Dead spring flowing: Witnessing loss of the Churince system

Authors: Evan W. Carson

Year: 2011 (xliii)

Abstract

The Churince system was formerly a microcosm of the biotic and habitat diversity in the Cuatro Cienegas basin, Mexico. At ~3km long, Churince contained a headspring, rio, marshes, intermediate laguna, a diversity of peripheral habitats, and an expansive, terminal lake (Laguna Grande). Most but not all of the basin’s endemic and native fishes are known from this system, though at least two species appear extirpated due to recent deterioration of this system. Slow decline of Churince began after the mid-1960’s construction of Becerra irrigation canal; however, more recent, high volume groundwater water extraction in the adjacent Hundido Valley led to exceedingly rapid decline of Churince and at least one other system (to date) in the western basin. Photo-documentation that records transition from a vibrant system to effective loss will frame discussion.