Volume 16 –Number 3 National Park Service • U.S

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PARKARK P CIENCECIENCE SS Integrating Research and Resource Management

Volume 16 –Number 3 National Park Service • U.S. Department of the Interior Summer 1996

THE NATURAL RESOURCE TRAINEE PROGRAM: PROFESSIONALIZATION TRIUMPH OF THE 1980S AND EARLY 1990S

Who are they and where are they now? See the key on page 17 to identify these participants of the first Natural Resource Trainee Program and learn what they are up to now.

BY THE EDITOR imparting the skills. Regional office funding allowed parks to HE NEED TO ESTABLISH AND PROFES- send staff to the training and backfill behind them to take care sionalize science and resource management func- of unfinished park work. Other superintendents soon heard tions and apply them in the management of na- about the training opportunity and wanted to be a part of it. tional parks was recognized as early as the 1930s. Wauer then prioritized individual park needs, opting for placing Then, biologist George Wright published several resource management trainees at parks that formerly didn’t have Tpapers on wildlife management and made the clear connection any resource management expertise. between science and informed park resource management ac- The program went national in the early 1980s following pub- tivities. Yet, for the next 5 decades, resource management work lication of two different conservation organization reports on continued to be done mostly by park rangers who were trained threats to national parks and a response by the National Park primarily in law enforcement and other operational areas, not Service in the form of a state-of-the-parks report. Having a sur- necessarily in an applied science. In 1976, Bandelier National prisingly deep impact, the latter report prompted Congress to Monument Park Ranger John Lissoway, involved in park visi- direct the National Park Service to identify potential remedies tor protection training at the time, recognized the lack of a natu- to the threats it so capably identified. One of those remedies ral resource component to round out his training. Southwest was to train staff in professional resource management tech- Regional Chief of Resource Management Ro Wauer suggested niques and get them out to the parks with the greatest needs. a resource management training component be added. Called the Natural Resource Trainee Program, the initiative was Working within the scope of the IDP (Individual Develop- patterned after the pilot training efforts developed in the South- ment Plan) program—a NPS training needs and personnel de- west Region. Having moved to the Washington office, Wauer velopment tool—Lissoway and Bandelier Superintendent John became the primary coordinator for the new course along with Hunter identified park resource management needs and trans- the help of Southwest Regional Chief Scientist Milford Fletcher. lated them into concrete training requests. Each training need Seeking to place 30 trained resource managers in high priority was product oriented, bringing direct benefit to the park. To parks each time the course was offered, the first 2-year class achieve Lissoway’s natural resource training goals, they identi- began with 36 trainees in August, 1982 (see the key to the cover fied training advisors—often from other agencies, the private sec- photograph and Table 1 on page 17). tor, or universities—who would be the primary sources for Continued on page 16 PARK CIENCE S Integrating Research and Resource Management V o l u m e 1 6–No. 3 • Summer 1 9 9 6

PUBLISHED BY The National Park Service ONTENTSONTENTS U.S. Department of the Interior CC DIRECTOR Roger G. Kennedy ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, NAT U R A L RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP AND SCIENCE Michael Soukup DEPARTMENTS EDITOR D Jeff Selleck • Editorial...... 3 • News & Views ...... 3 EDITORIAL BOAR D C HAIR • Writing for Park Science ...... 5 Ron Hiebert Assistant Field Director for Natural Resources • Books in Profile ...... 7 Midwest Field Area • Highlights ...... 8 MEMBERS Gary E. Davis • Information Crossfile...... 10 NBS Marine Research Scientist Channel Islands National Park • MAB Notes ...... 12 John Dennis • Meetings of Interest ...... 32 Supervisory Biologist, Natural Systems Management Office Jon Jarvis Superintendent FEATURES Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve Elizabeth Johnson • The Natural Resource Trainee Program: Professionalization Chief, Research and Resource Planning Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Triumph of the 1980s and early 1990s ...... 1 • An Intensive Study of Desert Rock Pool Systems in Capitol FIELD AREA ADVISORS FOR Reef National Park...... 14 NATURAL RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP AND SCIENCE Alaska • Judy Gottlieb • Maintaining a Water Quality Monitoring Program at Sleep- Intermountain • Dan Huff Midwest • Ron Hiebert ing Bear Dunes ...... 19 National Capital • Bill Anderson Northeast • Bob McIntosh • Bald Eagle Research in the Apostle Islands National Southeast • Suzette Kimball Pacific-West • Bruce Kilgore Lakeshore ...... 22 • Leave No Trace Outdoor Skills and Ethics: An Educational Park Science (ISSN-0735-9462) is a quarterly science Solution for Reducing Visitor Impacts...... 24 and resource management bulletin that reports recent and ongoing natural and social science research, its im- • Turfgrass Research in Washington, D.C., Area National Parks plications for park planning and management, and its ...... 27 application in resource management. Content receives editorial review for completeness, clarity, usefulness, ba- • A Primer for Choosing and Maintaining Healthy Turf ...... 30 sic scientific soundness, and policy considerations—materials do not undergo refereed peer review. The bulletin is published in January, April, July, and October for distribution to interested parties. Visit Park Science on the World Wide Web at http://www.aqd.nps.gov/nrid/ parksci. Park Science accepts subscription donations from non- NPS readers. If you would like to help defray produc- IN THE NEXT ISSUE... tion costs, please consider donating $10 per subscription per year. Make check payable to the National Park Ser- This fall, we will take a look at the status of resource management for vice and send to the editor. lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) in northeastern parks; a process to The editor encourages submissions from all readers assess the condition of riparian and wetland areas; results from the Park and would especially like to stimulate resource managers to write for the Highlights column. See current sub- Science reader survey; accounts of new paleontological finds in two parks; mission guidelines on page 5. Contact the editor at: a new process for evaluating park construction proposals that benefit National Park Service natural resource preservation; property rights to genetic resources; and a Natural Resource Information Division P.O. Box 25287 review of the book, Wildlife Policies in the U.S. National Parks. Denver, CO 80225-0287 Phone (303) 969-2147 E-mail: [email protected] Printed on recycled paper

2 • P ARK S CIENCE N EWS &VIEWS ON BEING PREPARED As you may know, President Clinton recently an- 1982 to the present, Bryan pre- nounced a land swap between Canadian-held Crown Director Kennedy sided during an era of tremen- Butte Mines, Inc., and the federal government, effectively Honors Natural dous progress in coping with killing the proposed New World Mine near Yellowstone. Resource Stewards resource issues in Hawaiian Had it gone through, this project would have developed parks and expanded proactive an underground mining process to recover gold, silver, National Park Service Direc- management to parks through- and copper from a mountain near the park’s northeast tor Roger Kennedy recently an- out the Pacific. boundary. The controversial project had the potential for nounced the 1996 winners of “I am happy to accept this long-term contamination of Soda Butte Creek in Yellow– the prestigious Director’s award,” Harry stated, “because stone and also endangered the Clark’s Fork of the Award for Natural Resource it recognizes the accomplish- Yellowstone River, a federal wild and scenic river. Management. Given annually, ments of park crews and re- The high-level deal did not come by politics alone and the awards recognize and fos- source managers working with it did not come overnight. It was based on a steady ter outstanding contributions to the cooperative park studies stream of technical information and reasoned analysis natural resource management unit (CPSU) to mitigate the im- that has been flowing from scientists and resource and research. The honorees in- pacts of nonnative species in the managers to park administrators and political representa- clude a NPS park superinten- Pacific Island parks. The tives for several years. Certainly, the proposed mine was dent, a NPS resource manager, ‘mindset’ we changed was to in- also an emotional issue, but geologists, biologists, and a federal government sci- tegrate the work of resource hydrologists, and water resource specialists played the entist whose work supports managers, park crews, and the central role in making the scientifically based case park natural resource preserva- scientists at the CPSU. We also against the project. They even suggested the land swap. tion. The awards were pre- shifted our concept of measur- Not all threats facing parks are as prominent as this, yet sented at a ceremony in San ing success from how many the process to deal with them involves the application of Francisco in August. All win- alien animals we killed to bas- information gained through research. This relationship, ners received a plaque and a ing removal decisions and ef- the core of this publication, is illustrated throughout this $2,500 monetary award. forts on the overall impacts the issue in articles that span the continuum from document- nonnative species have on the ing park resources to resource manipulation. SUPERINTENDENT OF THE YEAR native populations. We have We cannot possibly predict all threats to the natural FOR NATURAL RESOURCE had some success, particularly resources in our care, but we can prepare for some as STEWARDSHIP with large mammals, but have Toben Lafrancois points out in his article on the diverse Bryan Harry, Superintendent lost the avifauna on Guam to a aquatic life in rock pools at Capitol Reef National Park. A of the Pacific Island System Sup- tree snake. Another difficult part of his study involved a resource inventory process, a port Office, is the recipient of area is fire-adapted nonnative fundamental building block for resource preservation that this award, which recognizes grasses.” Harry continued, “Ha- is the basis from which so many other resource activities innovative resource manage- waii may be providing the na- are based. We also need to be prepared to examine our ment and support by a NPS tional park system with a taste work critically from time to time and make midcourse superintendent. An outstanding of things to come. While island corrections. Laurel Last and Richard Whitman share leader, Bryan has demonstrated ecosystems are the first to feel suggestions on this subject in their examination of the an ability to protect and restore the severity of effects of nonna- water quality monitoring program at Sleeping Bear Dunes native ecosystems in Hawaii tive species, I think the main- National Lakeshore. Demonstrating the possibility of a and the Pacific islands during land will face the same strong marriage between science and interpretation, Jeff the last 25 years. His influence challenges in the future; the Marion and Susan Brame bring us up to date on the Leave has resulted in realistic pros- mainland is just a bigger island.” No Trace backcountry ethics education program that is pects for conserving highly sig- having success in minimizing impacts to wilderness. nificant vestiges of native Pacific NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGER OF If, as Louis Pasteur suggested, chance favors only the ecosystems. As Superintendent THE YEAR prepared mind, then nowhere is preparation more of Hawaii Volcanoes National Terry Hofstra was chosen for important than in our own workforce.Editorial As the lead article Park from 1970-1974, he and his his contributions in guiding the details, the Natural Resource Trainee Program was a staff changed the mindset in Redwood National and State successful investment in the future of NPS natural Hawaiian parks from accepting Parks resource management resource management. As a result of that course and a “inevitable” resource deteriora- staff as they forged important similar one just begun, we are continually preparing to tion to proactive management working relationships between handle future unknowns like the New World Mine. that reverses deterioration and neighbors, parks, and private restores biological diversity. entities. A leading proponent Upon returning to the islands as Pacific Area Director from Continued on page 4

S UMMER 1996 • 3 NEWS &VIEWS and facilitator of interagency into a cohesive, large-scale pro- cal Service Cooperative Park Island National Seashore, New and intra-agency and private gram that includes wildlife man- Studies Unit at the University York. In addition, Dr. Buckley sector cooperation, Terry has agement and planning. of Rhode Island, was recog- is still involved with investiga- helped the parks advance to- Redwood National and State nized for research and natural tions he initiated in the 1980s ward ecosystem management. Parks are home to the endan- resource preservation accom- concerning the interrelation- Using this approach, the parks gered Marbled Murrelet, an plishments that have greatly ships among waterbirds, includ- have been able to address a ocean-feeding bird that nests assisted the National Park Ser- ing Laughing Gulls in the broader range of issues over the atop old-growth trees. When an vice in achieving its preservation Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge past 6 years. Pleased to be rec- adjacent landowner recently goals. His personal research Unit of Gateway National Rec- ognized, Hofstra pointed out petitioned the U.S. Fish and program, leadership in many reation Area, and aircraft on the that “an award like this is an in- Wildlife Service for a permit to areas of natural resource pres- adjacent John F. Kennedy Inter- dication that the entire staff is log the remaining 564 acres of ervation, and influence on na- national Airport. Buckley also effective in working toward old-growth redwood from its tional preservation policy span began funding and doing some park preservation goals.” property, Hofstra, ironically, nearly 25 years in association of the first work on the ecology One of the largest resource foresaw the potential for long- with the National Park Service. and management of Piping Plo- management operations in the term benefit to the murrelets “Winning this award is ex- vers, an endangered eastern U.S. national park system, this staff within the park. By preparing a tremely satisfying, because my bird species that, thanks in large of more than 40 have concen- second-growth forest manage- colleagues and I have been very measure to NPS management trated on restoration activities, ment plan in the interim, the persistent over the years pursu- in coastal parks and seashores, including mitigating erosion, as parks are now poised to accept ing what we knew were critically is now making a comeback. He a result of logging. While 170 funds, mandated by the Endan- needed park research projects,” is quick to warn, however, that miles of logging roads within gered Species Act, to counter Buckley commented. “Nearly all “if we make poor decisions [re- the park have been restored habitat disruption from the log- of my own research,” he contin- garding uses of plover nesting under his leadership, an addi- ging company. If its request for ued, “has been management beaches], recovery could be set tional 3,000 miles of roads a permit is approved, the firm driven. I have been entranced, back in a hurry.” within the watershed have the would pay for thinning 10 acres captivated by great personal sat- While Dr. Buckley acknowl- potential to cause severe erosion of second-growth forest within isfaction from the successful ap- edges the importance of applied and damage to park resources the parks for every acre dis- plication of research results to research in meeting park man- downstream. Hofstra’s staff, in- turbed on private land. Thin- park management.” agement needs, he also observes cluding archeologists, fish and ning a second-growth forest Buckley enjoys tackling some that “there is tremendous need wildlife biologists, botanists, increases the speed by which of the most vexing research for much more site-specific in- ecologists, geologists, hydrolo- the woods return to old-growth, questions today—those that inventory and general ecosystem gists, fire specialists, and main- providing increased future habi- volve looking at the interplay research in our parks. Such re- tenance and administrative tat for murrelets. If this comes between various resource recre- search might not have obvious personnel, have slowly begun to to pass, Hofstra sees it as “a ation uses and their impacts on immediate application, but is garner the trust and interest of timely and much needed ex- the population numbers and nonetheless essential to the long- the neighboring private land- ample of the flexibility of the health of plants and animals. His term management of the natu- holders and have started to in- Endangered Species Act in pro- expertise in this regard is popu- ral resources under our care.” ventory the condition of the viding for endangered species lation biology of shorebirds and Moving away somewhat roads in the watershed. A mea- preservation while accommo- the biodiversity of birds through- from the kinds of projects he has sure of their progress is that the dating some commercial activi- out the northeastern national worked on over the last 25 park is now routinely invited to ties.” parks. His work typically results years, Buckley is currently in- review logging plans before they in providing information to man- volved in a massive, 5-year, are filed and is able to address RESEARCH agers who must make difficult multi-investigator study at Fire park concerns before logging or This award is given to the decisions about resource protec- Island quantifying, for the first other activities on adjacent pri- federal employee who has tion and visitor use. time, the relative roles of migra- vate lands begin. To aid in com- made the most significant sci- Working as a shorebird ecol- tory and resident birds, deer, munication between the entific contribution to the NPS ogist in the late 1970s, Buckley small mammals, and ticks, in the partner parks, Hofstra has also natural resource program assisted the National Park Ser- ecology of Lyme disease. Here, helped arrange for a full-time through the development of vice in gaining colonial water- too, he has succeeded in main- state parks resource manager to creative research projects, pub- bird and Piping Plover habitat taining that elusive, but critical be integrated into the operation. lished research, or the initiation protection in the face of numer- mixture of research that is at Hofstra has also applied the of science programs. Dr. Paul A. ous beach nourishment projects once the most basic, and yet still principles of managing the Buckley, Senior Scientist (Ecol- proposed by the U.S. Army the most applied. P complete range of resources ogy) with the National Biologi- Corps of Engineers along Fire S

4 • P ARK S CIENCE Writing for Park Science

Save for future reference Publication Overview Case Study and Feature Article What is Park Science? Submission Guidelines Park Science is a quarterly, 32-page, research and resource management bulletin Focus and Tone of the National Park Service of the U.S. De- Case studies and feature articles should emphasize the implications of natural or partment of the Interior. The publication social science research for the management of natural, cultural, and human resources. strives to strengthen the links between re- A broad readership calls for clear communication—highlight main concepts, explain search and park management. Articles de- project significance and methods, and detail applicability to management. Write scribe both experiments that relate to re- primarily in the active voice and explain technical terms. source conservation and the application of science in resource management practices. Target Audience and Primary Authors Technical in nature, Park Science is edited Principal readers and contributors comprise national park system area superinten- for the educated lay reader. It is published dents, resource managers, natural and social science researchers, interpreters, mainte- four times per year (April, July, October, nance staff, visitor and resource protection rangers, and other technical and nontechni- and January) and is also available on the cal personnel. Circulation also includes other federal agencies; state departments of Internet World Wide Web at http:// fish and game, parks and recreation, and natural resources; international parks; private www.aqd.nps.gov/nrid/parksci. conservation organizations; the academic community; and interested public.

