Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Capitol Reef National Park: 2010 field season
Perkins DW and Lenhart G. 2011. Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Capitol Reef National Park: 2010 field season. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/NCPN/NRTR—2011/467. National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. Fort Collins, Colorado
Invasive exotic plant (IEP) species are a significant threat to natural ecosystem integrity and biodiversity, and controlling them is a high priority for the National Park Service. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) selected the early detection of IEPs as one of 10 monitoring protocols to be implemented as part of its long-term monitoring program. During surveys conducted from July 12 to September 24, 2010, Capitol Reef National Park staff detected eight IEP species on monitoring routes and transects along 19.4 kilometers of Utah State Highway 24 and Pleasant Creek. Of the invasive species considered Priority 1 for the park, tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis) and Russian olive (Elaeangus angustifolia) were the most common along Highway 24, while tamarisk and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) were the most common along Pleasant Creek. Tamarisk, tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima), and Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens) all have declined along Highway 24 and Pleasant Creek since the last surveys were completed from 2003 to 2005 and control efforts were undertaken by the park.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Perkins, Dustin; Lenhart, Gary
- Date of Issue
- 2011-06
- Publisher
- National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science
- Units
- CARE , NCPN , NRSS
- Keywords
- Exotic Species, Exotic/Invasive Species - Plants, Invasive Species, Monitoring, NCPN Invasive Plants Monitoring, Plant Studies