ARIZONA STRIP FIELD OFFICE
Need:
Compilation of a Digital Database from Available Geological, Hydrological and
Biological Information for the Parashant National Monument
Issue:
This type of data is required for long-term management of National Monuments and
Conservation areas in order to identify long-term changes and implement
management strategies relevant to such change.
Application:
To provide base data for management, future research and identification of gaps in
information.
Category:
Baseline data -geologic, hydrologic, biologic.
Scope:
Local.
Potential partners:
NSTC.
Estimated cost:
$10,000 - 25,000.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact:
Becky Hammond, Nonrenewable Resources Advisor/Geologist - (435) 688-3323
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Completion and Publication of Geologic Maps at 1:24000 scale for the Arizona Strip
Issue:
Geologic maps provide a fundamental base layer for resource management.
Bedrock conditions provide building block layers for soil development, subsequent
vegetative and wildlife communities, and hydrologic regimes.
Application:
Geologic data are one of the fundamental base layers required for analysis and
subsequent management of natural resources.
Category:
Baseline data - geologic mapping.
Scope:
Local.
Potential partners:
USGS, Utah Geological Survey.
Estimated cost:
$50,000/quad.
Status:
USGS working on west half of Strip. No activity on eastern half.
Contact:
Becky Hammond, Nonrenewable Resources Advisor/Geologist - (435) 688-3323
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
A Chronology of Age Dates of Basalt Flows on the Shivwits and Uinkaret Plateaus
Issue:
Long-term sustainability and stability of soils.
Application:
This data would be used to determine the age of soils across the Arizona Strip and
their development sequence. Analysis of age dates on the basalt flows would
provide a unique opportunity to study soil genesis from the same parent material
over a large span of time. The dense clays of the older soils could also provide
clues to climatic changes and other past geological events.
Category:
Research - grologic.
Scope:
Primarily local, but of potential use to other areas with basalt derived soils.
Potential partners:
USGS.
Estimated cost:
< $10,000.
Status:
Work completed by USGS, results to be published by Grand Canyon History
Association.
Contact:
Becky Hammond, Nonrenewable Resources Advisor/Geologist - (435) 688-3323
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
A Study of the Distribution of Olivine Inclusions in Basalts
Issue:
Potentially relating geologic features to cultural use pattens.
Application:
Distribution patterns of olivine could provide information on the movement and
trading patterns of prehistoric peoples who inhabited the area. The olivine is
significant because it was used as a temper in Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi)
ceramics in this region.
Category:
Research - geologic, cultural.
Scope:
Primarily local, but of potential use to other areas with basalt derived cultural
resource materials.
Potential partners:
USGS, NAU.
Estimated cost:
< $10,000.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact:
Becky Hammond, Nonrenewable Resources Advisor/Geologist - (435) 688-3323
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Compilation of a Digital Database of NRCS Order 3, 1:24000 Soil Surveys
Issue:
Order 3 soil surveys are a fundamental resource management base layer.
Application:
Order 3 soil survey data is a critical base data layer for determining a variety of
resource values and potential uses and impacts. Soil inventory data collected at this
scale is invaluable for determining vegetation community potential, identifying
unstable soils that should be avoided, developing engineering practices for various
resource developments, and determining rehabilitation potential from various types
of disturbance.
Category:
Baseline data - soil survey.
Scope:
Local.
Potential partners:
NRCS.
Estimated cost:
$.50/acre. Unknown acreage total.
Status:
NRCS has completed field work and collected relevant data. Awaiting funding for
correlation, mapping and publication.
Contact:
Robert Smith, Soil Scientist/Soil/Water&Air Specialist - (435) 688-3245
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Study of Historic Spatial Changes in Meadows in the Mt. Trumbull area
Issue:
Meadows in the Mt. Trumbull area have undergone spatial changes in historic times.
We need to know what has caused these changes.
Application:
Research is required that analyzes historic spatial changes to meadows in the Mt.
Trumbull area. It is unknown whether these changes have resulted from natural
factors related to climate or hydrology, or from man-caused management factors.
Definitive information on the cause of these changes can assist in long-term
management.
