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SPRINGS STEWARDSHIP INSTITUTE

Flagstaff, AZ · EIN 852866689 · Form 990 · FY2022 · NTEE U50 · Science & Technology · Small ($100K-$1M) · springstewardshipinstitute.org
revenue
$377K
expenses
$313K
net assets
$82K
employees
6
program ratio
88%
mission · from form 990

Our mission is to promote and improve scientific understanding and stewardship of springs ecosystems. We pursue this mission through research, sharing information, stewardship, and collaboration. Through our collaborative approach to springs stewardship, we work closely with individuals and organizations with similar goals to plan and conduct springs research and disseminate the results. We provide information, trainings, advisement, tools, and expertise, both directly and electronically, to interested springs stewards. With the goal of reaching a broad and inclusive audience, we conduct outreach and education by publishing our findings and providing lectures and other presentations. We provide advisement and assistance to agencies conducting restoration or other management activities that promote the ecological care of springs. These strategies are designed to advance sustainable ecological stewardship of springs ecosystems for the benefit of nature and humanity.

profile · synthesized from sources

SPRINGS STEWARDSHIP INSTITUTE is a research and operational organization focused on the study, conservation, and restoration of springs ecosystems. They develop classification systems and protocols for springs, conduct inventories and assessments, and manage a comprehensive database. The institute partners with government agencies and other nonprofits across the Western United States to inform sustainable management practices.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2022

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $18K
    SSI developed and hosts Springs Online at springsdata.org. This online relational database contains information about 156,278 springs, primarily across the western United States. Data includes flow, water chemistry, vegetation, invertebrates, vertebrates, geomorphology, georeferencing, and images. It offers robust reporting capacity with downloads to Excel, Word, and GIS files. It also includes a spatial module that allows users to upload boundaries, apply various basemaps, and symbolize data. The database provides free access to 1,530 users - students, researchers, landowners, agencies, tribes, and other nonprofit organizations.
  2. #2 $1K
    SSI provides educational material, training, and tools for the general public, students, researchers, landowners, agencies, tribes, and other nonprofit organizations. We provide protocols, general information about springs, a user guide for the online database, images, and a dichotomous key to identify springs types. In 2021 due to Covid, most of this information was made available through our website at SpringStewardshipInstitute.org, and through 30+ online meetings and trainings.
named programs · 12 · from sources

what they call their work

Bears Ears National Monument Springs Inventory
Fieldwork to inventory and map springs within Dark Canyon, Grand Gulch, and Armstrong Canyon priority watersheds in Bears Ears National Monument, Utah.
Cuyama Basin Springs Inventories
Conducting springs inventories within the Cuyama Basin of central California to document the ecological need for groundwater at these springs to inform groundwater adjudication processes.
Escalante Ranch Springs Inventories
Conducting springs inventories on Escalante Ranch in Colorado to document springs contributing to Escalante Creek and the Gunnison River, and identifying rare species.
Grand Canyon Springs Ecological Inventories
Conducting ecological inventories of springs in the Grand Canyon and creating outreach materials for river guides, outfitters, and visitors, including a field guide to butterflies.
Kaibab National Forest Springs Documentation and Restoration
Documenting springs, studying impacts of thinning and controlled burns, and assisting with identifying springs for restoration, such as elk fencing at Big Spring.
Nevada Springs Inventory
Compiling and refining information about under-studied springs, conducting inventories and assessments, and contributing to understanding the distribution and status of springs-dependent species in Nevada.
Springs Ecological Assessment Protocol (SEAP)
A management tool designed to facilitate improved management practices for springs ecosystems.
Springs Ecosystem Classification
Development and refinement of a consistent and comprehensive classification system and dichotomous key for springs types, published in Ecological Applications.
Springs Inventory Protocol (SIP)
A management tool designed to facilitate improved management practices for springs ecosystems.
Springs Online
A data management system providing a framework for survey data including geomorphology, soils, geology, flora, fauna, water quality, and site condition, accessible to land managers.
Springs Restoration
Collaboration with partners on projects to rehabilitate and restore impaired springs ecosystems, such as Pakoon Springs and culturally significant springs with the Hopi Tribe and Kaibab National Forest.
Verde Watershed Springs Mapping and Inventory
Mapping and inventorying headwater springs that provide critical baseflow to the Verde River's tributaries in Arizona, including collaboration with citizen scientists.
activities · 4 clusters

