Black Canyon at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
NPS Photo
How Much Water is Found in NPS Units?
Over 150,000 miles of rivers and streams flow through national parks and over 4 million acres of water bodies like lakes, reservoirs, and oceans can be found within park boundaries. However, ensuring an ample supply of water for all uses can be a challenge for state and federal agencies.
Is There Enough?
During prolonged periods of high temperatures and low precipitation, evaporation from reservoirs can substantially lower water levels. For example, Lake Mead National Recreation Area surrounds a large reservoir on the Colorado River that stores water for irrigation, hydropower and municipal water delivery uses. Over the years, Lake Mead has lost a significant amount of water due to drought and a warming climate. Measuring water levels helps us determine trends that can affect parks over time. Scientists predict that current use coupled with a dryer climate could cause the lake to potentially lose up to 12 vertical feet of water annually! Although many parks do not control the operation of dams, they can adjust the management techniques of water-based recreational activities ( like boating and fishing) for parks based on water availability.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area surrounds the Hoover Dam and the environment it has created.
Bureau of Reclamation
Dams and Reservoirs
Historically, humans have tried to control the way water flows and how much water flows, through water engineering. Especially in the western United States, where water is naturally more scarce than that in the east; dams, hydroelectric power plants, and irrigation have transformed the way water flows and how it's used. Several National Park units surround these historic projects. The western U.S. relies heavily on these projects for water supplies and electricity, but typically dams have a negative effect on the downstream environment. For example, the Elwha Dam in Olympic National Park was removed because of it's negative impact on fish species and river habitat. After the dam was removed, the river was restored to its natural condition to improve fish passage. Scientists continue to research the effects of dams on riparian ecosystems, and national parks offer an ideal place to monitor those impacts.
Water Law
Humans manage Earth’s water in many ways. We monitor and manage both the amount of water and the quality of the water. Water rights are laws that tell us who gets to use the water and how much they get to use. Water law also helps us protect water to keep it clean and safe, like the Clean Water Act.
Not every park has or needs a water right, but parks with water-dependent resources and parks that provide water for visitors and staff may need a water right. Different types of water rights are needed for different purposes. For example, some water rights are secured to ensure that water is available in parks for human consumptive uses while other water rights protect the availability of water for ecosystems and recreational activities. The National Park Service works with state water administrators to obtain and use water for parks. Water rights are just one of the tools the park service uses to protect water. Learn more about the NPS Water Rights Branch.
The wonders of Yellowstone—shown through Jackson’s photographs, Moran’s paintings, and Elliot’s sketches—had caught the imagination of Congress. Thanks to their continued reports and the work of explorers and artists who followed, the United States Congress established Yellowstone National Park in 1872.
Northern Colorado Plateau Network’s scientists use satellite observations of vegetation condition in Curecanti National Recreation Area with climate data over time to reveal how climate influences plant production and phenology. Knowing which of the wide range of 16 vegetation assemblages found in Curecanti are more or less sensitive to climate change can help managers understand what to expect over the next few decades, and plan for the changes coming their way.
Locations:Bandelier National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon National Park, Valles Caldera National Preserve
In this issue of Intermountain Park Science, authors examine the consequences of drought and their impacts to both natural and cultural resources in some interesting and often overlooked ways.
Locations:Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Canyon National Park
Offices:Regions 6, 7, and 8, Resource Stewardship & Science Directorate - Regions 6, 7, 8
Decades of climate-driven drought, and a consistent imbalance between supply and demand for Colorado River water have led to low reservoir levels in the Colorado River Basin. Low water levels have implications to rivers located both upstream and downstream of the reservoirs, including the introduction of invasive fish. We modeled the probability that smallmouth bass would establish and what we could do to mitigate that threat. Intermountain Park Science, 2024
Offices:Climate Change Response Program, Regions 6, 7, and 8
To be effective, response to climate change must be applied at the park level. The Climate Change Response Program and partners have developed tools, frameworks, and strategies to help park managers understand, adapt to, mitigate, and communicate about climate change. This article details what these tools are and how parks can access them, using examples from the American Southwest emphasizing drought and its effects. Intermountain Park Science, 2024
At Grand Canyon National Park, scientists and resource managers closely monitor observed and projected impacts from climate change that could have significant effects on the park’s vegetation, wildlife, and water supply. One of the ways that the park monitors these impacts is through a phenology observational study for the plant life at the Grand Canyon. Intermountain Park Science, 2024
Locations:Bandelier National Monument, Valles Caldera National Preserve
In the Jemez Mountains, drought is one key variable causing forest fires that result in a wide range of effects to archeological sites, historic structures, cultural landscapes, and traditional cultural places. This article presents guidelines developed from the ArcBurn project, an interdisciplinary effort to quantify archeological fire effects and the fuels and fire environments that cause them. Intermountain Park Science, 2024
Innovative tools are being developed to nowcast and forecast the severity of drought impacts on wildfire hazard, and other conditions. Automated alerts and forecasts of resource condition provide lead time to implement creative solutions to minimize drought impacts in national parks. The information used to build forecasts is also useful for understanding and planning for potential climate change impacts in the future. Intermountain Park Science, 2024
Obed Wild & Scenic River officials announced a temporary ban on campfires in the park’s backcountry effective immediately. Due to abnormally dry weather conditions and the amount of fresh leaf litter on the ground, the potential for escaped fires to occur in the backcountry has greatly increased. The fire restriction will be in effect until further notice.
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.