Category:
Research - ecologic history, vegetation.
Scope:
Local.
Potential partners:
NAU.
Estimated cost:
< $25,000.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact:
Robert Smith, Soil Scientist/Soil/Water&Air Specialist - (435) 688-3245
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Compilation and Analysis of Multi-temporal Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) Images of
Mt. Trumbull Ecosystem Restoration Project
Issue:
Mt. Trumbull is currently the site of experimental ponderosa pine restoration
research being conducted by Northern Arizona University. BLM has a need to know
how this work relates to additional restoration required in other types of vegetative
communities in the Mt. Trumbull area.
Application:
This type of information would allow mid-scale analysis of baseline resource
conditions and assist in identifying and analyzing interactions of land treatments
conducted by the BLM.
Category:
Data acquisition and interpretation - ecologic assessment, remote sensing.
Potential partners:
NSTC.
Estimated cost:
$10,000 - 25,000.
Scope:
Local.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact:
Becky Hammond, Nonrenewable Resources Advisor/Geologist - (435) 688-3323
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Identify and Define the Occurrence and Movement of Ground Water in Underlying
Aquifers of the Arizona Strip
Issue:
Knowledge of the hydrology of the Arizona Strip is very limited. Knowledge of
groundwater and its movement is critical in this arid region and would be valuable in
determining impacts from management actions.
Application:
Information would be utilized to determine potential hydrologic impacts from various
management actions. This can help assure long-term sustainability of the hydrologic
resource, and assure that long-term changes are not the result of management
activity. It can also help BLM in determining when and where to file water
appropriations to assure public access.
Category:
Research - hydrologic, groundwater.
Potential partners:
USGS.
Estimated cost:
$25,000 - 50,000.
Scope:
Local.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000). USGS in Flagstaff has interest, but no
funding.
Contact:
Becky Hammond, Nonrenewable Resources Advisor/Geologist - (435) 688-3323
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Inventory of Springs, Seeps, Wells and Surface Waters on the Arizona Strip
Issue:
Based on the scarcity of water on the strip. Springs and seeps have a particular
importance to wildlife in the area. Information is needed regarding locations, well
logs, flow rates, water quality, and recharge areas of these springs and seeps.
Application:
This type of information would be utilized for management decisions in a variety of
resource programs to assure management actions do not disrupt or impact these
water sources.
Category:
Baseline data need - hydrology, seeps and springs.
Scope:
Local.
Potential partners:
USGS.
Estimated cost:
$25,000 - 50,000.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000). USGS in Flagstaff has interest, but no
funding.
Contact:
Becky Hammond, Nonrenewable Resources Advisor/Geologist - (435) 688-3323
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Information and Data on Sediment Runoff and Water Chemistry Characteristics from
Various Soils and Drainages
Issue:
Salinity in the Colorado River system.
Application:
This type of data is needed for ongoing efforts to reduce salinity within the Colorado
River system. It would provide fundamental data on areas of highly erosive soils
and impacts to salinity from various management actions.
Category:
Base data need - sedimentology and hydrology.
Scope:
Primarily local, but of potential use in other areas with similar soils.
Potential partners:
USGS, NRCS.
Estimated cost:
$25,000 - 50,000.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact:
Robert Smith, Soil Scientist/Soil/Water&Air Specialist - (435) 688-3245
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Assessment of the Potential for Shallow Perched Potable Aquifers within a Five Mile
Radius of Three BLM Administrative Sites within the Parashant National Monument
Issue:
Administrative sites will be required to support field work and management of the
National Monument. Water is required at these sites for maximum efficiency.
Application:
These sites are utilized for administration and research support and available water
is limited. They include the Nixon Administrative/Research Site at Mt. Trumbull, the
Parashant Administrative site, and the Poverty Administrative Site.
Category:
Research - hydrologic, aquifers.
Scope:
Local.
Potential partners:
USGS.
Estimated cost:
$10,000 - 25,000.
Status:
NSTC is assisting in scoping and data research.
