Mapping indicators of groundwater dependent ecosystems in Nevada: Important resources for a water-limited state

Abstract

Groundwater dependent ecosystems (GDEs) rely on groundwater for all or part of their water needs, and provide benefits to plants, wildlife and people. Almost half of endemic species in Nevada are associated with GDEs. To increase our understanding of groundwater needs for GDEs we 1) created a spatial database to identify the location and extent of GDEs in Nevada; 2) developed a story map to share data from the database to increase awareness about GDEs among the general public; and 3) conducted an assessment of GDE condition for areas previously mapped at high resolution. We found that at least 10% of Nevada is classified as having an indicator of groundwater dependence, and over two-thirds of Nevada’s hydrographic areas contained all 5 types of indicators of GDEs (i.e., phreatophyte communities; wetlands; springs; lakes and playas; and rivers and streams). Of the GDEs in 11 landscapes in Nevada, GDEs in montane riparian systems were the most ecologically departed from reference, mostly due to non-native plant species. Our next steps involve using the database to assess stressors and threats to GDEs to help us develop and prioritize strategies for protecting GDEs for people and nature.