GROUNDWATER DEPENDENT

ECOSYSTEMS

POLICY AND INVENTORY IN THE FOREST SERVICE

Groundwater Program Goals

Maintain ground-water quantity and quality for human use while

maintaining ecosystem integrity on NFS lands.

Policy PiecesLaws

Executive ordersRegulationsDirectives

To manage ground-water and the dependent ecosystems at the

project level, the forest plans need to address groundwater.

DRAFT LMP HANDBOOKChapter 10-- Assessment

• Ecosystems• Water Resource• At-Risk Species • Social and economic

sustainability

DRAFT LMP HANDBOOKChapter 23– Requirements for Integrated Plan Components

• Riparian areas for Ecosystem Integrity and Ecosystem Diversity

• Water quality and resources

DRAFT LMP HANDBOOKChapter 30– Monitoring

Monitor water flow, timing, and quality to sustain aquatic ecosystems, GDEs and existing human uses.

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Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

(GDE)

Inland and Freshwater

GDE

Discharge GDE

Springs FensOther wetlands

(marshes, swamps, etc.)

Lakes (groundwater-

supported)

Streams (base-flow)

Shallow water table GDE

Phreatophytic(includes some

riparian)

Subsurface GDE

Cave/Karst Aquifers

Marine GDE (mangroves,

etc.)

Inventory field forms

ENDANGERED

Ground Water Rank

MAMMALS

Gray wolf 4Black-footed ferret 4

BIRDS

Southwestern willow flycatcher 3

Whooping crane 3FISH

June sucker 2

Bonytail chub 2

Kendall Warm Springs dace 1

Sockeye salmon 2

Dependence on Groundwater: 1 = Uses ground water as primary habitat 2 = Part of life cycle uses ground water for habitat 3 = Primary food source uses ground water for habitat 4 = May come in contact with, but not dependent on ground water

INTERMOUNTAIN REGION PETS SPECIES DEPENDENCE ON GROUND WATER

Management Impacts to groundwater and GDEs

1. Ground-water depletion2. Contamination3. Surface disturbance4. Invasive species

OOOOHThis is awesome

Montanore Mine GDE Inventory

Questions