Contact:
Robert Smith, Soil Scientist/Soil/Water&Air Specialist - (435) 688-3245
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Assessing the Effects of the Current Ponderosa Pine Restoration Projects on
Infiltration, Ground Water Recharge, and Related Spring Flows and Runoff in the Mt.
Trumbull Area
Issue:
Ongoing restoration experimentation with Ponderosa Pine has been limited to
surface issues and resources. There is a need to determine if such efforts have any
impact to groundwater in the area.
Application:
This type of information would be useful in developing plans for additional
ponderosa pine restoration efforts in other areas on the Strip.
Category:
Research - hydrologic, vegetative restoration.
Scope:
Local, but potentially useable in other similar terrain.
Potential partners:
USGS, NAU.
Estimated cost:
$25,000 - 50,000.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact:
Robert Smith, Soil Scientist/Soil/Water&Air Specialist - (435) 688-3245
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Impacts to Aquifer Recharge Areas from Conversion to Grass and/or Shrubs
Issue:
General lack of water resources dictates the need to fully understand the hydrologic
cycle on the Strip. A study to determine if conversion of vegetative cover to grasses
and/or shrubs in recharge areas would increase infiltration and potential water yield
at Nixon Spring, Poverty Spring and Oak Grove would be beneficial.
Application:
This type of information would be utilized in management decisions to see if certain
activities could be undertaken to increase water availability and to sustain aquifer
recharge capabilities.
Category:
Research - hydrologic, vegetative conversion.
Scope:
Local.
Potential partners:
USGS.
Estimated costs:
$50,000 - 100,000.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact:
Robert Smith, Soil Scientist/Soil/Water&Air Specialist - (435) 688-3245
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Causes and Controls of Piñon-Juniper Encroachment on the Arizona Strip
Issue:
Piñon-Juniper is increasing in distribution. We need to know if this is man-caused or
natural, and what the dynamics of this encroachment consist of.
Application:
The Field Office is interested in the restoration of piñon-juniper woodlands, which
have moved across vast areas of the west. We need fundamental baseline
information, analysis of historic distribution patterns and effectiveness of various
restoration techniques in order to deal with this increasing distribution pattern.
Category:
Research - vegetative restoration, piñon-juniper.
Scope:
Regional.
Potential partners:
USGS, NAU and other universities.
Estimated cost:
> $250,000, can be broken into smaller, discrete projects from $5,000 - 25,000.
Status:
Contact:
This issue and need have been incorporated into the BLM Colorado Plateau PiñonJuniper Strategy. NSTC is also providing assistance in bibliographic research.
Becky Hammond, Nonrenewable Resources Advisor/Geologist - (435) 688-3323
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
An Inventory of Paleobiological Resources on the Arizona Strip
Issue:
Impacts from climatic change.
Application:
This type of data would help determine Quaternary climatic changes and the
impacts or lack thereof from past and current land use practices. This knowledge
would enhance our future management of the public lands.
Category:
Inventory - paleobiology.
Scope:
Local.
Potential partners:
USGS.
Estimated cost:
$10,000 - 25,000.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact:
Becky Hammond, Nonrenewable Resources Advisor/Geologist - (435) 688-3323
345 East Riverside Drive, St. George, Utah 84790-9000
Need:
Identification and Biology of Cave-Dwelling (Troglobitic) Invertebrates on the Arizona
Strip
Issue:
General lack of inventory and understanding of invertebrate species on the
Colorado Plateau and their potential role in ecologic systems.
Application:
Cave-adapted millipedes and spiders have been observed in at least two caves on
the Arizona Strip. Preliminary identification by a prominent cave biologist (Dr.
William Elliot) suggests that the millipedes may be a new species. Describing a new
species would benefit the sciences of biology, zoology, ecology and speleology. If
the species are indigenous to the Strip, they could be candidates for listing as
Threatened or Endangered.
Category:
Research - invertebrates.
Scope:
Local, but potentially useable in other similar terrain.
Potential partners:
USGS, graduate students.
Estimated cost:
$10,000 - 25,000.
Status:
Carried over from original catalog (2000).
