Water-Related Protocols: Progress Report

1. Water-Related Protocols: Progress Report Geoff Moret and Chris Caudill

2. Presentation Overview • Streams and Lakes Protocol Progress • Selected Large Springs Protocol Progress • Arid Lands Springs Protocol Progress • Water Resources Working Group

3. Streams and Lakes Protocol

4. Streams and Lakes Protocol • Focus on GRBA • Most field work carried out by GRBA staff • Report 303(d) status of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave to WRD for record-keeping purposes

5. Sampling Design- Lakes • Monitor all six lakes • Annual water chemistry sample • Annual water quality depth profile • Continuous record of lake level • Temperature logger recording presence/absence of ice

6. Sampling Design- Streams • Discharge and continuous water quality in four second-order streams • Annual chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrate samples at random sites along 9/10 streams

8. Field Logistics • GRBA crews, +/- protocol lead • GRBA JHAs, radio procedures, etc.

9. Streams and Lakes, Sept 2011 Field Implementation Protocol Development Annual Report Protocol Approved Draft Re-Submitted Data in Database Draft Submitted Full Field Season Draft SOPs Pilot Data Acquired Draft Narrative Methods Field-Tested Sampling Plan Methods Selected Overall Plan

10. Streams and Lakes, March 2012 Field Implementation Protocol Development Annual Report Protocol Approved Draft Re-Submitted Data in Database Draft Submitted Full Field Season Draft SOPs Pilot Data Acquired Draft Narrative Methods Field-Tested Sampling Plan Methods Selected Overall Plan

11. Accomplishments • Second version submitted Sept 2011 • Second Review received January 2012 • WQ branch of WRD approved changes, minor revisions requested by PWR and former WRB • Third version submitted February 2012 • 2011 field season completed successfully • 2009-2010 Annual Report awaiting park and WRD review

13. Next Steps • Make needed revisions to and publish protocol and 2010 Annual Report • Work with DM to certify database, enter data into STORET, work with GRBA curation to get specimens into ICMS and NPSpecies • Take over analysis of discharge measurements when necessary

14. Streams and Lakes Questions?

15. Selected Large Springs Protocol

16. Selected Large Springs Protocol • Formerly Carbonate and Valley Fill Aquifer Springs Protocol (CVFA Springs) • NPS Water Rights Branch (now part of WRD) was concerned that our identification of the source of spring water could be used against NPS in a legal setting

17. Sampling Design • DEVA: Texas, Travertine, Nevares, Saratoga, Grapevine Palm • LAKE: Blue Point, Rogers, Burro, Salt • PARA: Pakoon, Tassi • MOJA: MC, Piute • GRBA: Rowland, 2 more TBD • Possibly one in SF Big Wash, one with snails along Snake Creek • JOTR: 49 Palms Oasis, Smith Water Canyon

18. Sampling Design- Springs • Continuous or quarterly discharge • Quarterly water quality (DO, PH, Temperature, SpCond) • Biennial chemistry, macroinvertebrates, and springsnails

19. Discharge Monitoring (1 of 2) • No single approach works for all springs • List includes monitoring performed/funded by parks- duplication of effort avoided

20. Discharge Monitoring (2 of 2)

21. Sampling Design- Wells • Monitor water levels in wells known to be completed in aquifers that feed springs • Many in DEVA, monitored by DEVA staff • 1 in LAKE, monitored by MOJN after USGS monitoring ends • 2 planned for GRBA, monitored by GRBA(?) after USGS monitoring ends • Initially, quarterly water levels only • Review after 2 years

22. Field Logistics • Pilot study only • Active permits from LAKE and DEVA • Primarily front-country work (travel plans and SPOT contact) • Park monitoring has been underway for many years, in some cases

23. Selected Large Springs, Sept 2011 Field Implementation Protocol Development Annual Report Protocol Approved Draft Re-Submitted Data in Database Draft Submitted Full Field Season Draft SOPs Pilot Data Acquired Draft Narrative Methods Field-Tested Sampling Plan Methods Selected Overall Plan