What Kinds of Articles are Pub- Criteria lished in Park Science? Feature articles and case studies may include (1) a description of the resource Park Science articles are popularized, field- management problem(s) that prompted the research; (2) an explanation of the oriented accounts of general interest re- significance of the resource management project; (3) discussion of management search and resource management topics. considerations related to the problem(s), such as relevant legislation (enabling, NEPA, Articles consist of case studies (specific ARPA, Endangered Species Act, etc.), pertinent park planning documents (GMP, park-applied research and resource man- SFM, FMP, RMP, etc.), planning procedures, and political considerations; (4) a agement project write-ups), feature stories summary of the methodology of the experiment; (5) the results and ramifications of (personalized reports on research and its resource management implementation options; (6) a description of how the findings application or professional growth experi- were applied in the field; and (7) an appraisal of the scope of applicability of the ences), and short stories (brief articles of findings to other park areas. As additional information about a project accrues, follow- broad interest and applicability). Repeat- up reports (one or more years later) may be very useful in fine tuning conclusions. ing columns include editorials (relevant opinions about current trends in research Length and resource management), Information Flexible, but aim for 1,500 words. Crossfile (synopses of longer, often schol- arly works relevant to resource managers), Author Information Meetings of Interest (a calendar of impor- In addition to a byline, include position title, park area or affiliation, a brief biogra- tant upcoming conferences), Notes from phy, work address, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address. Abroad (accounts of international resource management and research experiences), Measurements Man and Biosphere Notes (a report on the Report measurements in metric (using abbreviations for units) followed by English MAB program of UNESCO), book re- in parentheses. Time is to be reported using A.M. and P.M. views and profiles of new publications, 15 Years Ago in Park Science (a look back at an Deadlines earlier story), and Highlights from around Fall issue–August 1; Winter–November 1; Spring–February 1; Summer–May 1. the national park system. Illustrations Questions Submit several illustrations. Show personnel at work, project equipment, techniques The following guidelines should clarify used, locator maps, species portraits, etc., to illustrate the major points of the article. most of the submission criteria for case stud- Color slides (35mm) are best, but original line art, photostats, high quality photo- ies, feature-length articles, and cluster high- copies, black and white photographic prints (glossies preferred), and color prints are lights. However, please contact the editor also acceptable. Computer-generated illustrations (i.e., scanned art, ArcView maps, if you would like to discuss these guide- etc.) can be forwarded through cc:Mail, on floppy disc, or on laser-printer originals lines in more detail or if you would like help in developing a specific story. Continued on page 6

Guidelines revised August 21, 1996 S UMMER 1996 • 5 Feature article guidelines continued Contributing to the Park Science Highlights Column

(600 dpi if possible). Include the name of Content the artist or photographer and documen- The Highlights department presents an overview of the diversity and complexity of tation of approved use if the illustration is research and resource management work undertaken by the National Park Service on copyright-protected. Label each illus- a cluster by cluster basis. An entry may, for example, summarize a research or resource tration with park name, article title, any management project; detail a noteworthy accomplishment; relate a new development, placement information (e.g., fig. 1), and technique, or trend; discuss a challenge or complication; describe project implementa- the file format (e.g., TIF, EPS, etc.). tion under a national resource management initiative; or profile a principal investigator. Ideally, these synopses focus on work conducted at parks rather than at the system Captions support office in support of parks. In many cases, highlights items would make terrific Include a description for each illustra- feature articles, but are presented in brief as a snapshot of the research and resource tion that describes the relationship of the management work being accomplished cluster by cluster. illustration to the theme of the article. Focus and Tone Delivery Submissions should be written in lay language in the active voice. Include names of Send contributions to the editor using personnel and the areas featured in each entry. Strive to briefly answer the who, what, these methods in priority order: why, when, where, and how questions about the story. Stress the relationship of the subject to either a resource management or planning problem or to the state of the art (1) by cc:Mail with the word-processed of the discipline being discussed. document and any illustration files attached. Indicate the word-process- Length and Number of Entries ing software and version in the cover Entries vary greatly in length from 50 to 350 words, but average 200 words each. message (e.g., WordPerfect 5.1); Cluster highlights contributing editors are encouraged to submit at least one entry every other issue. Unsolicited submissions from the field are also welcomed as (2) over the Internet. First save the word- contributing editors may not always supply material. processed document as a text file (i.e., *.TXT); Illustrations Illustrations including line art and photographs are welcomed, but are not required. (3) by fax. Use double-spaced, laser- printed originals if possible. Illustra- Deadlines tions may not be faxed. The deadlines for Highlights submissions are: Fall issue–August 1; Winter– November 1; Spring–February 1; Summer–May 1. Late contributions are welcome, (4) by mailing the hard copy (double- but may be held for subsequent issues. spaced) and a floppy disc containing the word-processed document Delivery (indicate the software and version) Contributions may be sent to the editor via several means. CC:Mail is most conve- and any illustrations; nient for the editor. Simply attach your word-processed file to your cc:Mail cover message. (5) by mailing the double-spaced hard copy (laser-printed originals if possible) and any illustrations alone; Review Procedures Contacting the Editor Prior to submission to the editor, submit courtesy copies to both the area Cut out and place in your Rolodex manager (superintendent) for policy considerations and the appropriate Park Science associate field director for natural resource stewardship and science. The Jeff Selleck, Editor Street Address—for Deliveries editor and editorial board review articles National Park Service Jeff Selleck, Editor for general appeal, relevance, usefulness, Natural Resource Information Division National Park Service technical credibility, solution-oriented P.O. Box 25287 Natural Resource Information Division discussion, and agreement with submis- Denver, CO 80225-0287 12795 W. Alameda Parkway Lakewood, CO 80228 sion criteria. Following editorial review, Phone: (303) 969-2147 the editor will contact the author to Fax: (303) 969-2822 discuss revisions and finalize the article. Internet: [email protected]

6 • P ARK S CIENCE BOOKS IN PROFILE

NEW BIODIVERSITY PUBLICATIONS

ies from Yellowstone, the Serengeti, the HE WORLD RESOURCES IN- Great Barrier Reef, the Costa Rican La isms reported on last issue) will not suc- stitute has released several new Amistad Biosphere Reserve, and other ceed if they do not promote sustainable Tpublications on biodiversity: sites, the author explains the challenges development. The authors focus on three and opportunities of bioregional manage- institutional elements that will ultimately National Biodiversity Planning: Guidelines ment. Aiming at policy mak- Based on Early Experiences Around the ers and practitioners, he World by Kenton R. Miller and Steven M. brings light to the core ele- Landou is a practical handbook that of- ments of successful projects: The World Resources Institute is an fers background information, case-study building capacity to manage independent research and policy institute examples and analysis, and step-by-step larger, more complex areas; founded in 1982 to help governments, guidelines for planning and implement- forging negotiated agree- ing national biodiversity strategies and ments with resource users environmental and development action plans. Intended for use by govern- and other stakeholders in the organizations, and private business ment, communities, business and indus- bioregion; and developing address a fundamental question: how can try, and nongovernmental organizations, cooperation and support for societies meet basic human needs and it presents an illustrative biodiversity plan- bioregional programs among nurture economic growth without ning process based on the real world ex- area institutions. The book periences of 17 regions—Australia, Canada, (ISBN 0-915825-85-6) costs undermining the natural resource base Chile, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ger- $14.95 and is 150 pages in and environmental integrity? many, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Holland, length. Norway, the Philippines, Poland, the Their address is: South Pacific, United Kingdom, and Viet- Biodiversity Indicators for World Resources Institute Publications nam— that are already developing national Policymakers is a paper that P.O. Box 4852 strategies, plans, and programs. The book provides a framework for as- (ISBN 1-56973-025-3) is 200 pages long, sessing biodiversity condi- Hampden Station costs $19.95, and is published in collabo- tions and trends at local, Baltimore, MD 21211 ration with IUCN and the United Nations regional, national, and global (410) 516-6963 Environment Programme. levels. Written by W.V. Reid, Fax: (410) 516-6998 J.A. McNeely, D.B. Tunstall, E-mail: [email protected] Kenton Miller has also authored Bal- D.A. Bryant, and M. ancing the Scales: Guidelines for Increasing Winograd, it presents 22 in- Biodiversity’s Chances Through Bioregional dicators that can guide con- Management through the World Resources servation decision making by helping determine the course of this new indus- Institute. This work addresses the world- planners to set priorities, influencing new try: organizations, contracts, and national wide effort to protect biodiversity by set- policies, and providing information to de- legislation. With detailed chapters on de- ting aside discrete areas for conservation termine whether policy goals have been signing institutions to facilitate and the problems that accompany this achieved. Organized into three categories, biodiversity prospecting; biodiversity strategy due to the demands of growing the indicators measure: wild species and prospecting contracts; intellectual prop- human populations in need of more land genetic diversity; diversity at the commu- erty rights; research management policies; and resources. As a result, scientists, re- nity-habitat level; and diversity of domes- and science and technology guidelines, source managers, and community lead- ticated species (crops and livestock). The this report provides the most comprehen- ers are calling for shifting the scale of paper (ISBN 0-56973-000-8) is 42 pages sive and strategic analysis to date of what wildland management programs from long and costs $12.95. may be a significant growth industry in national parks and reserves to entire eco- the 21st century. Available from the World systems. This book makes the case for Finally, Biodiversity Prospecting: Guide- Resources Institute for $29.95, the book protecting biodiversity wherever it is lines for Using Genetic Biochemical Resource (ISBN 0-915825-89-9) is 340 pages in found: in farmlands, utilized forests, fish- Sustainably and Equitably argues that length. P eries, and not just within the boundaries biodiversity prospecting ventures (as in S of protected areas. Drawing on case stud- the case of Yellowstone hot water organ-

S UMMER 1996 • 7 HIGHLIGHTS

NATIONAL C APITAL GREAT LAKES located to three underwater 5x5 event was a wonderful oppor- meter (16.4 x 16.4 ft) study grids, New Species Documented in tunity to meet and join efforts Mussel Relocation Study Un- two of which are located in the Bio-Blitz with local scientists, naturalists, der Way experimental refugium, up- For 24 hours starting at 5 p.m. and biologists. In the future, the In late July, St. Croix National stream, and one that served as on May 31, local scientists, natu- park will know who to contact Scenic Riverway, WI, began re- a source-site control grid lo- ralists, and biologists “blitzed” for additional assistance and locating freshwater mussels to cated in the collecting zone. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic staff expect some of these par- similar habitat in the same wa- The upstream location supports Gardens in northeastern Wash- ticipants to return to parks that tershed as part of a study to an existing diverse population ington, D.C., and found ap- comprise the National Capital determine the long-term effec- of mussels, including the only proximately 1,000 species of Parks-East for future projects. tiveness of translocation as a known world population of the plants and animals. The idea Readers may review the conservation measure for en- winged mapleleaf. Surrogates to was to inventory, as far as pos- Washington Post newspaper dangered mussels and to refine the winged mapleleaf were used sible, the species present (and article, inventory lists, and ad- existing translocation protocols. in the initial phases of this study identifiable) during one 24-hour ditional details of the event Native bivalves throughout the rather than risk handling the period. The information will be through the Internet web site set Midwest, South, and Northeast species itself. The refugium is used for a number of purposes, up for the Bio-Blitz at http:// are threatened by an infestation located upstream of a naviga- including the continued devel- www.im.nbs.gov/blitz.html or by of the nonnative zebra mussel tion control site established to opment of the park inventory contacting Dan Roddy of the (Driessena polymorpha). Funded regulate boat traffic to vessels and monitoring database and National Park Service at by the National Park Service that have not been operating in the development of plant and [email protected] or Sam and directed by the National zebra mussel infested waters. animal lists for the newly cre- Droge of the National Biologi- Biological Service (Dr. Greg River substrate characteris- ated District of Columbia Natu- cal Service at [email protected]. Cope and Dr. Diane Waller), the tics, mussel density, species rich- ral Heritage Program. The project resulted in the relocation ness, and live:dead ratio data activity also demonstrated the of 450 native mussels into a ref- were collected at each grid site. concern scientists have for lo- ALLEGHENY- ugium in the NPS managed Mussels were measured, cal biodiversity, and gave the CHESAPEAKE zone of the St. Croix River. weighed, aged, sexed (for the National Park Service an oppor- Two federally-endangered federally-listed species) and tunity to heighten media and Natural Resource Bibliogra- species, the Higgins’ eye pearly uniquely marked prior to trans- public awareness of the many phy Project Summarized in mussel (Lampsilis higginsi) and port. Research staff placed the species that can be found even Poster Session the winged mapleleaf mussel mussels in flow-through tanks in a highly urbanized area such Scott Tiffney, in association (Quadrula fragosa) and 15 state- that were temperature moni- as Washington, D.C. with Dr. Richard Yahner and listed species reside in the St. tored prior to processing and The event went extremely Kathy Derge (The Pennsylva- Croix, which supports one of transported in ice-cooled well with participation by at nia State University) and John the most diverse communities chests. A quantitative assess- least 25 different agencies (fed- Karish (National Park Service), of native mussels in the Upper ment of mussel survival, growth, eral, state, and local govern- presented a poster entitled Mississippi drainage. The infor- and substrate characteristics will ment), universities, and various “Natural Resources in Our Na- mation derived from this study be made annually for a mini- conservation. To date, the re- tional Parks” at the 1996 Annual will also be used nationally to mum of 2 years. sults from the lab and field work Conference of the American establish appropriate methods Native mussels are the most have provided many new Library Association held in for conducting mussel reloca- rapidly declining faunal group records for the park, which in- New York City. The poster out- tion projects based upon long- in the United States, and fresh- clude new species of dragonflies lined the development of a term monitoring results (Cope water mussels constitute the (2), damselflies (5), butterflies comprehensive natural resource and Waller, 1995). largest group of federally listed (2), birds (2), bats (2), earth- bibliography database for the Two species of unionid mus- endangered or threatened in- worms (6), copepods (16, 10 of Chesapeake and Allegheny sels representing the subfamily vertebrates. The St. Croix River which have never been re- park clusters as part of a coop- Ambleminae (pimpleback, supports 38 species of unionid corded within the District of erative project between the Na- Quadrula pustulosa and spike, mussels, including the only re- Columbia), fish (1), lichens (10), tional Park Service, The Elliptio dilitata) and one repre- producing population of two mushrooms (7), land plants— Pennsylvania State University, senting the subfamily Lampsil- federally listed species that are embryophytes (95), and and North Carolina State Uni- inae (Higgins’ eye pearly not impacted by the zebra mus- arthropods (insect groups not versity. mussel) were collected from the sel. This project is important in already listed—approximately St. Croix River by divers under protecting the mussels of the St. 650 new records). In addition federal endangered species per- Croix and in providing criteria to the new species records, the mits. The 450 mussels were refor relocating mussels.

