Protocol or Topic

Water-Related Protocols: Progress ReportGeoff Moret and Chris Caudill

Presentation OverviewStreams and Lakes Protocol Progress

Selected Large Springs Protocol Progress

Arid Lands Springs Protocol Progress

Water Resources Working Group2Streams and Lakes Protocol

Streams and Lakes ProtocolFocus on GRBAMost field work carried out by GRBA staff

Report 303(d) status of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave to WRD for record-keeping purposes4

Sampling Design- LakesMonitor all six lakesAnnual water chemistry sampleAnnual water quality depth profileContinuous record of lake levelTemperature logger recording presence/absence of ice5

Sampling Design- StreamsDischarge and continuous water quality in four second-order streams

Annual chemistry and benthic macroinvertebrate samples at random sites along 9/10 streams6

7Field LogisticsGRBA crews, +/- protocol leadGRBA JHAs, radio procedures, etc.8

9Protocol DevelopmentField ImplementationOverall PlanSampling PlanDraft NarrativeDraft SOPsDraft SubmittedDraft Re-SubmittedProtocol ApprovedMethods SelectedMethods Field-TestedPilot Data AcquiredFull Field SeasonData in DatabaseAnnual ReportStreams and Lakes, Sept 201110Protocol DevelopmentField ImplementationOverall PlanSampling PlanDraft NarrativeDraft SOPsDraft SubmittedDraft Re-SubmittedProtocol ApprovedMethods SelectedMethods Field-TestedPilot Data AcquiredFull Field SeasonData in DatabaseAnnual ReportStreams and Lakes, March 2012AccomplishmentsSecond version submitted Sept 2011Second Review received January 2012WQ branch of WRD approved changes, minor revisions requested by PWR and former WRBThird version submitted February 20122011 field season completed successfully2009-2010 Annual Report awaiting park and WRD review

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Next StepsMake needed revisions to and publish protocol and 2010 Annual ReportWork with DM to certify database, enter data into STORET, work with GRBA curation to get specimens into ICMS and NPSpeciesTake over analysis of discharge measurements when necessary

13Streams and Lakes Questions?14

Selected Large Springs Protocol

Selected Large Springs ProtocolFormerly 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 setting16Sampling DesignDEVA: Texas, Travertine, Nevares, Saratoga, Grapevine PalmLAKE: Blue Point, Rogers, Burro, Salt PARA: Pakoon, TassiMOJA: MC, PiuteGRBA: Rowland, 2 more TBDPossibly one in SF Big Wash, one with snails along Snake CreekJOTR: 49 Palms Oasis, Smith Water Canyon17Sampling Design- SpringsContinuous or quarterly dischargeQuarterly water quality (DO, PH, Temperature, SpCond)Biennial chemistry, macroinvertebrates, and springsnails18

Discharge Monitoring (1 of 2)19SpringParkFrequencyParameterEquipmentCrewMCMOJAContinuousPool stageExisting transducerMOJA/ MOJN?PiuteMOJAQuarterlyDischargePortableMOJNBlue PointLAKEContinuousDischargeExisting weirUSGS (FY 12?)RogersLAKEContinuousDischargeExisting flumeUSGS (FY 12?)SaltLAKEQuarterlyDischargePortableMOJNBurroLAKEQuarterlyDischargePortableMOJNRowlandGRBAContinuousDischargeFlowmeterGRBAGRBA-2GRBAQuarterlyDischargePortableGRBA?GRBA-3GRBAQuarterlyDischargePortableGRBA?No single approach works for all springsList includes monitoring performed/funded by parks- duplication of effort avoidedDischarge Monitoring (2 of 2)20SpringParkFrequencyParameterEquipmentCrewPakoonPARAContinuousDischargeMOJN-installed flume (2012)PARA/ GCWC?TassiPARAQuarterlyDischargePortablePARATexasDEVAContinuousDischargeExisting flumeDEVATravertineDEVAContinuousDischargeExisting flumeDEVANevaresDEVAContinuousDischargeExisting flumeDEVAGrapevine PalmDEVAContinuousDischargeMOJN-installed flume (2008)DEVASaratogaDEVAContinuousPool stageExisting transducerDEVA49 PalmsJOTRQuarterlyPool areaTBDMOJN/JOTRSmith Water CanyonJOTRQuarterlyDischargePortableMOJN/JOTRContinuousWet/dryHumidity sensorSampling Design- WellsMonitor water levels in wells known to be completed in aquifers that feed springsMany in DEVA, monitored by DEVA staff1 in LAKE, monitored by MOJN after USGS monitoring ends2 planned for GRBA, monitored by GRBA(?) after USGS monitoring ends

