Issue 1 Fall 2016

The Groundwater Newsletter of the U.S. Forest Service

Inside this issue...

Welcome to Upper Colorado Baseflows! & River Basin Editor’s Note Baseflow Study Page 1 Page 2

Routt National Low-Cost Forest Conductivity Baseflow Study Loggers Page 3 Page 4

Rain Shadow TNC Springs Country and Workshop in Groundwater Prineville, OR Page 5 Page 6

Half a dozen mountain brooks flow into Mono Lake but not a stream of any kind flows out of it. What it does with its surplus water is a dark and bloody mystery. Mark Twain Welcome to the new Forest Service EDITOR’S NOTE – October 2016 groundwater newsletter, Baseflows! Tim Stroope, Hydrogeologist Johanna Kovarik National Groundwater Program, Golden, CO Acting Groundwater Program Lead National Groundwater Program, Golden, CO am pleased to present the first issue of Baseflows, the biannual Forest Service ational Forest System (NFS) lands cover Igroundwater newsletter. The title, over 193 million acres, generally in Baseflows, was chosen to highlight the Nthe headwaters of watersheds across importance of base flow in sustaining surface the country. Groundwater is an integral water flow on much of National Forest Service component of those watersheds, the often (NFS) lands. A recent United States Geological unseen foundation that sustains stream and Survey study in the Upper Colorado River spring flow and the resources dependent on Basin found that on average, 56 percent these waterways and associated riparian areas. of streamflow originates as base flow, with Surface water, fisheries, wildlife, recreation, the majority of groundwater discharging and minerals are all dependent on the quantity to streams in upper elevation watersheds. and quality of groundwater moving through This study, summarized in this issue, as well NFS lands. The Washington Office Minerals as a similar, smaller scale base flow study and Geology Management and Watershed on the Routt NF are just two examples of programs are working to improve groundwater ongoing work highlighting the critical role that stewardship tools and enhance knowledge groundwater plays in providing abundant clean surrounding the complexity, magnitude, and water from NFS lands. importance of groundwater within the larger ecosystem. Our next issue is planned for April, 2017 and we encourage contributions from anyone The Forest Service has many scientists and involved in groundwater stewardship on or professionals working with groundwater or affecting NFS lands. Content for that issue with resources connected to groundwater should be submitted no later than March 1, across the country. The goal of this newsletter 2017. Send in short articles on any aspect of is to raise awareness about groundwater as a groundwater stewardship including mining, resource and connected issues on NFS lands, groundwater dependent ecosystems, special and to connect us all through sharing stories use permits, spring developments, restoration of research, field projects, and current issues. projects, etc. Please share this inaugural Additionally, there will be a section reviewing, issue of Baseflows with anyone who may find posting, and connecting our personnel with its content useful, and I look forward to your the latest and greatest best available scientific future contributions to Baseflows. information related to groundwater. Articles written about in the newsletter can be found on the groundwater SharePoint site, along with foundational literature on groundwater, and agency technical notes and stewardship guides.

Many thanks go to our editor Tim Stroope for his hard work in gathering articles and creating this first edition ofBaseflows , and to all who contributed content for this inaugural edition. Please feel free to share your comments and ideas with us as Baseflows grows in the coming years.

Cover Photo Credit: Trevor Hobbs Baseflows 1 Issue 1 Best Available Science • Greater than 80 percent of base flow is lost during in-stream transport to the Information brought to you by Lower Colorado River Basin (LCRB) by BASI the Boatman evapotranspiration, diversions and other processes