8 • P ARK S CIENCE HIGHLIGHTS

GREAT PLAINS ers suggested raking or just leav- and do whatever was needed to coln and Great Lakes and Great ing the debris; several suggested clear the debris. To maintain Plains SSO personnel from Homestead Cleans Up Fol- using volunteer labor. park operations, the park lim- Omaha. A total of 27 lowing Tornado Though the park identified ited the volunteer cleanup effort AmeriCorps volunteers contrib- On the night of May 8, a tor- few hazardous materials, burn- to 4 days a week. All volunteers uted 211 hours and 100 com- nado ripped through 10 acres ing was not the preferred alter- received a park orientation and munity volunteers donated 461 (4 ha) of Homestead National native due to the proximity of safety flyer when they arrived hours of work. The Nebraska Monument of America, Ne- private homes, the presence of and a certificate of appreciation Job Service supplied five em- braska, damaging park and asphalt and fiberglass, and the for their service. The presence ployees who had been dis- neighboring homes, and scat- possible encouragement of ex- of dangerous materials (nails, placed from their jobs when a tering an estimated 114 tons of otics resulting from burning late local store was destroyed by the wind blown debris over 30 acres in the spring. Raking was im- same storm that hit the park. (12 ha) of park tallgrass prairie. possible due to the terrain, de- Hired for 3 weeks using emer- No deaths or serious injuries re- bris materials, and type of gency funds remaining from sulted from the storm, but the vegetation. Using heavy trucks 1993 floods, these workers high winds damaged trees, was also impractical due to contributed 500 hours fences, signs, and homes in and the long-term damage of labor. In all, 160 adjacent to the park sending fi- they would cause people contrib- berglass insulation, wire, ply- from soil compaction. uted 1,953 hours wood, structural beams, Leaving the debris to the effort. drywall, asphalt shingles, and was not an option and The need for personal items across park after considering all sugges- immediate response to lands. In some areas, the debris tions, the park decided that clear the debris prevented was 5-10 pieces thick per square hand labor was the only alter- the park from taking advantage foot. native that would allow staff to of some potential learning op- The Homestead tallgrass collect the maximum debris portunities. The park had no prairie is a restored cultural with minimal impact. staff or technical ability to map landscape that interprets the After surveying the affected the debris pattern. They also scene as it appeared prior to the area, employees estimated have no ability to measure mi- homestead movement of the that about 2,000 hours of la- croscopic soil effects before or 1860s. Established in 1939, the bor would be needed to since the storm. Effects such as 100 acre (41 ha) prairie is the conduct the cleanup. At the the impact to the microclimate oldest such restoration in the time, monument staff con- caused by the destroyed trees national park system. The de- sisted of eight permanent em- may be measurable from Long- bris posed a safety threat to visi- ployees with no funds for glass, etc.) led the staff to restrict term Ecological Monitoring tors and impaired the prairie seasonals. Considering the na- participation to volunteers of 16 Program data; Homestead is a itself as the spring growing sea- ture of the debris and its effect years of age or older. Further- prototype park in the Prairie son began. Immediately, park upon the rapidly growing prai- more, they checked all volun- Parks Cluster for this program. staff needed to determine the rie plant life meant that clean teers for gloves and boots and As the urban-wildland inter- best method of clearing the de- up needed to commence with- made sure that those using face continues to expand, this bris. out delay. Continuing rain- chain saws wore approved NPS type of incident can be expected At the time, the prairie grass– storms matted debris into the personal protection equipment. to occur more often. Home- es were 2-3 feet high and the vegetation as staff began the Despite the obvious safety haz- stead will continue to assess its debris was either hard to see or massive pickup, and they im- ards, no injuries were reported. response plans for handling fu- tangled in the grass and emerg- mediately realized they needed By late June, the cleanup was ture natural disasters. Neverthe- ing forbs. The park posted a considerable outside help. complete, although the park less, this was a situation when message on the NPS cc:Mail Using local and regional me- will wait until autumn to clear technology provided no ready Natural Resource Bulletin dia, the park proclaimed June some of the larger trees in solution to a messy and unpre- Board in an attempt to solicit to be “Homestead Cleanup heavily wooded areas. During dictable resource problem. Co- suggestions and accounts of Month.” Volunteers responded the 7-week effort, park staff operation, community experience dealing with similar almost immediately. Civic orga- dedicated 662 hours to the partnerships, and hard work circumstances. Among the 25 nizations, other agencies, fami- cleanup. An additional 112 contributed to our achieve- replies, a few recommended lies, and individuals generously hours were contributed by NPS ments in confronting this situa- prescribed fire as a remedy; oth- donated their time to work un- personnel from the Midwest tion. P der the supervision of park staff Archaeological Center in Lin- S

S UMMER 1996 • 9 INFORMATION CROSSFILE

Leopold Institute Ecosystem Approach Groundwater Ecology Monitoring, Natural Endorses Recent to Forest Management Book Processes, and Wilderness Wilderness Professional natural resource Groundwater Ecology (1994), Publications managers and the public are a 571 page book from Academic Most monitoring efforts of Former Sequoia and Kings increasingly interested in an Press of San Diego, CA, pre- impacts on federally designated Canyon National Park research ecosystem-based approach to sents the status of knowledge wilderness focus on specific scientist David Parsons points forest management. This about the ecosystems that oc- conditions (such as vegetation, out several worthwhile recent emerging interest raises the cur in groundwater. Topics in- soil, water, fish, and wildlife), publications from the Aldo question of how such an ap- clude the hydrodynamics and while the status of underlying Leopold Wilderness Research proach might apply in a land- geomorphology of groundwa- natural processes that influence Institute: scape that is dominated by ter environments, the biota of these conditions is largely over- nonindustrial private forest aquifers and other groundwa- looked. In his paper, Natural Blahna, D., K. Smith, and J. Anderson. 1995. Backcountry llama packing: (NIPF) ownerships. Susan M. ter systems, and anthropogenic Processes: Wilderness Manage- visitor perceptions of acceptability and Campbell and D.B. Kittredge stresses on groundwater ecosys- ment Unrealized, Michael P. conflict. Leisure Sciences 17(3):17(3):185- 204. report on the results of a pilot tems. Edited by J. Gibert, D.L. Murray uses four primary natu- Cole, D., A. Watson, and J. Roggenbuck. study of a voluntary incentive- Danielopol, and J.A. Stanford, ral processes (trophism, gene 1995. Trends in wilderness visitors and based program in one town in the book sells for $74.95. flow, migration, and distur- visits: Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Shining Rock, and Desolation western Massachusetts in their bance) to assess impacts derived Wildernesses. USDA Research Paper 1996 article, Ecosystem-based from management within wil- INT-RP-483. Management on Multiple Forest Fragmentation derness areas. Management rec- Cole, D. 1996. Ecological manipulation in NIPF Ownerships. Carried in ommendations are offered to wilderness—an emerging management and Edge Effects on dilemma. International Journal of the Journal of Forestry Birds provide a foundation for con- Wilderness 2(1):2(1):15-18. Cole, D., and P. 94(2)::24-29, their ideas may structive debate on wilderness Landres. 1996. also be useful to parks as they The early development of policy and management. In- Cole, D. and Peter Landres. 1996. Threats to wilderness ecosystems: impacts and work with their neighbors on forest fragmentation effects on creased consideration of natu- research needs. Ecological similar issues. forest organisms is poorly un- ral processes may enhance the Applications 6(1):6(1):168-184. derstood, partly because most ecological integrity of wilder- Watson, A. 1995. An analysis of recent progress in recreation conflict research studies have been done in agri- ness. The study can be found in and perceptions of future challenges Property Ownership cultural or suburban landscapes, the Natural Areas Journal and opportunities. Leisure Sciences long after the onset of fragmen- 16(1):55-61. 17(3):235-238. and Habitat Fragmentation tation. John M. Hagen, W.M. Located in Missoula, Mon- Vander Haegen, and P.S. tana, the Leopold Institute is an The increased use of private McKinley present a temporal Biology Encyclopedia interagency program aimed at market techniques to protect model of forest fragmentation Available providing the information nec- natural areas raises concern re- effects on densities of forest- essary to protect and manage garding how well these tech- breeding birds, with test data The Encyclopedia of Environ- wilderness resources and values. niques implement nature from an active industrial forest mental Biology provides detailed The National Park Service and reserve design concepts. Private in a paper entitled, The Early information on issues that affect National Biological Service are market techniques work within Development of Forest Frag- all resource managers and natu- signatories to the interagency the framework of property mentation Effects on Birds. Re- ral scientists. Edited by William agreement providing support to ownership. In their study, Le- ported in Conservation Biology A. Nierenberg, this 1995 work the Institute. Parsons is now the gal Boundaries and Fragmenta- 10(1):188-202, the model and contains 150 articles that ex- institute director and can be tion of Georgia’s (USA) Nature data indicate that, for reasons plore the impact of global contacted at (406) 542-4190; Reserves, Daryl R. Burkhard unrelated to traditional edge change on plants, animals, and fax (406) 543-2663; e-mail “/ and D.H. Newman analyzed effects, retaining large tracts of habitats and the causes and s=d.parsons/ou1=s22l01a@mhs- the impact that legal property forest can be important because cures of environmental degra- fswa.attmail.com”. ownership boundaries had on they are relatively free from the dation. Written for researchers, reserve fragmentation and, sub- variety of plant and animal professionals, and students in sequently, on the potential for population dynamics that take environmental science, law, city habitat fragmentation. The replace near new edges, includ- planning, and public policy, a sults of the study are reported ing the encroachment by pack- few examples covered in the in the Natural Areas Journal ing of individuals displaced by book include air pollution and 16(1):24-35. habitat loss. forests, aquatic weeds, processes and loss of biodiversity, bird

10 • P ARK S CIENCE I NFORMATION CROSSFILE communities, biogeochemistry, of local economies, and exotic Entomology 55963-409-x [softcover]) is the conservation programs for en- species threats to native Hawai- http://www.colostate.edu/ first book devoted exclusively to dangered plants, ecological res- ian plants and animals. Depts/Entomology/WWWVL- old growth throughout the Entomology.html toration, equilibrium and The editors review over 500 Eastern United States. Edited nonequilibrium concepts in magazines, specialized journals, Forestry by Mary Byrd Davis, the book http://www.metla.fi/info/vlib/ ecological models, forest insect and newspapers to produce Forestry.html offers authoritative essays by control, forest canopies, key- each issue, which contains 80 leading experts and is divided Landscape Architecture stone species, insect interactions of the most interesting and rel- http://www.clr.toronto.edu/ into three main sections. with trees, packrat middens, evant news stories on important VIRTUALLIB/larch.html population viability analysis, environmental topics. Each National Biological Service Biological and Cultural Values: seed banks, and wetland ecol- story cites the original source http://www.its.nbs.gov/nbs/ The ways in which old- ogy. Available in 3 volumes and lists contacts for future ref- National Wildlife Refuge growth forest differs biologically (2,114 pages), the encyclopedia erence. The publication can be System from second-growth forest, a is published by Academic Press found on the World Wide Web http:// topic that researchers are just bluegoose.arw.r9.fws.gov/ of San Diego, CA, and costs at “http://www.cais.net/publish/ NWRSFiles/NWRSIndex.html beginning to understand, are $475.00. voyage.htm#homeport.” explored, and the impact of old Natural Resources Research Info Pages growth on the human psyche http://sfbox.vt.edu:10021/Y/ and the importance of old Environmental Web Sites of Interest yfleung/nrrips.html growth to the culture of Native Magazine Online Plant Biology Americans point to the cultural http://golgi.harvard.edu/ Several World Wide Web biopages/botany.html value of old growth. Science and the Environment is sites relate to the natural re- PLANTS Database, Natural an online, bimonthly magazine source management work of Resources Conservation Identificaiton: specializing in providing world the National Park Service and Service Single ecosystems, including news summaries on a wide ar- may be of interest to readers http://trident.ftc.nrcs.usda.gov/ old-growth forests of southern npdc/ ray of environmental issues. with access to the web: New England, New York, and Published by Voyage Press, the Remote Sensing and GIS Pennsylvania, and of the Great http:// magazine is designed for high Aquatic (wetland) Plants wwwrsl.forestry.umn.edu:10000/ Lakes, are considered. school and university educators http://aquat1.ifas.ufl.edu/ Software, Biological and students; it may also inter- Biodiversity and Biological http://www.gdb.org/Dan/ Preservation and Restoration: est NPS interpreters who con- Collections softsearch/softsearch.html. Examples of current preser- centrate on natural resource http://muse.bio.cornell.edu/ vation and restoration efforts are issues interpretation. Biodiversity, Ecology & the discussed and recommenda- Environment Eastern Old-Growth The publication takes a http://golgi.harvard.edu/ tions for further work are given. multidisciplinary and nonparti- biopages/biodiversity.html Forests Examined san approach to its coverage, Biodiversity & Ecosystems Old-growth forest—loosely These essays are framed by which includes the latest scien- Network described as forest that appears an introduction in which Rob- tific findings, developing gov- http://straylight.tamu.edu/bene/ largely as it would have if Eu- ert Leverett analyzes historic bene.html ernment policies, and emerging ropeans had not settled North views of forests and current defi- technologies. The information Biological Survey America—is of incalculable nitions of old growth, and Davis http://www.nfrcg.gov is organized around eight chap- value. Old-growth sites can play explains the extent and location ters, including, biodiversity and Botanists a key role in plans for restora- of Eastern old growth, and an http://meena.cc.uregina.ca/ wildlife health, population and ~liushus/bio/botany.html tion of large areas of wilderness. epilogue in which Bill agriculture, marine ecology, Some, with restoration, could McKibben presents the rem- Ecological Society of clean water, alternative energy America become core areas for future nants of original forest as a fore- and fuels, climate change and http://www.sdsc.edu/1/SDSC/ wildernesses, while others could shadowing of the glory of the Research/Comp_Bio/ESA/ atmospheric studies, waste ESA.html become nodes of biodiversity East’s future forests. management and recycling, and linked by corridors. Scientists Much remains to be learned clean air. Recent features have Ecology are just beginning to discover about old-growth forest. This http://biomserv.univ-lyon1.fr/ covered the congressional effort Ecology-WWW.html ways in which old-growth is book will spur further efforts to to relax federal wetlands regu- EcoWeb, University of biologically unique. identify, evaluate, preserve, and lations, preserving stopover sites Virginia Eastern Old-Growth Forests: restore the forests that are its for migratory birds, the spotted http:// Prospects for Rediscovery and Re- subject. It is available from Is- ecosys.drdr.virginia.edu:80/ owl controversy and prosperity EcoWeb.html covery (ISBN 1-55963-408-1 land Press (202) 234-7933. P [hardcover] and ISBN 1- S

S UMMER 1996 • 11 MAB NOTES

MAMMOTH CAVE AREA BIOSPHERE RESERVE Making a difference in groundwater protection

The Barren River Area Development BY JEFF BRADYBAUGH District established a biosphere reserve REGIONAL GIS/GPS AND HE MAMMOTH CAVE AREA council to coordinate resource manage- DEVELOPMENT OF A GEOSPATIAL Biosphere Reserve (MCABR) ment activities. The council is comprised DATA CENTER was designated by the United of technical specialists from: Western Ken- Members of the biosphere reserve Nations Educational, Scientific, tucky University, USDA (U.S. Depart- council have pooled their resources to Tand Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in ment of Agriculture) Forest Service, enhance data sharing and data analysis 1990. It includes Mammoth Cave Na- USDA Combined Farm Services Agency, capabilities. A GIS (Geographic Informa- tional Park and its primary groundwater USDA Natural Resources Conservation tion System) was established at BRADD recharge basins, an area totalling 44,700 Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, U.S. to supplement and interact with partner hectares (110,453 acres). The park is the Economic Development Administration, systems. Agencies contributed to pur- protected core area, and the basins out- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, agencies chase a GPS (global positioning satellite) side the national park are designated the of the Kentucky natural resources cabi- base station that has been used in devel- zone of cooperative use. Located in south- net, the Resources Conservation and De- oping groundwater hazard maps where central Kentucky, the area is a karst land- velopment District, the Caveland interstate highways and railroads cross the scape typified by numerous sinking Sanitation Authority, and the National groundwater basins (fig. 1). The series of streams and sinkholes, complex under- Park Service. maps allows emergency responders to ground watercourses, and a multilayered identify sites where hazardous spills from cave system (longest in the world) with IMPLEMENTATION OF THE road or rail accidents could enter sinks or unique fauna and mineralization features. BIOSPHERE RESERVE PROGRAM otherwise be injected into the aquifer, and The karst landscape efficiently transports Several noteworthy programs and allows them to quickly formulate a con- precipitation runoff (and any incorporated projects have been initiated or enhanced tainment strategy. With support from the contaminants from surface land use) to through the collective efforts of the gov- Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Reserve subsurface streams, posing constant con- ernments and agencies cooperating un- and park assistance via the NPS Lower cern for area water quality degradation der the Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere Mississippi Delta Initiative, the GPS sys- (fig. 1). Reserve umbrella. tem is being used to map features of a At the suggestion of the National Park local civil war battlefield, assisting com- Service and others, the Barren River Area MAMMOTH CAVE AREA WATER munity efforts for its protection. Through Development District (BRADD) selected QUALITY PROJECT a grant from the U.S. Geological Survey the UNESCO biosphere reserve model To protect the Mammoth Cave water- (USGS), the biosphere reserve has estab- as the tool to address regional water qual- shed, a partnership was established with lished a geospatial data center at Western ity issues. Chartered by the Common- farmers, universities, and agencies to pro- Kentucky University, as a node of the na- wealth of Kentucky, BRADD is tect aquatic resources by promoting sus- tionwide USGS system. responsible for regional planning within tainable agriculture and on-the-farm best the 10-county area surrounding Mam- management practices (BMPs). Since 1990, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND moth Cave National Park. With the bio- the USDA has made available $950,000 IMPACT STUDIES sphere reserve administered through on a cost-sharing basis with local farmers The Economic Development Admin- BRADD, whose board of directors con- for the design and installation of animal istration funded a MCABR study to as- sists of locally elected officials, the bio- waste BMPs for feedlots and dairies. sess the potential for compatible industrial sphere program is viewed as a locally Agencies, including the National Park development along Interstate 65 within managed effort rather than a federal un- Service, have invested $330,000 in the reserve. Existing and potential envi- dertaking. As nearly all the land outside groundwater and aquatic community ronmental risks and identification of suit- of the park is in private ownership, this monitoring to assess the effectiveness of able and unsuitable development organizational structure has proven criti- BMPs. An Environmental Protection locations were analyzed. Through the cal to initiating and carrying out biosphere Agency grant has been secured to con- Barren River Area Development District, reserve programs. tinue this project over the next four years. this information has been made available to the affected communities to assist in economic and infrastructure planning.

