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RESTORATION OF ANTHROPOGENICALLY-ALTERED SPRINGS IN THE GREAT BASIN: GIVING WATER BACK TO THE DESERT.
Author
Knighton, Leah
Petersen, Steven
Collins, Gail
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2017
Body

Since the arrival of European settlers over the last century and a half, many springs and seeps in the Great Basin have been altered to provide water for livestock.� In many situations, these modifications have altered natural processes that maintain spring function such as depleting surface water flows and lowering water tables below levels needed to sustain hydrophilic plant species. The purpose of this study is to characterize the impact of springboxes on ecohydrology and assess restoration potential by testing different spring reconstruction techniques. �Twenty-four springbox sites were located within the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, located in northwestern Nevada. �Sites were divided into four groups based on flow rates. Within each group, springboxes were randomly assigned to one of six treatments; 1) capped pipes within the springbox to prevent outflow, 2) removal of the springbox and filled with sand, 3) removal of the springbox and filled with gravel, 4) outer springbox shell remains and is filled with sand, 5) outer springbox shell remains and is filled with gravel, and 6) control. Data were collected during summer 2016 which included plant community composition, flow rate, water geochemistry, and water temperature. �Preliminary results suggest that flow rates vary widely between spring sites, resulting in high variability in post-treatment response and recovery. �Therefore, restoration efforts may need to be tailored to each individual spring depending on landscape structure and water flow. In 2017, the same measurements will be collected allowing for pre- and post-treatment comparisons to ascertain any significant effects of the treatments. �The results of this study can be used by managers to assess the potential impacts of future restoration efforts on spring ecohydrology where they have been historically impaired. �Additionally, these data provide insight into impacts and potential restoration techniques for plant and water flow restoration.��

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM St. George, UT
Collection
SRM Annual Meeting Abstracts