Wendy Trowbridge, University of Nevada, Reno Geoff Moret, University of Idaho

1. Springs Vegetation Protocol Wendy Trowbridge, University of Nevada, Reno Geoff Moret, University of Idaho Debbie Soukup, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Donovan Craig, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Jean Pan, MOJN Dana Robinson, MOJN Jennifer Burke, MOJN Nita Tallent-Halsell, MOJN Coyote spring JOTR

2. Rationale Munsen Canyon JOTR

3. The springs vegetation monitoring effort is part of the Vegetation change vital sign. • “Vegetation and soil constitute the very foundation to which all ecosystem functions are intricately connected and dependent upon.” • “Changes in vegetation composition and structure can have profound effects on nutrient cycling and soil properties.” • “it was clear that riparian plant communities at seeps, springs, and streams are also of high management interest to parks, being closely tied to ground and surface water dynamics.”

4. Monitoring Questions • How stable are plant communities at springs through time as measured by species composition, abundance, and structure? Are major shifts in dominant vegetation observed? • plant community composition, structure, and distribution • abundance of principal woody plant species • status and trend in mortality and regeneration of principal tree species • Is the areal extent of MOJN park springs plant communities declining? • areal extent. • What are the trends in abundance and composition of targeted invasive plant species in MOJN springs communities? • frequency and abundance of invasive plant species • Are changes in vegetation cover, composition, and structure correlated with long-term changes in discharge or stream flow rates? • plant community composition, structure, distribution, and areal extent • abundance of principal woody plant species • discharge

5. Are changes in native vegetation communities associated with changes in exotic plant species cover and species composition? • frequency and abundance of native and invasive plant species • What relationships are observed between soil properties, invasive species, and plant community characteristics? • plant community composition, structure, distribution, and areal extent • frequency and abundance of invasive plant species • soil chemistry, the magnitude and extent of soil erosion and surface disturbance, and soil hydrologic function • How are soil surface properties, chemistry, and hydrologic function changing over time? • soil chemistry, the magnitude and extent of soil erosion and surface disturbance, and soil hydrologic function

6. Little Arizona, PARA 1892 springs surveyed in the Springs Inventory GRBA and MANZ not pictured

7. Corkscrew spring DEVA Corkscrew spring DEVA

8. DEVA Springs Jackass Spring, DEVA Jackass Spring, DEVA

9. Piping canyon, LAKE LAKE Springs Piping canyon, LAKE

10. Garvanza Spring, MOJA MOJA Springs

11. Coyote spring JOTR JOTR Springs

12. Cane spring, PARA PARA Springs

14. Areal extent Spring vegetation Spring orifice Spring brook Sampling Design • VEGETATION • Aerial extent of spring vegetation (using GPS)

15. Transects perpendicular to the direction of flow 4.5 1.5 0 0 1.5 4.5 7.5 First tape measure, along the edge of the spring vegetation parallel to the direction of flow Spring vegetation Quadrat Spring orifice Spring brook • VEGETATION • Aerial extent of spring vegetation • Abundance and cover of dominant species. • Species composition. • Proportion of species and cover that are invasive • Proportion of species that are classified as obligate and facultative • SOILS • pH • EC • Erosion • Consistence • Texture • soil strength

16. DBH/crown health Spring vegetation Spring orifice Spring brook • VEGETATION • Aerial extent of spring vegetation • Abundance and cover of dominant species. • Species composition. • Proportion of species and cover that are invasive • Proportion of species that are classified as obligate and facultative • Number, DBH and crown health of trees by species. • SOILS • pH • EC • Erosion • Consistence • Texture • soil strength

17. DATA MANAGEMENT

18. DATA MANAGEMENT

19. QA/QC Each year we will use standard training protocols. Additionally in the first year we will: • Spacing of quadrats altered to ensure 40 quadrats per spring. • Every 10th plot will have two observers estimate and record cover. • The sampling time for each spring will be recorded. • The perimeter of the spring vegetation will be mapped twice.

20. Measurement Schedule In spring of FY 2011 we will implement the spring vegetation, soils, invasive species, and hydrology protocols at ~40 springs in 2 or 3 of the 5 parks (depending on permitting and scheduling).

21. PERSONNEL NEEDS • A crew of two people will sample vegetation, soils, invasive species, and hydrology at each spring site. • With desert climate change network funding we may add two addition crews. • It may be possible to share crew members with the integrated uplands protocol if the uplands are sampled in the fall and the springs in the spring.

22. COMPLIANCE • Research permit to collect voucher specimans and NEPA/? • We would like to conduct a begin our first year of sampling next spring (starting March 1). • Once we select the final sample population of springs (mid November) we will need to contact that parks and discuss permitting.

23. TIME LINE 2011 2010 2011

24. Questions? Dr. Wendy Trowbridge Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno wtrowbridge@cabnr.unr.edu (775) 225-4664