A combination of citizen science inventories and expert assessments will be used to collect critical baseline information on known spring and seep resources using the Spring Ecosystem Inventory and Assessment Protocols and adapting them as needed for the unique arid Sky Island ecosystems. The assessment will collect information on channel morphology, riparian and wetland vegetation, water quality, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and wildlife. This information will be combined with historic data from cooperating agencies (Pima County, Santa Cruz County, USFS, NPA, USGS, USFWS, BLM, and AGFD) in a regional, on-line database to provide a landscape level context for managing resources, which was previously unavailable due to data being stored by individual agencies in different formats. A spatial and temporal analysis of the data will help identify seep, spring and shallow groundwater of highest conservation value, highest restoration potential, and resources that will be crucial waters sources for wildlife adaption in the region. Climate change adaptation workshops will be conducted with partners to assess priority and management options, including discussion and analysis of management prescriptions that can be used by managers to minimize and mitigate non-climate stressors, protective and restorative actions that can be implemented to enhance resilience of these resources, and strategies to promote spring conservation.
