By Stephanie Leslie

We are not wandering aimlessly around the park! It is true, however, that we are wandering around the park, but we have a noble quest. The Aquatics Crew is searching for and documenting all the perennial water sources within the park. This summer we plan to thoroughly investigate 12 of the park's 25 watersheds. The goals of this project include finding a systematic way of conducting water surveys and monitoring, as well as compiling species list for amphibians, mollusks, fish and macroinvertebrates. Since water is a precious resource here in the Great Basin Desert, it is important to document water sources and understand their importance. This baseline data will allow the park to recognize changes and make informed management decisions.

Stephanie Leslie is a member of the Aquatics Crew.