO , FOBO , GICL , GUMO , MOCA , NRSS , ORPI , SAGU , SODN , TONT , TUZI , WHSA
- Keywords
- monitoring, Sonoran Desert Network, springs, springs protocol
Other versions
- Springs, seeps, and tinajas monitoring protocol: Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert Networks: Standard Operating Procedures
- Springs, seeps, and tinajas monitoring protocol: Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert Networks: Standard Operating Procedures
- Springs, seeps, and tinajas monitoring protocol: Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert Networks: Standard Operating Procedures
- Springs monitoring standard operating procedures for the Chihuahuan Desert and Sonoran Desert Networks: Version 1.00