THE HISTORICAL VEGETATIVE ASPECT OF FORT DAVIS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE TEXAS Prepared by: Dr. James T. Nelson Range Animal Science Department Sul Ross State University Alpine, Texas August, 1981 .. ~?; Wdlo, l5r*t DaY11 Nat10nal Hllto~10 Iitl / Abstract As a basis for formulating a vegetative management program at Fort Davis National Historic Site, Texas, a study was undertaken in the summer of 1981 to determine the historic vegetation scene of the mid to late 19th century period. The vegetative scene in 19 existing historic photographs was compared to that in modern photographs taken in the same locations. In addition to photographic analysis, use was made of botanical information in the historic literature, and data from on-site vegetation sampling was used to compare the present species composition with that of potential climax as described by the Soil Conservation Service range condition guidelines. Present species composition indicates a moderate departure from climax due to an increase of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and several brush species - mostly catclaw mimosa (Himosa biuhicifera) . 60-70% of the species reported in the historical literature are listed today on the present species lists for Fort Davis National Historic Site and the Davis Mountains State Park. Photographic analysis indicates that the basic distribution of major vegetatibn types today is very similar to that of 100 years ago, with some notable exceptions. Grassland areas have decreased by about 7% while brush areas have increased. Brush (catclaw) density has increased from light to heavy concentrations. Mesquite, not mentioned in the historic literature or noticable in historic photos, is prominent today. In some areas tree density (oak and juniper) has increased (on cliffs) while in others it has decreased (flat-lands). Several historic trees were identified. Management recommendations were made to preserve historic trees and to selectively reduce brush by physical and/or chemical means. .. ';;j' " Table of Contents Pg. No. Abs tract Introduction. ....... ................................., 1 The Area To day. ....................................... 2 Relief & Topography.. ............................... 2 Climate. ............................................ 2 Soils. .............................................. 2 Vegetation 4 I Methods. .............................................. 5 Paired Photographic Analysis. ....................... 5 Review of Historic Literature. 6 I Vegetative Sampling 0 . 0 . 0 0 . 0 0 . 0 0 . 0 .. 7 Vegetation Map. .........0.000.0.....0.0.0.......0.O. 9 Results and Discussion.. .0 to, 0 . 000000000. ..........0.0 9 On Site Vegetation Sampling 00.0.00...0...0.0000..0.0 9 I Loamy Site o. 0..0000..0...000..0.0.000000..0......0 10 Gravelly Site . 0 0 0 . .0. 0 . 0 0 . O. 0 . 00. 10 Draw Site. 00 o. 00.0 o' . 0 0 to. 0 0 . 0 . 00. 0 . 0 . 0 o. 12 I I Igneous Hill and Mountain Range Sites.. 0 . 0 . 0 0 12 Permanent Sampling Points 0"0", 0.000.0000 , 0 0" 13 Historical Literature 0 to O' '0 0'00 0'" o' 0"0 o. 0...0." I 14 Climate. .00...0.000.00.00..0....00.0.000.......... 14 Vegetation 00....00.00.0.0000...0.000.0...000000... 15 I PhotographicAnalysis 0.0. 00"0"000' 0.00.0..0".0.0. 22 VegetativeType Distribution 0 0 "0 0 0.. 00 0 O. 65 Present Type Distribution 0 . 0 . 0 0 . 0 . .. 65 I Distribution of 1880 Period... 0..000......0..0..00 66 Conclusions 0.. 0.0...0...0..000..0.............0...0..0 69 Management Recommendations.. 000.0.000.......00.......0 75 Literature Cited.. 000...0.0....0......00000...0..0.0.. 84 Appendix 00...00.000.00..0.....0..0..000.....0......... 86 -~ List of Tables Pg. No. Table 1. Percent Frequency Composition of 4 Range Sites on the Fort Davis National Historic Site, Texas, June, 1981 11 Table 2. Plant Species Reported by Havard Around Fort Davis, Texas in 1885 '0' ' 17 Table 3. Plant Species Reported by Nealley Around Fort Davis, Texas in 1888 ... 20 Table 4. Percentage Area of Vegetation Types Today Compared with Area of Vegetation Types of the 1880-1900 Period, Fort Davis National Historic Si te, Texas. o. 0. 0. .. 68 Appendix Table 1. Permanent Sampling Data, Vegetation Point #1, (Mu) , Loamy Site 87 Table 2. Permanent Sampling Data, Vegetation Point #2 (SmB) , Gravelly Site 0 . 0.. 88 Table 3. Permanent Sampling Data, Vegetation Point #3 (Ga) , Draw Site. 0" 89 Table 4. Species, Diameter and Estimated Age From Core Borings of Historic Trees. .. 90 Table 5. Category 1 and 2 Species and Their Status at Fort Davis National Historic Site, Texas..,.,.., , 91 Table 6. Plant Species Found at Fort Davis National Historic Site, Texas, W Previously not Documented. ...,.,., 92 ..