National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Shiloh National Military Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment Natural Resource Report NPS/SHIL/NRR—2017/1387 ON THE COVER Bridge over the Shiloh Branch in SHIL. Photo courtesy of Robert Bird. Shiloh National Military Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment Natural Resource Report NPS/SHIL/NRR—2017/1387 Andy J. Nadeau Kevin Benck Kathy Allen Hannah Hutchins Anna Davis Andrew Robertson GeoSpatial Services Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota 890 Prairie Island Road Winona, Minnesota 55987 February 2017 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 high-priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. 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 website and the Natural Resource Publications Management website. To receive this report in a format optimized for screen readers, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Nadeau, A. J., K. Benck, K. Allen, H. Hutchins, A. Davis, and A. Robertson. 2017. Shiloh National Military Park: Natural resource condition assessment. Natural Resource Report NPS/SHIL/NRR— 2017/1387. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 304/136226, February 2017 ii Contents Page Figures................................................................................................................................................... ix Tables ..................................................................................................................................................xiii Photos ................................................................................................................................................. xvii Appendices .......................................................................................................................................... xix Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................ xxi Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................................xxiii Acronyms and Abbreviations............................................................................................................. xxv 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 .......................................................................................................... 7 2.2. Natural Resources .................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.1. Ecological Units and Watersheds .................................................................................... 9 2.2.2. Resource Descriptions ................................................................................................... 10 2.2.3. Resource Issues Overview ............................................................................................. 12 2.3. Resource Stewardship ........................................................................................................... 13 2.3.1. Management Directives and Planning Guidance........................................................... 13 2.3.2. Status of Supporting Science ......................................................................................... 14 2.4. Literature Cited ...................................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 3. Study Scoping and Design ................................................................................................. 19 3.1. Preliminary Scoping .............................................................................................................. 19 3.2. Study Design ......................................................................................................................... 20 3.2.1. Indicator Framework, Focal Study Resources and Indicators ....................................... 20 3.2.2. General Approach and Methods .................................................................................... 24 3.3. Literature Cited ...................................................................................................................... 29 Chapter 4. Natural Resource Conditions.............................................................................................. 31 iii Contents (continued) Page 4.1. Hardwood Forest Community ............................................................................................... 32 4.1.1. Description .................................................................................................................... 32 4.1.2. Measures ........................................................................................................................ 35 4.1.3. Reference Conditions/Values ........................................................................................ 35 4.1.4. Data and Methods .......................................................................................................... 35 4.1.5. Current Condition and Trend ......................................................................................... 37 4.1.6. Sources of Expertise ...................................................................................................... 48 4.1.7. Literature Cited .............................................................................................................. 48 4.2. Wetland and Riparian Communities ..................................................................................... 51 4.2.1. Description .................................................................................................................... 51 4.2.2 Measures ......................................................................................................................... 54 4.2.3 Reference Conditions/Values ......................................................................................... 54 4.2.4. Data and Methods .......................................................................................................... 55 4.2.5. Current Condition and Trend ......................................................................................... 55 4.2.6. Sources of Expertise ...................................................................................................... 64 4.2.7. Literature Cited .............................................................................................................. 64 4.3. Mammals ............................................................................................................................... 67 4.3.1. Description .................................................................................................................... 67 4.3.2. Measures ........................................................................................................................ 67 4.3.3. Reference Conditions/Values ........................................................................................ 68 4.3.4. Data and Methods .......................................................................................................... 68 4.3.5. Current Condition and Trend ........................................................................................