An Overview of the 2007 Mojave Network Meeting June 28, 2007 Lake Mead National Recreation Area National Park Service Mojave Network

Morning (8am-12pm) Overview of NPS I&M program Mojave Network activities (Inventory,Phase I & II) –Inventories –Data mining –Conceptual models Cooperators- Inventory Results –Biological –Springs Past & present data mining activities National Park Service Mojave Network

Afternoon (1:20-3:00pm) Update on 12 basic inventories, data management, GIS Conceptual models for MOJN Description of MOJN Phase III (’07 on) How will monitoring info be used & reported? Approach to water quality & vital sign monitoring National Park Service Mojave Network

Afternoon (3:15 - 4:30pm) Meetings & Workgroups MOJN Data Management & GIS meeting MOJN Water Resources Workgroup USGS Great Basin Integrated Landscape Monitoring National Park Service Mojave Network

Servicewide I&M Program Park Management Informed by Scientific Information Overview of the Inventory & Monitoring Program

Development of the I&M program 1978 Management policies call for scientific data to support resources planning & mgt 1987 Inventory and Monitoring Initiative (Evison Report) 1990 Hester Task Force 1998 NPS Omnibus Management Act “Parks for Science” 2000 Natural Resource Challenge Servicewide I&M Program Park Management Informed by Scientific Information

“The Secretary shall undertake a program of inventory and monitoring of National Park System resources to establish baseline information and to provide information on the long-term trends in the condition of National Park System resources…” “The Secretary shall … assure the full and proper utilization of the results of scientific studies for park management decisions.” NATIONAL PARKS OMNIBUS MANAGEMENT ACT OF 1998 Title II – Section 204. Inventory and Monitoring Program THE LAW Servicewide I&M Program Park Management Informed by Scientific Information

Development of the I&M program 1978 Management policies call for scientific data to support resources planning & mgt 1987 Inventory and Monitoring Initiative (Evison Report) 1990 Hester Task Force 1998 NPS Omnibus Management Act “Parks for Science” 2000 Natural Resource Challenge Servicewide I&M Program Park Management Informed by Scientific Information

National Park Service Natural Resource Challenge NPS will create networks of parks… to facilitate collaboration, information sharing, and economies of scale in natural resource management. NPS will accomplish natural resource inventory needs and monitor park vital signs.

NPS 2001 Management Policies “Natural systems in the national park system, and the human influences upon them, will be monitored to detect change. The Service will use the results of monitoring and research to understand the detected change and to develop appropriate management actions.” “The Service will: Identify, acquire, and interpret needed inventory, monitoring, and research, including applicable traditional knowledge, to obtain information and data that will help park managers accomplish park management objectives provided for in law and planning documents.” Servicewide I&M Program Park Management Informed by Scientific Information

Servicewide I&M Program Park Management Informed by Scientific Information To establish a natural resource inventory and monitoring as a standard practice that transcends traditional program, activity, and funding boundaries. To inventory natural resources and park ecosystems and determine their nature & status To monitor park ecosystems to better understand their dynamic nature and condition To integrate natural resources inventory & monitoring information into NPS planning, management, and decision making. Goals:

Servicewide I&M Program Park Management Informed by Scientific Information

 Death Valley NP  Great Basin NP  Joshua Tree NP  Lake Mead NRA  Manzanar NHS  Mojave Natl Preserve  Parashant Natl Mon.

Mojave Network Organizational Structure Network Coordinator Technical Committee 5 Resource Chiefs & 2 park reps Science Advisor MOJN NC Superintendent liaison Board of Directors 7 Superintendents MOJN NC, PWR RC NRAC rep, GB-CESU PWR I&M Coordinator WASO I&M National Park Service Mojave Network Data Manager –6 Data miners 2 SCAs & 1 Admin. Asst. Ecologist GIS specialist (term) programmer (term)