12 • P ARK S CIENCE MAB NOTES

The National Biological Service, Michi- communities with opportunities to ad- opportunity exists to develop greater in- gan State University, and Southern Illinois dress longstanding problems and to be- volvement of rural and small-town resi- University are nearing completion of a come participants in regional dents, to work with commercial natural visitor use and economic impact study for conservation efforts. resource users, and to partner with people the park and local area. Data will be used to assess the impact of tourism expendi- tures locally and to formulate regional Figure 1. The plans for sustainable tourism currently Mammoth Cave under development by the West Kentucky Area Biosphere Corporation. Reserve (gray boundary line— before the ENVIRONMENTAL E DUCATION recent Plans for a nonprofit institute, as part expansion) of the biosphere reserve, are being devel- encompasses oped to extend and enhance the educa- Mammoth Cave tion and research programs available to National Park (black boundary local residents and resource managers, line) and most of including environmental and cultural re- the Groundwater source management, sustainability, and Basin, the heritage appreciation. primary To keep the public informed of ongo- groundwater recharge area ing water resource management efforts in for the cave. The the biosphere reserve, an educational thick gray lines video was produced through Kentucky terminating in Educational Television. It describes the arrows indicate the flow of broad concerns of stakeholders, how con- precipitation sensus planning was used to focus on runoff (and common goals, and the actions taken to contaminants) enhance water quality. The video empha- through sizes the progress made through coop- neighboring towns and eration between businesses, landowners, across highways and agencies working within the reserve. enroute to the cave. The MAMMOTH CAVE RESOURCES recently expanded biosphere reserve increases opportunities to promote a water quality program throughout the Groundwater Basin that will help protect cave resources. CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT AREA With the intense focus on water quality in the karst aquifer and the need to WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS interested in conservation of historic re- remedy related agricultural impacts, The Mammoth Cave Area Biosphere sources and the cultural traditions of the agency managers and local officials peti- Reserve, with the national park as the core region. These opportunities reflect the tioned the Secretary of Agriculture to area, has brought national attention to lo- continuing growth of the biosphere re- designate an area in south-central Ken- cal conservation issues, including addi- serve program. In addition to providing a tucky including the biosphere reserve as tional financial resources not available larger land area, the expanded biosphere a resources conservation and develop- previously. Landowners and communities reserve also continues the focus on areas ment area (RC&D). Established in 1991 have derived tangible benefits and re- of critical environmental concern—espe- and represented on the biosphere coun- ceived recognition for working together cially the Mammoth Cave groundwater cil, the RC&D uses its resources to meet to protect resource values. The park ben- basins. P goals common to both programs. The efits in that external resource threats and S RC&D receives USDA funding each year, issues are being addressed and a forum available for matching grants, to accom- exists to discuss long-term resource pro- plish projects relating to solid waste man- tection policies with local officials. Jeff Bradybaugh is Chief, Science and agement, non-point source pollution In August, the USMAB National Com- Resources Management Division at control, conservation education, and ru- mittee approved expanding the biosphere Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky. ral infrastructure. While most projects are reserve to 368,000 hectares (909,328 Contact him at Mammoth Cave National relatively small in size, they provide rural acres). Within the expanded reserve, an Park; Mammoth Cave; KY 42259; (502) 758-2251.

S UMMER 1996 • 13 Figure 1. Located in southeastern Utah, Capitol Reef National Park nicely frames the Waterpocket Fold, a ridge that runs nearly the entire length of the park. The study took place in the southern end of the park in drainages that cut laterally across the feature.

Figure 2 (left). The Waterpocket Fold viewed from the east. Drainages that contain the rock pools cut across the fold down the gently sloping eastern side.

AN INTENSIVE STUDY OF DESERT ROCK POOL SYSTEMS IN CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK

BY TOBEN LAFRANCOIS LTHOUGH LOCATED IN ONE of the most arid regions of the man influences (Dodson 1988). Desert A Colorado Plateau, Capitol Reef rock pools of the American Southwest are Colorado Plateau, the presence of small National Park, Utah, contains very unusual important ecological systems due both to wetlands offers a startling contrast. aquatic systems. The park is located in their relative scarcity and their critical Wayne and Garfield counties of South- functions. Rock pools retain water in oth- THE STUDY Central Utah, 40 km (64 mi) west of erwise arid systems and are of focal im- The chemistry, biology, and ecology of Hanksville on highway U.S. 24 (fig. 1). portance to terrestrial wildlife; they also the Capitol Reef rock pools were studied The 125,000-ha (308,750 acre) park en- support unique plant communities by Dr. Jill Baron (National Biological Ser- compasses the Waterpocket Fold, a 62.5- (Dodson 1988; Spence and Henderson vice), Dr. Boris Kondratieff (Colorado km long by 1.25-km wide (100 mi x 2 mi) 1993; Van Haverbeke 1990) and are im- State University), and Toben Lafrancois ridge of Navajo sandstone. The Water– portant for use in monitoring ecosystem (graduate student, Colorado State Univer- pocket Fold contains many drainages cut health. Aquatic macroinvertebrates, sity). We gave special attention to the re- laterally across its width due to water ero- which are the major component of Capi- sponses of these systems to disturbance. sion (fig. 2). Within these drainages are tol Reef rock pool communities, are of- Park resource managers required baseline rock pools, which form in series down the ten excellent indicator organisms. They biological and chemical data on the rock drainages (fig. 3). These rock pools are are important for monitoring such factors pools for use when making policy and also called tinajas, which translates from as water quality, anthropogenic distur- management decisions and when design- Spanish as “water jug or tank.” As a result bances, and other changes that affect the ing educational programs about the park. of the specific geomorphology of the surrounding terrestrial system. We began the study in September 1993 Waterpocket Fold, these rock pool sys- In the park, tinajas range from small, and continued field work until the follow- tems are the best developed in the region ephemeral pools to larger, permanent ing September, concentrating on 20 rock (Spence et al. 1993). The Waterpocket pools. Some have accumulated enough pools in five different drainages along the Fold contains 80 major drainages includ- sediment to support wetland plant spe- Waterpocket Fold. We sampled the pools ing 460 tinajas (Berghoff 1994). cies (fig. 4) including cattails (Typha sp.), on a weekly basis from May to late Au- Rock pools in arid systems have re- wetland grasses (Phragmites sp.), and black gust 1994. Although intensive, the sam- ceived scant attention in the scientific lit- willow (Salix nigra). Against the backdrop pling was nondestructive. We collected erature, yet they may be the most of one of the most arid regions of the macroinvertebrates and anurans (mem- susceptible of all aquatic habitats to hu- bers of an amphibian order that includes

14 • P ARK S CIENCE frogs and toads) using a 1 mm2 mesh stan- mon and geographically widespread spe- by rain. Rock pools that are components dard D-net, field identified to the lowest cies. The northern case-making caddisfly of wetlands, however, support a greater possible taxonomic level, and ranked ac- (Limnephilus taloga), the small minnow number of species than other rock pools cording to abundance categories. Physi- mayfly (Callibaetis pictus), and many com- (Lafrancois 1995) and can be expected to cal and water chemistry data gathered at mon dragonfly species were abundant in act as refugia from natural disturbances. each pool included volume, temperature, the rock pools. Aquatic beetles were par- The effects of human disturbances on pH, conductivity, and major ions. We also ticularly diverse and abundant. Water these systems remain unknown. collected rainfall amount from two rain beetles commonly found ranged from the meters in each study drainage on a weekly minute predaceous diving beetle (Liodes- BENEFITS OF MONITORING basis. Chemical data from this project sus affinus) to the gigantic water scaven- Several advantages accompany inten- have also been analyzed. ger beetle (Hydrophilus triangularis). Water sive (weekly) sampling of aquatic re- bugs such as water boatmen (Graptocorixa sources. The number of rock pool species abdominalis), giant water bugs (Lethocerus found in this study is over twice the pre- americanus), water striders (Aquarius vious park record. The relatively high remigis), and backswimmers (Notonecta number of sampling periods provided op- Figure 3. kirbyi) also can be seen in the rock pools, portunity to statistically analyze aspects Rock along with mosquito (Culex tarsalis) and of the rock pools (such as presence or pools, or chironomid midge larvae (Phaenopsectra absence of surrounding wetlands) that tinajas, dyari). These examples represent some of affect the biological community. Under- form in a the major groups of aquatic insects in the standing the natural variation of a com- series down the rock pools, but only a small fraction of munity, which also requires frequent drainages the 62 inhabitants recorded to date. sampling of the system, is important when of the Vertebrates in these pools are repre- developing a data set that will be used as water- sented by frogs and toads, such as the can- a baseline for a monitoring program. This pocket yon tree frog ( ) and the research provided resource managers with fold. Hila arenicolor spadefoot toad (Scaphiopus intermontanus). necessary baseline information concern- Some crustaceans found in the rock pools ing uncommon and unknown systems. were fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus texanus) Data regarding the basic biology and ecol- and tadpole shrimp ogy of the rock pools are necessary for ( Triops future ecosystem monitoring and current longicaudatus). management and education pro- These crustaceans grams. P are well-adapted to S aquatic life in arid Figure 4. Some tinajas regions. REFERENCES collect The animals that enough compose these rock Berghoff, K. 1994. Capitol Reef National Park wetland sediment to survey summary report. Resource Management pool communities Division, Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. support are common, hardy wetland plant Dodson, S.I. 1988. Aquatic resources at risk. In Acid Rain species such organisms that are and Air Pollution in Desert Park Areas, Proceedings of well dispersed a Workshop, May 16-18, 1988, and Management as cattail. Recommendations. Tucson, Arizona. National Park across the Colorado Service Technical Report NPS/NRAQD/NRTR-91/02. Plateau. Many adult Lafrancois, T. 1995. Biology and ecology of rock pools in ROCK POOL FAUNA beetles and waterbugs are capable of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. M.S. Thesis. Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. Colorado State Several different groups of aquatic ani- flight, while other groups such as the crus- University. Fort Collins, Colorado. mal species common to the Colorado Pla- taceans and spadefoot toads are physi- Spence, J.R. and N.R. Henderson. 1993. Tinaja and teau can be found in the park rock pools. ologically adapted to unstable habitats. hanging garden vegetation of Capitol Reef National Park, southern Utah, U.S.A. Journal of Arid Of these, most have a highly vagile (free- These characteristics of the rock pool Environments 24: 21-36. moving) adult stage, capable of dispersal communities suggest that they would re- Van Haverbeke, D.R. 1990. Physico-chemical over large areas. A large number (62) of cover rapidly from such natural distur- characteristics and ecology of ephemeral rock pools in northern Arizona. M.S. Thesis. Department of Biology. macroinvertebrate and anuran species bances as floods or drought. During the Northern Arizona University. Flagstaff, Arizona. occur in the rock pools, about twice what summer of 1994, floods that occurred due has been reported from other rock pool to cloudburst storms did not significantly studies in this area. affect the rock pool communities. Further- Toben Lafrancois completed his masters degree at Colorado State University in Fort Aquatic insects are a major component more, we observed no major difference Collins, Colorado. Inquiries should be of the rock pool communities. All typical between a rock pool community before a directed to Jill Baron at (970) 491-1968; groups of lentic (standing water) insects pool dried up and the community that e-mail: [email protected]. are found here, often represented by com- appeared when the same pool was refilled

S UMMER 1996 • 15 Cover story continued (Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges) important aspects of the training. “I... de- points out that “in those days, few people signed most elements of my program. had a clear idea of what a resource man- This gave me an opportunity to seek train- WHERE ARE THEY NOW? agement specialist was supposed to do. ing from many sources and to participate Results of a recent informal survey of This program helped define... those jobs, in fact-finding trips in various parts of the participants from the first Natural Re- both for the trainees and for the [National country. These circumstances allowed me source Trainee Program indicate that they Park] Service.” North Cascades National to better appreciate policies and programs have gone on to flourish in 9 15 natural resource manage- 2 6 8 11 13 14 1 3 4 5 7 10 12 29 ment careers, many of them 26 27 28 becoming leaders in their 21 22 30 31 32 18 19 20 23 24 25 field. Nearly 90% of the first 17 36 trainees completed the 38 42 43 44 46 course. Only four did not 34 35 36 37 39 40 41 45 47 graduate, and of those, two still work for the National Park Service in resource management related positions. The first class of the Natural Resource Trainee Program—Taken at Colorado State University in Septemb Six are either superintendents at the beginning of their 2-year training stint, this photograph appeared on the cover of Park Science (volume or assistant superintendents number 2) and accompanied an article describing this exciting new natural resource training opportunity. The (one has retired), while ten the trainees assembled was for their graduation at Mather Training Center in August, 1994. have become chiefs of resource management. Ten have remained Park Chief of Resource Management of other agencies and to establish a broad in various resource management positions Bruce Freet believes the program formed network of professionals. In today’s cli- other than division chief; six have not the basis for “a highly visible, fairly rapid... mate of partnerships, this knowledge has moved from their original park, deepen- emphasis on science-based resource man- become extremely important and useful ing their understanding of the resources agement.” in developing professional relationships.” and their respective ecosystems. Three are Some participants immediately trans- system support office natural resource lated training skills into park projects, such A TRANSFORMING ACT program leaders and two now conduct as developing an air quality monitoring In addition to developing a more biological research in parks for the Na- program for Rocky Mountain National broadly trained and networked natural tional Biological Service. One became a Park or feral animal removal at Haleakala resource workforce, the program also in- district park ranger and has put his pre- National Park. However, most cite the stitutionalized resource management in scribed fire background from the course breadth of the training approach as its the parks, elevating it to the level of other to good use. Two retired and two have main appeal and the source of its success. operational divisions. Rodgers explains, died. Of three who left government ser- Participants visited numerous parks and “the trainee program played the single vice, one is pursuing a Ph.D. in wildlife studied resource problems to help them most important role in establishing re- biology. develop the tools needed to deal with di- source management as a major discipline Course participants generally laud the verse issues in the field. “We are not spe- in park management. It sent forth trained, value of the trainee program from both a cialists as our titles suggest,” one trainee educated disciples to articulate the need personal and professional perspective. The offered, “but daily have to deal with is- for integrating natural resource consider- program rallied support for the profession- sues that other agencies might have four ations with all other management activi- alization of natural resource management, or five people [to handle].” Natural ties. By the early 1990s... dozens of provided funding for career development, Bridges National Monument Superinten- program graduates [were located] in parks and gave employees the time necessary dent Steve Chaney recognized that the and central offices [and were] able to de- to get in-depth, specialized training. Train- course “was not so much a program to velop and sustain support for resource ees stepped into resource management teach technical skills as it was a program management budget initiatives and cam- positions, often as newcomers in parks to teach concepts, instill values, and pro- paign for... separating resource manage- that formerly had no such expertise, and vide management tools.” At the end of ment from ranger activities at the were given time to develop in this chal- the 2-year course, a trainee had developed operational level.” lenging role. Other parks saw the course the broad scope of skills to establish a re- Resource management has clearly be- as an opportunity to improve the level of source management program in the field. come better integrated into park manage- training of their resource managers with- A further benefit came with the con- ment considerations since 1982. Channel out bearing the costs themselves. All train- tacts developed between participants and Islands National Park Ecologist Linda Dye ees developed a rich collection of contacts university and private sector experts. sees this happening in her park and in with subject matter experts. Bruce Denali National Park and Preserve Chief general. “We are operating from a base of Rodgers, Chief of Resource Management of Resource Management Gordon Olson for the southeast Utah group indicated that this was one of the most Continued on page 18

16 • P ARK S CIENCE TABLE 1. THEN AND NOW—THE FIRST NATURAL RESOURCE TRAINEES (1982)