These findings and predictions of future increases in groundwater pumping and extreme drought conditions indicate further reductions in the volume of surface water delivered to the LCRB are likely. The Colorado River may well be the most over allocated river in the world and any decrease in flow will widen the gap between supply and demand, which is projected to increase with increases in population. The importance of base flow in It is no secret that the west faces numerous sustaining surface water flow in the challenges when it comes to water and Upper Colorado River Basin this study further illustrates the complexity BASI the Boatman of understanding and predicting future National Groundwater Program, Golden, CO imbalances between water supply and demand. The authors state, “…management approaches ach Issue of Baseflows, BASI the that consider groundwater and surface Boatman summarizes a study or studies water as a joint resources will be needed to Ethat represents best available science effectively manage current and future water information regarding groundwater and resources in the Basin. the implications, if any, for groundwater stewardship on National Forest Service (NFS) This will be especially true for the stewardship lands. Readers are encouraged to submit of these joint resources on NFS lands which ideas for this column with links to supporting make up approximately twenty percent of the documentation. UCRB. The majority of these lands are in upper elevation watersheds where most base flow This issue summarizes the research article: discharge occurs. Moving forward, we need to The importance of base flow in sustaining continue to bring awareness to groundwater surface water flow in the Upper Colorado River stewardship and place it on equal footing with Basin. Base flow is defined as, “Sustained surface water stewardship. flow of a stream in the absence of direct runoff. It includes natural and human-induced If you are interested in the methodology or streamflows. Natural base flow is sustained other aspects of this study and want to read largely by groundwater discharges.” This the full article it can be found here. This article, United States Geological Survey (USGS) study and other BASI resources, can always be found was published in Water Resources Research in at the Groundwater Program SharePoint site. May 2016. Key findings of the study include: Reference • On average, 56% of the streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) Miller, M. P., Buto, S. G., Susong, D. D., & originated as base flow Rumsey, C. A. (2016). The importance of base • Precipitation is the dominant driver of flow in sustaining surface water flow in the spatial variability in base flow at the scale Upper Colorado River Basin. Water Resources of the UCRB Research. • The majority of base flow discharge to streams occurs in upper elevation watersheds

Baseflows 2 Issue 1 Baseflow Study – Routt National catchment (25-50 km2) scales? Forest Patterns? Processes? Tyler Carleton and Liz Schnackenberg, b. How different are baseflow estimates Hydrologists, R2 Routt National Forest between watersheds with different geology? n April 2016, the Routt National Forest 3. Is there a difference in accuracy for initiated a study to examine the projected different baseflow estimation methods: Iimpacts to baseflow from changing climate daily CMB (Conductivity Mass Balance), and snowpack in headwater streams at the discrete CMB, GHS (Graphical Hydrograph catchment scale. The study was, in part, Separation), or calibrated GHS? based on recent studies that estimate the 4. Under projected climate change scenarios, contributions of baseflow to stream flow how will baseflows change? (i.e., how in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB) will changes to snowmelt recharge alter between 48 and 56 percent. In the Colorado baseflows in headwater streams?) River headwaters (15,600 km2), an even higher percentage of the total flow is baseflow Anticipated results include: (Rumsey et al. 2015). This study will attempt to determine the distribution and magnitude of • Range of baseflow yield and baseflow the baseflows in Routt National Forest, which index estimates for headwater streams of is largely unknown. See the article on baseflow different geology types at the watershed in the UCRB in this newsletter for more and catchment scales. information. • Influence of geology (and any other key physical watershed characteristics and Questions the study will examine include: climate controls) on baseflow yield or baseflow index at the watershed and 1. What is the range of baseflow yield catchment scales. or baseflow index in Southern Rocky • Projected baseflow alterations under Mountain headwater streams over similar projected climate change scenarios. climate and variety of surface geology • Management implications of projected types? baseflow alterations and assessment of the 2. What watershed characteristics control most vulnerable headwater streams. baseflow in headwater streams of the • Best suited method to quantify baseflow Upper Colorado River Basin? (e.g., what is yield and baseflow index in headwater the influence of surface geology?) streams where data, access, and a. How different are baseflow estimates environmental constraints exist. at watershed (500-1000 km2) and