24. Selected Large Springs, March 2012 Field Implementation Protocol Development Annual Report Protocol Approved Draft Re-Submitted Data in Database Draft Submitted Full Field Season Draft SOPs Pilot Data Acquired Draft Narrative Methods Field-Tested Sampling Plan Methods Selected Overall Plan

25. Accomplishments • Macroinvertebrate and springsnail methods tested in DEVA and LAKE (B. Schuetz) • Flume installed at Pakoon Spring in PARA • JOTR springs selected

26. Next Steps • Work with GRBA RM to finalize spring selection • Re-submit protocol, Spring 2012 • Begin full-scale pilot implementation in late 2012 • Develop database once methods are finalized

27. Selected Large Springs Questions?

28. Arid Lands Springs (ALS) Protocol

29. Arid Lands Springs • Previously, funding was to three networks in Arid Lands LCC • Lead author was based in CHDN • That funding has been cut, but we will continue monitoring • We will continue to communicate with other networks to attempt some level of coordination

30. Arid Lands Springs • Will monitor springs in DEVA, LAKE, PARA, MOJA, and JOTR • Methods inappropriate for GRBA springs, added two SLS springs instead

31. Pilot Sampling Design • 100 springs was target for this year, revised to 80 • Spatially-balanced random sample, 25% high discharge, 50% medium discharge, 25% low discharge • 6 or 8 springs in a park is too few, 12 is the number a crew can do in two weeks (with travel, data entry etc.)

33. Sampling Design • Conduct basic “level 1 survey” at each spring (WQ, vegetation, discharge) • Vegetation component will be made more quantitative by future RV cooperator (FY 13?) • Deploy data-logging humidity sensor for wet-dry periods

34. Field Logistics • Crew of two SCAs, trained in Desert survival, 1st aid, 4WD • Supervised for first and third parks • Trip plans developed with Field Crew Lead, sent to dispatches, rangers • Stay in contact with Field Crew Lead (sat phone and SPOT) • Radio/ sat phone contact dispatches • Permits in DEVA, JOTR, LAKE, MOJA, and PARA

35. Arid Lands Springs- Sept 2011 Field Implementation Protocol Development Annual Report Protocol Approved Draft Re-Submitted Data in Database Draft Submitted Full Field Season Draft SOPs Pilot Data Acquired Draft Narrative Methods Field-Tested Sampling Plan Methods Selected Overall Plan

36. Arid Lands Springs- March 2012 Field Implementation Protocol Development Annual Report Protocol Approved Draft Re-Submitted Data in Database Draft Submitted Full Field Season Draft SOPs Pilot Data Acquired Draft Narrative Methods Field-Tested Sampling Plan Methods Selected Overall Plan

37. Accomplishments • MOJA, PARA, LAKE, and JOTR completed (12 springs each), spring condition reports sent to parks for review • DEVA will be completed in mid-April (32 springs), spring condition report will be submitted to park in late April.

39. Next Steps • Collect MOJA sensors (deployed in July 2011) to analyze data • Work with parks to address comments and concerns on selected sites • Work with RV cooperator to develop protocol

40. Arid Lands Springs Questions?

41. Water Resources Working Group

42. WRWG • Quarterly WRWG calls to enhance 2-way communication: next will be in early May • Usually less than 1 hour • Each call provides a progress update on three protocols, may discuss a specific issue • Very informal notes distributed after each call

43. Current Membership • G. Moret and C. Caudill, U. Idaho • N. Tallent-Halsell, MOJN • P. Latham, PWR I&M • J. Back, W. Van Lieuw, and G. Rosenlieb, WRD • R. Friese and K. Wilson, DEVA • G. Baker, M. Pepper, B. Roberts, and G. Bell, GRBA • L. Sabala, JOTR • G. Olson and G. Karst, LAKE • D. Hughson, MOJA • E. McIntyre, PARA All are welcome, please contact me if anyone else should be included on emails

44. WRWG Questions or Overall Questions? Contact Info: Geoffrey_Moret@partner.nps.gov Caudill@uidaho.edu