Great Basin National Park Park News National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior The Midden The Resource Management Newsletter of Great Basin National Park

Bighorn Sheep in the : Status and Restoration

By Bryan Hamilton, Biologist have been only marginally successful. In 1979, eight bighorn from Rocky Bighorn sheep were once the most Mountain National Park, Colorado, numerous ungulate in the Great were released into the South Snake Basin and were described more range, west of . This frequently by early explorers than was followed by a release of twelve mule deer and elk. As an important additional bighorns from the Tarryall food source for Native Americans, Range in Colorado. While this the images of bighorns are captured population has persisted, it has not in throughout the region. In increased and is currently estimated spite of such historical abundance, at 20-25 individuals. While the South

bighorn sheep declined precipitously Snake Range bighorn herd has faltered, A Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and were extirpated from the Snake the North Snake Range population Range by 1940, primarily due to has successfully expanded. Releases lambing in extremely steep, rugged overhunting and habitat degradation. in 1975, 1981, and 1990 totaled 48 areas. Disease and nutrient level bighorn. The population declined to testing shows that although the sheep low levels in the 1990s but showed have low selenium levels (which may signs of recovery after 2000. In January reduce their reproductive success), the 2006, this herd was augmented with sheep are generally healthy. 30 bighorn from the Humboldt Range, Elko County and limited Following this pilot study, a larger hunting has resumed. restoration project is planned. The primary objective of this project In an effort to restore viable bighorn is to determine the potential for sheep populations to the South A bighorn sheep pictograph augmenting the South Snake Range Snake Range, NDOW and Great bighorn herd with additional Basin National Park have initiated The Nevada Department of individuals from Nevada. When a partnership. Healthy, reproducing considering augmentation, an Wildlife (NDOW) has aggressively ewes are the key to successful bighorn pursued a program of trapping and important concern is the level of risk populations and as a first step in this presented by potential interactions transplanting bighorn sheep across partnership, a pilot study focused on the state. This program has restored between bighorn and domestic sheep. ewes is in progress. Three ewes were Continued on Page 2 three subspecies of mountain sheep captured by a helicopter crew with into their historic range. Thanks a net gun in January 2009, tested for largely to these efforts, Nevada disease, and outfitted with GPS collars. In This Issue currently has the largest bighorn Cultural Resources...... 3 Stella Lake: A Glimpse to Past...... 5 sheep population in the lower 48 Our initial findings suggest that while New Genus of Millipede ...... 6 states. winter habitat is limited, ewes are Water Resources Monitoring...... 6 utilizing recently burned areas as Park Staff Assist Mojave Preserve.7 Nevertheless, restoration efforts overwintering and lambing habitat. in the South Snake Range, which Beetle Bioblitz...... 8 Consistent with most bighorn Upcoming Events...... 8 includes Great Basin National Park, populations, ewes are apparently

Summer 2009 Volume 9 Issue 1 Bighorn Sheep in the Snake Range (continued) Towards this end, the current level of support limited harvest, provide viewing the successful restoration of bighorn interactions between domestic and opportunities to park visitors, and herds to the Snake Range is a testament bighorn sheep will be determined. reestablish metapopulation dynamics to the science-based wildlife and land with the North Snake Range herd. As management practices of NDOW and Other important questions about an important part of the ecosystems the public land management agencies in bighorn sheep in the South Snake and cultural heritage of the Great Basin, eastern Nevada. Range that will be addressed include habitat utilization (winter, lambing and breeding range), survival, recruitment, fecundity, age class structure (ewe: lamb ratios), and metapopulation dynamics between the North and South Snake Range herds. The potential for bighorn augmentation in the South Snake Range is high. Several recent high elevation fires have expanded bighorn habitat, and sheep are already utilizing these areas. The bighorn sheep population was once estimated at 10- 15 individuals, but is currently at 20 – 25, suggesting that habitat conditions have improved.

The ultimate goal of this restoration effort is a viable South Snake Range Bighorn sheep ewe winter range is shown in purple further to the north than the lambing range, the wide strip bighorn population which can of yellow in the southwestern part of the Snake Range.

Recent Publications about Great Basin National Park Glaudas, X., S. R. Goldberg, and B. T. Hamilton. 2009. Reproductive ecology of a cold desert viperid snake from North America, the Great Basin rattlesnake (Crotalus lutosus). Journal of Arid Environments 73:719-725.

Hamilton, B. T. 2009. Small mammals in portions of Great Basin Bational Park susceptible to groundwater withdrawal: Diversity and stable isotope perspectives. Masters Thesis, Department of Biology, Brigham Young University:1-79.

