Managing Ecological Water Requirements
for groundwater dependent wetlands on
National Forests: A view from the bottom
up and the top down
Trish Carroll, US Forest Service
May 24, 2011
Trout Creek fen with view of South Sister, Deschutes National Forest
Presentation summary
• Management of groundwater dependent
ecosystems in the Antelope project area
• Overview of the Forest Service national
groundwater program
• Bringing the national groundwater program
into the Region
• What’s next
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Northwest Region-R6
Antelope project area
Antelope Range Management and
GDE Partnership Project-USFS and TNC
Dry Meadow—spring box
Where doe the groundwater come from-near or far, or both?
Walker Mt looking east over project area
Wealth of information
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3 intensively monitored fens
Mini weather station data
Drill cores at 3 fens and section 5
LiDAR –ground penetrating and surface
Landscape scale geologic and hydrologic studies
Supplemental botanical surveys
Precipitation records
Range condition and trend analysis
Drill cores at Johnson Creek fen
(basalt contact)
LiDAR flown for Jack Creek Area
Linear fens with botanical surveys within the
Jack Creek basin
National groundwater program components
• Technical Guide
• Policy directives
• Sourcebook of state
groundwater laws
• Training
• Inventory and
Monitoring protocols
• Technical series
development
Inventory and Monitoring Protocols
Groundwater Technical Guides Schedule
Technical and Field Guides/Technical Notes
Groundwater Inventory and Monitoring Technical Guide
1. Introduction
2. Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems
GDE Level 1 Inventory Field Guide
GDE Level 2 Inventory Field Guide
Ecological Water Requirements Field Guide
3. Groundwater Assessment and Analysis
Remote Sensing Inventory Technical Guide
Geophysics Technical Guide
Numerical Modeling Technical Guide
Groundwater/Surface Water Interactions F. Guide
4. Groundwater Monitoring
Groundwater Quality Monitoring Field Guide
Technical Guide for Managing Groundwater Resources
1. Introduction (Revision)
2. Managing Groundwater Resources (Revision)
3.Hydrologic Principles and Methods(Revision)
4. Managing Groundwater Uses
Mitigating Groundwater Use Effects Field Guide
5. Integration of Groundwater into Planning
Groundwater Technical Notes
Springbox Design and Installation
Groundwater Monitoring Well Installation in Wetlands
Monitoring Well Construction and Development
Measurement of Discharge from Springs
Instantaneous Change in Head (Slug) Testing
Additional Technical Notes
FY 12
Final
Final
Training
Training
Develop
Introduction
Develop
FY13
Develop
Develop
Develop
Develop/Final
Develop/Final
Develop/Final
Develop/Final
Develop
FY 15
Revise
Develop
Develop
Develop
Introduction
Develop
Develop
Develop
FY14
Final
Final
Final
Develop
Develop
Develop
FY16
Revise
Final
Final
Final
Develop
Develop
Develop
Develop
Develop
Training
Training
Training
Develop
Develop
Develop
Develop
Develop
Training
Training
Revise
Develop
Final
Develop
Final
Training
Final
Training
Develop/Final
Develop/Final
Develop/Final
Final
Final
Final
Final
Final
Training
Final
Develop/Final
Regional GDE Work
• Blue Mountains NFs pilotforest plan revision,
range, characterization
• Ochoco NF-range
allotment plan revision
• Deschutes NFcharacterization
• Willamette-spring and fen
characterization
• Fremont-Winema NFsAntelope project
Regional outreach
Goal—to heighten the awareness of groundwater ecosystems in Forest
Service management activities both internally and externally
What’s on the horizon
ANTELOPE: Digest the wealth of information, coalesce into a
comprehensive report, fill in important data gaps; assist with
range plan implementation and monitoring
NATIONAL PROGRAM: Continue to participate in
development of this robust comprehensive program
REGIONAL PROGRAM: Continue to implement the
groundwater program in the Region. Ensure that I&M
information is highlighted and applied to inform resource
management on National Forests
Mt Thielson from Tea Table Mountain
Thought and conclusions
Jamison Meadow
Thank you!
When one tugs at a single thing in
nature, he finds it attached to the rest
of the world.
Johnson Creek fen
-John Muir