NPS: Nature & Science » Networks: Northern Colorado Plateau Network

Springs, Seeps, and Hanging Garden Community Monitoring

Importance
Springs, seeps, and hanging gardens provide essential water, food resources, and wildlife habitat, and are important oases of biodiversity and productivity in desert landscapes that typically exhibit low productivity. Because of their inherent fragility, spring and seep ecosystems are sensitive to a variety of human activities that have reduced the ecological integrity of these ecosystems through recreation, groundwater diversion, and livestock grazing. Monitoring spring and seep ecosystems will enable a more thorough understanding of the impacts of human activities on these ecosystems.

Upper Grotto Spring, Zion National Park.

Long-term Monitoring
The primary goal for long-term monitoring of springs, seeps, and hanging gardens is to assess trends in key indicators of spring and seep ecosystem health. To establish a starting point, the Northern Colorado Plateau Network and Southern Colorado Plateau Network, in collaboration with Northern Arizona University, conducted a baseline inventory of springs across both networks. Data were collected on discharge, water quality, plant diversity, and invertebrate diversity and abundance. This information will serve as the basis for selecting future core monitoring parameters. Given the fragile nature of these areas, the monitoring design will attempt to minimize observer impact.

For more detailed information, see the In-depth Information box below.

Network park units where springs, seeps, and hanging gardens are monitored
Arches NP	Hovenweep NM
Canyonlands NP	Natural Bridges NM
NP = National Park; NM = National Monument

In-depth Information:

Monitoring Briefs:
Monitoring Protocol:	In development
Contact:	Rebecca Weissinger, rebecca_weissinger@nps.gov

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