Climate and Water Monitoring at Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Water Year 2024
Fahey K, Raymond K , Hubbard T . 2026. Climate and Water Monitoring at Carlsbad Caverns National Park: Water Year 2024. Science Report. NPS/SR—2026/484. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2318793
The Chihuahuan Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network monitors climate and six springs each year at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico. 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 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 plants and invasive plants and animals present, and sample for environmental DNA (eDNA) to inventory springs for rare species, invasive species, and pathogens. Each spring is somewhat unique, and New Mexico has not adopted water quality standards that apply across the diversity of springs in the state. Therefore, we continue to collect water quality data at the springs to form a baseline reference of natural variance. There was less rainfall than average across WY2024, though October was very wet. The drought index indicated the park was drier than average for the third consecutive year. Overall, high and low temperatures were above normal, but highs varied by month. Wetted area was similar to prior years at all springs except Oak Spring where the springbrook was much shorter than previously measured, and the plunge pool was completely dry. Upper Lowe Ranch Spring has been wet year round since July of 2022, though one orifice was completely dry during the March 2024 visit. Rabbitsfoot grass, an invasive plant, was observed for the first time at Iron Pipe Seep. At Slaughter Pot Hole, Upper East Grammer Spring, and Upper Lowe Ranch Spring, we detected invasive Lehmann lovegrass for the first time. None of our eDNA target species were detected at any spring.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Fahey, Kristina; Raymond, Kara; Hubbard, Tani
- Date of Issue
- 2026-08
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2318793
- Units
- CAVE , CHDN , NRSS
- Keywords
- climate, climate and water monitoring, climate monitoring, discharge, eDNA, environmental DNA, invasive species, monitoring, monitoring report, springs, springs monitoring, water chemistry, wetland plants
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Air and Climate | Weather and Climate | Weather and Climate , 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