Servicewide I&M Program Park Management Informed by Scientific Information To establish a natural resource inventory and monitoring as a standard practice that transcends traditional program, activity, and funding boundaries. To inventory natural resources and park ecosystems and determine their nature & status To monitor park ecosystems to better understand their dynamic nature and condition To integrate natural resources inventory & monitoring information into NPS planning, management, and decision making. Goals:

 Base cartography  Geology map  Soils map  Vegetation map  Meteorological data  Air quality related values  Air quality data  Water body location and classification  Water quality data  Natural resource bibliography  Species list of vertebrates and vascular plants  Species distribution and status of vertebrates and vascular plants of management concern 12 Basic Inventories Servicewide I&M Program Park Management Informed by Scientific Information

Servicewide I&M Program Park Management Informed by Scientific Information To establish a natural resource inventory and monitoring as a standard practice that transcends traditional program, activity, and funding boundaries. To inventory natural resources and park ecosystems and determine their nature & status To monitor park ecosystems to better understand their dynamic nature and condition To integrate natural resources inventory & monitoring information into NPS planning, management, and decision making. Goals:

National Park Service Mojave Network What are Vital Signs? Key elements that indicate the health of an ecosystem. Vital signs can be any measurable feature of the environment that provides insights into the state of the ecosystem and can occur at any level of organization

The intent of vital signs monitoring is to track the status and trends in a subset of physical, chemical, and biological components and processes that represent the overall condition of park resources

Goals of Vital Signs Monitoring Determine status and trends in selected indicators of ecosystem health to allow managers to make better- informed decisions Provide early warning of situations that may require intervention or mitigation Understand the dynamic nature and condition of park ecosystems and define normal limits of variation Provide data to meet legal and Congressional mandates related to natural resource protection and visitor enjoyment. Provide a means of measuring progress towards performance goals

National Park Service Mojave Network Vital Signs Monitoring Program 3 Phase Process Phase 1: Conduct background work identify & synthesize existing data (data mining) draft conceptual models hold Park Vital Signs Workshop(s) Phase 2: Select and prioritize vital signs update and expand upon Phase I work select vital signs Phase 3: Develop draft monitoring plan

National Park Service Mojave Network The Mojave Network: Biological & Spring inventories (& 12 basic inventories) Phase 1: Conduct background work identify & synthesize existing data (data mining) draft conceptual models hold Park Vital Signs Workshop(s) Phase 2: Select and prioritize vital signs update and expand upon Phase I work select vital signs Phase 3: Develop draft monitoring plan

Timeline for Inventory & Monitoring Activities Planning and Design Steps Information gathering and data cataloging XXXXXXXX- Inventories to support monitoring -XXXXX--- Park scoping workshops ---XXX--- Vital Sign prioritization and selection ----XX--- Conceptual modeling ----XXX-- Protocol development X- Monitoring plan development X- Implement monitoring protocols X Refine monitoring protocols X Monitoring plan due dates Ph. I Sep ’05 Ph. II Sep ‘06 Ph. III Dec ‘07 Final Sep ‘08 Staffing timeline NCNetwork Coordinator (Heister)NC (MacChung) Data Manager (Truitt)Data Manager (Palmer) Ecologist National Park Service Mojave Network

Year I&M Program Biological Inventory NPS-WRD WQ Monitoring I&M Program VS Monitoring FY2000$ 95,565$0 FY2001$100,000$0 FY2002$233,800$0 FY2003$218,579$0$150,000 FY2004$132,700$0$150,000 FY2005$0$80,000$225,300 FY2006$0$80,000$850,400 FY2007$0$80,000$850,400 Inventory & Phase I II III National Park Service Mojave Network

National Park Service Mojave Network  Initially based on assessment of inventory completeness for vascular plants and vertebrate taxa  Then prioritized taxa groups based on discussion with park staff and on-going activities  Evaluated distribution information and identified priority inventory areas within each park Prioritization of Inventory Needs

Cooperators USGS – Southwest Biol. Science Center USGS – Corvallis office & Menlo Park office Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center University of Nevada, Las Vegas Desert Research Institute- UNR University of California – Riverside Utah Museum of Natural History Great Basin Institute University of Idaho National Park Service Mojave Network