projects completed as an mna initiative

Across Borders

Alberta, Canada

From 2008 to 2012, an interdisciplinary, international team conducted inventories of 56 springs in Southern Alberta. Learn more about this project here.

Desert LCC

In September 2013, the Springs Stewardship Institute was awarded funding through the U.S. Department Of Interior's WaterSMART program for a two-year project to support the Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative (DLCC). We submitted our final report. View the project summary and access interactive maps here.

Southern Rockies LCC

In September 2014, the Springs Stewardship Institute was awarded funding through the U.S. Department Of Interior's WaterSMART program for a two-year project to support the Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperative (SRLCC). View the project summary and access interactive maps here.

NEVADA & UTAh: Regional Springsnail Conservation Strategy

Springsnails are often highly endemic to individual springs ecosystems, a result of the role of springs as a paleorefugia for life developed when the Southwest was considerably wetter. Unfortunately, this endemism makes individual springsnail species vulnerable to extinction due to the vulnerability of springs to human and natural disturbance and change. The purpose of this project is to develop a comprehensive conservation strategy for springsnails in Utah and Nevada to safeguard the existing springsnail species richness and diversity. This strategy will help the Springsnail Conservation Team (SCT), and a group of agencies working under the 2017 springsnail Conservation Agreement, to develop a Conservation Agreements and Strategies (CAS) document that will allow for conservation actions and threat abatement. The long-term goal is to protect the 93 species of springsnails and prevent any new listings under the Endangered Species Act. Learn more about the project and download the Springsnail Conservation Strategy here.

You can also view the webinars that SSI hosted as the Conversation Strategy was underway.

sister parks

In the fall of 2019, SSI traveled to Manuel Benavides in Chihuahua, Mexico to teach their Springs Inventory and Assessment Protocol to Mexican land managers. The workshop participants were primarily employees of the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas (CONANP), which is a Mexican federal agency comparable to the National Park Service in the United States. After discussing springs inventory concepts and techniques in the classroom, we visited several springs in a protected area called the Área de Protección de Flora y Fauna Cañón de Santa Elena. It is one of three Mexican protected areas that border the Rio Grande River that are considered Sister Parks to Big Bend National Park in the US.

While we did not visit the Rio Grande River during this workshop, we did inventory springs in two strikingly beautiful canyons near the town of Manuel Benavides. Las Pilas Canyon is named for its large pools of water which are fed by warm springs; one of the pools is called “the jaccuzi” because the travertine bedrock forms a comfortable seat in the water, and right next to the seat is a perfect place to set one’s beverage. We also visited San Carlos Canyon, where numerous springs lined the canyon walls, including a picturesque fern-covered hanging garden and another, much larger spring that is piped into town and provides the municipal water supply.

In spite of the language barrier, SSI staff thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the workshop participants, who were in turn quite enthusiastic about learning our springs assessment process. Like much of western US, the water supply in this part of Mexico is quite limited and the demand is beginning to outpace the supply. Because of these conservation concerns, throughout the 3-day workshop the participants maintained an ongoing conversation about how best to evaluate the condition of springs and prioritize their management options.

Arizona

ONE FOR THE VERDE

The Verde River Basin (VRB) is a large watershed in central-northern Arizona. The Verde River is one of the last perennial rivers in Arizona, but has undergone substantial changes as the population of Yavapai and Coconino Counties have increased, placing substantial pressure on ground and surface water resources (Blasch et al. 2006; Haney et al. 2008). As an aridland river, it is subject to highly variable surface flow inputs, but its baseflow is sourced from a number of springs. Springs of the Verde River watershed support a wide array of wetland and upland plant and animal species. Our goal in the following report is to provide information to help the VRB community conserve and, where possible, preserve and restore flow, water quality, fluvial habitats, and the diverse plant, fish, and wildlife populations in this remarkable river basin. Integration of the information presented in this report into the community and into policy may help Verde River basin residents more thoroughly understand the roles, distribution, and importance of springs in maintaining Verde River baseflow, water quality, and springs-dependent species populations. We intend to provide a basic framework for future water quality and quantity monitoring, as well as habitat mapping, assessment, and enhancement, by resource managers and concerned citizens. You can read the full report here.

The Nature Conservancy, with the Arizona Water Institute and Verde River Basin Partnership, published an extensive report, Ecological Implications of Verde River Flows.

Coconino National Forest

With support from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, this project was a collaborative effort between several agencies, organizations and volunteers to collect survey data on many springs in Coconino National Forest. Learn more about this project and access our interactive map here.

Kaibab National Forest, North Kaibab Ranger District

This project was a collaborative effort between several agencies, organizations and volunteers to collect survey data on springs in the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. Learn more about this project and access our interactive map here.

Kaibab National Forest, Williams Ranger District

From 2011 to 2013, SSI received support from the Kaibab National Forest, SSI surveyed 25 of the 80 known springs in the Williams District. Learn more about this project here.

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest

In 2010, the Grand Canyon Wildlands Council conducted surveys of springs on the Mogollon Rim with the assistance of funding from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. This project ended prematurely following a forest fire that affected the 557 known springs within the fire perimeter. Learn more about this project here.

Arizona Strip

SSI has surveyed 105 springs in the Arizona Strip through partnership with Grand Canyon Wildlands Council and successfully completed restoration of Pakoon Spring, with efforts beginning in 2007. Learn more about the project and restoration of Pakoon Spring here.

California

China Lake Spring Habitat Assessment

Native springs play a vital role in sustaining the ecosystem within Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. Maintaining viable native springs through effective stewardship is an important component to NAWS China Lake's Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan. The first step to maintaining and improving effective spring stewardship requires creditable and consistent assessment and monitoring based on thorough scientific survey. SSI conducted on-site springs surveys and compiled reports on each of the surveyed springs. This project ended prematurely following the severe earthquake that closed the base.

Nevada

Nevada Spring Conservation Plan

Springs can be sustainably used for water supplies or other services while still providing many natural ecological functions. In addition, the appropriate care of springs enhances both property value and the integrity of our natural heritage. In the Nevada Springs Restoration Guide, SSI suggests a rationale, along with methods and approaches for accomplishing both ends, clearly recognizing the primacy of stewardship rights and goals. Learn more about SSI’s work with the Nevada Spring Conservation Plan here.

Spring Mountains National Recreation Area

SSI surveyed springs in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Nevada, during 2010, 2011, and 2012 using USFS protocols. Learn more about the project here.

New Mexico

New Mexico, another arid southwestern state neighboring Arizona, also has numerous and diverse springs ecosystems. As with other arid states, many springs in New Mexico remain un-mapped and understudied.

In cooperation with the New Mexico Environment Department Surface Water Quality Bureau Wetlands Program, SSI developed a Rapid Assessment Protocol for springs in southern New Mexico. This rapid assessment protocol for springs will allow New Mexico to develop a framework to assess the condition of springs and prioritize restoration opportunities. In addition, SSI conducted full surveys of over 40 springs in southern New Mexico. 

Utah

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument

In 2021, SSI completed a 3-year project in collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management and Grant Staircase-Escalante National Monument to inventory over 50 springs, provide management recommendations, and develop and restoration plan for the monument.