Horner, Margaret A., Gretchen M. Baker, and Debra L. Hughson. 2009. Baseline Water Quality Inventory of Great Basin National Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/PWR/GRBA/NRTR—2009/201. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. Available at: http://www. nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM/nrtr.cfm. Final report of a year-long study documenting water quality in a variety of water sources.

Prudic, David E. and Pat A. Glancy. 2009 Geochemical investigation of source water to Cave Springs, Great Basin National Park, White Pine County, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009–5073, 28 p. Available at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/ sir/2009/5073/. Study and results of the source of water to Cave Springs, the water supply for the park headquarters area.

Shear, W. A., S. J. Taylor, J. J. Wynne, J. K. Krejca. 2009. Cave millipeds of the United States. VIII. New genera and species of polydesmid millipeds from caves in the southwestern United States. Zootaxa 2151:47-65. Available at: http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/list/2009/ zt02151.html. See article on page 6 for more information.

Taylor, Steven J., Jean K. Krejca, Michael E. Slay, and Terry L. Harrison. 2009. Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, Aglais milberti (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): a facultative trogloxene in alpine caves. Speleology Notes 1:20-23. Available at: http://speleologynotes.edu. A brush-footed butterfly commonly found in riparian areas was detected in two alpine caves in Great Basin National Park.

2 The Midden Cultural Resource Accomplishments and Changes By Karla Jageman, Archeologist

The cultural resource program at Great Basin National Park has been very busy over the past year. Archeological site condition assessments in the park were completed, a cultural Landscape Inventory of the Johnson Lake Mine was begun, the Nevada Rock Art Foundation visited the park to record several rock art sites, our former Cultural Resource Manager left in September, and the new Cultural Resource Manager arrived in May.

Over the past two years, the park was able to complete condition assessments on all known archeological sites in the park. These sites were updated in a nationwide archeological database called Archeological Sites Management Mill site at Johnson Lake mine Inventory System (ASMIS). The database is available to the park’s accessible and more susceptible to are described and evaluated. They cultural resource staff and allows vandalism, looting, and decay. One site include characteristics such as them to maintain accurate records of that will need a condition assessment natural systems, spatial organization, the known archeological sites in the completed every year is the Johnson land use, vegetation, circulation, park. Lake Mine. structures, and views. The CLI also assesses the integrity and condition The goal of the condition assessment A Cultural Landscape Inventory (CLI) of the landscape. Information is mandate by the Washington, D.C. was undertaken at Johnson Lake gathered primarily from secondary office is to assess site conditions for Mine in the summer of 2008. “A CLI sources and through field surveys of mitigation purposes. For example, is a comprehensive inventory of all the landscape (Harmon 2001: 311). the assessments will allow park staff historically significant landscapes to determine what needs to be done within the National Park System…” Johnson Lake Mine was listed on in order to maintain archeological the National Register of Historic sites for the future and to protect The CLI is an evaluated inventory Places (NRHP) in 1995 as a Historic them from vandalism and looting. that provides baseline documentation District. The CLI will expand upon for cultural landscapes. It documents the information found in the NRHP The park’s goal is to continue to general descriptive information, nomination form. The Johnson perform condition assessments existing documentation, and Lake Mine was an early 20th century on sites as required by the ASMIS management information. The CLI tungsten mine in the Snake/Bonita database. The timeframe for looks at the physical development Mining District. The mine was at a performing condition assessments and historical significance of the high elevation, approximately 11,000 on sites can vary from one to fifteen landscape, including eligibility for the feet. It was in operation from about years, depending on a variety of National Register of Historic Places. 1916 to 1935, when the mine was shut factors. For example, a site will Existing and historic characteristics down by an avalanche. be visited more often if it is easily that contribute to the significance Continued on Page 4