Back Row (standing, left to right): Then Now 1 Harold Werner Trainee prototype, Southwest Regional Office Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park 2 Ben Holmes Coordinator, Midwest Regional Office Fire Management Officer, Great Lakes and Great Plains System Support Offices (SSO) 3 Steve Smith Coordinator, Southeast Regional Office Fire Management Officer, Atlantic Coast SSO 16 4 John Lissoway (First natural resource trainee—completed course at Area Fire Management Officer, Bandelier and El Malpais National Bandelier National Monument as pilot program for what Monuments became the Natural Resource Trainee Program) 2 5 Mike Maule Coordinator, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Retired in Santa Fe, NM 33 6 Steve DeBenedetti Trainee, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Deceased 7 Dick Prasil Coordinator, Pacific Northwest Regional Office Retired 48 8 Gordon Olson Trainee, Antietam National Battlefield Chief, Division of Research and Resource Preservation, Denali National Park and Preserve 9 Keith Langdon Trainee, Catoctin Mountain Park Plant ecologist, Great Smoky Mountains National Park 10 Larry Belli Trainee, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Assistant Superintendent, Everglades National Park 11 John Townsend Trainee, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Position in ranger activities, Midwest Field Area 12 Bruce Freet Trainee, Big Cypress National Preserve Chief of Resource Management, North Cascades National Park mber 1982 13 Mike Duwe Trainee, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area Environmental Protection Specialist, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore me 3, 14 Dave Haskell Trainee, Shenandoah National Park Director, Grand Canyon Science Center, Grand Canyon National Park e last time 15 Lillian Rummel Trainee, National Capital Parks-East Deceased 16 Linda Dye Trainee, Biscayne National Park Ecologist-Database Administrator, Channel Islands National Park Middle Row (left to right): 17 Ed Schreiner Trainee, Olympic National Park Research Biologist, National Biological Service, Forest and Range Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon—Duty Station, Olympic National Park Field Station 18 Hank McCutcheon Audited courses while at Rocky Mountain National Park With NBS at Northern Arizona University (?) 19 Steve Budd-Jack Trainee, Mesa Verde National Park District Ranger, Mesa Verde 20 Steve Chaney Trainee, Buffalo National River Superintendent, Natural Bridges National Monument 21 Ken Stephens Audited courses while at Bandelier National Monument Supervisory Resource Specialist, New River Gorge National River 22 Bruce Rodgers Trainee, Assateague Island National Seashore Chief of Resource Management, southeast Utah group (Canyonlands, Arches, Natural Bridges) 23 Bob King Trainee, Padre Island National Seashore Left NPS, possibly to the Environmental Protection Agency 24 Dave Reynolds Trainee, New River Gorge National River Natural Resource Program Leader, Chesapeake- Allegheny SSO 25 Kathy Jope Trainee, Katmai National Park Natural Resource Program Leader, Columbia-Cascades SSO 26 Chris Baumann Trainee, Chesapeake &Ohio Canal National Historical Park Working on Ph.D. in wildlife biology at the University of Massachusetts 27 Barbara Samora Trainee, Cape Cod National Seashore Mount Rainier National Park 28 Jeff Bradybaugh Trainee, Theodore Roosevelt National Park Chief of Resource Management, Mammoth Cave National Park 29 Ron Nagata Trainee, Haleakala National Park Chief of Resource Management, Haleakala National Park 30 Frank Buono Trainee, Chaco Culture National Historical Park Assistant Superintendent for Natural Resources, Mohave National Preserve 31 Len Frank Coordinator, North Atlantic Regional Office Retired (possibly in Coral Gables, FL) 32 Steve Cinnamon Trainee, Wupatki National Monument Natural Resource Program Leader, Great Plains SSO 33 Gary Ahlstrand Coordinator, Alaska Regional Office Chief of Resource Management, Mount Rainier National Park Bottom Row (sitting, left to right): 34 Bill Ehorn Audited courses, Channel Islands National Park Retired as Superintendent of Redwood National Park 35 Debbie Buzzell Trainee, Morristown National Historical Park Left government service 36 Norm Fletcher Trainee, Acadia National Park Left government service 37 Brad Cella Trainee, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Fire Management Officer, Alaska SSO 38 Garee Williamson Trainee, Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area 39 Walter Loope Trainee, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Pictured Rocks (NBS field station) National Lakeshore 40 Tim Tunison Trainee, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Resource Management Specialist, Hawaii Volcanoes 41 Jack Gulvin Trainee, Yellowstone National Park Retired from Cuyahoga Valley NRA (?) 42 Stan Lock Coordinator, National Capital Regional Office National Capital SSO (White House Liaison) 43 Ro Wauer Trainee Program Founder and Manager, Washington Office Retired in Victoria, Texas—writing bird finding guides to the national parks and other natural history publications 44 Jon Jarvis Trainee, Crater Lake National Park Superintendent, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve 45 John Miller Trainee, Grand Canyon National Park Chief of Resource Management, Padre Island National Seashore 46 Jeff Connor Trainee, Canyonlands National Park Resource Management Specialist, Rocky Mountain National Park 47 Allan O’Connell Trainee, Fire Island National Seashore Research Wildlife Biologist and NBS Cooperative Park Studies Unit Leader, University of Maine 48 Joanne Michalovic Trainee, Mount Rainier National Park Superintendent, Women’s Rights National Historical Park Not Shown Elizabeth Johnson Trainee, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Chief of Resource Management, Delaware Water Gap Cat Hoffman-Hawkins Supplementary trainee from Mount Rainier—February, Chief of Resource Management, Olympic National Park 1994. Graduated with 2nd trainee class

S UMMER 1996 • 17 Trainees continued to the resource management profession. will also serve as a natural resource train- Graduates from even the most recent ing clearinghouse, facilitating NPS partici- more knowledge than in the past. [We courses now serve in chief of resource pation in training and professionalization have] input into NPS natural resource management and superintendent posi- opportunities offered through university management decisions. Attitudes are tions, and more and more of them will short courses and other non-NPS means. changing and the need to operate from move up as the 1990s come to a close.” While training is important, Delaware an informed place is being validated.” While under way, the trainee program Water Gap National Recreation Area In many cases, the trainees themselves evolved considerably, originally concen- Chief of Resource Management Beth have risen to positions of influence and trating on just the individual needs of par- Johnson points out that “we need to be should be able to help continue the inte- ticipants. By the mid-1980s, the program able to attract previously trained, highly gration process into the future. “In a very changed to combine both park-tailored skilled scientists to advance our resource practical sense,” says Bruce Freet, North courses with a core set of academic management programs. They must com- Cascades National Park Chief of Resource courses in an effort to make the training plete the inventories that are so much Management, “[we] would not have the more even for all participants. In the end, needed, [and] they must design and [positions] and monies... allocated for the program had succeeded in placing the implement monitoring programs and ana- natural and cultural resource management first professional resource managers in lyze the data that is produced to meet the that we have today [if it were not for the many natural resource parks, but it could agreed upon management objectives for trainee program]. Our class and others not be expected to train all NPS resource the park unit.” that followed... had an effect on NPS pri- managers. Subsequently, the emphasis on Some of her concerns are addressed in orities over time. Now, many of us... are training in the technical aspects of re- the long-range resource management in influential management positions, so source management (e.g., biology, fisher- professionalization thrust that gained fo- the effects on the agency could be even ies, wildlife management) shifted. The Vail cus through the Strategic Plan for Natu- greater during the next decade.” Agenda and the Strategic Plan for Natu- ral Resource Management, the Vail Not all changes occurred in parks, how- ral Resource Management, both pub- Agenda natural resource careers commit- ever. The training program also launched lished earlier this decade, recommended tee, and the Ad Hoc Report. Now a stew- the National Park Service into new areas that the National Park Service concentrate ardship professionalization plan that of expertise as Frank Buono, now Assis- on recruiting academically trained re- includes both cultural and natural re- tant Superintendent of Joshua Tree Na- source managers with appropriate degrees sources is in final review and is expected tional Park, points outs. He views the and training them in the National Park to be released later this year; this docu- course as having “provided a basis for Service approach to resource management stresses an integrated approach to developing experience in complex legal ment (e.g., compliance, practical aspects professionalization as the key to taking and regulatory areas—air, water, minerals, of resource management planning, etc.). resource management to the next tier. Im- rights of way—that was previously miss- portant parts of the professionalization ing.” These national programs continue WHAT’S NEXT? movement include continuing to estab- to serve parks well primarily from the The revitalized Albright Employee lish positions with positive degree require- newly established Natural Resource Pro- Development Center is already offering ments, carefully recruiting academically gram Center in Colorado. training that shares the NPS-specific ap- trained specialists, retraining NPS staff, Over the course of six classes from proaches to resource management not encouraging career paths that can lead to 1982-1993, the trainee program placed taught in an academic setting. Designed superintendencies, and developing natu- over 140 resource professionals in the to cover both fundamentals and advanced ral resource competencies. Also impor- parks and helped the National Park Ser- topics, these courses will build on the most tant are enhancing and developing new vice take a big step forward toward re- successful components developed during partnerships, improving our relationships source management professionalization. the Natural Resource Trainee Program. with the National Biological Service and The highest percentage of graduates1 have The natural resource management universities, pursuing NR-MAP staffing become resource management specialists training manager at Albright, Dennis level recommendations through a sepa- (29%), followed by natural resource spe- Vásquez, recently coordinated the ambi- rate initiative, and keeping attention fo- cialists (17%), park rangers or supervisory tious 6-week course, “Fundamentals for cused on Director Kennedy’s support of park rangers (13%), and supervisory natu- Professional Natural Resource Managers.” the “Stewardship Today for Parks Tomor- ral resource specialists (5%). Other gradu- This training focused on developing com- row” initiative to double resource man- ates are biologists; biological, physical petence in the areas of NPS resource stew- agement staff by the year 2000. All are science, and GIS cartographic techni- ardship, planning and compliance, exciting potentialities, but restructuring, cians; fire management officers; and en- professional credibility, communications, reengineering, and diminishing budgets vironmental protection specialists, etc. project and program development, and have all made professionalization goals Three (as of 1992) are superintendents. other areas. Offered last May and June, more difficult to reach. However, when According to Bill Walker, Wauer’s succes- the course was funded from a central ac- the time is right, we are ready to move sor as trainee program manager for count and was attended by more than 20 forward. P courses 2-6, “we continue to see all course park resource managers with an average S participants making strong contributions of 2½ years of NPS employment. Albright 1 Percentages pertain to 108 graduates from the first five courses as of October 1992.

18 • P ARK S CIENCE Figure 2 (left) and figure 3 (above). Home to coastal sand dunes, bluffs, forests, lakes, and streams, the park began a comprehensive aquatic resource inventory and monitoring program in 1990. Survey sites include Deer, Bass, and Otter Lakes (left), and middle Otter Creek (above).

MAINTAINING A WATER QUALITY MONITORING PROGRAM AT SLEEPING BEAR DUNES

BY LAUREL L. LAST AND RICHARD L. WHITMAN PROGRAM B EGINNINGS LEEPING BEAR DUNES NA- In accordance with the lakeshore gen- Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore tional Lakeshore is located on the eral management plan (NPS 1979), the (see arrow) Snorthwest shore of the Michigan park initiated a project in 1990 to pro- lower peninsula (fig. 1). The park is a di- vide a comprehensive aquatic natural re- verse landscape of coastal sand dunes, source inventory and a program for bluffs, forests, lakes, and streams (figs. 2 long-term aquatic resource monitoring. and 3). Its topography and geology have During the first 3 years of the program, ➨ been influenced by glaciation, erosion, and 1990-92, the NPS Water Resources Divi- sedimentation. Although extensive lum- sion performed a thorough, well-funded bering begun in the late 1800s had de- aquatic resource inventory. The result was Michigan pleted the area’s forest resources by 1910, both a report and a manual to guide fu- much of the cleared land has been refor- ture lakeshore monitoring efforts (Boyle ested since the 1920s. Presently, much of and Hoefs 1993b and 1993a). the national lakeshore is covered by pine, Following the initial 3-year project period, the monitoring program became the aspen, and northern hardwoods. Over the Figure 1 (map). Sleeping Bear Dunes years, tourism has become the number responsibility of the park. In 1993, a bach- National Lakeshore, Michigan. one industry for the local economy. Con- elor-level biologist without specific cern for protection of area natural re- aquatic training and unfamiliar with the sources led to park creation in 1970. The project continued the monitoring pro- lakeshore now provides thousands of visi- gram. She collected the data and samples, In 1994, the first author, working for tors each year with a variety of recre- with help from various other park em- the NBS Lake Michigan Ecological Sta- ational opportunities, from enjoying the ployees and volunteers, and the samples tion, sampled and collected field data outdoors (through hiking, canoeing, fish- were analyzed by an outside lab and ex- (with help from the second author and ing, beachcombing, and other activities) pert macroinvertebrate specialist. The two park interns); she also analyzed and to exploring the fascinating history. park received only the data sheets and lab interpreted macroinvertebrate and water results, with no interpretation or analysis.

Continued on page 20

S UMMER 1996 • 19 Water quality program continued years of the program, analyzes problems macroinvertebrate samples were col- in maintaining program consistency, and lected at each stream site using a square- quality data. An aquatic ecologist work- suggests solutions to these problems. foot (1.0 mm mesh) Surber sampler. ing on her master’s degree conducted the monitoring after she received 3 weeks of training at the ecological station. She Figure 5. The first completed the macroinvertebrate analysis that fall and winter while attending author performed the university. The station performed the water quality analysis using methodol- Secchi disc ogy outlined in Whitman et al. (1992) and provided the park with a report visibility depth (Whitman et al. 1994). determinations on

Big Glen Lake in

the 1994 studies.

CONSISTENCY ISSUES Besides the designed reduction in col- Data collection methods lected data after the initial 3-year inven- were generally similar be- tory, other differences in methods tween years (Boyle and resulted from personnel, time, and bud- Hoefs 1993a and 1993b, get decreases and loss of corporate Whitman et al. 1994). Staff memory. Fewer stream sites were monitored 21 lakes in 1990. sampled in 1993, and some of the 1994- Although 12 lakes were 95 sites were not the same ones sampled monitored each year there- during the inventory. The lake samples after, only 10 remained in were analyzed for ammonia-nitrogen in common between 1991-92 1994-95, rather than Kjeldahl as in 1990- and 1993-95. The lakes 92, and no nitrogen species were ana- sampled in 1994-95 are lyzed in 1993. Nutrients and chlorophyll shown in figure 4. Lake data a analyses were done for shallow and collected all years included deep samples from most lakes during the temperature and dissolved 1990-92 inventory. In 1993, samples oxygen vertical profiles; were taken as depth composites as out- Secchi disk transparency (fig. lined by Boyle and Hoefs (1993a). Al- 5); and surface (or “shallow”) though depth-composited samples were Figure 4. Map of Sleeping Bear Dunes National pH, chlorophyll a, nitrate-ni- taken initially in 1994, time constraints Lakeshore, Michigan, and the 12 lakes and 10 stream sites under study in 1994 and 1995. (North and South trogen, and total phosphorus. soon forced surface grab sampling in- Manitou Islands not shown). Additional characteristics stead. monitored in 1994-95 in- One very important difference be- cluded specific conductance tween years was the length of the data In 1995, we returned with a fisheries (an indicator of ion content) and ammo- collection period. Although stream biologist and five volunteers and finished nia-nitrogen. Except for 1993, 10 sites on macroinvertebrate communities do not the sampling in only 2 days, versus sev- four streams—Platte River, Otter Creek, usually vary much over the short-term, eral weeks of effort in 1994. The National Crystal River, and Shalda Creek—were some lake water parameters can change Biological Service again analyzed water monitored every year (see figure 4 for dramatically from day to day, depend- quality, but had inadequate human re- site locations). Stream data collected in- ing on ambient events, changes in bio- sources for the macroinvertebrate analy- cluded temperature, dissolved oxygen logical systems, and other limnological sis. concentration, pH, and benthic occurrences. Accurate comparisons of This article presents an overview of the macroinvertebrate community composi- chlorophyll a or nutrient concentrations 1990-95 studies of the Sleeping Bear tion all years, plus specific conductance between lakes can therefore only be Dunes monitoring program. It compares in 1994-95. Five benthic made if the observations occur within a logistical approaches used in different 1- or 2-day period of comparable

