Springs—ecosystems where groundwater reaches the Earth’s surface—are among the most biologically, socio-culturally, and economically important water resources (Stevens and Meretsky 2008). Many endangered species, and numerous rare or endemic species of plants, invertebrates, amphibians, and fish are found only at springs in the United States. Springs are highly sacred to indigenous cultures that use them for water supplies, medicinal, ceremonial, and other purposes. Given the interactions between temperature, precipitation, infiltration, and aquifer dynamics, springs also are sensitive indicators of climate change. Yet while much attention and funding has been devoted to rivers and streams, springs ecosystems have been largely overlooked in conservation, research, and management. Springs are abundant across the United States, but in arid and mesic landscapes alike, springs are poorly understood, incompletely mapped, and inadequately protected. The lack of information and attention has resulted in the loss of many springs and springs-dependent species (SDS) and other natural, sociocultural, and economic resources through poor management practices. Estimates of impairment or loss of springs in some landscapes exceed 90% (GCWC 2002). But until recently there has been no effort to systematically map, inventory, or assess springs socioecological integrity within or across administrative boundaries. Existing information is minimal, fragmented, and largely unavailable to land managers, Tribes, conservation organizations, and researchers. We established the Springs Stewardship Institute (SSI) to improve understanding of springs ecology, to educate resource managers and the public about the importance of springs stewardship, and to partner with other organizations, agencies, Tribes, and researchers who are working to protect these critically endangered resources. Here we describe our progress to map springs and SDS, evaluate climate change risk on springs, and conduct outreach to stakeholders in the Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperative (SRLCC).