Contact:
Matthew Safford, Outdoor Recreation Planner - (435) 688-3200
345 E. Riverside Dr., St. George, UT 84790-9000
Need:
Creating Sustainable Recreation Environments: Protecting Site Values in Dominant
Motorized Recreation Areas
Issue:
The Vermilion Cliffs National Monument was designated in 2000 and has wildland
values protected by legislative mandates. A portion of the monument, the Paria
Plateau, was relatively unknown and received little use. Recently the level of
notoriety has increased and so has the interest in the Paria Plateau. There are
values on the plateau such as old-growth piñon-juniper, cultural dwellings and
artifacts, and outstanding scenic vistas (visual resources). In addition to these
values the area has special wildland values. This research will help to determine the
special wildland values of the plateau which include: remoteness, wildness, natural
quiet, solitude, and large tracts of land relatively non-impacted by recent human
use. The management question to be addressed is: How can the special wildand
values of the Paria Plateau be sustained while at the same time allowing motorized
access for both individual and commercial recreational purposes.
Application:
The benefits of this research include obtaining social and physical data for the Paria
Plateau. This data would help the BLM determine how to measure a sustainable
recreational environment (i.e., determining the quantity of motorized vehicles)
through the principles of Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC). Recreational limits is a
topic of great concern for the BLM, as in most cases, limits are determined without
the use of social and physical data. The results from this project, based on a large
southwestern landscape, can be extrapolated to other areas on the Colorado
Plateau and to the region. The greatest benefit to the BLM is the determination of
ways to limit wildland areas through the use of science.
Category:
Research - recreation, wildlands.
Potential partners:
NAU.
Estimated cost:
$15,000.
Scope:
Local, with potential regional and national application. The research results would
present a LAC model on ways to determine limits in wildland areas that contain
special values. If the research results determined limits were necessary, due to
social or physical considerations, than all BLM programs would benefit.
Status:
New proposal (2001).
Contact:
Need:
Issue:
Marcy DeMillion, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Recreation Planner, (435)
688-3260
Demographic Trend of Pediocactus bradyi, an Endangered Species, on the Marble
Canyon Rim, Arizona Strip
The need is to study the size structure, fruiting, recruitment, and mortality of the P.
bradyi under livestock grazing and no livestock grazing scenarios over a 5-10 year
period. The BLM has demographic studies on this cactus covering a 16 year period.
The Navajo Nation has about 10 years of studies and the Glen Canyon National
Recreation Area has a few years of study. The need is to have a independent group
do research on the cactus as described above. The studies by the three above
entities all did size structure, but mortality, recruitment, and fruiting have been less
systematic or several years of no data. The Glen Canyon populations have not had
livestock present where as the BLM and Navajo populations have been under
livestock influences. One study plot on BLM has not had a livestock presence for 20
years. These studies have not revealed definitive results on whether livestock
grazing has an effect on these cactus.
Application:
The benefits would answer the question as to whether more barrier type protection
needs to be put in place to protect the cactus from the affect of livestock. Current
studies, as done, show little to no difference in size structure, recruitment, fruiting d
mortality as influenced by livestock. However, there are hints of possible problems
in one locale with livestock trampling, but it unclear to its effect on the cactus in the
long term.
Category:
Research - grazing, T&E species, cactii.
Scope:
Regional. The information will be useful to the range and wildlife programs in determining
where and to what degree grazing will affect the rare and endangered cactus. This
will affect management of the Pediocactus paradenii, Pediocactus peeblesianus
var. fickienseniae. Both of these cactus are candidates for listing and especially the
P. peeblesianus var fickienseniae, which occurs on the Marble Canyon Rim, and
the data could be extrapolated to it. The decision on the Kane Ranch AMP could be
modified in future years as a result of these studies.
The modification could come in the form of more direct protection of the cactus
population should the studies so indicate. If they do not indicate direct protection as
being needed, the data could be transferred to other listed or rare species in the
region.
Potential partners
The Arboretum at Flagstaff.
Estimated cost:
$20,000 initially, $5-6000 per year for five years after the initial year.
Status:
New proposal (2001).
Contact:
Lee E. Hughes 435 688 3229 or lee_hughes@blm.gov