By Terry Fisk, Hydrologist , Death Valley National Park
With much appreciated assistance from the Death Valley Natural History Association, Death Valley National Park hosted this year’s Devils Hole Workshop on April 26, 27 and 28. The workshops have been held since the mid-1990s and over time have evolved from an examination of hydrogeologic and biologic issues, related specifically to Devils Hole to water resource issues in the greater Death Valley region.
Physical localities under discussion at this year’s workshop included, of course, Devils Hole, but also Yucca Mountain, Nevada Test Site, Pahrump Valley, Amargosa Desert, and the Amargosa River watershed. In a similar fashion, the attendance has increased over time – from approximately 10 participants at the first workshop to 155 attendees, 24 oral presentations and 7 posters this year. Workshop attendees this year traveled from as far as Eugene, Oregon and University Park, Pennsylvania. 
One of the highlights of the workshop was a presentation by Dr. Alan Riggs of the U.S. Geological Survey. Dr. Riggs has substantial experience diving in Devils Hole in the past and gave a wonderful slide show of photos from various dives. The research conducted by Dr. Riggs and partners has led to significant understanding of climate variation in the western U.S. during the past several hundred thousand years.
Speakers from Death Valley National Park and the NPS Water Resources Division provided an update on pupfish population counts and the status of scientific research into reasons for the long-term decline in the population of the Devils Hole pupfish. Other presentations focused on a broad range of studies, including projects by Nye County, Nevada to better understand dynamics of groundwater flow in shallow aquifers immediately down gradient from Yucca Mountain. Inyo County, California reported on its projects involving a deep well drilling program and chemistry of groundwater and springs in the Death Valley and Amargosa Desert areas. U.S. Geological Survey researchers presented information on groundwater models of the Death Valley flow system and how the models may be refined and enhanced in the future. Two presentations by attorneys focused on the legal aspects of the water right in Devils Hole and the implications of the entire Devils Hole-related case involving federal and state water resource issues and an endangered species. 
The workshop concluded with a field trip to examine geologic and hydrogeologic features of interest in the Keane Wonder Mine and Monarch Canyon areas of the northern Funeral Mountains, and volcanic strata in Grapevine Canyon from near Scotty’s Castle to the eastern park boundary.
|
DVNHA News 