20 • P ARK S CIENCE weather. Lake sampling occurred over a constraints, program scale may be com- support personnel. Nonetheless, people 12-, a 4-, and a 5-day period in 1990, promised for the sake of program sur- drive the monitoring train, and without 1991, and 1992, respectively. Lake sam- vival, but consistency and continuity of fuel, neither can go very far. P pling in 1993 occurred over a 51-day salient programmatic elements must be S period. Although the rest of the lake sam- maintained on some routine basis. Lack pling took 15 days in 1994, samples for of adequate programmatic resources LITERATURE CITED (surface) nutrient and chlorophyll a translates to increased turnover in pro- analyses were taken within an 8- and a gram personnel and experience, result- Boyle, T.P., and N.J. Hoefs. 1993a. Manual for monitoring lakes and streams of Sleeping Bear Dunes National 24-hour period, respectively. In 1995, all ing in decreased performance, efficiency, Lakeshore. National Park Service and Colorado State of the lakes were sampled in 1 day (12 analytical accuracy, and consistency, University, Fort Collins, CO. hours). and—most importantly—loss of corporate Boyle, T.P., and N.J. Hoefs. 1993b. Water resources Inconsistency in sampling methods re- memory. inventory of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. National Park Service and Colorado State University, stricts an investigator’s ability to deter- There are many programmatic com- Fort Collins, CO. mine if data changes reflect actual water promises and issues involved in the de- Carlson, R.E. 1977. A trophic state index for lakes. quality trends, thereby limiting the util- velopment and operation of any water Limnology and Oceanography 22:361-369. ity of a monitoring program. However, quality monitoring program, such as fine- Handy, A.H., and J.R. Stark. 1984. Water resources of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan. if methods are carefully recorded, one ness or coarseness of sampling intensity, U.S. Geological Survey. Water-Resources can determine how comparable the re- replication, quality assurance, and spa- Investigations Report 83-4253. sulting data are. In this monitoring pro- cial-temporal representation. While the National Park Service. 1979. General management plan for Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. gram, some data collection methods (such as exact sampling locations) were not well documented, making Although methods consistency is very replication difficult. How- ever, most methods were well documented. We know, important, methods documentation is critical. for example, at what depths chlorophyll a samples were Wetzel, R.G. 1983. Limnology, 2nd ed. Saunders College taken in each lake in each year, and, al- former issues are quite important, con- Publishing. though the resulting concentrations may sistency and program intensity remain Whitman, R., L. Last, and P. Gerovac. 1994. Limnological Characteristics of Selected Lakes and Streams of not correspond directly, we can still the foundation of a quality monitoring Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Inspected make general comparisons. Although program. Nonetheless, modifications to During Summer 1994. National Biological Service, methods consistency is very important, improve accuracy, efficiency, represen- Lake Michigan Ecological Station, Porter, Indiana. methods documentation is critical. tation, and techniques should be continu- Whitman, R., J. Stedt, T. Sobat, J. Socha, K. Kennedy, and L. Brenan. 1992. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore ally considered. While it is possible to water quality analysis protocols, 1992 Edition. Indiana LESSONS LEARNED maintain program size by decreasing Dunes National Lakeshore, Porter, Indiana. The water quality monitoring program monitoring frequency (e.g., sampling in has provided us with valuable insight into alternate years), loss of experienced per- Laurel Last, M.S., is an aquatic biological the problems, issues, and compromises sonnel between sampling years remains technician with the National Biological inherent in the creation and operation a critical disadvantage. Also, gaps in in- Service. Richard L. Whitman, Ph.D., is of such a program in a world of finite formation grow with decreased monitor- Station Chief and an aquatic ecologist with resources. From both our personal ex- ing activity, and the advantages and the National Biological Service Lake periences in 1994-95 and a study of the disadvantages should be weighed in each Michigan Ecological Station. He can be project from its initiation, we have situation. reached at 1100 N. Mineral Springs Road; Porter, Indiana 46304; (219) 926-8336, learned some lessons that we believe will Sleeping Bear Dunes and the former ext. 424 or 427. be useful to those involved with moni- NPS Midwest Regional Office manage- toring programs in other parks. ment remain deeply committed to a wa- Although mission commitment by the ter quality program, as demonstrated by host park and regional office remained dedicated lab space, acquisition of mod- impressively strong, many of the prob- ern analytical equipment, cooperation lems encountered were related to lack and assistance by all management of continuity of personnel and support branches of the park, and energy spent and the learning curve to be expected to find a source of continued funding. In for any complex field project. Consistent, the end, it is not the money that defines reliable commitment and support are the program, but the dedication of the imperative not only for program continuity, but also for data integrity and ulti- mate program survival. Due to fiscal

S UMMER 1996 • 21 BALD EAGLE RESEARCH IN THE APOSTLE ISLANDS NATIONAL LAKESHORE

BY JULIE VAN STAPPEN AND MICHAEL MEYER Figure 1 POSTLE ISLANDS NATION- taminants. During the study (Kozie (map). Apostle al Lakeshore is located in far 1991), eagles along the Lake Su- Islands National northwestern Wisconsin (fig. 1). perior shoreline (including the Lakeshore, A Wisconsin; site It includes 21 scenic islands in Lake Su- park) produced an average of 0.9 perior and a 19.2-km (12-mi) long strip young/occupied nest with an av- of the bald eagle of mainland. Bald eagles (Haliaeetus erage nest success of 57%; state- biosentinel leucocephalus) (fig. 2) grace the skies above wide averages during that period research. the islands; however, their low numbers were 1.3 young/occupied nest and have caused concern for both park man- 75% nest success. Figure 2 From 1989-93, the Wisconsin (above). Bald agers and state resource management Eagle chicks in partners. Although eagles have increased Department of Natural Resources nest at York in Apostle Islands and along the Lake and Michigan State University Island. Superior shoreline since DDT was banned sampled eaglet blood and found in 1972, their reproductive rates have re- higher levels of PCBs (polychlori- mained significantly lower than mainland nated biphenyls) in Apostle Island eaglets sources, Apostle Islands National populations. After years of monitoring and than mainland eaglets; these levels now Lakeshore, University of Minnesota, and two research projects, we have begun to appear to be decreasing. In 1991, we be- University of Wisconsin. answer some questions about the eagle gan a pilot study (Meyer and Van Stappen Before using the bald eagle as a population at Apostle Islands. 1991) to explore causes of lowered eagle biosentinel, the relationship between con- productivity in the lakeshore and the im- taminants and eagle productivity needed POPULATION DECLINE pact of toxic chemicals on productivity; further study. Primary factors suspected As in most of its range, the bald eagle we also began to develop a protocol us- of lowering productivity of Lake Supe- in the Apostle Islands declined signifi- ing bald eagles as an ecosystem monitor rior eagles included environmental con- cantly after the widespread introduction species for Great Lakes water quality. tamination, low food availability, and of toxic chemicals into the environment. harsh weather. By the 1970s, no more than 24 breeding EAGLES AS INDICATORS pairs of bald eagles remained along all In 1992, The Great Lakes Protection RESEARCH GETS UNDERWAY Great Lakes shorelines. In the Apostle Fund financed a greatly expanded project. During the 1992-93 field seasons, we Islands, bald eagles were absent through- A primary focus of this study was to ob- conducted research along the Lake Su- out the 1970s. Between 1980 and 1983, tain data needed to develop a Great Lakes perior shoreline, including the Apostle Is- eagles began to reestablish territories here, bald eagle biosentinel protocol; in 1990, lands, and at mainland Wisconsin bald although they produced no young until the International Joint Commission rec- eagle nest sites (fig. 3). We used direct and 1983. ommended use of the bald eagle (and spe- remote video camera observations to Eagle research conducted in the park cifically its reproductive rate) as a study eagle behavior through the help of from 1984-86 (Kozie and Anderson 1991) bioindicator of “ecosystem health” and Keith Warnke (University of Minnesota) found high levels of contaminants in prey water quality in the Great Lakes basin (In- who focused his master’s thesis on ana- items and nestling carcasses. The major- ternational Joint Commission 1990). This lyzing these operations. We also used ity of food eaten by eagles during the study multiagency-university study included the these techniques to determine nestling was fish; however, gull remains were also Wisconsin Department of Natural Re- food-energy intake by determining the found in eagle nests. Apostle Islands gulls rate of prey delivery. Field metabolic rate have high levels of organochlorine con- on eaglets in control nests was measured

22 • P ARK S CIENCE lings in Wisconsin, 33 of which were along We did not find weather to be a signifi- the Wisconsin shoreline of Lake Superior. cant factor in lowering productivity, with Lake Superior nestlings contained el- the possible exception of when Lake Su- evated levels of DDE (a breakdown prod- perior completely freezes over. For the first uct of DDT) and PCBs. The highest time in 17 years, Lake Superior was com- concentration of PCBs (1,154 ppb) was pletely ice covered in January 1994. Dur- found on Michigan Island in 1992 in the ing the first aerial overflight, six eagle nests Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; there in the Apostle Islands were active, but only the nest is located about 1.6 km (1 mi) one nest hatched chicks. Unfortunately, the from a large herring gull and double- two hatchlings were later preyed upon. An crested cormorant colony. Documenta- examination of the failed nests was incon- tion shows that the eagles fed on both clusive; however, most appeared to have species in 1992. been abandoned during incubation. The mean Wisconsin Lake Superior nestling plasma PCB concentration (100 RESULTS µg total PCB/l plasma) was three times Results of this research indicate that the greater than interior mainland Wisconsin most likely cause of lower bald eagle pro- nestling plasma PCBs; however, this level ductivity along the Lake Superior shore- is 45% less than the average plasma PCB line is low food availability. Low food concentration for Michigan and Ohio abundance following hatching may be Great Lakes nestlings. Concentrations of leading to low food delivery rates to chicks DDE and PCBs in eggs collected on Lake or prolonged adult foraging time away Superior declined between 1969 and from the nest, resulting (indirectly) in in- Figure 3. Park tree climbers retrieved 1993. The DDE levels in eggs collected creased chick mortality. The ratio of chicks for marking and blood samples. during the early 1990s were at or below young produced per successful nest is con- the level (4 µg DDE/g egg fw [fresh sistently less on the Wisconsin Lake Su- using a doubly-labeled-water technique to weight]) considered to impact productiv- perior shoreline than at interior Wisconsin validate observational data. Dr. Cheryl ity. This indicates that Lake Superior eagle nest sites; in raptors this productivity ra- Dykstra of the University of Wisconsin productivity may no longer be affected tio is stable across wide geographical ar- focused her Ph.D. dissertation on this by these contaminants. In addition, Wis- eas, only declining when nests are technique, which is used to measure en- consin Lake Superior egg PCB levels (14 established in marginal habitat. The Wis- ergy expenditure by simultaneously mea- µg total PCBs/g egg fw) are dramatically consin Lake Superior bald eagle produc- suring metabolizable energy intake in a less than levels in the 1970s; they are now tivity rate also fluctuates greatly, some feeding trial. comparable to Wisconsin River egg PCB years approaching the rate of a “healthy” Research results indicate that Lake levels where productivity rates are excel- population, only to be followed the next Superior nestlings in broods of one chick lent. year by extremely poor reproduction (e.g., received about the same amount of food The research assessed Wisconsin eagle 1993—1.03 young per occupied territory; as did interior mainland nestlings in productivity through aerial overflights 1994 (Lake Superior ice-covered)—0.33 broods of one chick. However, Lake Su- during incubation and again when chicks young per occupied territory; 1995—1.07 perior nestlings in broods of two chicks were 4-7 weeks old. For more than 25 young per occupied territory). It is likely received significantly less food than inte- years, Mr. Charles Sindelar (Waukesha, that reduced food availability chronically rior mainland broods of two chicks. Like- Wisconsin) and the Wisconsin Depart- depresses Wisconsin Lake Superior bald wise, Lake Superior adults spent approximately 20% less time at the nest during the early nestling stage, and mor- Before using the bald eagle as a biosentinel, the relationship tality in Lake Superior nests of two chicks was significantly higher than in interior between contaminants and eagle productivity needed further study. mainland nests (27.3% vs. 8.6%). Nestlings at shoreline nests with two nestlings also ment of Natural Resources have con- eagle productivity and this effect is exac- modified their behavior to conserve en- ducted these overflights. From 1983-94, erbated during harsh weather conditions. ergy by spending significantly less time productivity of Lake Superior bald eagles The Wisconsin Lake Superior bald eagle feeding, being active and standing in the was significantly lower than that of inte- nest density is low and the rate of increase nest, and more time lying in the nest. rior mainland eagles. However, it has been has leveled off after a rapid expansion in We tested the potential relationship be- improving; more than one young per oc- the 1980s; this is in contrast to the rap- tween contaminants and productivity by cupied territory was produced during five idly expanding mainland Wisconsin popu- analyzing eaglet blood and addled eggs. of the past eight breeding seasons. lation that continues to grow at an Between 1989 and 1993, blood samples were collected from 83 bald eagle nest- Continued on page 26, column 3

S UMMER 1996 • 23 LEAVE NO TRACE Figure 1. Leave No Trace

hiking practices advise off-

OUTDOOR SKILLS AND ETHICS: trail hikers to avoid creating

new trails by traveling on

durable surfaces and not

walking in single file.

An Educational Solution for Reducing Visitor Impacts

BY JEFFREY L. MARION AND SUSAN CHADWICK reduce visitor impacts are promoted along national headquarters in Lander, Wyo- BRAME with outdoor ethics and judgment neces- ming. Over the past 30 years, NOLS has sary to guide the selection and applica- taught wilderness and leadership skills to ISITORS TO NATIONAL tion of low-impact skills. 40,000 individuals on its expedition-based parks and wildlands pose an This article describes a new and rap- courses around the world. The Leave No unintentional but very real idly growing national Leave No Trace Trace program had its origins in the 1970s threat to the naturalness of (LNT) outdoor skills and ethics program in the U.S. Forest Service, when use of Vthese protected environments. Opportu- that promotes responsible backcountry wildlands soared, and education became nities for recreation constitute a primary recreation (fig. 1). The effort unites four imperative for wildlands to retain their purpose for the establishment of these na- federal agencies—the National Park Ser- pristine qualities. However, lack of fund- tional treasures, challenging managers vice, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land ing limited efforts until 1991, when the with the difficult task of balancing recre- Management, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Forest Service approached NOLS to serve ation and resource protection objectives. Service—and outdoor retailers, manufac- as a partner in the program. Further, Leave As visitation continues to increase, the re- turers, user groups, educators, and indi- No Trace, Inc., a nonprofit corporation in curring question, “Are we loving our parks viduals who share a commitment to Boulder, Colorado, was formed in 1994 to death?,” compels managers to search maintain and protect our public lands. The to oversee marketing efforts and industry for new and more effective tools to reach primary goal of the program is to develop fundraising for the program. They func- that balance. an educational system that instills the tion in cooperation with the original part- In fulfilling their mandate, managers desire and understanding, and demon- ners, representatives of the outdoor have employed a wide array of direct and strates the necessary skills, to enjoy out- products industry, conservation organiza- indirect visitor management actions (see door recreation in a low-impact manner. tions, and major recreational user groups. Marion et al. 1993). Direct actions, such The program makes Leave No Trace a The current LNT programs build upon as prohibiting campfires, alter visitor be- household name for many Americans, previous educational efforts but are dis- havior through regulations that reduce similar to other federal campaigns such tinguished from their predecessors in visitor freedom, an important element of as Smokey the Bear and Woodsy Owl. three fundamental aspects. First, they are high quality wildland experiences. Indi- more thoroughly grounded in scientific rect actions, such as visitor education, en- HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF knowledge from the discipline of recre- courage visitors to voluntarily alter their THE LEAVE NO TRACE PROGRAM ation ecology. Knowledge from this dis- behavior to lessen the environmental im- The Leave No Trace program was for- cipline describes relationships between pacts of their recreational pursuits. Edu- malized in 1993 with a memorandum of resource degradation and different types cational approaches seek to convey understanding between the federal part- and amounts of recreational use, as modi- information that emphasizes the linkage ner agencies and the National Outdoor fied by environmental factors (e.g., veg- between visitation and resource degrada- Leadership School (NOLS). NOLS is a etation or soil types) and managerial tion. Camping and hiking practices that nonprofit wilderness school, with inter- factors (e.g., visitor management actions).

