National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science A Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Point Reyes National Seashore Natural Resource Report NPS/PORE/NRR—2019/1895 ON THE COVER Drakes Estero, Point Reyes National Seashore Photograph by: Robert Campbell Title Page A Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Point Reyes National Seashore Natural Resource Report NPS/PORE/NRR—2019/1895 Editors: John Battles, Anne Eschtruth, John Sanders, James Bartolome Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California Berkeley, CA 94720 This report was prepared under Cooperative Agreement P13AC01010 between the National Park Service and the University of California Berkeley, through the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. March 2019 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado Official NPS Publication Policy, Disclaimer, and Citation Page 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 underwent peer review following the guidance in NPS Director’s Order #79: Integrity of Scientific and Scholarly Activities. Five subject matter experts (Birds, forests, grasslands, vegetation) reviewed relevant chapters and three additional NPS reviewers reviewed the entire document for accuracy and clarity. Marsha Davis (NPS) was the peer review manager. The authors responded to all peer review comments to the satisfaction of the peer review manager and the Agreements Technical Representative. 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 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: National Park Service. 2019. A natural resource condition assessment for Point Reyes National Seashore. Natural Resource Report NPS/PORE/NRR—2019/1895. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 612/150895, March 2019 ii Table of Contents Contents Page Figures .................................................................................................................................................. vii Tables ................................................................................................................................................... xv Appendices .......................................................................................................................................... xix List of Contributing Authors ............................................................................................................... xxi Acronyms and Abbreviations............................................................................................................ xxiii Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... xxvii Chapter 1. NRCA Background Information .......................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2. Introduction and Resource Setting ....................................................................................... 5 2.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1.1. Enabling Legislation ........................................................................................................ 7 2.1.2. Geographic Setting .......................................................................................................... 7 2.1.3. Visitation Statistics ........................................................................................................ 12 2.2. Natural Resources .................................................................................................................. 13 2.2.1. Ecological Units at Point Reyes National Seashore ...................................................... 14 2.2.2. Resource Issues Overview ............................................................................................. 18 2.3. Resource Stewardship ........................................................................................................... 19 2.3.1. Management Directives and Planning Guidance ........................................................... 19 2.3.2. Status of Supporting Science ......................................................................................... 20 Chapter 3. Study Scoping and Design ................................................................................................. 23 3.1. Preliminary Scoping .............................................................................................................. 23 3.2. Study Design ......................................................................................................................... 25 3.2.1a. Assessment Framework Used in This Study ............................................................... 25 3.2.1b. Selected Focal Resources ............................................................................................ 28 3.2.1c. Selection of Reference Conditions .............................................................................. 29 3.2.2. Reporting Areas ............................................................................................................. 30 3.2.3. General Approach and Methods .................................................................................... 32 iii Table of Contents Contents (continued) Page Chapter 4. Natural Resource Conditions .............................................................................................. 37 4.1. Amphibians............................................................................................................................ 37 4.1.1. Why Focal Resource Was Assessed .............................................................................. 37 4.1.2. How Focal Resource Was Assessed .............................................................................. 38 4.1.3. Condition Assessment ................................................................................................... 39 4.1.4. Information Sources ...................................................................................................... 66 4.2. PORE Breeding Landbirds .................................................................................................... 70 4.2.1. Why Focal Resource Was Assessed .............................................................................. 70 4.2.2. How Focal Resource Was Assessed .............................................................................. 71 4.2.3. Condition Assessment ................................................................................................... 72 4.2.4. Information Sources ...................................................................................................... 77 4.3. Coastal Dunes ........................................................................................................................ 80 4.3.1. Why Focal Resource Was Assessed .............................................................................. 80 4.3.2. How Focal Resource Was Assessed .............................................................................. 80 4.3.3. Condition Assessment ................................................................................................... 83 4.3.4. Information Sources ...................................................................................................... 85 4.4. Forests ................................................................................................................................... 87 4.4.1. Why Focal Resource Was Assessed .............................................................................. 87 4.4.2. How Focal Resource Was Assessed .............................................................................. 92 4.4.3. Condition Assessment ..................................................................................................