The Midden 3 Cultural Resources (continued) It included a mill, stable, cookhouse, and Road Improvement project, three possible residences, a collapsed the stabilization of structures at tramway station, an aerial tramway, the Johnson Lake Mine, and the and a partially collapsed mining adit. rerouting of the trail to the Johnson Lake Mine. These and many other Some of the things discussed by projects will continue to keep the the CLI team, which included park cultural resource management staff cultural staff, regional cultural staff, busy for years to come. and staff from an archeological contracting company, included the New cultural resource manager, Eva Jensen There is always something new to high cut stumps near the residence learn and something new to find, buildings and expanding the historic understanding of Great Basin rock around every corner and under district boundaries to include the art. With the assistance of NRAF the every rock. Enjoy and respect your road/trail that leads up to the mine. documentation of these sites is now Great Basin National Park cultural finished and the completed paperwork resources and help the staff to protect The Cultural Landscape Inventory is should be sent to the park in late 2009. them for generations to come. currently in draft form and should be completed sometime in late A major change to the cultural References 2009. It is important to remember resource program was the loss of our Harmon, David. 2001. Crossing that the structures and features Cultural Resource Manager to another Boundaries in Park Management: at the mine are unstable. Visitor park. JoAnn Blalack left the park at the Proceedings of the 11th Conference on safety is important to the park; end of last September to become the Research and Resource Management therefore visitors should stay out of Cultural Resource Manager at Craters in Parks and on Public Lands, the structures and away from the of the Moon National Monument and Hancock, Michigan: The George collapsed mining adit. Preserve in Idaho. Wright Society.

The Nevada Rock Art Foundation The natural and cultural resource (NRAF) returned to the park last program was happy to welcome Eva August to assist recording two known Jensen to Great Basin National Park rock art sites. NRAF specializes in in May as the new Cultural Resource recording rock art in Nevada and Manager. She comes to the park from their eagerness in recording rock art southern Nevada and the Lost City for the park is greatly appreciated. Museum. In the few months that Eva has been here, she has brought There are two different types of rock new perspectives and an infusion of art, pictographs and . enthusiasm to the cultural resource Pictographs are designs drawn program. Her input, expertise, and using natural , generally passion are a welcome addition to the red, such as ochre. Petroglyphs are cultural resource staff and to Great designs that are pecked or scratched Basin National Park. into rock surfaces. The first site is an early pictograph site which is With all of these activities and approximately 3,000 years old. This changes the cultural resource program date is based on excavations at the looks forward to all of the new site in 2000. The other site that NRAF opportunities available in the coming assisted the park in recording was years. Pending projects include the a site of undetermined archeological survey and clearance age. Both sites are important to our of the Snake Creek Campground

4 The Midden Stella Lake: A Glimpse into the Past

By Scott Reinemann, Ohio State University

In August 2007 I spent eight days in Great Basin National Park (GBNP), participating in fieldwork to collect paleoenvironmental data for my Master’s thesis titled “A Chironomid- Based Paleolimnological Study of Recent and Mid- Changes in Mean July Air Temperature in the Great Basin, Nevada, USA.”

I was joined in the field by David Porinchu, Bryan Mark, Jim Degrand, Coring Stella Lake, August 2007 and Adam Harrington, all from There are a number of sub-alpine return to warmer conditions during The Ohio State University. GBNP lakes present in GBNP, which act as the late Holocene time period. is a beautiful park and spending a archives of past climate conditions week hiking among its mountain and provide a superb means of The Stella Lake record broadens our peaks and beautiful sub-alpine lakes reconstructing past environments. knowledge of the thermal conditions while conducting research for my that existed during the Holocene in Master’s thesis was very gratifying. I recovered sediment cores from the Great Basin. This may be useful Furthermore, this was my first two of these lakes: Stella Lake in constraining model simulations experience with fieldwork, and the and Baker Lake. The 3.28 m core I of past climates and improve future data and knowledge I brought back recovered from Stella Lake spans climate projections. turned out to be very rewarding. approximately 7,000 years, while the core I recovered from Baker Lake is Great Basin National Park is a I chose Great Basin National Park to only 13 cm, which spans only the past great place to conduct academic conduct my research following the ~100 years. research, thanks to the great support encouragement of Professors David of the park staff. I hope to return Porinchu, Bryan Mark, and Jason The sediment samples were analyzed this summer to continue ongoing Box, who have been conducting for organic carbon content, magnetic research with the team from research in the park since the properties, and midge remains in the Geography and Atmospheric Sciences summer of 2005. The OSU Geography Integrated Paleoenvironmental Lab, at The Ohio State University. research program is focused upon at The Ohio State University. Changes describing the patterns and processes in the Stella Lake midge community Editor’s Note: Scott Reinemann responsible for controlling the hydro- were used to develop a temperature is the lead author for the article climatology of GBNP. reconstruction spanning the past “A multi-proxy paleolimnological ~ 7,000 years for the central Great reconstruction of Holocene climate GBNP is situated in a transition Basin. conditions in the Great Basin, United zone between winter-dominated and States,” that will be published in summer-dominated precipitation This study reveals that the central Quaternary Research later this regimes. Understanding the variability Great Basin was characterized by summer. of the spatial extent of these a warm and arid mid-Holocene precipitation regimes in the past may period, followed by a cool and moist help in anticipating future climate “Neoglacial” period and then a conditions.

