National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Southern Plains Network Vital Signs Monitoring Plan Appendices Natural Resource Report NPS/SOPN/NRR-2008/028 ON THE COVER Column 1: Alibates Flint Quarries NM, Sand Creek Massacre NHS, Washita Battlefield NHS, Bent’s Old Fort NHS Column 2: Fort Union NM, Chickasaw NRA, Lake Meredith NRA, Column 3: Capulin Volcano NM, Fort Larned NHS, Lyndon B. Johnson NHP, Pecos NHP Southern Plains Network Vital Signs Monitoring Plan Appendices Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SOPN/NRR-2008/028 U.S.D.I. National Park Service Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network Lora M. Shields Science Bldg., Rm 117 P.O. Box 9000 New Mexico Highlands University Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701 Editing and Design Alice Wondrak Biel Inventory & Monitoring Program National Park Service–Intermountain Region 12795 West Alameda Parkway Denver, Colorado 80225 September 2008 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Program Center Fort Collins, Colorado ii Southern Plains Network Draft Vital Signs Monitoring Plan The Natural Resource Publication series addresses natural resource topics that are of inter- est and applicability to a broad readership in the National Park Service and to others in the management of natural resources, including the scientific community, the public, and the NPS conservation and environmental constituencies. Manuscripts are peer-reviewed to en- sure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately writ- ten for the intended audience, and is designed and published in a professional manner. Natural Resource Reports are the designated medium for disseminating high-priority, cur- rent 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. Examples of the diverse array of reports pub- lished in this series include vital signs monitoring plans; “how to” resource management papers; proceedings of resource management workshops or conferences; annual reports of resource programs or divisions of the Natural Resource Program Center; resource action plans; fact sheets; and regularly-published newsletters. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the National Park Service. Printed copies of reports in this series may be produced in limited quantity, and are only available as long as the supply lasts. You may send a request to: Southern Plains Network Post Office Box 329 Johnson City, Texas 78620 This report is also available electronically from the Southern Plains Network website (http://www1.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sopn/index.htm). When original printed copies are exhausted, copies can be obtained from: Technical Information Center (TIC) Denver Service Center National Park Service P.O. Box 25287 Denver, CO 80225-0287 Please cite this publication as: U.S.D.I. National park Service, Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network. 2008. Southern Plains Network Draft Vital Signs Monitoring Plan. Natural Resource Report NPS/SOPN/NRR-2007/028. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS D-XX, September 2008 ii Southern Plains Network Draft Vital Signs Monitoring Plan Contents iii Contents Appendix A Appendix G Park Natural Resource Summaries ............. 1 Exotic Plants in SOPN Parks ...................... 91 A.1. Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument (ALFL) ............................... 1 Appendix H A.2. Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Exotic Animals in SOPN Parks ................... 99 Site (BEOL) .......................................... 6 A.3. Capulin Volcano National Monument Appendix I (CAVO) ............................................. 11 Southern Plains Network Water Resources A.4. Chickasaw National Recreation Report ...................................................... 101 Area (CHIC) ....................................... 17 I.1 Abstract .......................................... 102 A.5. Fort Larned National Historic I.2 Introduction .................................... 102 Site (FOLS) ......................................... 24 I.3 Overview of Water Resources within A.6. Fort Union National Monument Southern Plains Network ................. 103 (FOUN) .............................................. 30 I.4 Resource Legislation Applicable to A.7. Lake Meredith National Recreation SOPN Parks ..................................... 105 Area (LAMR) ..................................... 35 I.5 SOPN Park Narratives ...................... 114 A.8. Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical I.6 Acknowledgements ........................ 126 Park (LYJO) ........................................ 42 I.7 Literature Cited ............................... 126 A.9. Pecos National Historical Park (PECO) 47 A. 10. Sand Creek Massacre National Appendix J Historic Site (SAND) ........................... 54 Issues Rankings ........................................ 131 A.11. Washita Battlefield National Historic Site (WABA) ...................................... 58 Appendix K Vital Signs Selection Report ................... 135 Appendix B K.1 Attending ....................................... 135 Authorities ................................................. 63 K.2 Rank New Vital Signs ...................... 135 B.1 Public Laws ....................................... 63 K.3 Vital Signs Merging Suggestions ..... 135 B.2 Executive Orders ............................... 66 K.4 Vital Signs Selection Process ............ 136 B.3 NPS Policies and Guidance ................ 67 K.5 Request to Attend Board of Directors Meeting .......................................... 138 Appendix C GPRA Goals ................................................ 69 Appendix L Vital Signs Summaries ............................. 141 Appendix D L.1 Core Vital Signs .............................. 141 Designation Definitions ............................ 71 L.2 Secondary Vital Signs ...................... 145 D.1 SOPN Park Designations ................... 71 L.3 Tertiary Vital Signs........................... 148 D.2 Other Park Designations ................... 71 Appendix M Appendix E Protocol Development Summaries ........ 153 Southern Plains Network and Individual Park Maps .................................................. 73 Appendix N SOPN Charter ........................................... 167 Appendix F Species of Concern .................................... 89 iv Southern Plains Network Draft Vital Signs Monitoring Plan Figures Figure I.1 Southern Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network .................................................................103 Figure I.3 Map of Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument with water bodies highlighted. .................114 Figure I.4 Map of Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site with water bodies highlighted. ...........................115 Figure I.5 Map of Capulin Volcano National Monument with water bodies highlighted. .........................116 Figure I.6 Map of Chickasaw National Recreation Area with water bodies highlighted. ...........................117 Figure I.7 Map of Fort Larned National Historic Site with water bodies highlighted. ................................118 Figure I.8. Map of Fort Union National Monument with water bodies highlighted. ..................................119 Figure I.9. Map of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area with water bodies highlighted. .....................120 Figure I.10. Map of Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park with water bodies highlighted. .................122 Figure I.11 Map of Pecos National Historic Park with water bodies highlighted. ........................................123 Figure I.12 Map of Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site with water bodies highlighted. .................124 Figure I.13. Map of Washita Battlefield National Historic Site with water bodies highlighted. .....................125 iv Southern Plains Network Draft Vital Signs Monitoring Plan Contents v Tables Table C. Summary of GPRA goals from each SOPN park that may pertain to activities planned or in progress by the SOPN. ...............................................................................................................69 Table F. State and federally listed and endemic species that are found (X) or potentially found (P) in SOPN parks. ..............................................................................................................................89 Table G. Exotic plants found in SOPN parks, with their applicable noxious-weed designations. ................91 Table H. Exotic animals found in SOPN parks. .........................................................................................99 Table J. Natural resources and stressors derived from scoping sessions and ranked by park staff. .........131 vi Southern Plains Network Draft Vital Signs Monitoring Plan 1 Southern Plains Network Vital Signs Monitoring Plan: Appendices Appendix A: Park Natural Resource Summaries 1 Appendix A Park Natural Resource Summaries A.1. Alibates Flint Quarries season. This area has hot summers and cold winters with strong winds that work to increase National Monument (ALFL) evaporation