NPS
PROJECT SUMMARY
Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
Cooperative Agreement Modification
FUNDING AGENCY: National Park Service
MODIFICATION NO.:� Modification #1
Continuation of CSU-52
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT NO.: 1200-99-009
FUNDING AMOUNT: $14,900.00
INVESTIGATORS Contact Information:
Principal Investigator:��� William H. Romme
�������������������������������� Department of Forest Sciences
�������������������������������� Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 8052
����������������������� ������������� Phone: (970) 491-2870
����������������������� ������������� romme@cnr.colostate.edu
Co-investigator: ������������� Shawn Knox
����������������������������������������� Graduate Degree Program i
Ecology
����������������������������������������� Colorado State University,
Fort Collins, CO 80523
����������������������������������������� Shawn.Knox@colostate.edu
Agreement Modification Number 1:� Fire History and Landscape Dynamics in Mexican Spotted
Owl Habitat, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Arizona
PROJECT TITLE:� Task
EFFECTIVE DATES:� September
2002 through December 2004
PROJECT ABSTRACT:
NPS managers are concerned about the long-term conservation of MSO habitat within Walnut
Canyon NM.� A scientific study of the Douglas fir-Gambel oak stands is proposed to describe: (1) the age-class structure
(including abundance and ages of dead trees); (2) historic fire regimes; and, (3) forest changes during the last century. � In
addition to these primary objectives, understanding fire frequency of the ponderosa forest surrounding the MSO habitat is
important for reliably interpreting the potential for severe fire events in the Douglas fir-Gambel oak community, and for
identifying forest restoration objectives for ponderosa pine forest adjacent to the protected MSO habitat.� The resulting datase
would be used to test the following hypotheses:
1.�� The Pseudotsuga menziesii - Quercus gambelii stands on the south side of Walnut Canyon are dynamic, having
changed in stand density and structure during the last century.
2.�� Forest vegetation on the steep, slickrock slopes of Walnut Canyon rarely sustains wildfire. Instead, lightening strikes
typically torch a few trees and create snags.
3.� The increase in P. menziesii trees during the last 60 years is a result of a severe, stand-replacing event or disturbance
that occurred more than 100 years ago:
a.�� The stands are recovering very slowly from prehistoric natural or human-caused disturbance, such as the Sunse
Volcano eruption 900 y.a., or over-utilization by the Sinagua Culture 900 to 600 y.a. (no ability to test with propos
study methods).
b.�� The stands are recovering from poorly documented, early historic human-caused disturbance, such as logging t
construct the Santa Fe Railroad.
c.�� The stands are cyclic through time, and are periodically consumed in a severe wildfire.
4.�� P. menziesii forest is migrating downslope into a new habitat type at Walnut Canyon as a result of climatic change.
KEY WORDS:� Walnut
Canyon National Monument;� Mexican Spotted Owl; habitat
Agency Representative:
Agency Administration
Representative
Ron Hiebert, NPS
Research Coordinator
CPCESU
Northern Arizona University
P.O. Box 5765
Flagstaff, AZ� 86011-5765
Tel: (928) 523-0877
Fax: (928) 520-8223
Ron.Hiebert@nau.edu
Lynell Wright
Budget Assistant
Intermountain Support
Office
Denver, CO� 802250287
Tel: (303) 969-2654
Lynell_Wright@nps.gov
Investigator:
CSU Admin. Contact:
William H. Romme
Department of Forest
Sciences
Sciences, Colorado State
University, Fort Collins,
CO 80523
Tel: (970) 491-2870
romme@cnr.colostate.edu
Carmen Morales
Sponsored Programs
408 University Services Center
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: (970) 491-6684
carmen.morales@
research.colostate.edu
National Park Service Key Official:
Paul Whitefield
Natural Resource Specialist
Flagstaff Area National Monuments
6400 N. Highway 89
Flagstaff, Arizona 86004
(928) 526-1157 ext.235
Paul_Whitefield@nps.gov
Annual Report Received:
Final Report Received:
Publications on File:
This Modification is subject to all the provisions included in the Cooperative Agreement, dated 6/22/99.
Attach any supporting material as necessary.