For the more information about water resources in the National Park Service, please visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/water/.
Highlights and Accomplishments
- The NPS is participating in 44 active adjudications in 9 states, involving 59 NPS units. The NPS must participate in these adjudications or risk losing water rights or water-dependent resources. Courts have issued final decrees affirming settlement agreements for 24 of these NPS Units. Another 14 have settlement agreements completed and are awaiting final court affirmation.
- The NPS water rights program reviews water development proposals in the vicinity of NPS Units in eighteen States of the western U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii. The program is currently an active participant in the State permitting processes in nine of these states. Examples include:
- The NPS has filed protests with the Nevada State Engineer to the large number of deep ground water applications upstream/upgradient from Death Valley National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and Great Basin National Park that is likely to injure water related resource attributes(e.g., diminished or altered stream flow, loss of desert springs, etc.). The Nevada State Engineer has directed that new deep ground water development should be implemented in a slow staged manner with adequate science collected to detect any potential impacts far enough in advance of resource damage that the impact can be arrested before damage occurs. Many of the NPS protests have been resolved through settlements that commit the parties to collect additional science to inform this decision-making process.
- The NPS is concerned about proposed withdrawal of groundwater from the Arbuckle-Simpson aquifer in southern Oklahoma upgradient from Chickasaw NRA. The park was established to protect springs and streams that discharge from this aquifer. The U.S. (BuRec, NPS, USGS) and State of Oklahoma are cooperating in a five year scientific study of the aquifer which will guide the State's management.
- The NPS is concerned about cultural and natural resources at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park that rely on coral reef, anchialine pool, and fish pond habitats, which in turn are dependent upon the continued flow of fresh ground water from upland areas. Development of these upland areas, and the associated withdrawal of groundwater, is beginning to occur in earnest.
- The NPS is concerned that proposed water development in watersheds of National Rivers and Wild and Scenic Rivers administered by the NPS threaten the free-flowing nature of rivers. There is a need for increased coordination among State and Federal agencies to protect these rivers from the adverse effect of impoundments and diversions.
Last Updated: January 03, 2012
