Ecological Evaluation of Selected Aquatic Ecosystems in the Biological Resources Study Area for the Southern Nevada Water Authority's Proposed Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project Final Report: Volume 1
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Resource ID
8349
Resource Type
Document
UGS Program
Wetlands
Title
Ecological Evaluation of Selected Aquatic Ecosystems in the Biological Resources Study Area for the Southern Nevada Water Authority's Proposed Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development Project
Final Report: Volume 1
Author
M Golden, E Oborny, B Albrecht, N Norman, J Webster, S Ripple, M Robertson, S Herstein
Publisher
Southern Nevada Water Authority
Date
January 01 2007
Publication Identification
PR 987-1
County
Millard, Iron, Juab, Clark, White Pine, Lincoln
Document Type
Report
Original Filename
WTLND0055.pdf
Geotechnical Database
Not Included
Abstract / Description
The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) has proposed to construct and operate the Clark,
Lincoln, and White Pine Counties Groundwater Development (GWD) Project. The majority of
the proposed GWD Project Area falls within the Great Basin and is underlain by a large,
carbonate aquifer system containing many complex flow paths. Water from this aquifer, as well
as local groundwater runoff from the mountains surrounding the valleys, feeds local and regional
aquatic systems. The aquatic systems in the Great Basin are largely isolated, giving rise to a
number of unique and endemic species. Seven Federally threatened or endangered species, two
Conservation Agreement species, and a host of Federal species of concern and State sensitive
species are known to inhabit the aquatic systems in and adjacent to the GWD Project Area.
Therefore, to obtain baseline information on the aquatic communities in and around the proposed
GWD Project Area, the SNWA contracted BIO-WEST, Inc. (BIO-WEST) to conduct ecological
evaluations of aquatic systems in 11 valleys of east-central Nevada and west-central Utah
(Biological Resources Study Area [BRSA]).
The SNWA and BIO-WEST used a variety of criteria to select 101 aquatic systems of interest
throughout the BRSA. Concurrently, we began a literature review and agency contact period to
gather information about the aquatic systems of interest. We performed a reconnaissance trip to
40 aquatic systems in and adjacent to the BRSA and examined existing sampling methodologies,
in order to develop a survey protocol for the aquatic systems of interest in the BRSA. We
presented these protocols to a Technical Workgroup comprised of a variety of biologists and
researchers from State and Federal resource agencies, as well as academia. Our goal from that
meeting was to use lower-intensity surveys to inventory the aquatic communities at as many
systems as possible throughout the BRSA.
Location, water quality, and physical habitat data were collected at 105 locations within the
aquatic systems of interest in the BRSA. In addition, the aquatic and riparian vegetation, fish,
amphibian, and macroinvertebrate communities were qualitatively inventoried at 92 locations in
the BRSA. Disturbance evaluations were completed at these same 92 locations, noting the
factors causing disturbance and possible restoration options.
We found that the aquatic systems of interest varied widely in their size, configuration, water
quality, and habitat quality. Most survey sites were highly to moderately disturbed, with
livestock-related damage, diversion, and nonnative species being the most common disturbance
factors. Protection, restoration, and reintroduction/translocation alternatives are discussed,
based on the disturbance level and species present at the aquatic systems of interest. We found
Federal status or State sensitive species at aquatic systems in Tule Valley, Fish Springs Valley,
Snake Valley, Spring Valley, Lake Valley, White River Valley, Cave Valley, Dry Lake Valley,
and Pahranagat Valley. Our surveys expanded the range of the Toquerville springsnail
(Pyrgulopsis kolobensis), the White River Valley springsnail (Pyrgulopsis sathos), and the Utah