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Springs on the Colorado Plateau
An Overview of Their Value and Status
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The US
Geological Survey has mapped 3815 springs on the Colorado Plateau
over the last half-century, approximately 21% (784 of them) on
Indian trust lands. In other words, reservations harbor one in five
historically mapped springs in our region.
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However, not
all springs historically mapped on the Colorado Plateau still flow,
nor were all extant springs mapped From his surveys on the North
Rim, the San Francisco Peaks and the Mogollon Rim, Larry Stevens
estimates that in drought years, one out of every ten USGS-mapped
springs he has visited is dry. On the other hand, many springs
associated with steep slopes were never mapped. We have no idea of
whether the probability that a flowing spring is accurately mapped
is higher or lower on-reservation or off.
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Several
reservations have a higher density of springs per land area that the
average for the Plateau as a whole. These include Fort Apache, Hopi,
Jemez, and Uintah and Ouray reservations.
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Causes of
spring decline are varied, but include 1) nearby pumping of ancient
aquifers with low recharge rates for both consumption by residents,
mines and livestock and 2) high consumptive water use by exotic
plants such as Russian olive and tamarisk. Exotic plants often
become established at wetland sites, but then spread to surrounding
areas.
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Springs,
hanging gardens and wetlands are the only suitable habitats for
certain rare plants unique to the Plateau such the Navajo sedge and
Alcove Bog Orchid, both of which grow on tribal lands. Loss of
springs could lead to their local extinction (extirpation). Some
more widespread wetland-loving plants such as yerba mansa have
already been extirpated from the Grand Canyon and other areas; they
have been used as native medicines by communities in this area for
centuries and are on the United Plant Savers medicines at risk
“watch list.”
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Springs,
hanging gardens, and wetlands may also be important to rare resident
animals such as snails, or migrants such as Willow flycatchers.
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Some
culturally utilized plants can be harvested in spring and wetland
habitats on reservations, but nowhere else nearby Indian villages.
Should access to these plants be essential for the maintenance of
ceremonial or spiritual obligations, their loss due to groundwater
pumping nearby can be legally dealt with through the American Indian
Religious Freedom Act. Degradation of gathering areas where sacred
plants, stones, and other natural materials were traditionally
collected is in violation of AIRFA, since it disrupts the “inherent
right of Native Americans to believe, express and exercise the
traditional religions.”
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