GROUND-WATER DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEMS AND KARST FEATURES WITHIN SALMON-CHALLIS NATIONAL FOREST

Groundwater-dependent ecosystems, such as fens, wetlands, and bogs, provide the Salmon-Challis National Forest with valuable ecological and socioeconomic benefits. As GeoCorps groundwater and geologic resource technical assistants at the Salmon-Challis National Forest for the summer of 2022, our team supported the above resources by performing Level 1 USDA Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem (GDE) inventories as well as karst surveys. GDE surveys were conducted in the field using soil, hydrological, geomorphological, faunal, and floral data uploaded to SpringsOnline from Avenza and Survey123. Our ongoing project goal is to expand upon GDE knowledge within the Salmon-Challis National Forest, investigate the spatial patterns associated with GDE distribution, and identify and monitor caves of significance within the national forest.