CSU/NPS Project Final Report
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 80523
������������������������������� ������������� Phone: (970) 491-2870
������������������������������� ������������� romme@cnr.colostate.edu
Co-investigator:��������� ������������� Shawn Knox
����������������������������������������� Graduate Degree Program in Ecology
����������������������������������������� Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
����������������������������������������� Shawn.Knox@colostate.edu
PROJECT TITLE:� Task Agreement Modification Number 1: � Fire History and Landscape Dynamics in Mexican Spotted Owl Habitat, Walnut Canyon
National Monument, Arizona
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 datasets 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 or that occurred more
than 100 years ago:
a.���� The stands are recovering very slowly from prehistoric natural or human-caused disturbance, such as the Sunset Volcano eruption
900 y.a., or over-utilization by the Sinagua Culture 900 to 600 y.a. (no ability to test with proposed study methods).
b.���� The stands are recovering from poorly documented, early historic human-caused disturbance, such as logging to 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:
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
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
Agency Administration
Representative
Lynell Wright
Budget Assistant
Intermountain Support Office
Denver, CO� 80225-0287
Tel: (303) 969-2654
Lynell_Wright@nps.gov
Investigator:
William H. Romme
Department of Forest Sciences
Sciences, Colorado State
University, Fort Collins, CO
80523
Tel: (970) 491-2870
romme@cnr.colostate.edu
CSU Admin. Contact:
Carmen Morales
Sponsored Programs
408 University Services Center
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: (970) 491-6684
carmen.morales@
research.colostate.edu
CSU/NPS Project Final Report
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.