24 • P ARK S CIENCE For example, LNT literature instructs visi- book, “Soft Paths: How to Enjoy the Wil- regulations adopted by different parks to tors to apply different practices depend- derness Without Harming It” (Hampton limit visitor impacts may appear to con- ing upon whether they are in high-use and Cole 1995), several national LNT flict and may confuse park visitors. For areas or less visited pristine areas. Select- pamphlets and posters, a regional series example, Shenandoah National Park mini- ing durable vegetation types and surfaces of LNT outdoor skills and ethics book- mizes backcountry camping impacts by for travel and camping is also emphasized. lets, an activity-specific series (Leave No dispersing camping while their southern Second, current efforts place substan- Trace for horseback riders and climbers), neighbor, Great Smoky Mountains, has tial emphasis on hands-on adopted designated site camping regula- training, both of LNT train- tions to limit impacts. Camping impacts ers and backcountry visitors. can be effectively minimized under both Figure 2. The heart of the program is impact reduction strategies, but educa- the Master of Leave No Trace tional efforts must be tailored for each to Course, a 5- to 6-day field Brochures, like the maximize its effectiveness. course with three compo- Developing park-specific LNT litera- nents: 1) low-impact camp- ture (fig. 2) enables managers to include one for Great ing and travel skills, 2) only those practices that are applicable wildland ethics, and 3) teach- to their unique environments, activities, ing techniques. Successful Smoky Mountains and management practices. Leave No Trace graduates teach agency per- practices that address particularly trouble- sonnel, their constituents, some impact problems, such as firewood National Park, are and the public about Leave collection and fire building, can be em- No Trace. Diverse participants phasized. Different LNT practices can be in each course enhance the one means to targeted to different user groups (e.g., hik- educational experience. ers or horseback riders) or for different Some of the nonfederal par- park environments (e.g., river or desert). publicize the ticipants include members of Additionally, LNT information can ex- scouting groups, numerous plain the rationale for visitor regulations colleges, private outfitters, program. and describe low-impact camping and and outdoor product indus- hiking practices that increase the effec- try representatives. Inherent tiveness of those regulations. in the LNT training philoso- Managers, visitors, and park phy is the obligation of “mas- backcountry resources all benefit from ters” to teach and encourage national visibility and consistency of the others in Leave No Trace skills LNT program. Visitor compliance and and ethics. Masters train ethical understanding are enhanced when trainers that can assist them in reaching and most recently, a LNT booklet devel- educational tools are reinforced and am- the public with as much hands-on instruc- oped specifically for Great Smoky Moun- plified by outdoor stores, the media, scout- tion as possible. tains National Park. The program also has ing and other groups, and park staff. The The growing cadre of LNT masters a toll-free number (1-800-332-4100) for national program does not replace local (currently 333 individuals in 32 states, requesting LNT literature. In the last four educational efforts; it strengthens them by Mexico, and Chile) is supported by fol- months of 1995, NOLS staff received an providing a broader context. low-up and curriculum assistance from average of 22 phone calls a day, and sent I had an opportunity to pilot test the NOLS and participating agencies. The out 434 LNT mailings. Additionally, LNT development of park-specific LNT litera- masters are networked through the thrice- literature is posted on and may be re- ture during recent campsite and trail sur- yearly Master Network newsletter and the quested over the World Wide Web. vey research that I conducted at Great LNT World Wide Web site on the Inter- Smoky Mountains National Park. Along net (http://www.nols.edu/LNT/LNTHome). NPS LEAVE NO TRACE PAMPHLET FOR with NOLS and Great Smokies Resource staff who are interested in the Master of GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS Management Specialist Carol Schell, we LNT training or in receiving the LNT The need and opportunities for devel- developed and submitted a Challenge newsletter should contact the NOLS oping specific LNT literature are high- Cost-Share proposal for NPS funding to LNT office (1-800-332-4100; e-mail lighted in the remainder of this paper. create and publish a Great Smokies Leave “[email protected]”). Existing national, regional, and activity- No Trace brochure. The National Park Finally, the current program is devel- specific LNT literature conveys skills and Service and NOLS funded the proposal oping and distributing a comprehensive practices that are widely applicable. How- in 1994 in the amounts of $8,500 and set of LNT literature targeted to a wide ever, specific practices, such as selecting $10,800, respectively. variety of audiences. The NOLS LNT of- and using a pristine campsite, may not be fice distributes 12 different publications applicable in parks that restrict camping and three videos, including a definitive to designated sites. Visitor management Continued on page 26

S UMMER 1996 • 25 Leave No Trace continued pose of the project is to gather informa- Bald eagle research continued tion about visitor impacts and develop a National Outdoor Leadership School recreational strategy with LNT education exponential rate. Other contributing fac- project writer Susan Brame worked for the Conservancy’s Tensleep Preserve. tors to lowered productivity include: low- closely with Carroll Schell during the win- These examples illustrate only some of ered nest attentiveness; higher predation ter of 1994-95 to write the booklet. They the possibilities for developing tools and rates of young; harsh spring weather or gathered and examined existing park in- strategies to improve visitor education. extensive ice cover; and somewhat el- formation regarding backcountry regula- Less intensive forms of involvement might evated levels of PCB and DDT. tions, rationale for the regulations, and low include the distribution of electronic cop- impact camping and hiking practices. This ies of existing LNT literature, with modi- IN CLOSING information was integrated with LNT fications made by park staff. NOLS can Eagle research methods and findings in practices described in the Southeastern serve in a review role to ensure accuracy the Great Lakes have been incorporated States LNT Outdoor Skills and Ethics and consistency and coordinate approval in the development of a Great Lakes bald eagle biosentinel protocol. The protocol is currently under consideration for adoption Using research to determine relationships between under the Great Lakes water quality agreement between the U.S. and Canadian gov- resource degradation and use, the Leave No Trace ernments. This protocol, if adopted, will standardize methods used by numerous Program promotes responsible, low-impact state, provincial, and federal agencies to collect Great Lakes bald eagle habitat, pro- backcountry recreation through education ductivity, and contaminant data, allowing the Apostle Islands eagle population to be put into a regional framework. However, booklet and other sources to produce a with LNT, Inc., for use of the LNT logo. the results of this project must be consid- LNT booklet that is directly relevant and Every successful partnership, in whatever ered carefully when comparing productiv- specific to Great Smoky Mountains. Staff form, will enhance the next effort. ity trends between Lake Superior and the at NOLS, the park, and the Virginia Tech National Park Service staff interested in other Great Lakes. In the other lakes, con- Cooperative Park Studies Unit reviewed exploring partnership opportunities taminants may be the primary factor lim- two drafts of the text that was then sent should contact Rich Brame at NOLS. iting productivity, whereas food availability out for an external review. After incorpo- While the level of NOLS involvement is appears to be the primary limiting factor rating comments and edits, NOLS ar- contingent on available funding, they are in Lake Superior. This knowledge will en- ranged for printing. Donations from committed to LNT education and will able us to better interpret population trends NOLS alumni in the southeastern United work with managers to develop strategies in the Apostle Islands eagles. P States increased funding available for the that work. S P initial printing. We completed and mailed S the attractive 15-page booklet (3½” x 8”)in REFERENCES July, and it has been well received. REFERENCES Like most parks, Great Smokies faces International Joint Commission. 1990. Draft; Final report of myriad backcountry recreation manage- Hampton, B., and D. Cole. 1995. Soft paths: How to enjoy the ecosystems objectives committee. Unpublished report. the wilderness without harming it. Stackpole Books. Kozie, K.D. and R.K. Anderson. 1991. Productivity, diet, and ment challenges, and they must cope with Mechanicsburg, PA. 222 pp. environmental contaminants in bald eagles nesting near budget cuts that require constant innova- Marion, J.L., J.W. Roggenbuck, and R.E. Manning. 1993. the Lake Superior shoreline. Archives of Environmental tion. Through the generosity of a local do- Problems and practices in backcountry recreation Contamination and Toxicology 20:41-48. nor, managers created a short educational management: A survey of National Park Service Meyer, M.W. and J.F. Van Stappen. 1991. Apostle Islands managers. U.S. Department of the Interior, National National Lakeshore bald eagle breeding ecology: video to cover the basics of minimum-im- Park Service, Natural Resources Report NPS/NRVT/ assessment of 1991 pilot study. Apostle Islands pact backcountry travel. According to NRR-93/12. 63 pp. (Available from Jeff Marion) National Lakeshore, Bayfield, Wisconsin. Chief Ranger Jason Hock, the brochure Meyer, M.W., et al. 1994. Factors controlling Great Lakes bald eagle productivity. Final report submitted to The was integral to the whole process. Jeff Marion is a recreation ecologist and Great Lakes Protection Fund, 35 East Wacker Drive, The success of the Great Smokies part- Unit Leader-Scientist of the Virginia Tech Suite 1880, Chicago, Il 60601. nership provides a useful model for other Cooperative Park Studies Unit, parks. Several ongoing LNT partnerships Department of Forestry, in Blacksburg, Julie Van Stappen is the Supervisory are pursuing slightly different tactics. The Virginia. He is with the National Resource Management Specialist at Apostle NOLS Leave No Trace staff is currently Biological Service and may be reached at Islands National Lakeshore, Bayfield, working with nine western parks to de- (540) 231-6603; fax (540) 231-3698; e- Wisconsin. Her phone number is (715) mail “[email protected]”. velop a Rocky Mountain LNT video. 779-3397. Dr. Michael Meyer is a Wildlife Susan Brame is a writer and former Toxicologist with the Wisconsin NOLS is also involved in a grant-funded, NOLS instructor in Lander, Wyoming. She 3-year partnership with the Wyoming of- Department of Natural Resources Bureau can be reached at NOLS at (307) 332- of Research in Madison, Wisconsin. His fice of the Nature Conservancy; the pur- 1296; e-mail “[email protected]”. number is (715) 365-8858.

26 • P ARK S CIENCE TURFGRASS RESEARCH IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AREA NATIONAL PARKS

cultural resource parks. For certain park Figure 1. The Fourth of July purposes, native grasses may be a good choice for low maintenance, but they may celebration on the Washington not hold up to the pressures of high use areas. Furthermore, they may not be avail- Monument grounds in Washington, able for use in many cultural park settings. Turfgrasses on the other hand, require D.C., poses a real challenge to attention that may not be environmen- tally sound. Use of natural or artificial pes- turfgrass managers. As many as ticides, for instance, have potential negative environmental effects and can be 1,000,000 people turn out for the costly to purchase and apply. Addition- ally, nearly all turfgrasses are nonnative. annual fete, compacting grasses

TURFGRASS RESEARCH and wearing them down to dirt. So how do we select and grow good turfgrass in parks with minimal effort, cost, and disturbance to ecosystems? Turfgrass research has answered many of these withered, or dead. In historical parks, turf questions (see the companion article on BY KEVIN N. MORRIS AND JAMES C. PATTERSON may need to match the cultural landscape turf selection and care on page 30) and Editor’s note: Turfgrasses are predomi- being presented as a snapshot in time. In continues to be important in making site- nantly nonnative, require regular care that recreational settings, turfgrass needs to be specific recommendations. Since 1979, the at times may not be ecologically sound, and durable and stand up to constant com- NPS National Capital Field Area has par- are not appropriate in many areas of the paction from large gatherings. Around ticipated with the National Turfgrass national park system. This article does not visitor centers and other park facilities, Evaluation Program (NTEP) in conduct- discuss policy issues related to where and turfgrass may simply be used to help beau- ing turfgrass research. This program is when turfgrass should be used. Rather, it is tify an area. sponsored by the National Turfgrass Fed- intended to help managers make wise turfgrass choices in parks where the use of Turfgrass, however, plays a much more eration, Inc., and the United States De- sod is long-established and considered important role than just providing beauty. partment of Agriculture in Beltsville, appropriate. Made up of miles of roots, thousands of Maryland, and coordinates testing of over grass plants per square yard help to con- 600 grasses across the United States and serve and stabilize soil. A thick, healthy Canada. The program accepts new ge- HAT DO KITE FLYING, turfgrass stand is a natural filter that ab- netic seed stock from seed companies and gatherings like the Million sorbs great quantities of rainfall, purify- plant breeders, organizes and mails seed WMan March, and visiting a ing it as it slowly drains into the soil. Grass to cooperating colleges and universities soldier’s grave all have in common? Each provides a natural cooling effect on hot and other interested technical partici- is an activity that takes place on turfgrass summer days by reducing air tempera- pants, collects test results, and releases in units of the national park system. While tures at the ground 15-30 degrees Fahr- data summaries. The cooperating univer- the presence of healthy sod is not the fo- enheit. Turfgrass is also a pleasant, safe sity turfgrass researchers prepare, seed, cus of such activities, it is a key compo- surface for informal games and picnics or tend, and evaluate the research plots. Each nent in providing for visitor use and formal organized sports. The challenge is individual test is programmed for a 4-5 enjoyment, especially in urban or histori- to develop and keep turfgrass stands that year field evaluation. The study period cal parks. provide these benefits but do not require spans different weather conditions and use The demands we make on turf in na- constant care, pampering, or great exper- situations, thus providing an excellent tional parks are diverse and often over- tise to manage. overall evaluation of performance. Also, looked. Turfgrass should blend in with the Managers now recognize the increas- since tests are located in many geographic natural surroundings and not become a ing importance of adopting sustainable focal point, whether beautiful, deep green, management practices in both natural and Continued on page 28

S UMMER 1996 • 27 Turfgrass research continued areas, excellent cultivar (short for “cultivated variety,” which means improved strain) recommendations can be developed for local turfgrass users in most any area. The National Park Service is interested in evaluating cultivar performance on heavily impacted, low maintenance park lands. Tests have been planted and evaluated on the Washington Monument Figure 2 (above). The Desert Storm celebration, grounds, National Mall, and East Potomac held in June 1991 on the National Mall, drew Park in Washington, D.C., Prince William 1,000,000 people over 4 days to view 20 pieces of Forest Park in Northern Virginia, and military hardware on display. Antietam National Battlefield in Figure 3 (right). Just 6 weeks after being worn to Sharpsburg, Maryland. The growth con- dirt, the same helicopter display site has bounced ditions at these sites are different from back solely as a result of watering. Kentucky those of the university experiment stations bluegrass is generally resistant to compaction, but across the continent largely because of the cultivars differ in their resilience—see figure 4. tremendous impact that visitors and their feet have on grass and soil. For example, approximately 1,000,000 people visit the plications of water and fertilizers, and fol- suitability to the test. If the primary goal Washington Monument grounds on the low time-honored data collection proce- is learning the incidence of disease, then Fourth of July (fig. 1, page 27) where the dures and analyses. However, at park sites, we locate tests in areas with heavy dis- soil compacts nearly as hard as concrete. some variables are not controllable. For ease pressure or in areas where disease Likewise, the wear and tear on the Na- instance, construction workers parked can run rampant. For example, summer tional Mall turfgrass is tremendous con- heavy equipment on a tall fescue evalua- diseases need high temperature, high hu- sidering 13-33 million people visit this site tion plot near the Smithsonian Institute midity, and moist conditions to thrive. annually. In 1991 alone, approximately and built a fence around it. Another plot Therefore, areas with low relative eleva- 2,100 permits, or seven per day, were re- was covered with straw and artificial walk- tion or areas next to woods provide addi- quested for events as benign as a one-per- ways for the display of twelve acres of tional moisture or restricted air flow that son newscast to very large gatherings on quilts just 3 weeks after seeding! Trucks, encourages disease development. If the the National Mall. The Gulf War victory large tents, concert stages, and display objective is to test tolerance to compac- celebration brought over 1,000,000 people booths have all covered our sites, and tion or traffic, we choose areas that pro- to the National Mall to view military hard- engineers have constructed new sidewalks vide a uniform, consistent wear pattern ware (fig. 2). Everything from tanks to through or next to them. Even on occa- across the experiment. Drought tolerance Apache helicopters to harrier jets were sion, marijuana “grass” seed can be found, can be tested using reduced or no irriga- displayed, most on the grass, making the so thoughtfully dropped or left behind by tion. Cold tolerance can be evaluated by need for sound resource management rec- others. planting the grasses outside their zone of ommendations obvious (fig. 3). Other cooperative research projects adaptation. The lion’s share of the cooperative re- include testing grasses in heavily shaded A test area needs to be uniform in soil search has been on the Washington areas that have compacted soils and im- type, drainage, etc., so that differences in Monument grounds. We have planted, proving a very acidic, pyrite mine spoil soil or water- holding capacity will not grown, and evaluated experimental plots site with compost materials in Prince give one grass an advantage over another. there continuously since 1980. We have William Forest Park. Antietam National All vegetation is removed from the site, tried many grasses and varieties and most Battlefield offers additional research op- the area is cultivated, fertilized, and pre- have failed the test! Only a handful of Ken- portunities for evaluating grasses in a na- pared into a firm, smooth seedbed. Then, tucky bluegrass (fig. 4) and perennial tional cemetery. The battlefield is also a measured amount of each seed is planted ryegrass varieties have delivered accept- evaluating a soil amendment for its po- using a 5 x 5 ft planting box to prevent able results and even fewer tall fescues tential to limit soil compaction in a well- the seed from blowing into adjacent plots. have survived over the years. worn grass walkway. After seeding, the entire area is covered Conducting research on a national park with seeding cloth to prevent washing of site is not always as easy as a university RESEARCH METHODS the seed. or USDA experimental area, for research- The National Turfgrass Evaluation Pro- Each grass is planted, or replicated, ers must control as many variables as pos- gram conducts experiments using small three times in a random fashion to fur- sible. We go to great pains to find uniform, (25 square foot) plots of each grass type. ther negate any differences in soil, drain- level soils, provide measured, accurate ap- Initially, a test area is selected based on age, or disease development in the plot

