Climate and Water Monitoring at Amistad National Recreation Area: Water Year 2024
Raymond K , Singley S, Hubbard T . 2026. Climate and Water Monitoring at Amistad National Recreation Area: Water Year 2024. Science Report. NPS/SR—2026/485. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2318783
The Chihuahuan Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network monitors climate, reservoir level, groundwater, and four springs each year at Amistad National Recreation Area, Texas. We report on climate and water resources together because surface water conditions are closely related to climate conditions. Climate data, including temperature, precipitation, and reconnaissance drought index, are retrieved from The Climate Analyzer (climateanalyzer.org). We track groundwater levels in six wells in and near the park. We pull groundwater well and reservoir level data from the Texas Water Development Board database. We assess the condition of each spring, measure spring discharge and wetted extent (area that contained water), collect core water quality and water chemistry data, note the wetland species and invasive species, and sample for environmental DNA (eDNA) to inventory springs for rare species, invasive species, and pathogens. Each spring is somewhat unique, and Texas has not adopted water quality standards that apply across the diversity of springs in the state. We collect water quality data at the springs to form a baseline reference of natural variance. After average rainfall in the fall of WY2024, precipitation was below average for the rest of the year. The drought index indicated the park was drier than average for the fourth year in a row. High temperatures were largely above average, and low temperatures were above average fall through spring and below average in summer. There were 50% more extremely hot days in WY2024. Amistad Reservoir levels were below the 1991–2020 daily minimum level, and groundwater decreased in all four measureable wells. All four monitored springs were experiencing drier conditions in WY2024. The orifices were not flowing at Big Satan Canyon Spring, and the wetted area was smaller than in prior years. Dead Man’s Canyon Spring had water, but pools were not overflowing as has been typical. Only one orifice at Indian Springs Canyon Spring had water, and the wetted area of the springbrook was significantly smaller in 2024. Mouth of the Pecos Spring was completely dry and the plants were visibly stressed. We observed new invasive plants at three of the springs: turkey tangle fogfruit, Bermuda grass, common weed, and spiny sowthistle at Big Satan Canyon Spring; turkey tangle fogfruit at Indian Springs Canyon Spring; and common reed and hedgeparsley at Mouth of the Pecos Spring. Two of our eDNA target species, Mexican blindcat and Rio Grande leopard frog, were detected at Dead Man’s Canyon Spring.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Raymond, Kara; Singley, Susan; Hubbard, Tani
- Date of Issue
- 2026-08
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2318783
- Units
- AMIS , CHDN , NRSS
- Keywords
- climate, climate and water monitoring, climate monitoring, discharge, eDNA, environmental DNA, groundwater, groundwater monitoring, invasive species, monitoring, monitoring report, reservoir level, springs, springs monitoring, water chemistry, wetland plants
- 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 , Ecological Framework: Water | Water Quality | Water Chemistry , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic animals , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Wetland Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Freshwater Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Amphibians and Reptiles