Groundwater is an important water resource worldwide, but its importance and role in maintaining ecosystems, especially in arid regions, has remained largely unstudied. However, new research highlights the important connection between groundwater and ecosystems.
Using satellite imagery and groundwater monitoring data, the research team identified thresholds for groundwater depth and seasonal variation that can support sensitive ecosystems across California, under the framework of the state's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. .
The research, led by Dr. Melissa Rohde of New York University's College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), Cardiff University, and the Desert Research Institute (DRI), recently Water of.
The role of groundwater in nature and ecosystems
Dr. Rohde said, “Most of the fresh water on Earth is groundwater, but we don't acknowledge it or manage it sustainably, with serious consequences for humans and natural ecosystems.'' '', emphasizing the importance of groundwater.
“Groundwater is important to many ecosystems, but water agencies and conservationists give little consideration to water needs. To reconcile that, our research shows that practitioners should It provides a simple and practical approach to detecting ecological thresholds and targets that can be used for allocation and management.”
Vegetation health and groundwater depth
This study used 38 years of Landsat satellite imagery (1985-2022) and groundwater well data from across the state to examine impacts on key plant communities.
The team applied common data transformation techniques in a new way to identify thresholds for vegetation greenness and groundwater depth over time to inform decisions about water use and planning. .
Dr. John Stella, co-author of the study and vice president of research at ESF, explained the importance of ecosystems that rely on groundwater.
“Groundwater-dependent ecosystems such as wetlands, floodplains, and riparian zones are critical to biodiversity. More than 80 to 90 percent of species in a typical region depend on these ecosystems in some way. It could be,” Stella said.
“We applied a simple statistical approach to a very large dataset to identify warning signs and conservation targets for a wide variety of ecosystem types,” he said.
Drought refuge and the role of groundwater
The large geographic scope and long timeline covered by the study allowed the team to assess how large-scale systems respond to major climate changes.
These include the historic California drought of 2012-2016 and the individual ecosystems that rely on groundwater to act as resilient drought refugia.
Co-author Dr Christine Albano from DRI said: “The key takeaway from this study is that we can use our knowledge of how deep different types of plant roots tend to be to “It allows us to roughly estimate the level of groundwater needed to maintain the health of the ecosystem.” ”
She continued: “We found that vegetation was healthier where the water table was within about 1 meter of maximum root depth compared to where the groundwater was deeper.”
Informing water management decisions
The research team hopes their approach and findings will inform water management decisions in California and other countries.
“This study provides groundwater managers with intuitive, site-specific measures that can provide a data-driven foundation to guide water allocation and ecosystem restoration efforts,” said co-author and UCSB Professor Kelly Kaylor said.
“Globally, there are increasing efforts to manage groundwater resources for a variety of purposes, not just to meet drinking water needs and support high-value agriculture,” added co-author Professor Michael Singer from Cardiff University.
“Our research provides a sound foundation for developing clear guidelines on how to manage groundwater to address a wide range of needs within watersheds within and beyond California,” he concluded. .
Conserve groundwater and protect ecosystems
This important research provided powerful tools to understand and manage groundwater resources that support ecosystems.
By identifying critical thresholds and targets, this research enables water managers to make informed decisions that balance human and nature needs.
As we face the growing challenges of climate change and water scarcity, it is imperative that we act now to protect our precious groundwater resources and protect the lives they support.
This study serves as a call to action, urging us to recognize the critical role of groundwater in our ecosystems and manage it wisely for the benefit of everyone.
The entire study was published in the journal natural water.
—–
Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for fascinating articles, exclusive content and the latest updates.
Check us out on EarthSnap, the free app from Eric Ralls and Earth.com.
—–