- List of Figures Pg. No. Figure 1. Historic Photograph JB-42 (Late 1890's) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 24 Figure 2. Historic Photograph JB-43 (Late 1890's) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 26 Figure 3. Historic Photograph AB-6 (1875) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 28 Figure 4. Historic Photograph HG-4/6 (1875) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 30 Figure 5. Historic Photograph HG-3 (1875) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 32 Figure 6. Historic Photograph AB-15 (1889) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 34 Figure 7. Historic Photograph AB-11 (1880's) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 36 Figure 8. Historic Photograph BA-4 (1889) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 39 Figure 9. Historic Photograph HG-14 (1886) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 42 'I .. Figure 10. Historic Photograph HG-8 (1888) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981) Fort Davis, Texas 44 Figure 11. Historic Photograph HG-10 (1871) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981) Fort Davis, Texas 46 Figure 12. Historic Photograph HG-21 (1887) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981) Fort Davis, Texas 48 t Figure 13. Historic Photograph HC-27 (1890's) and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 51 Figure 14. Historic Photograph HG-16 (1887) and ~I its modern counterpart (June, 1981), 'I Fort Davis, Texas 53 Ii Figure 15. Historic Photograph AB-14 (1886) and 1(1 its modern counterpart (June, 1981), I," Fort Davis, Texas 55 I'; i Figure 16. Historic Photograph AB-16 (1891) and i.' Ili ii ! . its modern counterpart (June, 1981), " I Fort Davis, Texas 57 II:f: ~j '; Figure 17. Historic Photograph AB-18 (1880's) and ,' .I its modern counterpart (June, 1981), ~'I i III I Fort Davis, Texas 59 ,"I I ,~ Figure 18. Historic Photograph AB-4 (Hid 1880's) I t and its modern counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas 61 111"I ['III: Figure 19. Historic Photograph HD-31 (1880's) and its modern.counterpart (June, 1981), Fort Davis, Texas, 63 Appendix Figure 1. Range Soil Sites, F.D.N.H.S., TX. Figure 2. Vegetation Types, 1981, F.D.N.H.S., TX. Figure 3. Vegetation Types, 1880-1900, F.D.N.H.S., TX. Figure 4. Historical Photo Point Locations, F.D.N.H.S., TX. l1li "T' ~ I ~ Introduction ! I I I r',i Fort Davis National Historic Site was established by '.1 congress in 1961 to protect and preserve the historic I ' resource existant in the ruins of Fort Davis, a U.S. Army I Ii' I' : post established in 1854 and abandoned in 1891. The post has been partially reconstructed by the National Park Service II' to present to the public an accurate historical view of the ji" fort as it existed in the 1880-1891 period - the height of I" l' wI' physical development of old Fort Davis. One important 111,t, 'L,h aspect of maintaining an accurate historical image is the ~.'1" maintenance of historically accurate surroundings- a part i~11 I~ I1 of which includes vegetation management. ', ~I, In many parts of Texas and the southwest vegetation . ~ii is believed to have changed drastically in the past century . Grasslands have diminished while deserts, shrub-lands and ~II juniper woodlands have increased in area. Iii 1 I' The purpose of this investigation was to document the I i~ historic (mid to late 19th century) vegetation of the monument and to make recommendations on how to best maintain n~ or restore the historic scene. Documentation was based on ! the use of paired historic and modern photographs, vegetation sampling, and a search of historic vegetational information in literature. 1 - ----- -- --- ..- 2 The Area Today Relief & Topography Fort Davis lies in the Davis Mountains of Jeff Davis ft county, Texas at an elevation of 4,880 feet. The surrounding cliffs and hills rise to approximately 340 feet above the ~ " fort grounds (maximum elevation = 5220) and Limpia Creek flows eastward and northward along the site's northern II boundary. IJ!n.II II' Clima te , I II ! Climate of the Fort Davis area can be described as II )I I '" ,II: ; ! II' , generally dry and mild. Prolonged periods below freezing or ilill" . above lOOoF are rare. Winter mean daily minimum temperatures il! ' "'I I average 370 while summer mean daily maximum temperatures ~ !,- : ,,,' ;1 t average 880. Relative humidity averages about 40% at mid-day. il'" ~ '! 1 il 1 Yearly precipitation averages 14,64 inches, almost 12 , 'I . inches of which may be expected to fall between May 1st and I ~ I' October 31st. February is the driest month (0.40 inches) and I Ii ,\ ,~ July is the wettest (2.58 inches). Summer precipitation is I :1 in the form of intense, short duration thunder storms while spring or fall rains are more often less intense, 1 or 2 day rainy periods (U.S .D.A., S.C.S., 1977), Soils Four soil range sites have been mapped by the Soil Conservation Service (U.S.D.A., S.C.S., 1977) on the Fort III II ,11 i~ 3 Davis Monument (Fig.