Vegetation community monitoring at Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska: 1997-2009
James KM. 2010. Vegetation community monitoring at Scotts Bluff National Monument, Nebraska: 1997-2009. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/HTLN/NRTR—2010/364. Natural Resource Program Center. Fort Collins, Colorado
Vegetation community monitoring was conducted by the Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network beginning in 1997 and concluded in 2009. During this period, fourteen monitoring sites were established in four vegetation communities. This report presents summary findings of that monitoring effort and concludes network vegetation monitoring efforts at Scotts Bluff National Monument. The Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network will continue long-term vegetation monitoring at the park. The fourteen monitoring sites were categorized into four community types: needle-and-thread grass – blue grama – threadleaf sedge native prairie, Rocky Mountain juniper woodland, restored prairie and reseeded mixed grass prairie. A summary of the native mixed-grass prairie, woodland and restoration areas is presented. Active management was restricted to two prescribed fires during the monitoring period. These fires only minimally impacted the monitoring sites. Below average annual precipitation characterized the monitoring period. Therefore this report represents natural variability relative to weather and climate in the absence of continued active management.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- James, Kevin
- Date of Issue
- 2010-08
- Publisher
- Natural Resource Program Center
- Units
- NGPN , NRSS , SCBL
- Keywords
- HTLN Plant Communities Monitoring, monitoring report, plant community monitor, Plant community monitoring