Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS) – 2009-2012 version Available for download from http://www.ramsar.org/ris/key_ris_index.htm. Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 (1990), as amended by Resolution VIII.13 of the 8th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2002) and Resolutions IX.1 Annex B, IX.6, IX.21 and IX. 22 of the 9 th Conference of the Contracting Parties (2005). Notes for compilers: 1. The RIS should be completed in accordance with the attached Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for completing the Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands. Compilers are strongly advised to read this guidance before filling in the RIS. 2. Further information and guidance in support of Ramsar site designations are provided in the Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Wise Use Handbook 14, 3rd edition). A 4th edition of the Handbook is in preparation and will be available in 2009. 3. Once completed, the RIS (and accompanying map(s)) should be submitted to the Ramsar Secretariat. Compilers should provide an electronic (MS Word) copy of the RIS and, where possible, digital copies of all maps. 1. Name and address of the compiler of this form: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY . DD MM YY Steve Patterson (Retired at the end of March) Bottomless Lakes State Park 545 Bottomless Lakes Road, HC 12 Box 1200 Roswell, New Mexico 88201 USA Designation date Site Reference Number [email protected] http://www.emnrd.state.nm.us/PRD/bottomless.htm Joe Saenz Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge 4067 Bitter Lake Road Roswell, New Mexico 88201 USA (575) 625-4019 [email protected] http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/bitterlake/ Jeff Howland (Former Refuge Manager at Bitter Lakes NWR) Mid-Columbia River NWR Complex 64 Maple Street Burbank, WA 99323 (509) 546-8312 (509) 845-7145 (cell) [email protected] Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 2 Beth Bardwell Director of Freshwater Conservation Audobon New Mexico 4850 Tobosa Rd. Las Cruces, NM 88011 (575-522-5065 (Office) (575) 418-0288 (cell) [email protected] http://nm.audubon.org/ Joel D. Lusk New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office 2105 Osuna Road NE Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113 USA (505) 761-4709 [email protected] 2. Date this sheet was completed/updated: March 16, 2009 3. Country: USA 4. Name of the Ramsar site: Roswell Artesian Wetlands (Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Bottomless Lakes State Park) 5. Designation of new Ramsar site or update of existing site: This RIS is for (tick one box only) : a) Designation of a new Ramsar site ; or b) Updated information on an existing Ramsar site 6. For RIS updates only, changes to the site since its designation or earlier update: a) Site boundary and area The Ramsar site boundary and site area are unchanged: or If the site boundary has changed: i) the boundary has been delineated more accurately ; or ii) the boundary has been extended ; or iii) the boundary has been restricted** and/or If the site area has changed: i) the area has been measured more accurately ; or ii) the area has been extended ; or iii) the area has been reduced** ** Important note : If the boundary and/or area of the designated site is being restricted/reduced, the Contracting Party should have followed the procedures established by the Conference of the Parties in Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 3 the Annex to COP9 Resolution IX.6 and provided a report in line with paragraph 28 of that Annex, prior to the submission of an updated RIS. b) Describe briefly any major changes to the ecological character of the Ramsar site, including in the application of the Criteria, since the previous RIS for the site: 7. Map of site: Refer to Annex III of the Explanatory Note and Guidelines , for detailed guidance on provision of suitable maps, including digital maps. a) A map of the site, with clearly delineated boundaries, is included as: i) a hard copy (required for inclusion of site in the Ramsar List): ; ii ) an electronic format (e.g. a JPEG or ArcView image) ; iii) a GIS file providing geo-referenced site boundary vectors and attribute tables . b) Describe briefly the type of boundary delineation applied: The Roswell Artesian Wetlands include those wetlands on Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and on Bottomless Lakes State Park near Roswell, New Mexico, USA (see Map). 8. Geographical coordinates (latitude/longitude, in degrees and minutes): The Roswell Artesian Wetlands are located in two separate regions: Roswell Artesian Wetlands (Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge) is at: 33° 27.2’ N; 104° 23.9' W Roswell Artesian Wetlands (Bottomless Lakes State Park) is at: 33° 19.2’ N; 104° 19.8' W 9. General location: The Roswell Artesian Wetlands are located in the United States of America, in the State of New Mexico, approximately 21 km (13 miles) northeast and 19 km (12 miles) southeast of the City of Roswell, in Chavez County. The site is located roughly 323 km (201 miles) from Albuquerque, New Mexico. 