The Midden 5 New Genus of Millipede Described by Gretchen Baker, Ecologist Nevadesmus ophimontis joins several other named endemic species in A tiny white millipede that has only the Great Basin National Park area,

been found in a handful of caves at including the pseudoscorpion Zara Zara Environmental

Great Basin National Park, including Photo by Jean K. Krejca, Microcreagris grandis Muchmore, the Lehman Cave, has recently been The Snake Range millipede, harvestman Cyptobunus ungulatus Nevadesmus ophimontis, is a new described as a new genus. This genus of millipedes, found only in a few ungulatus Briggs, and the conotylid addition to science took many years, caves in Great Basin National Park. It is millipede Idagona lehmanensis Shear. less than an inch long. with collections of the millipede occurring in 2003 and 2006 under the “ophi” meaning serpentine, and The entire article about Nevadesmus lead of Steve Taylor and Jean Krejca, “montis” meaning mountains. Thus ophimontis can be found at: http:// who are co-authors on the paper. The the common name is Snake Range www.mapress.com/zootaxa/list/2009/ subsequent study and description millipede. zt02151.html was undertaken by William Shear of Hampden- College in Virginia, ­It is believed that this millipede only Photos and descriptions of many cave the lead author. lives in caves. Millipedes like cool, species can be found on the park’s moist conditions, so they are relatively website: www.nps.gov/grba in the The name of the millipede is rare in deserts. Caves have provided Nature and Science section. Nevadesmus ophimontis, with “Nevad” an environment where millipedes can referring to the state where it’s found, find relative constant humidity and “desmus” a common ending for temperatures. millipedes in the Polydesmidae Family, I & M Beginning Monitoring in Park

By Gretchen Baker, Ecologist The six sub-alpine lakes will be sampled on a rotating basis. Water For many years, the Mojave Desert quality is the focus of sampling. Network Inventory and Monitoring Dataloggers have already been program has been conducting installed in two lakes and will be inventories in the seven parks that installed in the remaining ones to make up the network. This year marks monitor temperature and water level the first official year of monitoring, year-round. These will hopefully also with the streams and lakes protocol help determine when the ice melts on being implemented in Great Basin Measuring water quality in the middle of Stella each lake in the spring. Lake in the late spring. National Park. The stream discharge measuring that live. If those macroinvertebrates are the park is conducting at selected Monitoring is intended to be long- found, then the water is known to be sites is also being included in the term. Each stream in the park has had of a certain quality. a monitoring location designated. I&M Monitoring plan. In the late summer, these sites will In addition, a multiparameter water Great Basin National Park is be visited to conduct water quality quality probe is being deployed for excited to have this monitoring monitoring and to collect aquatic two weeks at a time and rotated begin. Additional protocols will be macroinvertebrates. The aquatic among creeks. The data collected will implemented in upcoming years for macroinvertebrates are an indicator show how water quality fluctuates in other habitats. of the water quality—some species that period, including how sunlight have specific requirements, such as might affect photosynthesis and thus extremely clean water, for where they water quality.

