National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Natural Resource Report NPS/CUGA/NRR—2013/620 ON THE COVER Pinnacle Overlook Photograph by D. McPherson Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park Natural Resource Report NPS/CUGA/NRR—2013/620 Gary Sundin, Luke Worsham, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Michael T. Mengak, Gary Grossman Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia 180 E. Green St. Athens, GA 30602 January 2013 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. Printed copies of reports in these series may be produced in a limited quantity and they are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is also available from the Integrated Resource Management Applications website (http://irma.nps.gov/) and the Natural Resource Publications Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/nrpm/). Please cite this publication as: Sundin, G., L. Worsham, N. Nibbelink, G. Grossman, and M. T. Mengak. 2013. Natural resource condition assessment for Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Natural Resource Report NPS/CUGA/NRR—2013/620. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 380/119657, January 2013 ii Contents Page Figures........................................................................................................................................... vii Tables ............................................................................................................................................. xi Appendices .................................................................................................................................... xv Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... xvii Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... xx Prologue ........................................................................................................................................ xx Acronyms and Abbreviations: ..................................................................................................... xxi Purpose ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Ranking Methodology .................................................................................................................... 3 Data Description ............................................................................................................................. 7 Park Resources and Introduction .................................................................................................. 13 Park Location and Significance ............................................................................................. 13 Park Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 13 Climate, Geology, and Soils .................................................................................................. 15 Hydrology .............................................................................................................................. 16 History and Park Significance ............................................................................................... 17 Natural Resources and NPS Vital Signs ................................................................................ 18 Vertebrate Assemblages.................................................................................................... 19 Vegetation Communities .................................................................................................. 19 Invasive Plants .................................................................................................................. 20 Forest Pests ....................................................................................................................... 20 Natural Resource Conditions ........................................................................................................ 21 Air and Climate ...................................................................................................................... 21 iii Contents (continued) Page Ozone ................................................................................................................................ 21 Foliar Injury ...................................................................................................................... 25 Geology and Soils .................................................................................................................. 30 Cave Meteorology ............................................................................................................. 30 Water Quality ......................................................................................................................... 37 Overview and Parameters ................................................................................................. 37 Temperature ...................................................................................................................... 39 Specific Conductance........................................................................................................ 39 pH ...................................................................................................................................... 40 Dissolved Oxygen ............................................................................................................. 40 Acid-Neutralizing Capacity .............................................................................................. 40 Microorganisms ................................................................................................................ 41 Hydrology ......................................................................................................................... 41 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 42 CUGA Historical Water Monitoring ..................................................................................... 42 Methodology ..................................................................................................................... 42 Temperature ...................................................................................................................... 43 Dissolved Oxygen ............................................................................................................. 43 pH ...................................................................................................................................... 43 Specific Conductance........................................................................................................ 45 Acid Neutralizing Capacity............................................................................................... 45 Microorganisms ................................................................................................................ 45 Hydrology ......................................................................................................................... 46 iv Contents (continued) Page Summary ........................................................................................................................... 46 Invasive Plants ....................................................................................................................... 55 Focal Species ...................................................................................................................