what they do

  • Springs Ecosystem Inventory & Assessment 15 activities
    • Conduct Ecological Research on Springs
      Documents 20-25% of regional plant species and identifies aquatic and riparian invertebrate and vertebrate species endemic to specific springs during surveys, having documented over 1,000 springs-dependent species. Also refined 12 springs types and published a dichotomous key.
    • Conduct Ecological Research on Springs
      Documents 20-25% of regional plant species and identifies aquatic and riparian invertebrate and vertebrate species endemic to specific springs during surveys. Has documented over 1,000 springs-dependent species and refined 12 springs types, publishing a dichotomous key in "Ecological Applications" in 2021.
    • Conduct Regional Springs Mapping and Inventory Projects
      Conducts fieldwork to map and inventory springs in specific regions, including Dark Canyon, Grand Gulch, and Armstrong Canyon within Bears Ears National Monument, Utah, and headwater springs in the Verde watershed, Arizona, to understand their contribution to the Verde River's baseflow. Also documents springs around Williams and on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, and assists with identifying springs for restoration.
    • Conduct Regional Springs Mapping and Inventory Projects
      Conducts fieldwork to map and inventory springs in specific regions, including Dark Canyon, Grand Gulch, and Armstrong Canyon within Bears Ears National Monument, Utah, and headwater springs in the Verde watershed, Arizona. Also documents springs around Williams and on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona, and assists with identifying springs for restoration.
    • Conduct Research on Springs Ecology and Biodiversity
      Documents regional plant species and identifies aquatic and riparian invertebrate and vertebrate species endemic to specific springs during surveys, having documented over 1,000 springs-dependent species. The organization also refines springs types and publishes research findings.
    • Conduct Springs Inventory and Assessment Surveys
      Conducts Level 1 surveys to collect georeference data, access directions, photographs, and high-level site descriptions, and Level 2 surveys using the Springs Inventory Protocol (SIP) and Springs Ecological Assessment Protocol (SEAP) to detail physical and biological characteristics, assess site condition, and identify risks to spring ecosystems. Data collected is entered into Springs Online.
    • Conduct Springs Inventory and Assessment Surveys
      Conducts Level 1 and Level 2 surveys of springs, including brief site visits for georeference data and high-level descriptions, and detailed physical and biological characteristic assessments using the Springs Inventory Protocol (SIP) and Springs Ecological Assessment Protocol (SEAP) to understand distribution, condition, and risks to spring ecosystems. This includes fieldwork in specific regions like Bears Ears National Monument, the Verde watershed, and around Williams and the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
    • Develop Springs Management Protocols and Handbooks
      Developed the Springs Inventory Protocol (SIP) and Springs Ecological Assessment Protocol (SEAP) to improve management practices for springs ecosystems. Also developed a comprehensive restoration handbook in partnership with Sky Island Alliance, a general outline for springs restoration, and authored the Nevada Springs Restoration Guide in coordination with the Nevada Springs Restoration Committee.
    • Develop Springs Management Protocols and Handbooks
      Developed the Springs Inventory Protocol (SIP) and Springs Ecological Assessment Protocol (SEAP) to improve management practices for springs ecosystems, and created comprehensive restoration handbooks and general outlines for springs restoration for public and government agency use, including the Nevada Springs Restoration Guide.
    • Develop Springs Restoration Handbooks and Strategies
      Develops comprehensive restoration handbooks and general outlines for springs restoration, including a partnership with Sky Island Alliance for an Arizona-focused handbook and coordination with the Nevada Springs Restoration Committee for the Nevada Springs Restoration Guide. The organization also assists in developing and evaluating conservation strategies for species like springsnails.
    • Develop and Deliver Springs Management Protocols and Training
      Develops protocols such as the Springs Inventory Protocol (SIP) and Springs Ecological Assessment Protocol (SEAP) to improve management practices for springs ecosystems. The organization also leads multi-day Springs Inventory and Assessment Workshops and hosts webinars to provide guidance to land managers, researchers, and students.
    • Operate and Maintain Springs Online Database
      Operates Springs Online, a web-based data portal and database that centralizes and provides geological, physical, biological, and socio-cultural information on springs globally, allowing for the entry, retrieval, and analysis of springs inventory data.
    • Operate and Maintain Springs Online Database
      Operates Springs Online, a web-based data portal and database that centralizes geological, physical, biological, and socio-cultural information on springs globally, offering a user-friendly interface for entering, retrieving, and analyzing springs inventory data to support research and stewardship.
    • Support Springsnail Conservation
      Assisted the Springsnail Conservation Team in developing the Conservation Strategy for Springsnails in Utah and Nevada and continues to annually evaluate the status of springsnail species using an adaptive management framework.
    • Support Springsnail Conservation
      Assisted the Springsnail Conservation Team in developing the Conservation Strategy for Springsnails in Utah and Nevada and continues to assist annually in evaluating the status of springsnail species using an adaptive management framework.
  • Spring and Pond Ecosystem Restoration 1 activity
    • Participate in Springs Restoration Projects
      Participated in a project to restore two culturally significant springs ecosystems, engaging Hopi youth, elders, and cultural resources managers.
  • Environmental Monitoring & Data Mapping 1 activity
    • Provide Springs Inventory and Assessment Training
      Leads multi-day Springs Inventory and Assessment Workshops that combine classroom sessions with practical field application, and hosts workshops and webinars to provide guidance to land managers, researchers, and students on springs management practices.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Participate in Springs Ecosystem Restoration Projects
      Participates in projects to restore culturally significant springs ecosystems, engaging local communities and cultural resources managers, and assists with identifying springs for restoration efforts such as the installation of elk fencing.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$377K
Contributions & grants$72K19%
Program service revenue$305K81%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$313K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead11%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$239K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$114K
Cash$49K
Investments$0
Liabilities$32K
Net assets$82K
Liquid reserves1.9 mo
2 years on record · 2021–2022 · YoY revenue +243.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Lawrence E Stevens Director 30 $47K
Jeri Ledbetter Program Manager 40 $43K
board members · 2
  • Christopher McDonald — Trustee
  • Joel Barnes — Trustee
relationships · 20

