Quest for Water -- Big Bend NP TX - Flora and Fauna Information Signs on Waymarking.com

This particular sign discusses the scarcity of water and wildlife strategies for obtaining it in the Chisos Mountains.

The sign reads as follows:

"QUEST FOR WATER

Getting water here is a challenge for both wildlife and humans. Though the Chisos Mountains received 2 to 3 times as much rainfall as the desert, most of it evaporates or is taken up by plants. The remainder runs down oak creek and through the window, where it falls 200 feet to the desert and oak spring, the domestic water source for the basin. During drought periods when spring flow is low we take up to 75 percent of the springs output for our use. Every drop will use means there is less water available for plants and animals downstream.

Water often pools at the end of the window trail, just above the pouroff.

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Animals like this javelina must get their water from their food or travel long distances to find it.

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Flowing water is rare in the desert and supports delicate riparian ecosystems like the one at Oak Creek, above."

Visit Instructions:
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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   12/25/2016 Benchmark Blasterz visited it