ESA Species And Groundwater

Groundwater-dependent ecosystems often have unusual hydrologic and chemical properties that differ from nearby surface water-driven aquatic ecosystems. These unique conditions result in freshwater ecosystems that are distinct from surrounding ecosystems, and often include rare and endemic species. Despite this general understanding of the relationships between groundwater and the species that inhabit groundwater-dependent ecosystems, the extent of rare and endemic species’ reliance on groundwater has not been quantified. To address this gap, we surveyed the habitat requirements of more than 1700 species with status under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, to identify those species that rely on groundwater for all or some part of their life cycle. We found that 291 ESA-listed species are groundwater dependent, which constitutes 17% of all listed species. When considering invertebrates alone, that number rises to 26%.