who they work with

  • BLM Colorado Partner — Partnered in 2024 and 2025 to conduct springs inventories on Escalante Ranch.
  • BLM Utah Partner — Partnered since 2023 to map springs in Bears Ears National Monument.
  • Friends of Nevada Wilderness Partner — Joined SSI for a training in the Spring Mountains, NV
  • Friends of the Verde River Partner — Collaborates with citizen scientists to conduct ecological monitoring of springs in the Verde watershed.
  • Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association Funder — Received funding to conduct ecological inventories of springs and create outreach materials in the Grand Canyon.
  • Grand Canyon Wildlands Council Partner — Collaborated with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Grand Canyon Wildlands Council in the rehabilitation of Pakoon Springs.
  • Hopi Tribe Partner — Participated in a co-stewardship partnership with the Hopi Tribe and Kaibab National Forest for spring restoration.
  • Kaibab National Forest Partner — Participated in a co-stewardship partnership with the Hopi Tribe and Kaibab National Forest for spring restoration.
  • Kaibab National Forest Partner — Partnered since 2011 to document springs and assist with restoration efforts.
  • Los Padres National Forest Partner — Partnered in 2024 to conduct springs inventories within the Cuyama Basin of central California.
  • Nevada Natural Heritage Program Partner — Working with since 2018 to compile and refine information about under-studied springs in Nevada.
  • Nevada Springs Restoration Committee Partner — Coordinated with the Nevada Springs Restoration Committee to author the Nevada Springs Restoration Guide.
  • Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Funder — Received grants in 2023 and 2025 to support work in the Verde watershed.
  • Sky Island Alliance Partner — Developed a comprehensive restoration handbook in partnership with Sky Island Alliance.
  • Springs Online Partner — Enters collected survey data into Springs Online.
  • Springsnail Conservation Team Partner — Assisted in developing and evaluating the Conservation Strategy for Springsnails.
  • The Nature Conservancy Partner — Partnered in 2024 and 2025 to conduct springs inventories on Escalante Ranch.
  • The Nature Conservancy Partner — Signed the Springsnail Conservation Agreement in 2018.
  • US Environmental Protection Agency Partner — Working with since 2018 to compile and refine information about under-studied springs in Nevada.
  • USFS Partner — Joined SSI for a training in the Spring Mountains, NV