Initially, quarterly water levels onlyReview after 2 years21Field LogisticsPilot study onlyActive permits from LAKE and DEVAPrimarily front-country work (travel plans and SPOT contact)Park monitoring has been underway for many years, in some cases

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23Protocol DevelopmentField ImplementationOverall PlanSampling PlanDraft NarrativeDraft SOPsDraft SubmittedDraft Re-SubmittedProtocol ApprovedMethods SelectedMethods Field-TestedPilot Data AcquiredFull Field SeasonData in DatabaseAnnual ReportSelected Large Springs, Sept 201124Protocol DevelopmentField ImplementationOverall PlanSampling PlanDraft NarrativeDraft SOPsDraft SubmittedDraft Re-SubmittedProtocol ApprovedMethods SelectedMethods Field-TestedPilot Data AcquiredFull Field SeasonData in DatabaseAnnual ReportSelected Large Springs, March 2012AccomplishmentsMacroinvertebrate and springsnail methods tested in DEVA and LAKE (B. Schuetz)

Flume installed at Pakoon Spring in PARA

JOTR springs selected

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Next Steps26Work 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

Selected Large Springs Questions?27

Arid Lands Springs (ALS) Protocol

Arid Lands SpringsPreviously, 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

29Arid Lands SpringsWill monitor springs in DEVA, LAKE, PARA, MOJA, and JOTR

Methods inappropriate for GRBA springs, added two SLS springs instead

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Pilot Sampling Design31100 springs was target for this year, revised to 80Spatially-balanced random sample, 25% high discharge, 50% medium discharge, 25% low discharge6 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.)

Selectable SpringsPercent of TotalNumber Monitored in 2011DEVA77757.032JOTR1067.812LAKE775.712MOJA18113.312PARA22116.21232

Sampling Design33Conduct 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

Field LogisticsCrew of two SCAs, trained in Desert survival, 1st aid, 4WDSupervised for first and third parks Trip plans developed with Field Crew Lead, sent to dispatches, rangersStay in contact with Field Crew Lead (sat phone and SPOT)Radio/ sat phone contact dispatchesPermits in DEVA, JOTR, LAKE, MOJA, and PARA

3435Protocol DevelopmentField ImplementationOverall PlanSampling PlanDraft NarrativeDraft SOPsDraft SubmittedDraft Re-SubmittedProtocol ApprovedMethods SelectedMethods Field-TestedPilot Data AcquiredFull Field SeasonData in DatabaseAnnual ReportArid Lands Springs- Sept 201136Protocol DevelopmentField ImplementationOverall PlanSampling PlanDraft NarrativeDraft SOPsDraft SubmittedDraft Re-SubmittedProtocol ApprovedMethods SelectedMethods Field-TestedPilot Data AcquiredFull Field SeasonData in DatabaseAnnual ReportArid Lands Springs- March 2012AccomplishmentsMOJA, 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.

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Next Steps39Collect 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

Arid Lands Springs Questions?40

40Water Resources Working Group

WRWG42Quarterly 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

Current MembershipG. Moret and C. Caudill, U. IdahoN. Tallent-Halsell, MOJNP. Latham, PWR I&MJ. Back, W. Van Lieuw, and G. Rosenlieb, WRDR. Friese and K. Wilson, DEVAG. Baker, M. Pepper, B. Roberts, and G. Bell, GRBAL. Sabala, JOTRG. Olson and G. Karst, LAKED. Hughson, MOJAE. McIntyre, PARA43All are welcome, please contact me if anyone else should be included on emailsWRWG Questions or Overall Questions?Contact Info:

Geoffrey_Moret@partner.nps.gov

Caudill@uidaho.edu

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