Left: Liz Schnackenberg and Tim Stroope deploy a logger in English Creek. Right: Liz Schnackenberg records the location of a logger in Gilpin Creek. (Photo Credits: Joe Gurrieri) Baseflows 3 Issue 1 In September 2016 Joe Gurrieri and Tim $50. There is a 64k memory version available Stroope of the National Groundwater Program as well. The method described here is based on traveled to the Routt and assisted Tyler and Liz and slightly modified fromChapin et al. 2014 in scouting study locations and placed nine test which also explains how to estimate specific loggers. These loggers were modified to record conductivity from the logger data. changes in conductivity based on the methods of Chapin et al. 2014 and summarized in this Modification Method newsletter. It is anticipated that the study will officially start in Summer/Fall 2017 with the 1. Disassemble the logger, keeping all parts, assistance of Colorado State University. If you and pay attention to the placement of have questions about, or are interesting in parts. The logger will be reassembled to its performing a similar study, please contact Tyler original configuration with the exception of Carleton, Liz Schnackenberg, Joe Gurrieri or the desiccant package. Tim Stroope. 2. Using a 5/64’’ drill bit drill two holes in the black cap, equidistance apart and References approximately in line with one edge of the protruding lanyard loop. On the underside Chapin, T.P., Todd, A.S., & Zeigler, M.P. (2014). of the cap there are four pre-molded Robust, low-cost data loggers for stream circular extrusions, two of which can be temperature, flow intermittency, and relative used as guides. conductivity monitoring. Water Resources 3. Cut two segments of wire (recommend Twin Research. Industries TW-MP-10 machine pin jumper wire – 10 cm) and remove the insulation on Rumsey, C.A., Miller, M.P., Susong, D.D., both ends leaving 3-4 mm exposed. Tillman, F.D., & Anning, D.W. (2015). Regional 4. Carefully desolder the light sensor and scale estimates of baseflow and factors discard it. Solder the wires to the now influencing baseflow in Upper Colorado River exposed machine pin leads. Basin. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies. 5. Reassemble the logger placing the desicant pack indicator side up on the electronics board and pushing wires through the lid TECH TIP: Low-cost data loggers for holes as far as possible while allowing for conductivity monitoring reassembly. Tim Stroope, Hydrogeologist 6. Seal any space created by the holes and National Groundwater Program, Golden, CO wires using waterproof epoxy seal. Any epoxy covering the exposed wires can be onductivity data, relative or specific, removed after drying if necessary. alone or in conjunction with other data Csuch as temperature and stream flow can be used to estimate base flow and runoff fractions of stream flow as well as stream intermittency, a critical parameter influencing aquatic ecosystem health.

This article summarizes a method for converting relatively cheap temperature and light data loggers into a Stream Temperature, Intermittency, and Conductivity (STIC) loggers. It will also discuss deployment methods to increase the likelihood that your loggers will remain hidden and in place. Figure 1. STIC electronics modifications and PVC deployment housing. The STIC can be concealed with rocks if vandalism is a concern (Chapin et al. The logger of choice for this modification is the 2014). Onset HOBO Pendant Temperature/Light 8K Data Logger which can be purchased for under

Baseflows 4 Issue 1 Deployment have further questions please contact me at [email protected]. Many folks have had success gluing loggers to rocks using underwater epoxy and a detailed References description of this method can be found Isaak et al. 2013. Another method involves attaching Chapin, T. P., Todd, A. S., & Zeigler, M. P. the PVC housing presented in Figure 1 of (2014). Robust, low‐cost data loggers for Chapin et al. 2014 to a bag of rocks. To secure stream temperature, flow intermittency, the logger in the PVC housing carve grooves and relative conductivity monitoring. Water with a Dremel tool to slip the logger into. You Resources Research, 50(8), 6542-6548. will also need to drill two holes in one side of the lower portion of the housing (~0.5” apart) Isaak, D. J., Horan, D. L., & Wollrab, S. P. to attach the housing to the bag of rocks with (2013). A simple protocol using underwater a cable tie. epoxy to install annual temperature monitoring sites in rivers and streams. To create the bag of rocks start with an 18’’ piece of brown net tubing (recommend Uline 6-8”X164 brown net tubing). Cable tie one Rain Shadow Country and end and fill with rocks from the stream you Groundwater are deploying in. Note: You can fit many more Carrie Gordon, Forest Geologist rocks in the netting than it may seem as it R6 Ochoco National Forest/Crooked River is quite flexible. Cable tie the other end and National Grassland then attach the PVC housing with the logger to the outside (Figure 2). Find an area in the he Ochoco National Forest and Crooked stream that where the bag and housing will be River National Grassland are located underwater during low-flow and also protected in central Oregon. Groundwater is a during periods of high-flow. Finally, flag and T critical part of the water puzzle. Managing this GPS the site well as the bags blend into the resource falls under geology, hydrology and channel very well. soils, the physical base.

Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems (GDE) are a surficial groundwater expression and provide a rare window in to the health of our groundwater influenced ecosystems. Usually, groundwater is understood by expensive drilling and pumping tests that only provide information and data at the specific locations where the sites were tested. The least expensive and simplest method for collecting baseline data is to inventory and monitor the naturally occurring GDEs.

