ASSESSING SPRINGS ECOSYSTEMS DATA OF TWO NATIONAL FORESTS

In preparation for developing an action plan for a landscape-scale restoration on the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests of Arizona, an assessment was conducted of all springs ecosystems data within these two National Forests. Inventory and monitoring data were found for over two hundred known springs ecosystems, with the majority being from one-time site observations and measurements. There were monitoring data for 54 springs in the Coconino National Forest, but no monitoring data for springs in the Kaibab National Forest. Of the monitoring data, monthly monitoring was the most common at 49 %, with infrequent monitoring at 34 %, continuous monitoring at 16 %, and 1 % of the data being bi-monthly monitoring. Quality assessments of the data rated more than half of the data of “good” quality. Recommendations of a sampling design for springs ecosystems were made to the forest managers based on the quantity and quality of existing information. The ecosystem condition and risk of all springs is being evaluated through interviews, questionnaires, and site visits to prioritize sites for potential future restoration actions.