Importance/Issues

SODN parks contain many of the important surface waters of the American Southwest. Among these water bodies are three that are of special note: Quitobaquito Spring and Pond (at ORPI) and Tavasci Marsh (at TUZI). The unique character and unusual hydrology and ecology of these water bodies make them important focal resources and presents complex management issues for the parks where they occur.

Parks Monitored

Monitoring Objectives

Determine the quarterly status of and detect interannual trends in discharge from Quitobaquito Spring (ORPI), Shay Spring (TUZI), Tavasci Marsh (TUZI), Peck's Lake (TUZI).

Determine the annual status of and detect interannual trends in water volume of Quitobaquito Pond (ORPI) and Tavasci Marsh (TUZI).

Determine the quarterly status of and detect interannual trends in core water quality parameters, primary nutrients, alkalinity, and biological condition.

Determine the annual status and interannual trends in benthic macroinvertebrate communities.

Potential Measures

Discharge: flow in cubic feet per second (cfs) and acre feet per year (afy)

Volume: acre feet

Core water quality parameters: water temperature (degrees C), dissolved oxygen (mg/L water), instantaneous flow (cfs), specific conductance (microSiemens per cm degrees C), pH (su), turbidity (NTU)

Alkalinity: CaCO3 (mg/L water)

Primary nutrients: concentrations of N and P (mg/L water)

Biological condition: biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in mg/L water; e. coli in colony-forming units (CFU)

Benthic macroinvertebrates: relative abundance by functional group; develop site-specific biointegrity indices

Management Applications

Each of these unique waters is a major management focus for the park where it occurs. Detailed information on ecological and hydrologic condition can alert managers to potential problems and guide the application of management actions.

Protocol Development Status

This protocol is currently in development.

Status & Trends

This protocol is currently in development; status and trend information is not available at this time.

Project Leads

Colleen Filippone, Regional Hydrologist
Andy Hubbard, Network Program Manager