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Mapping and Planning for Isolated Springs in Nevada

Mapping and Planning for Isolated Springs in Nevada. Project Partners and Funding. Nevada Natural Heritage Program (NNHP) The Nature Conservancy Desert Research Institute – Dr. Don Sada EPA and State grants. Importance of Springs.

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Mapping and Planning for Isolated Springs in Nevada

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  1. Mapping and Planning for Isolated Springs in Nevada

  2. Project Partners and Funding • Nevada Natural Heritage Program (NNHP) • The Nature Conservancy • Desert Research Institute – Dr. Don Sada • EPA and State grants

  3. Importance of Springs Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish, Cyprinodon nevadensis mionectes NNHP Scorecard 53 of 69 Sites associated with springs 19,223 mapped springs - 3,680 acres per spring 157 Tracked aquatic species - 116 Endemic to Nevada

  4. Project Goals • Improve knowledge base on spring and wetland ecosystems in Nevada • Expand availability of information for conservation planning • Develop comprehensive conservation plan for springs of biodiversity significance

  5. Threats to Springs • Human Use • Diversion for irrigation, livestock, drinking water • Recreation • Mining • Invasive species • Weeds • Animals • Climate Change

  6. NNHP Objectives • Fauna - Spring Condition - Changes over time • Flora - Vegetation Types • Biotics Sites and Communities

  7. Spring Selection DRI Surveyed Springs (1948) Selected Springs (380) Aquatics Species Records (914) 2006 Scorecard Sites (69)

  8. Data Format • DRI data • Water chemistry • Fauna species • Disturbance type and severity • Vegetation types • Species cover by habitat type • Vegetation structure/dominance • Biotics data • EO Ranks • The Nature Conservancy • Vegetation vigor

  9. Data Collection • Laptop/Tablet with ArcPad and Bluetooth GPS for mapping and vegetation data. • Both spring discharge points and associated riparian area mapped over digital aerial photos. • PDA for water chemistry and fauna data. • Eliminate paper and reduce transcription error.

  10. Data Input and Analysis • Mapped spring areas (minimum area?) become Standard Sites in Biotics. • Mapped veg/habitat types within spring area become Community EOs. • Rare plant and animal data become species EOs. • Cluster analysis of cover and dominance data to separate vegetation types. • Comparison to previously collected data.

  11. Using indicators, are actions achieving the desired outcome? Assess Targets’ Viability (based on key ecological attributes) Assess Stresses & Sources (determine critical threats) Develop Conservation Strategies (objectives & strategic actions) Conservation Action Planning Identify Conservation Targets (ecological systems & species) An Iterative, Adaptive Process

  12. Conservation Targets Key Ecological Attributes Stresses/Sources of Stress (i.e., ‘threats’) Conservation Strategies Developing Springs Conservation Plan Size, Condition, Landscape Context, Threats Management Needs, Disturbance, etc (Community and Rare Species EO) Biodiversity Significance Protection Urgency Management Urgency (Sites)

  13. Challenges – Privately Owned Springs • Locating Owners • Assessors Offices • Agency contacts • Getting permission • Protecting private data • Thanking/ acknowledging owners

  14. Current Status • Agency Permits • National Wildlife Refuges • Collection Permits • BLM, NDOW, USFS, USFWS • Private Owner Permission • Yes – 42 • No – 63 • No Response – 138 • Field work starts next week!

  15. 901 S. Stewart Street, Suite 5002 Carson City, NV 89701 775-684-2900 www.heritage.nv.gov

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