6 The Midden Park Staff Assist at Mojave National Preserve with Deer Capture By Meg Horner, Biological Science movements and water use, each deer Technician was given an ear tag and fitted with VHF and GPS equipped collars; and Starting in the late 19th century, water remote sensor cameras were placed sources were developed to facilitate at water sources. raising cattle in the arid environment of the Mojave Desert. When Mule deer were captured by net gun livestock were removed from what from a helicopter in January 2008 is now Mojave National Preserve, and January 2009. Great Basin staff Photo by Meg Horner, NPS many of the wells and developed assisted veterinarians and preserve water sources were abandoned or staff with processing the animals and removed. The loss or removal of collecting data during the 2009 deer historical water sources brought capture to gain experience working attention to the possible effects a with ungulates. Each captured deer decrease in water availability could was processed and then fitted with Neal Darby, Ben Roberts, and Tod Williams have on wildlife. In response, the a radio collar and ear tag. Standard assist with evaluating the deer. preserve initiated a ten year study in measurements were taken including collaboration with the University of length and weight. Blood, hair, dental The study will provide further Nevada – Reno and the California and fecal samples were collected; and information for preserve managers Fish and Game to study effects physical and sexual condition were on resource utilization by mule of water availability on mule deer determined using ultrasound. deer, reproductive rates, and use populations in the Mojave National of springs by mule deer and other Preserve, CA. In 2009, a total of 31 deer were species of animals. As the study captured over four days from two continues, additional data will help In 2008, three test areas were created locations. All were female. Twenty- to determine the effects of weather within the preserve: a control with eight were examined for pregnancy, variation as well as the availability of pre-existing, natural water sources; a and twenty-six of them were water on the physical condition and study area containing wells, troughs pregnant. Only half of those pregnant reproductive rates of mule deer on and other man-made water sources; were carrying twins. the Mojave National Preserve that and a dry area. These areas were can then be used by managers in used to obtain data on deer survival, Even though data is preliminary, the other arid environments with mule reproductive rates and physiologic results from the first year of the study deer populations. condition under differing water shed new light on an understudied source conditions. To track mule deer mule deer population. The data The skills and contacts Great hint that weather patterns in the Basin staff acquired through this late summer and fall have an effect collaboration will prove essential on plant growth and the amount of for future work with bighorn forage available for deer which likely sheep monitoring in the park and has an influence on pregnancy and neighboring lands. twinning rates in female mule deer the following spring. The fall of 2008 For more information about this was dryer than the fall of 2007; and project, see the Mojave National subsequently, in January of 2009 Preserve Newsletter at there were fewer does carrying twins http://www.nps.gov/moja/ than in January of 2008. Photos from naturescience/upload/200904science. remote sensor cameras show that pdf mule deer utilize water sources most frequently in August and during the Helicopter bringing deer to waiting truck at night-time hours. the processing area

The Midden 7 National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Beetle Bioblitz

The Midden is the Resource Coming Soon Management newsletter for Great Basin National Park. Great Basin will complete its first Summer and winter issues of The Bioblitz in 2009 with the help of Midden are available on the Park’s Southern Utah University and other website at www.nps.gov/grba. To be volunteers.This intensive survey will added to the email notification list, please email Gretchen_Baker@nps. focus on beetles occurring in the gov. park, using a wide variety of sampling Photo by Gretchen Baker, NPS We welcome submissions of articles techniques. Interested individuals or drawings relating to natural and and amateur and professional natu- cultural resource management and ralists are welcome to participate. research in the park. They can be sent Rove beetle to: Resource Management, Bioblitzes are generally 24-hour Great Basin National Park, The weekend schedule is as follows: Baker, NV 89311 events that focus on collecting a Or call us at: (775) 234-7331 single taxon to learn more about the Friday evening - Introduction & diversity found in an area. Acadia Superintendent Orientation Andy Ferguson National Park has been doing Saturday morning - Beetle Collecting Bioblitzes for several years and is the Chief of Resource Management Workshop inspiration for this Bioblitz. Tod Williams Saturday noon to Sunday noon--Bioblitz Editor & Layout Sunday morning - Educational Program In addition to learning about the Gretchen Baker for visitors array of invertebrates found in an area, sometimes a Bioblitz can The Bioblitz will be headquartered at reveal a new species to science. This Great Basin National Park. The park is happened at Death Valley, when a providing free camping for participants. new ant species was found. For more Bioblitz information or a registration form, please email The Bioblitz will be held the weekend [email protected]. of September 11-13, with the actual collecting during a 24-hour period. What’s a midden? A midden is a fancy name for a pile of trash, often left by pack rats. Pack rats Upcoming Events: leave middens near their nests, which may be continuously occupied for Aug 12 Perseid Meteor Shower. One of the most active meteor showers of the year is usually spectacular in the park due to the clear skies. hundreds, or even thousands, of years. Each layer of trash contains twigs, seeds, Sept 5 & 6 Night Sky Program. Learn more about the beautiful night sky. Call animal bones and other material, which the park for more information. is cemented together by urine. Over time, the midden becomes a treasure Sept 11-13 Beetle Bioblitz. Help document the beetle diversity in the park. trove of information for plant ecologists, Sept 27 Ken Burns National Park Series Program begins on PBS. Look for climate change scientists and others bristlecone pine trees filmed in Great Basin National Park. who want to learn about past climatic conditions and vegetation patterns Oct 27 Great Basin National Park turns 23 ! The National Park was expanded dating back as far as 25,000 years. Great from the Lehman Caves National Monument on October 27, 1986. Basin National Park contains numerous Nov 11 Veterans Day. Veterans receive free cave tours of Lehman Cave. middens. Throughout the Year, Great Basin National Park. Volunteer opportunities with resource management are available to help conduct animal surveys, reclaim disturbed lands, measure water quality, and work on other projects. Contact us at 775-234-7331.

8 The Midden