Reports & Publications

Climate and hydrology shape ecosystems and their functions, particularly in arid and semi-arid environments. Chihuahuan Desert Network scientists monitor climate, groundwater, and springs in White Sands National Park to see how they may be changing over time. This information helps park managers protect key resources. This report summarizes the results of springs monitoring in Water Year 2022.

Chihuahuan Desert Network scientists visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park every year to monitor climate, groundwater, and springs. By taking measurements of these key resources each year, we can better understand how they may be changing over time. This report summarizes the results from Water Year 2022.

Climate and hydrology shape ecosystems and how they function. This report summarizes Water Year 2022 climate, groundwater, reservoir level, and springs data. We monitor climate and water by taking measurements throughout the year, which helps us track changes over time.

Chihuahuan Desert Network scientists monitor climate and water at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. Together, climate and hydrology shape ecosystems and the services they provide. Long-term monitoring provides early warning of potential problems, allowing managers to mitigate them before they become worse. This report summarizes climate, weather, and springs data from Water Year 2022.

Climate and water shape ecosystems in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. At Big Bend National Park, Chihuahuan Desert Network scientists monitor climate, groundwater, and 18 springs to help managers protect park resources. Understanding how climate and water may be changing over time can also help explain changes in other resources on the park. This report summarizes the results of our monitoring in Water Year 2022 (October 2021 through September 2022).

The American bullfrog is a great threat to aquatic ecosystems in the Southwest. They are voracious predators of aquatic animals and carry diseases that kill native species. We will implement three main actions in this project funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, Invasive Species Grant: bullfrog control, native species recovery and reintroduction, and development of early detection/rapid response protocols for bullfrogs.

Climate and hydrology are major drivers of ecosystem structure and function, particularly in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The Chihuahuan Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network monitors climate at Fort Davis National Historic Site and groundwater wells near the park. Understanding climate and water resources is an important part of assessing the condition of park biota and cultural resources.

When the climate changes enough, the vegetation communities growing in any given place will also change. Under an expanded bimodal climate zone, some plant communities in western national parks are more likely to change than others. National Park Service ecologists and partners investigated the future conditions that may force some of this change. Having this information can help park managers decide whether to resist, direct, or accept the change.

Climate and water dramatically shape ecosystems, especially in arid and semi-arid places like Amistad National Recreation Area (NRA) in Texas. The reservoir at the park receives drainage from water basins in the U.S. and Mexico, including the Pecos and Devils rivers and the Rio Grande. The park supports a wide variety of plants and animals because it is in a transition zone between major life and climate zones. We monitor climate and water to assess park ecosystems.

Across the Intermountain Region, Inventory & Monitoring Division ecologists are helping to track the effects of climate change, provide baseline information for resource management, evaluate new technologies, and inspire the next generation of park stewards. This article highlights accomplishments achieved during fiscal year 2021.