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Chihuahuan Desert Network Vital Signs Monitoring Plan National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Chihuahuan Desert Network Vital Signs Monitoring Plan Natural Resource Report NPS/CHDN/NRR—2010/188 ON THE COVER Clockwise from upper left to bottom right: Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Fort Davis National Historic Site, Big Bend National Park, White Sands National Monument (by Pete Mananen), Amistad National Recreation Area. NPS photos unless otherwise noted. Chihuahuan Desert Network Vital Signs Monitoring Plan Natural Resource Report NPS/CHDN/NRR—2010/188 National Park Service Chihuahuan Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network Genesis C Building New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM 88003 April 2010 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Program Center publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manne. This report received formal, high-level peer review based on the importance of its content, or its potentially controversial or precedent-setting nature. Peer review was conducted by highly qualified individuals with subject area technical expertise and was overseen by a peer review manager. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the National Park Service. This report is available from the Chihuahuan Desert Network, http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/chdn/, and the Natural Resource Publications Management website, http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM. Please cite this publication as: National Park Service, Chihuahuan Desert Inventory and Monitoring Network. 2010. Chihuahuan Desert Network vital signs monitoring plan. Natural Resource Report NPS/CHDN/NRR—2010/188. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 960/101911, April 2010 ii In Memory DR. WILLIAM “BILL” H. REID November 11, 1933–May 11, 2006 This plan is dedicated to Bill Reid, our friend and colleague. Bill played an integral role in the early stages of the Chihuahuan Desert Network I&M program, leading the biological inventory field efforts for several years and serving as the first network program manager and data manager of this fledgling program. Bill significantly contributed to the Phase I report by writing the Climate Summary Report of CHDN park units and the Phase I Water Quality Assessment report, despite being seriously ill during those months. Bill’s contributions laid the foundation for future work and direction of the network. Bill always had a love for education and adventure, as evidenced in his life experiences. Though Bill was known by his National Park Service colleagues as a talented and dedicated ecologist, this was a career move he undertook later in life. Bill was first involved with designing rockets in the Apollo space program for NASA. Bill was also a prolific writer, having published hundreds of articles and papers, as well as several novels. His enthusiasm and unwavering dedication for his work, the natural world, and to his friends and family were an inspiration for everyone he encountered. Bill taught us never to believe in first impressions, and to always give your colleagues and friends the benefit of the doubt. He understood the meaning of friendship. Bill is sorely missed. iii Contents Figures ........................................................................................................................................................ix Tables..........................................................................................................................................................xi Acronyms..................................................................................................................................................xiii Executive Summary.................................................................................................................................. xv Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................xix Chapter 1: Introduction ..............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background .........................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Guidance.............................................................................................................................................2 1.2.1 Goals of vital signs monitoring in the Chihuahuan Desert Network.............................................2 1.2.2 Legislation, policy and guidance..................................................................................................3 1.2.3 Park-specific enabling legislation.................................................................................................4 1.2.4 The Government Performance and Results Act..........................................................................4 1.3 Overview and Ecological Characteristics of the Chihuahuan Desert Network ...................................5 1.3.1 Ecoregions encompassing CHDN parks .....................................................................................5 1.3.2 Climate.........................................................................................................................................7 1.3.3 Elevation, landform, and soils......................................................................................................8 1.3.4 Water and hydrology..................................................................................................................10 1.3.5 Flora and plant communities......................................................................................................11 1.3.6 Fauna.........................................................................................................................................13 1.3.7 Ecosystems of CHDN park units................................................................................................14 1.4 Park Natural Resources Issues and Management Concerns...........................................................19 1.4.1 Issues identified in park interviews and network scoping ..........................................................19 1.4.2 General management plans and resource stewardship strategies ...........................................20 1.4.3 State comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy..................................................................20 1.4.4 Vital signs monitoring in Mexico.................................................................................................20 1.5 Designing an Integrated Monitoring Program for the Chihuahuan Desert Network .........................21 1.5.1 CHDN approach to vital signs monitoring..................................................................................22 1.6 Summary of Current Monitoring Within and Surrounding the Network.............................................23 1.6.1 Air quality monitoring .................................................................................................................24 1.6.2 Water resources monitoring.......................................................................................................26 Chapter 2: Conceptual Models ................................................................................................................27 2.1 Conceptual Models ...........................................................................................................................27 2.2 Conceptual Model Approach.............................................................................................................27 2.3 Summary of Conceptual Models for Six Chihuahuan Desert Network Ecosystems.........................30 2.3.1 Desert Ecosystem......................................................................................................................30 2.3.2 Foothill Ecosystem.....................................................................................................................37 2.3.3 Montane Ecosystem ..................................................................................................................41 2.3.4 Reservoir Ecosystem .................................................................................................................45 2.3.5 River
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