The Washington Office Groundwater program has devised a protocol for inventory and monitoring the Groundwater Dependent Figure 2. “Bag of rocks” with PVC housing and Ecosystems. Use of these protocols is two- logger (Photo Credit: Joe Gurrieri) fold in that it allows the Forest to collect vital information regarding its springs, fens, wetlands and other GDEs and in turn we help Special thanks to Kate Dwire and John evaluate the new national protocols for GDE Korfmacher (Rocky Mountain Research Station) inventory and monitoring. and Andrew Todd (United States Geological

Survey) for instructions and advice about Over the past 14 years, there have been logger modification and deployment. If you a number of studies looking at various

Baseflows 5 Issue 1 connections between GDE’s (springs), lithology, to maintain these important GDEs. landform, geochemistry and sensitive/ threatened plants here on the Ochoco NF. The Ochoco NF resides at the apex of four major physiographic provinces: Blue Mountain, Basin and Range, High Cascades and Columbia Plateau. This presents a unique blend of lithology, soils, plants and animals transitioning from one province to the other. Considering the connection between the underlying geology and groundwater adds to the knowledge base for decisions.

We don’t receive any funding for the GDE surveys. We have a dedicated willing group of hydrologists, a forest soil scientist, botanists and range conservationists who cheerfully volunteer a day of their time to field two Bingham Springs Moss (Photo Credit: United States teams. Jim David, our forest soil scientist, and Forest Service) I each lead a team. This information can be useful for the Climate We were also fortunate that The Nature Change Vulnerability Assessment that will be Conservancy (TNC) spent the past two years coming to your forest, if it hasn’t already been studying the Lower Crooked River Watershed. done. I encourage you to get involved because It was a joy to collaborate with the scientists minerals and geology are part of the story. with TNC. We all learned a lot. Even a geologist can learn to identify little For the range allotment projects, mosses! understanding the current water flows, habitat and condition of groundwater dependent systems are important. These photos are from Successful May 2016 The Nature the inventory of a spring within a pasture. Conservancy Springs Workshop in Prineville, OR The Ochoco NF is currently reviewing and Caty Clifton, Regional Water Quality and Water preparing to begin writing our revised Forest Rights Programs, Pacific Northwest Region

ast May, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) hosted a workshop titled, “Protecting Land Managing Springs for the Benefit of Nature and People. Held in Prineville, OR, the workshop had the following goals: To share what’s been learned about the Stewart Springs on the Ochoco National Forest different types of springs in the Crooked River (Photo Credits: United States Forest Service) Basin; the benefits they provide to the people and wildlife, and their potential vulnerability to different stressors. Resource and Management Plan. By using the new protocol and beginning to understand • To ensure that springs remain viable in the environmental and resource water needs, the face of numerous stressors, work together Forest could better address water development to develop a prioritization scheme for for forest management requirements. In spring protection and management, using addition, it may facilitate the establishment of information about the habitat for wildlife, an adequate monitoring program to identify uses, access, and other data. when groundwater may be in short supply and

Baseflows 6 Issue 1 • Share and discuss new designs for developing springs in ways that provide water for livestock while at the same time protecting natural spring habitats. • Visit springs and developments in the field.

The workshop featured an afternoon discussion on factors that are important for prioritizing springs for protection and restoration. This discussion is summarized into a short, two- page document, that includes a color diagram illustrating how the many factors associated with spring protection and restoration are connected.

The workshop featured a presentation by Carrie Gordon, Ochoco Forest geologist and longtime TNC collaborator, as well as the following presentations which can be viewed by following the links:

• Why springs and why now? The ecological and economic values of springs: Allison Aldous (TNC) • Spring fundamentals and observations in the Crooked River Basin: Marshall Gannett (United States Geological Survey) • Springs of the Crooked River Basin – spatial distribution and physical characteristics: Zack Freed (TNC)

The excellent summaries of spring science and methods for inventory and classification set the stage for improving management of these important resources. This requires understanding the resource manager or land owner objectives and context for management decisions so it was valuable to hear perspectives from a diverse group of Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Resource Conservation Service, USGS, State agencies, Watershed councils, Soil and Water Conservation District, Tribes and private landowners, and recognize shared values for conservation and stewardship. Thanks to everyone involved in organizing and presenting the workshop and to all who attended.

Opposite Page - Top: TNC springs workshop participants at Wiley Spring. Bottom: Unnamed spring near Wiley Creek. (Photo Credits: United States Forest Service)

Baseflows 7 Issue 1