KNOWN AND UNKNOWN VALUES OF SPRINGS ECOSYSTEM SERVICES FOR TWO NATIONAL FORESTS IN A SEMI-ARID REGION

The Coconino and Kaibab National Forests in Northern Arizona are estimated to have over 700 springs. 77% of the springs within the two forests are ecologically degraded, with much of the degradation occurring as a result of grazing practices. Understanding the values of springs ecosystem services supports development of land use management plans that efficiently incorporate benefits and costs of competing uses. In addition to contributing directly to the water supply in the Western US, springs support many federally listed species and thousands of rare, springs-dependent species and are frequently refugia for many species. Springs often have considerable cultural, historical, and economic significance and often are the only water sources for backcountry recreation. Understanding the values of springs ecosystem services can therefore directly contribute to the long-term sustainability of land use management policies in the US. While revenues from grazing are readily available, non-market values of springs ecosystem services within the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests have not been investigated. For the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests, the USDA Forest Service has estimated approximately $100,000 per year in grazing permit collections. Although the revenues from cattle grazing permits are known, the values of the ecosystem services associated with springs within the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests remain largely unquantified. Degradation and loss of springs ecosystems is a global environmental crisis, a challenge that requires improved understanding, tools, and incentive-based management for conservation of groundwater and surface water.