10. Elevation: (in metres: average and/or maximum & minimum) Average elevation of the Roswell Artesian Wetlands (Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge) is 1063 m; Average elevation of the Roswell Artesian Wetlands (Bottomless Lakes State Park) is 1054 m; 11. Area: (in hectares) The total area of the Roswell Artesian Wetlands is 917hectares. There are 877 hectares of wetlands on the Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge and 40 hectares of wetlands on the Bottomless Lakes State Park. The total area of Bitter Lake National Refuge total area (Middle Tract) is 4,585 hectares and the total area of Bottomless Lakes State Park is approximately 500 hectares. Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 4 12. General overview of the site: Provide a short paragraph giving a summary description of the principal ecological characteristics and importance of the wetland. The Roswell Artesian Wetlands are situated along the Pecos River but are largely fed by natural groundwater discharge from the Roswell Basin that forms a series of springs, seeps and sinkhole lakes at Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and at Bottomless Lakes State Park east of Roswell, New Mexico. These groundwater discharges form extensive saltgrass marshes, iodine bush flats, sacaton flats, and cattail and bulrush marsh communities. These wetlands provide significant habitat for a diverse assemblage of plants and animals including several endemic species as well as many waterfowl, wading birds and migratory songbirds. Notably, these wetlands are home to one of the largest collections of dragonflies and damselflies in the world (over 100 species). These springs, sinkhole lakes, creeks and wetlands are an exceptional resource for recreation, education and research and they play an important role in the hydrology of the Pecos River as well as are important economically for the communities of Chavez County and the surrounding areas in New Mexico, USA. 13. Ramsar Criteria: Tick the box under each Criterion applied to the designation of the Ramsar site. See Annex II of the Explanatory Notes and Guidelines for the Criteria and guidelines for their application (adopted by Resolution VII.11). All Criteria which apply should be ticked. 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 8 • 9 14. Justification for the application of each Criterion listed in 13 above: Criterion 1: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it contains a representative, rare, or unique example of a natural or near-natural wetland type found within the appropriate biogeographic region. Substantial natural subterranean groundwater discharge occurs at the Roswell Artesian Wetlands (Bitter Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and Bottomless Lakes State Park) as manifested by a number of springs, seeps, extensive wetlands, and sinkholes formed in the gypsum bedrock of the karst terrain . The Roswell Artesian Wetlands contain unique examples of small-to-large, deep, round, steep-sided sinkholes (also known as “collapse dolines” or cenotes ) that are fed by artesian groundwater. These sinkhole lakes were formed by solution of gypsum- and limestone- bearing rocks resulting in caverns and collapsed domed roofs that are accessible from the surface (Land 2003). Water discharging from springs, seeps and sinkholes is brackish to saline, with high sulfate, chloride, and total ion concentrations. Additionally, permanent rivers/streams/creeks including the floodplain of the Pecos River and permanent saline/brackish/alkaline lakes occur on the Roswell Artesian Wetlands providing a critical source of water and habitats to a variety of plants and animals of the Chihuahuan Desert. Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RIS), page 5 Criterion 2: A wetland should be considered internationally important if it supports vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered species or threatened ecological communities . Quality of the brackish water varies, but several sinkhole lakes and springs support unique native fish and invertebrate communities including Roswell springsnail ( Pyrgulopsis roswellensis ), Koster's springsnail ( Juturnia kosteri ), and Noel's amphipod ( Gammarus desperatus ), which represent relict species once associated with the Permian seas that once covered this area. These 2 molluscs and a crustacean are federally-listed as endangered and are found no where else in the world. These invertebrates have only recently been described. Noel's amphipod was described as a new species in 1981 (Cole, 1981), whereas Roswell springsnail and Koster's springsnail were described as new species in 1987 (Taylor, 1987). The snails are in the family Hydrobiidae and are small, barely visible to the naked eye. Roswell springsnail and Koster’s springsnail are light tan colored with shell lengths ranging from 2.5 to 4.5 mm (0.1 to 0.2 inches) and shells have four to five moderately convex whorls (Hershler 1994). Noel's amphipod is greenish-brown colored, with bands of red on the sides of the body.