13-3 Remote monitoring regional Ecohydrological responses to the Dragon Bravo fire in Grand Canyon National Park

Session: Hazards and Resources Mapping in the Southwest US: Applications and Future Opportunities

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Abstract:

Characterizing the response of groundwater to wildfires in the southwestern US is paramount for understanding related water resource responses. The Dragon Bravo fire burned from 4 July to 28 September 2025, impacting more than 140,000 acres of the Kaibab Plateau, situated on the north rim of Grand Canyon National Park and the adjoining Kaibab National Forest. Springs draining the North Rim are the principal source of water for the Transcanyon Waterline, supplying water for all NPS operations, and for important aquatic ecosystems. To monitor the impact of the Dragon Bravo fire on Grand Canyon water resources, In-Situ brand satellite telemetry water quality sondes have been installed at three spring sites known to be fed by the Kaibab Plateau hydrogeological system. Each gauge monitors pertinent hydrological parameters for assessing water quality and water quantity. Two distinct karst aquifers make up the broader North Rim hydrological system, the upper Coconino aquifer and lower Redwall-Mauv aquifer. Instrumentation has been placed at Robbers Roost Spring, an upper Coconino aquifer site, and Roaring Springs and Bright Angel Creek, both lower Redwall Mauv aquifer sites. Real time hydrologic monitoring provides opportunities for remote aquifer analysis and rapid response on the part of resource managers. Satellite telemetry enables continuous data delivery for the remote study sites and responses to the Dragon Bravo fire. The research improves the current understanding of hydrogeological processes on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and the broader understanding of karst aquifers in arid and semi-arid regions. Findings from this research will assist National Park Service resource management in the Grand Canyon and provide a framework for studying and interpreting the impacts of wildfires on similar aquifer systems in the southwestern US.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 4, 2026

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026RM-11705

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