National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Natural Resource Condition Assessment American Memorial Park Natural Resource Report NPS/AMME/NRR—2019/1976 ON THIS PAGE A traditional sailing vessel docks in American Memorial Park’s Smiling Cove Marina Photograph by Maria Kottermair 2016 ON THE COVER American Memorial Park Shoreline and the Saipan Lagoon, looking north to Mañagaha Island. Photograph by Robbie Greene 2013 Natural Resource Condition Assessment American Memorial Park Natural Resource Report NPS/AMME/NRR—2019/1976 Robbie Greene1, Rebecca Skeele Jordan1, Janelle Chojnacki1, Terry J. Donaldson2 1 Pacific Coastal Research and Planning Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands 96950 USA 2 University of Guam Marine Laboratory UOG Station, Mangilao, Guam 96923 USA August 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 formal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data, and whose background and expertise put them on par technically and scientifically with the authors of the information. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from 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: Greene, R., R. Skeele Jordan, J. Chojnacki, and T. Donaldson. 2019. Natural resource condition assessment: American Memorial Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/AMME/NRR—2019/1976. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 483/159851, August 2019 ii Contents Page Figures .................................................................................................................................................. vii Tables .................................................................................................................................................... xi Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................xiii Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................................. xvii List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................ xix Chapter 1. NRCA Background Information .......................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2. Introduction and Resource Setting ....................................................................................... 5 2.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.1. Park Purpose and Enabling Legislation ........................................................................... 5 2.1.2. Geographic Setting .......................................................................................................... 6 2.1.3. Visitation Statistics ........................................................................................................ 13 2.1.4. Land Ownership and Regulatory Environment ............................................................. 14 2.2. Natural Resources .................................................................................................................. 18 2.2.1. Ecological Units and Upland Watershed ....................................................................... 18 2.2.2. Land Cover and Landscape Processes ........................................................................... 27 2.2.3. Park Specific Resource Descriptions ............................................................................. 40 2.2.4. Resource Issues Overview ............................................................................................. 41 2.3. Resource Stewardship ........................................................................................................... 45 2.3.1. Management Directives and Planning Guidance ........................................................... 45 2.3.2. Status of Supporting Science ......................................................................................... 47 Chapter 3. Study Process and Design .................................................................................................. 51 3.1. Study Process......................................................................................................................... 51 3.1.1. Indicator Framework, Focal Study Resources and Indicators ....................................... 52 3.2. Standard Resource Component Methods .............................................................................. 54 3.2.1. Data Mining ................................................................................................................... 55 3.2.2. Data Development and Analysis ................................................................................... 55 iii Contents (continued) Page 3.2.3. Scoring Methods and Assigning Condition ................................................................... 55 3.2.4. Preparation and Review of Resource Component Draft Assignments .......................... 58 3.2.5. Development and Review of Final Resource Component Assessments ....................... 58 3.2.6. Format of Resource Component Assessment Documents ............................................. 59 Chapter 4. Natural Resource Conditions .............................................................................................. 61 4.1. Mangroves and Wetlands ...................................................................................................... 61 4.1.1. Description .................................................................................................................... 61 4.1.2. Measures ........................................................................................................................ 63 4.1.3. Reference Conditions/Values ........................................................................................ 63 4.1.4. Data and Methods .......................................................................................................... 64 4.1.5. Condition and Trend ...................................................................................................... 66 4.1.6. Condition Summary ....................................................................................................... 68 4.2. Coastal Scrub and Secondary Forest ..................................................................................... 70 4.2.1. Description .................................................................................................................... 70 4.2.2. Measures ........................................................................................................................ 72 4.2.3. Reference Conditions/Values ........................................................................................ 72 4.2.4. Data and Methods .......................................................................................................... 73 4.2.5. Condition and Trend ...................................................................................................... 73 4.2.6. Condition Summary ....................................................................................................... 75 4.3. Shore and Near-shore Habitat ............................................................................................... 77 4.3.1. Description .................................................................................................................... 77 4.3.2. Measures .......................................................................................................................