National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Russell Cave National Monument Natural Resource Report NPS/RUCA/NRR—2019/1942 ON THIS PAGE View of the cave opening from the pedestrian walkway showing some of the restoration work being done to preserve the cave’s cultural history. Parts of the signs explaining the history and cultural significance are visible at the bottom edge of the photo. Image by J. W. Aber, MTSU Geospatial Research Center, 2017. ON THE COVER View of the main opening to Russell Cave from the pedestrian walkway. Image by J. W. Aber, MTSU Geospatial Research Center, 2017. Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Russell Cave National Monument Natural Resource Report NPS/RUCA/NRR—2019/1942 Jeremy Aber Kim Sadler Siti Nur Hidayati Patrick Phoebus Joshua Grinath Racha El Kadiri Clay Harris Henrique Momm Arthur Reed Alexis Perry Geospatial Research Center Department of Geosciences Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37132 June 2019 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received informal peer review, which was provided by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data. The level and extent of peer review was based on the importance of report content or its potentially controversial or precedent- setting nature. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from the Natural Resource Condition Assessment Program website and the Natural Resource Publications Management website. If you have difficulty accessing information in this publication, particularly if using assistive technology, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Aber, J. W., K. Sadler, S. N. Hidayati, P. Phoebus, J. B. Grinath, R. El Kadiri, C. Harris, H. Momm. A. D. Reed, A. B. Perry. 2019. Natural resource condition assessment for Russell Cave National Monument. Natural Resource Report NPS/RUCA/NRR—2019/1942. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 414/154187, June 2019 ii Contents Page Figures .................................................................................................................................................. vii Tables .................................................................................................................................................... ix Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................xiii Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................ xv List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................................... xvii Chapter 1. NRCA Background Information .......................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2. Introduction and Resource Setting ....................................................................................... 5 2.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.1. Enabling Legislation ........................................................................................................ 5 2.1.2. Geographic Setting .......................................................................................................... 5 2.1.3. Visitation Statistics .......................................................................................................... 8 2.2. Natural Resources .................................................................................................................. 10 2.2.1. Ecological Units and Watersheds .................................................................................. 10 2.2.2. Resource Descriptions ................................................................................................... 11 2.2.3. Resource Issues Overview ............................................................................................. 11 2.3. Resource Stewardship ........................................................................................................... 14 2.3.1. Management Directive and Planning Guidance ............................................................ 14 2.3.2. Status of Supporting Science ......................................................................................... 15 Chapter 3. Study Scoping and Design ................................................................................................. 17 3.1. Preliminary Scoping .............................................................................................................. 17 3.2. Study Design ......................................................................................................................... 17 3.2.1. Indicator Framework, Focal Study Resources and Indicators ....................................... 17 3.2.2. Reporting Areas ............................................................................................................. 22 3.2.3. General Approach and Methods .................................................................................... 22 Chapter 4. Natural Resource Conditions .............................................................................................. 25 4.1. Atmosphere............................................................................................................................ 25 iii Contents (continued) Page 4.1.1. Ozone ............................................................................................................................. 25 4.1.2. Ozone-Caused Foliar Injury .......................................................................................... 26 4.1.2. Sulfur and Nitrogen Deposition ..................................................................................... 29 4.1.3. Visibility ........................................................................................................................ 32 4.1.4. Weather and Climate ..................................................................................................... 34 4.2. Geology and Soil ................................................................................................................... 35 4.2.1. Geologic Resources ....................................................................................................... 36 4.2.2. Cave & Karst Features and Processes ........................................................................... 37 4.2.3. Soil Function and Dynamics ......................................................................................... 38 4.2.4. Paleontological Resources ............................................................................................. 40 4.3. Water Quality ........................................................................................................................ 40 4.3.1 Water Chemistry ............................................................................................................. 41 4.3.2 Bacteria ........................................................................................................................... 42 4.4. Biological Integrity ................................................................................................................ 44 4.4.1. Freshwater Wetland Communities ................................................................................ 44 4.4.2. Forest Vegetation Communities .................................................................................... 50 4.4.3. Vascular Plants .............................................................................................................. 54 4.4.4. Non-vascular Plants ......................................................................................................