28 • P ARK S CIENCE cluding leaf texture, color, grasses tested over the past 15 years on density, disease and insect the Washington Monument grounds. This tolerance, weed invasion, cultivar is lighter green and generally less drought, and cold. attractive than many others, but it with- Many turfgrass character- stands heavy foot traffic and resulting istics are subjective, due to compacted soils. “Midnight” Kentucky personal bias of the re- bluegrass, on the other hand, is an attrac- searcher. This significantly tive, dark green, dense cultivar that has influences whether a grass never survived more than 1 year in the receives a high or low rat- Washington Monument tests. ing for turfgrass quality. The three research partners have also Some characteristics, such as cooperated to improve the turfgrass qual- depth of thatch, can be mea- ity of the National Mall. This project in- sured quantitatively. How- volved installing a zoysia and tall fescue Figure 4. This national Kentucky bluegrass test plot— ever, measurements of many plot near the Smithsonian Institute and cultivar ISI-21—persists in good health 3 years after characteristics are difficult the Capitol. The objective was to provide establishment on the Washington Monument grounds; all other surrounding bluegrass cultivar plots have died. and time consuming to ideal conditions by encouraging the zoy- make. Therefore, research- sia in summer and then managing the tall ers use the NTEP format fescue during the winter. This mix pro- area. Replications allow the researcher to and rate most grasses on a scale of 1-9 vides a good balance as zoysia prospers determine if the response of one grass to with 9 being highest quality, darkest under hot, dry, and heavy use conditions a particular stress is accurate or happened green, finest leaf texture, least disease, etc. prevalent in summer, while tall fescue by chance. If one plot of a cultivar is dam- With proper training, test personnel can performs well during the cool, moist win- aged from disease but the other two plots become quite proficient in rating grasses ter months. This mixture has performed are not, then uniform disease develop- quickly and accurately. well and remains under evaluation. If it ment did not occur. If all the grasses in After data is collected for an entire proves acceptable, then the National Park one corner of the plot are infested with a growing season, they are assembled and Service will alter its management of the particular insect but do not show dam- sent to our facility in Maryland. We check mall turfgrass. age in other areas, then the insect is not the data, correct inaccuracies and perform A further example of the usefulness of distributed uniformly. statistical analyses on each data set. An- these data is the need for improved grasses The National Turfgrass Evaluation Pro- nual progress reports are produced con- on Liberty Island where the Statue of Lib- gram has developed a standardized data taining all the data collected on each erty resides in New York City. Liberty Is- collection format that all cooperators use turfgrass species from each location. land receives heavy visitation and impacts when collecting data. Data on many char- These summaries are available for a mod- similar to those of the Washington Monu- acteristics is collected by the researcher: est fee. ment grounds. Data collected at the Wash- some data characterize or describe each ington Monument, other park sites, and grass (descriptive) and others record the APPLYING THE RESEARCH nearby Rutgers University in New Jersey, grasses’ response to various stresses. Ex- The test data have been used for many have lead to improved turfgrass recom- amples of descriptive characteristics are other national park system areas where mendations for the Statue of Liberty. Per- leaf texture (fineness of leaf), genetic color recommendations to improve turfgrass haps other parks will benefit from this (shade of green), and density (number of are required. Generally the areas most in research. P plants per unit area). These characters are need of these recommendations are those S collected at many sites and do not vary with large acreages of grass where park much from location to location. visitors tend to gather. By providing the Stresses that may influence the quality improved turfgrass recommendations, soil Kevin Morris is the National Program of a turf stand include diseases, insects, test data, and improved management Coordinator for the National Turfgrass drought, heat, cold, poor soil, low fertil- guidelines, a much improved, functional Evaluation Program in Beltsville, MD. ity, wear and tear, and others. Research- turf stand is achieved. This is particularly His phone number is (301) 504-5125. ers attempt to rate the grasses’ response important when one considers that over James C. Patterson is a research agronomist to these various stresses as they occur. 100 Kentucky bluegrass cultivars are on for the NPS, National Capital Area in Often, however, several stresses may af- the market and, without field testing, se- Washington, DC. His phone number is fect a grass at one time, making it difficult lecting the right variety for any single site (202) 342-1443. to separate responses to each stress. is very difficult. The same is true for tall Therefore, researchers collect the most fescue, fineleaf fescue, perennial ryegrass, important rating, turfgrass quality, each zoysia, and other grasses (see Table 1, month throughout the growing season. page 31). For example, “Monopoly” is a Quality ratings reflect many factors in- Kentucky bluegrass cultivar that has performed consistently better than most

S UMMER 1996 • 29 A PRIMER FOR CHOOSING AND MAINTAINING HEALTHY TURF

BY KEVIN N. MORRIS AND JAMES C. PATTERSON WARM-SEASON G RASSES ESEARCH, AS DISCUSSED IN ryegrass (Lolium perenne), tall fescue Warm-season grasses, such as the article on page 27, is impor- (Festuca arundinacea), fineleaf fescue Bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.), zoysiagrass Rtant to fine tune turfgrass recom- (Festuca rubra) and creeping bentgrass (Zoysia sp.), centipedegrass (Eremochloa mendations to a specific park or for a par- (Agrostis stolonifera). None of these grasses ophiuriodes) and St. Augustinegrass ticular function. However, much basic in- are native to the United States. Most were (Stenotaphrum secundatum), like their cool- formation on the attributes of various brought from Europe when immigrants season counterparts, are native to other turfgrass varieties is already available from or sailors crossed the Atlantic with seed parts of the world, coming here via set- earlier studies and may be helpful to park or bedding for cattle on board. tlers or travelers. Buffalograss (Buchloe managers. Kentucky bluegrass (which did not dactyloides), on the other hand, is native The first step in growing good turfgrass originate in Kentucky, but grows well to the U.S. Great Plains. These grasses with minimal effort, cost, and disturbance there) is widely used because it is attrac- thrive in summer heat and are more tol- to ecosystems is very basic—choosing the tive, forms a dense sod, and comes in erant of drought, in general, than the cool- proper grass for the geographical area and many variants. Some Kentucky blue- season grasses. Warm-season grasses vary, intended use. Grasses come in many va- grasses arc very tolerant of foot traffic, however, in their ability to tolerate ex- rieties and flavors, but can be broken while others tolerate acidic soils, shade, treme drought, cold winter temperatures, down into two categories: cool-season or drought. Unfortunately, no single Ken- and disease. and warm-season. As the name suggests, tucky bluegrass has all these characteris- Bermuda grass is probably the most cool-season grasses grow best in spring, tics; you must first identify your needs and widely used of the warm-season grasses. winter, and fall, and prefer the cooler ar- choose accordingly. Bermuda grass spreads very fast and forms eas of the United States. Extending the Perennial ryegrass germinates fast, a dense sod with very good drought and Mason-Dixon line west across the coun- quickly establishes ground cover, and is wear tolerance. Hybrid Bermuda grasses try roughly gives the southern border of also fairly tolerant of walking or sports- form a very dense, fine-textured turf but this region. Logically, warm-season related wear and tear. Its downfall, in the require higher maintenance than available grasses that grow best in warm, summer humid states, is its susceptibility to dam- at most parks. Common Bermuda grass temperatures, are best south of the Ma- age by summer diseases. will survive with less care than the hy- son-Dixon line, right? Unfortunately, the Tall fescue is heat and drought tolerant brids but still requires a higher level of line is not nearly this clear-cut. Many of while requiring less fertilizer and water maintenance than some other warm-sea- the warm-season grasses do not like cold, than perennial ryegrass and most Ken- son grasses. winter temperatures that prevail from tucky bluegrasses. The “transition zone,” Zoysiagrass spreads much slower than Maryland south to Georgia and even to an area that is too cold in winter for many Bermuda grass but forms a denser sod the mountains of, say, Arizona. Therefore, warm-season grasses and too hot in sum- with lower fertility requirements. Many the grass-type decision process is quite mer for many cool-season grasses, is the zoysiagrasses are very cold tolerant and muddled and very confusing at times. best area for use of tall fescue. It does well will survive winters in the northern United To further complicate the issue is the in acidic soils, but does not tolerate com- States. consideration of the location and use for pacted soils. Therefore, it is not the best Centipedegrass is fairly coarse-textured that grass. Is the area in full sun or shade? choice for most heavy traffic areas. and slow-growing but needs less fertilizer Is the soil acidic or alkaline? Will hordes Fineleaf fescues (a general term for six and water than any of the other warm- of visitors trample the grass? Many other different grass species) are excellent in season grasses. The cold tolerance and questions are pertinent, but the point is shade and also perform well in poor, wear tolerance is medium to low. St. that choosing the best turfgrass is work! acidic soils. They require a minimum of Augustinegrass has very coarse leaves and While managers should expect to give fertilizer and water and perform poorly forms a sod that feels “spongy.” This grass attention to the care of turfgrass, choos- when too much fertilizer is applied. These spreads quickly and has the best shade ing the right grass from the start will mini- varieties tolerate compacted soils very tolerance of any of the warm-season mize problems and reduce costs down the poorly and are not suitable for high visi- grasses. However, this grass also has the road (Table 1). tation areas. Very low maintenance areas, least tolerance of cold and wear. such as cemeteries and roadsides, are tra- COOL-SEASON GRASSES ditionally where fineleaf fescues have been GRASS CARE Cool-season grasses have the widest used, but they are making their way into After choosing and establishing a grass, distribution and greatest use in most ar- more turf settings. a manager needs to consider mowing, fer- eas of the United States. The most popu- Creeping bentgrass is a specialty grass tilizing and watering the turf. Since lar cool-season grasses are Kentucky used mainly on golf courses and probably turfgrasses are often not cut or mowed in bluegrass (Poa pratensis), perennial has very little utility in most national parks. nature (except where grazed by animals),

30 • P ARK S CIENCE Table 1. Advantages and Disadvantages of various grasses trogen is the single most important element needed by grasses. Nitrogen causes Variety Pros Cons leaves and roots to grow and improves the green color. Nitrogen can be overused Cool-season grasses Grow best during cool season and however, therefore care should be taken cool regions of U.S. not to apply more than the grass needs for adequate growth. Since the need for Kentucky bluegrass varieties Tolerant of foot traffic, acidic No single variety offers all these nitrogen varies with the grass type, con- soils, shade, and drought characteristics sult a knowledgeable source for guidance. Perennial ryegrass Germinates and covers quickly; Susceptible to summer diseases Phosphorus is the second element that is fairly tolerant of soil compaction important for turfgrass survival. Phospho- Tall fescue Heat and drought tolerant; uses Does not tolerate compacted soils rus applications are most important dur- less fertilizer and water than ing establishment of new seed or grass perennial rye and kentucky plants. After grasses are well established, bluegrasses; does well in acidic phosphorus requirements are much lower soils than nitrogen requirements. Potassium, Fineleaf fescue varieties Excellent in shade and acidic Intolerant of compaction the third nutrient of importance, is prob- soils; require little fertilizer and ably not used enough by turfgrass man- water; good for low maintenance agers. Potassium increases the heat, cold, areas like cemeteries and drought, and wear tolerance of turfgrasses. roadsides Annual application rates of potassium that Creeping bentgrass Specialty grass of golf courses Large water volume and high at least equal the rate of nitrogen used will maintenance help grasses to survive stressful periods. Watering, or irrigation, is the final criti- Warm-season grasses Thrive in summer heat; tolerant of May not do well in transition zone drought to cold areas; vary in ability to cal maintenance practice for turfgrass suc- tolerate extreme drought, colder cess. In many park situations, irrigation temps, and disease may be unavailable, impractical, or inap- propriate. In many areas, such as the Bermuda grass Spreads fast; dense; drought and Requires higher maintenance than desert southwest, grass cannot be grown wear tolerant some other warm-season grasses without supplemental irrigation. There- fore, water may be the limiting factor in Hybrid Bermuda grasses Spread fast; dense; drought and Require higher maintenance than wear tolerant Bermuda grass growing good turfgrass. In many other areas, turfgrass can be grown successfully Zoysiagrass Forms dense sod with low Spreads much slower than without irrigation, providing that the grass fertilization requirement Bermuda grass has an opportunity to first become well Centipedegrass Needs least water and fertilizer of Spreads more slowly than established. Irrigation, like fertilization can any warm-season grass; forms Bermuda grass; course-textured; be overdone to the point that diseases and denser sod, with less fertilization, slow growing; medium to low weeds become problems. Also, irrigation than Bermuda grass cold- and wear-tolerance that promotes excessive grass growth St. Augustinegrass Very course leaves give a spongy Least cold- and wear-tolerance during a stressful period, such as summer, feel; spreads quickly; best shade may not allow grasses to “harden-off,” or tolerance of any warm-season slowly prepare for stress. If irrigation is grass suddenly stopped, for economic or logistical reasons, the turfgrass will likely suf- mowing is the maintenance practice that mower blade is important to produce a fer more than if it were not irrigated and can most easily damage turfgrass stands. clean cut of the leaf blades and not cause allowed to shut itself down. Most grasses Therefore, proper mowing procedures are damage to the tip of the grass plant. Fi- can withstand at least some heat and essential for healthy grass that is able to nally, cutting height varies depending on drought stress and should, in most cases, withstand weeds, diseases, and insects. A the grass and needs to be researched and be allowed to do so. If the area is needed good guideline is to never remove more monitored for each mowing. Mowing as an attractive focal point for the park or than one-third of the height of the grass shorter than a grass can withstand will for the safety of organized sports partici- with any one mowing. Grasses need an severely damage the turf stand and will pants, then irrigation may be essential to adequate amount of leaf tissue to perform reduce the density of that stand, creating ensure consistent turfgrass cover. P photosynthesis and produce enough food opportunity for weeds to invade. S to survive and thrive. Removing more Fertilization may or may not be per- than one-third of these leaves weakens formed in many national park sites, but it the grass plant and may force it use stored is important to understand the most im- food to “breathe.” In addition, a sharp portant nutrients required by grasses. Ni-

S UMMER 1996 • 31 ✰ P 774–300 GPO D O O S S S EPTEMBER EPTEMBER EPTEMBER ECEMBER CTOBER CTOBER O CTOBER 25 19-21 8-11 14-19 9-20 28- 3 tion at (402) 221-3994; e-mail: [email protected]: 221-3994; tion at(402) Medland oftheGreatPlainsSystem Support Officeforfurtherinforma- researchers, conservationbiologists,andmanagersalike.Contact Jill of Today’s AlteredEcosystems,”thegatheringshouldinterest ecosystem Omaha, Nebraska. Organizedaroundthetheme,“SensibleManagement The MidwestFish1996 andWildlife conferencewill takeplacein 15. making apresentation;abstractsaredueSeptember Wildlife BiologistatBandelier,by July1ifyouareinterestedin NPS Contact StephenFettig ( Biological Research intheJemez Mexico,inSantaFe. Mountains,New areco-hostingano-feeSymposium of Alamos NationalLaboratory Bandelier NationalMonument,SantaFe NationalForest, andtheLos information. Wagner “[email protected]”) e-mail: (Fax: formore 202-686-1001; thatcontributestosocietalwell-being.technology ContactCheryl workinplanning,design,and evidence oflandscapearchitecture Angeles.Thismeeting inLos expositionwillfocusoncompelling The Architects AmericanSocietyofLandscape willholditsannual Faxtional $2,895. yourregistrationto(212)888-9819. includingairfarefromNew York$2,168 City;theeco-tourisanaddi- Mediterranean isavailablefollowingtheconference.Conferencecost agement, GatewayNationalRecreation Area.A12-dayeco-tourofthe Explorers Club,andDr.John Tanacredi, ChiefofResource Man- NPS is coordinatedbyDr. being PresidentEmeritusofthe Loret, John sored bytheExplorersClubandTurkish government,theconference required tobetter understandouroceansintothe21stcentury. Cospon- andwhatmarinebiotechnologiesexcavated byarcheologists; will be sustainability intothenextcentury;whyhistoricshipwrecks shouldbe how wecanimproveourharvestsfromtheseaswhilepreservingtheir international conferencewilldevote3daystoexaminingthreethemes: FrontierGlobal OceansasEarth’sLast andDoortothePast. This Istanbul, Turkey, isthevenueforOceanPulse:ACriticalDiagnosis—Our “[email protected]”. Firenze; e-mail: Italy;phone39-55-368918; I-50144 28; PiazzaledelleCascine C.S. Patologia Montane;CNR, SpecieLegnose biodiversity conservation.For moreinformation,contactDr. E. Paoletti; impacts onwildlifeandecology;airpollutionglobalchange; and airpollutantsandabioticbioticstressfactors; interactions between environmentalstressfactors.Sessionsinclude: interactions between effects ofairpollutantsonforestecosystems,withspecialreferencetothe Factors andAirPollution, thegatheringwillfocusonrecentlydiscovered specialists inairpollutioneffectsonforestecosystems.Entitled,Stress Florence, Italy,willplayhosttothe17th InternationalMeetingfor 786-2557,Washington, formoreinformation. fax(202) 20560; DC Drive,SW,Suite3123, Program,1100Jefferson Institution/MAB Plots.ContacttheSmithsonian Biodiversity MonitoringatPermanent Front Royal, Virginia, thevenuefortechnical willbe conference, Meetings ofInterest “[email protected]”; 505-672-3861, ext.546),

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