Groundwater: Nevada's Hidden Resource
A story map and database show the locations and importance of the state's groundwater.
With an average of less than 10 inches of rainfall each year, Nevada is the nation’s driest state. However, underground water supplements rainfall to enable incredible biodiversity in Nevada. The Silver State has the 11th highest biodiversity in the U.S., with more than 300 species found nowhere else in the world.
World Water Day is March 22, and 2022 is the year of groundwater. Here in Nevada and around the world, groundwater is a precious resource, as it supports our ecosystems and communities. Most of the world's liquid freshwater is groundwater, which supports clean drinking water, farming, ecosystems, industries and more, and is essential for helping us adapt to climate change. Celebrate World Water Day with us by learning more about Nevada's groundwater-dependent ecosystems.
World Water Day is March 22
Celebrate by learning more about the world's groundwater and why it matters.
Learn More![A map of groundwater depended ecosystems in Nevada. Markers are at Soldier Meadows, Carson River at River Fork Ranch, and Crystal Spring at Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/graphics/general/GDE-Map.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2551%2C1694&wid=828&hei=550&scl=3.0809178743961354)
Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems
The precious underground water resources in The Silver State are increasingly being tapped, with about half of Nevada’s 256 administrative groundwater basins being over-appropriated. Because surface water is scarce, many of Nevada’s native species depend on groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs), which are natural communities that rely on groundwater for all or part of their water needs. GDEs provide important resources for plants and animals and are critical sources of drinking water, recreation and economic benefit for Nevada’s people.
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iGDEs Story Map
The Indicators of Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems (iGDEs) database provides information about Nevada's groundwater resources and the ecosystems they support. Explore
iGDE Story Map and Database
TNC scientists developed the Indicators of Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems (iGDEs) database, a publicly available electronic resource that reveals critical sources of water hidden below the soil surface in Nevada. The mobile-friendly database is a visual and spatial illustration of the state’s GDEs, their various types, their distinctive features, and species dependent on them. Users can click to see examples of GDEs and species, learn definitions of various terms and more. Presented through an interactive, user-friendly story map, the database is intended to provide Nevadans with in-depth, relevant, easy-to-understand facts about where the state’s groundwater dependent ecosystems are located and why they’re important.
The Nevada Department of Wildlife hosts the database on its website as part of a mutually beneficial partnership that we hope will engage individuals, state agencies and private entities in using the information to improve land- and water-management practices. Inspired by California’s iGDE database, the Nevada iGDE database drew upon the best available data from TNC in Nevada, as well as the LANDFIRE Program, the Desert Research Institute in Reno, the NNHP and the Spring Stewardship Institute's Springs Online resource. This database is the first of its kind to contain extensive Nevada GDE information from all these sources. Data are current as of June 2019.
Nevada's Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems
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>40%
of Nevada's 300+ endemic species rely on GDEs
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2M
acres of Nevada (3% of the state) is wetlands
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600,000
acres of habitat are supported by Nevada's rivers & streams
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>25,000
springs are found in Nevada
Quote: Laurel Saito
Though it's not always visible, groundwater is essential for people and nature in Nevada. We must work together to protect and sustainably manage this precious hidden resource.
Next Steps in Groundwater Science
TNC scientists are currently completing an assessment of stressors and threats to Nevada's GDEs, with the ultimate goal of identifying ways to protect them. A report on stressors and threats will be available in spring 2022.
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![A blue pond in the desert with trees on the shoreline.](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/j/7/J7Ranch_NV.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C1600%2C600&wid=3200&hei=1200&scl=0.5)
Why Groundwater Matters
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/v/i/Vivid-Dancer-Damselfly.jpg?crop=0%2C57%2C1818%2C1136&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.1085365853658538)
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/u/Turtle-Family-River-Fork-Ranch.jpg?crop=0%2C322%2C3683%2C2301&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.245731707317073)
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/a/s/Ash_Meadows_Crystal_Spring_1.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C1280%2C800&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=0.7804878048780488)
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/m/a/Maggie-Creek.jpg?crop=0%2C85%2C4000%2C2500&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.4390243902439024)
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/d/e/Desert_Bighorn_NPS_Andrew_Cattoir_1640x1025.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C1640%2C1025&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.0)
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/8/9/8965513865_1c65c8ebb6_o.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2500&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.4390243902439024)
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/n/v/NV-American-White-Pelican.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2959%2C1849&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.8042682926829268)
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/b/o/BoyDrinkingWater.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2500&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.4390243902439024)
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/n/e/Nevada-springsnails.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2816%2C1760&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.7170731707317073)
![](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/r/Truckee-River-angler.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C1582%2C989&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=0.9648780487804878)
![Vivid dancer damselfly Aquatic insects like the damselfly use GDEs for part of their life cycle. © Janel Johnson/Nevada Natural Heritage Program](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/v/i/Vivid-Dancer-Damselfly.jpg?crop=0%2C57%2C1818%2C1136&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.1085365853658538)
![Turtles at River Fork Ranch The Western Pond Turtle lives in northwest Nevada in perennial water bodies, which are fed by groundwater, like the Truckee and Carson Rivers or nearby ponds. © Doug Dill](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/u/Turtle-Family-River-Fork-Ranch.jpg?crop=0%2C322%2C3683%2C2301&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.245731707317073)
![Crystal Spring at Ash Meadows Ash Meadows, a GDE, is a biodiversity hotspot, supporting more than 30 plants and animals that don't exist anywhere else in the United States. © Stan Shebs](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/a/s/Ash_Meadows_Crystal_Spring_1.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C1280%2C800&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=0.7804878048780488)
![Maggie Creek Perennial streams like Maggie Creek flow year-round because of groundwater inputs. © Jacob Burdick](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/m/a/Maggie-Creek.jpg?crop=0%2C85%2C4000%2C2500&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.4390243902439024)
![Bighorn Sheep Because of the arid nature of Nevada, many mammals use of groundwater sources when they are available. © Andrew Cattoir/NPS](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/d/e/Desert_Bighorn_NPS_Andrew_Cattoir_1640x1025.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C1640%2C1025&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.0)
![Lahontan Cutthroat Trout Nevada has many native and endemic fish species thanks to its geologic history and isolated waterbodies. Nevada’s perennial streams and lakes support native fish like the LCT. © Simon Williams/TNC](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/8/9/8965513865_1c65c8ebb6_o.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2500&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.4390243902439024)
![American white pelican Nevada's wetlands are critical stops for migrating birds as places to rest and forage. Pelicans are one of many bird species that depend on GDEs. © Simon Williams/TNC](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/n/v/NV-American-White-Pelican.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2959%2C1849&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.8042682926829268)
![Clean drinking water Groundwater helps provide clean drinking water for our communities. © Michael D-L Jordan/dlp](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/b/o/BoyDrinkingWater.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C4000%2C2500&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.4390243902439024)
![Springsnails Wet systems support freshwater snails that occur in springs, or springsnails. Over 100 of these species have been documented in Nevada, many of which occur in only one spring. © Courtesy Laurel Saito](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/n/e/Nevada-springsnails.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2816%2C1760&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.7170731707317073)
![Angler on the Truckee River Nevada's groundwater dependent ecosystems support people too, and our favorite outdoor recreational activities and economies. © Chip Carroon/TNC](https://natureconservancystage-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/r/Truckee-River-angler.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C1582%2C989&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=0.9648780487804878)