Ecohydrogeology of springs below the South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Nuyttens, Kaleigh (2022) Ecohydrogeology of springs below the South Rim, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

Springs below the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park are invaluable to sustaining riparian and mesic ecosystems within the arid inner canyon region and retain immense cultural and recreational value for indigenous peoples and backcountry users. The springs sites have been the subject of multiple hydrological studies over the past two decades with varying objectives. This study includes the most up-to-date compilation of historic hydrological records for Redwall-Muav aquifer springs sites below the South Rim and adds new hydrological data, ecological inventories, and qualitative assessments. My review of the hydrological data and inventories suggest springs are stressed by climate change effects. New geochemical analyses indicate that each spring ecosystem has fluctuating chemical concentrations from the first geochemical study of South Rim springs about two decades ago up through the present. New stable isotope analyses using δ2H and δ18O show that the springs continue to maintain ratios of the isotopes as first reported 20 years ago. A 2002 groundwater model of the Coconino Plateau groundwater sub basin was updated and improves knowledge of how temporal changes in R aquifer recharge volume from climate change impacts and groundwater pumping may be impacting South Rim springs. These ecohydrogeological studies inform my interpretation that springs between the Cottonwood Creek drainage and the Hermit Creek drainage are the most susceptible to climate change and should be prioritized for close future monitoring including continual flow monitoring.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	climate change; ecohydrogeology; grand canyon; groundwater; south rim; springs
Subjects:	Q Science > QE Geology
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences > School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability
Date Deposited:	26 May 2023 16:54
Last Modified:	26 May 2023 16:54
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/5914

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