Grand Canyon Wilderness Character Narrative and Baseline Monitoring Assessment Building Blocks for Wilderness Stewardship
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National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Grand Canyon Wilderness Character Narrative and Baseline Monitoring Assessment Building Blocks for Wilderness Stewardship Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR—2019/2003 “I hope the United States of America is not so rich that she can afford to let these wildernesses pass by, or so poor she cannot afford to keep them.” – Margaret Murie ONCalifornia THIS PAGE condor (NPS/MICHAEL QUINN). California condor (NPS/MICHAEL QUINN) ON THE COVER Sunset over the Grand Canyon wilderness observed from the Grandview Trail (NPS/TOBIAS NICKEL) Grand Canyon Wilderness Character Narrative and Baseline Monitoring Assessment Building Blocks for Wilderness Stewardship Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR—2019/2003 Tobias Nickel National Park Service Grand Canyon National Park Grand Canyon, Arizona American Conservation Experience Flagstaff, Arizona September 2018 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are 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 comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. 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 manner. This report received formal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data, and whose background and expertise put them on par technically and scientifically with the authors of the information. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report 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 U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from Grand Canyon National Park and the Natural Resource Publications Management website. If you have difficulty accessing information in this publication, particularly if using assistive technology, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Nickel, T. 2019. Grand Canyon wilderness character narrative and baseline monitoring assessment: Building blocks for wilderness stewardship. Natural Resource Report NPS/GRCA/NRR— 2019/XXX. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 113/163190, September 2019 ii Prepared by: Tobias Nickel, Wilderness Fellow Date Grand Canyon National Park / American Conservation Experience Recommended by: Mike Kearsley, Biologist / Acting Wilderness Coordinator Date Grand Canyon National Park Jeanne Calhoun, Chief of Science & Resource Management Date Grand Canyon National Park Approved by: Sarah Creachbaum, Acting Superintendent Date Grand Canyon National Park iii Dedication This publication is dedicated to all past, present, and future defenders of wilderness. Your efforts safeguard the Earth’s wild treasures from our species’ most destructive tendencies and demonstrate that humility and restraint are possible in an age of overconsumption and unfettered development. I also dedicate it to all those who venture responsibly into the Grand Canyon wilderness – may you find the inspiration, solitude, and tranquility that you seek. “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” – John Muir, Our National Parks “Wilderness preservation is a gesture of planetary modesty and a badly needed exercise of restraint on the part of a species notorious for its excesses.” – Roderick Frazier Nash, Wilderness and the American Mind iv Contents Page Dedication ............................................................................................................................................. iv Contents ................................................................................................................................................. v Figures................................................................................................................................................... ix Tables ..................................................................................................................................................... x Appendices ........................................................................................................................................... xii Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................xiii Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................... xiv Defining Wilderness Character .............................................................................................................. 1 Untrammeled .................................................................................................................................. 2 Natural ............................................................................................................................................ 2 Undeveloped ................................................................................................................................... 2 Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation .......................................................................... 2 Other Features of Value .................................................................................................................. 2 Wilderness Stewardship in the National Park Service ........................................................................... 4 Introduction to the Grand Canyon Wilderness ...................................................................................... 6 Historical and Administrative Setting of the Grand Canyon Wilderness ....................................... 7 History of Wilderness Planning and Management at Grand Canyon ............................................. 9 Grand Canyon Wilderness Units .................................................................................................. 12 Unit 1, Grand Wash Cliffs ....................................................................................................... 12 Unit 2, Western Park ............................................................................................................... 14 Unit 3, Eastern Park ................................................................................................................. 14 Unit 4, Navajo Indian Properties ............................................................................................. 14 Wilderness Character Narrative ........................................................................................................... 16 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 16 Untrammeled Quality ................................................................................................................... 17 Natural Quality ............................................................................................................................. 23 v Contents (continued) Page Undeveloped Quality .................................................................................................................... 28 Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Quality ........................................................... 30 Other Features of Value Quality ................................................................................................... 33 Cultural Resources................................................................................................................... 33 Cave Resources ....................................................................................................................... 38 Scientific Value ....................................................................................................................... 40 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 42 Wilderness Character Baseline Monitoring Assessment ..................................................................... 43 Wilderness Character Monitoring Measures ...............................................................................