Abstract

Inventory, Assessment, and Stewardship of Springs Ecosystems through Geocollaboration
Track: Conservation
Authors: Jeri Ledbetter

In arid regions, water is the most critical natural resource. Isolated by the harsh surrounding landscape, springs are ecologically vital islands of habitat that support high biodiversity and endemism. These sometimes tiny features are inadequately protected, poorly mapped, and insufficiently understood. In spite of the critical nature of water in arid climates, until recently there has been no systematic effort to survey springs across a landscape. Although Arizona, the second-driest state in the US, has the highest density of springs, no complete GIS layer exists. We have compiled data from multiple sources into a geodatabase that currently contains 10,230 springs, yet thousands remain unmapped. We have developed ecological and geographic tools to support collaborative collection, compilation, and analysis of the complex and interrelated data associated with springs. Our online portal, interactive maps, and other tools provide access to this information by agencies, conservation organizations, indigenous Tribes, and other researchers.