Effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California

Groundwater pumping significantly impacts the sustainability of mountain wetland complexes, as demonstrated in Yosemite National Park. The study found that pumping can lower water tables to critical levels by mid-summer in dry years with low snowpack, threatening fen vegetation. Conversely, higher snow water equivalent (SWE) and later melting snowpack mitigate these effects. Predictive modeling revealed that even modest reductions in pumping could restore water table elevations, suggesting a viable strategy for wetland conservation. The research highlights the delicate balance between groundwater extraction and ecological stability, emphasizing the need to tailor pumping schedules to seasonal conditions.

Cooper, D. J., Wolf, E. C., Ronayne, M. J., & Roche, J. W. (2015). Effects of groundwater pumping on the sustainability of a mountain wetland complex, Yosemite National Park, California. Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, 3, 87–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2014.10.002