Groundwater in National Parks

The Inventory and Monitoring Division funded a project to study wetland habitats in Dinosaur National Monument, exploring their locations, conditions, and ecological roles. Data from this project will inform park management decisions and future updates to water rights.

Sonoran Desert Network scientists monitor key resources and weather at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument by taking measurements throughout the year, which helps us notice changes over time. This report summarizes weather, groundwater, and springs data from Water Year 2022. The data indicate the park's springs contained near-average levels of water, but high levels of several water chemistry parameters. WY2022 was warm and dry overall, with fewer cold days than average.

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.

Understanding changes in climate, groundwater, and surface water is key to assessing the condition of natural and cultural resources on national parks. At Fort Bowie National Historic Site we conduct long-term monitoring of climate, groundwater, and springs to provide early warning of potential problems, allowing managers to mitigate them before they become worse. In water year 2022, precipitation was boosted by an above average monsoon season.

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).

Two IRA-funded projects are evaluating the impacts of climate change and other stressors on NPS water supplies and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. One project focuses on the implications for people, and another focuses on the implications for ecosystems.

Sonoran Desert Network scientists monitor key resources and weather at Tonto National Monument by taking measurements throughout the year, which helps us track changes over time. This report summarizes weather and springs data from Water Year 2022. The data describe a dramatic change to Cave Canyon Spring. WY2022 was the third consecutive year of drought, and the park received less than average precipitation in all but three months.