Gaging Station Data and Reports - Death Valley National Park, Devils Hole #362532116172701, 1990-2016

Devils Hole is a collapsed depression in limestone hills adjacent to the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge that contains a warm-water pool about 15 meters below land surface. The pool is home to a unique species of desert pupfish Cyprinodon Diabolis that is listed as endangered. The population feeds and reproduces on a slightly submerged rock ledge. In 1952, a 16.2 hectare tract of land containing Devils Hole was incorporated into the Death Valley National Monument as a detached management area. The area is currently a part of Death Valley National Park. In the late 1960's and early 1970's irrigation pumping in Ash Meadows lowered the Devils Hole pool level and the pupfish were threatened with extinction. In 1973 the U.S. District Court granted a preliminary injunction from pumping that would lower the pool level more than 0.91 meters below the datum. The injunction was made permanent by the U.S. District Court and upon appeal the Supreme Court affirmed the lower court decision. In 1978 the U.S. District Court issued a permanent injunction to limit pumping to maintain a daily mean water level of 0.82 meters below the datum based on scientific studies. Water levels recovered in response to reduction and ultimately to cessation of pumping in Ash Meadows. By 1988 the pool level had recovered to about 0.3 meters below the pre-pumping level when it began to decline again. Concerns were raised that in the intermediate to long-term future the pool level would fall below the court mandated minimum level. Principle potential stresses causing long-term stage changes are considered to be regional ground-water pumping and changes in recharge. Water levels are measured in the pool on a continuous basis to monitor trends in water levels and to protect the endangered pupfish.

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  "010:24"
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[
  "https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/1049219"
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  "Generic Dataset"
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