Seasonal variations in the presence of water is common at many small springs in Mojave National Preserve; some may go dry during periods of drought. Each fall, volunteers from all over California, Nevada, and Arizona—including many from Quail Unlimited and the Society for the Conservation of Bighorn Sheep—head to springs in the Preserve to monitor water supplies used by wildlife. The 2009 Spring Snapshot Survey will take place from the end of September through November 23. The National Park Service is seeking volunteers with four-wheel drive vehicles and GPS units who are willing to visit desert springs, record their observations, and return the information to NPS researchers. For more information, or to volunteer for this important survey, click here to email the project coordinator.

• Annual Spring Survey Results 2005
• Annual Spring Survey Results 2006
• Annual Spring Survey Results 2007
• Annual Spring Survey Results 2008

Springs are places where groundwater discharges from aquifers. The Mojave Network of parks is undertaking a study of the hydrogeologic framework of our aquifers with the Geology Discipline in Menlo Park, California.

Springs may be adversely impacted by climate change and groundwater pumping. The network is completing a study to determine the susceptibility of springs in the Mojave Network to climatic change and development with the USGS Water Science Center projects office in San Diego and the Biological Resources Discipline San Diego Field Station.