Capitol Reef National Park Project BY: DANIEL MURPHY

Relief Map of Capitol Reef with important land forms identified Boulder Mountain Fishlake National Forest Henry Mountains

Capitol Reef National Park in Utah

Info on when Capitol Reef became a National Park, who made it and why  Capitol Reef was founded on December 18 th  It was founded by Ephraim Portman Pectol and his brother in- law, Joseph S. Hickman. They thought that it contained canyons and other land forms of unusual scientific value and may be of geological and public interest. They ran a promotional campaign, submitting stories and photographs to newspapers to attract interest to the Waterpocket Fold area.  In 1937, President Roosevelt set aside 37,711 acres of the Capitol Reef area as a National Monument. This included an area near present Utah Highway 24 and Capitol Gorge. Ephraim Portman Pectol

Environmental issues The following environmental issues are impacting the park:  Air Pollution  Pollutants like nitrogen, ozone and mercury impact natural resources such as vegetation and wildlife. For example, sometimes the park’s beautiful views are blocked by haze that is caused by fine particles in the air.  Climate Change  According to a recent study by the National Park Service, average temperatures have increased and more climate events (intense storms, floods, droughts) are occurring.

Special Landforms and Features  The Waterpocket Fold  A geologic landform extending over 100 miles!  It is a huge “fold” or spine in the Earth that formed between million years ago  The Capitol Reef  White domes of Navajo Sandstone that look like capitol building domes  The Cathedral Valley  Reddish-Orange Sandstone that is formed to look like a Cathedral building

How is Technology used to maintain and preserve the park?  GPS/GIS for mapping  -all kinds of special equipment and computers for collecting information about plant and animal populations, geologic processes, night sky quality, visitor impacts, and much more  -desktop computers and software for creating reports and doing research  -radios for communication  -GPS and technical equipment for patrolling and Search and Rescue  -desktop computers for communication and doing research  -the park film/website/projectors for conveying information and presentations  -radios for communication

Main Rocks found in Capitol Reef:  In Cathedral Valley, erosion has caused the towers of Entrada Sandstone to look like cathedrals.  Wingate Sandstone: Sand dunes on the shore of an ancient sea.  Kayenta Formation: Thin-bedded layers of sand deposited by slow-moving streams in channels and across low plains.  Navajo Sandstone: Huge fossilized sand dunes from a massive Sahara-like desert.  The San Rafael Group consists of four Jurassic period formations, from oldest to youngest:  Carmel Formation: Gypsum, sand, and limey silt laid down in what may have been a graben that was periodically flooded by sea water.  Entrada Sandstone: Sandstone from barrier islands/sand bars in a near-shore environment.  Curtis Formation: Made from conglomerate, sandstone, and shale. Mancos Shale