Vascular Flora and Vegetation of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Heil KD, Porter JM, Flemming R, Romme WH. 1993. Vascular Flora and Vegetation of Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. NRTR-93-01. Cooperative Park Studies Unit at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ
In this study vascular flora was collected and documented, with special attention on taxa of concern (endangered or threatened or candidates for listing). Plant communities in the park were classified and the distribution and patterns of plant communities in relation to gradients of elevation, geologic substrate, and grazing intensity were described. Capitol Reef National Park was established in 1971 as a 241,000 acre park in the heart of the Colorado Plateau. The law creating the park called for the immediate phase-out of livestock grazing. In 1982, controversy surrounding the required phase-out precipitated the passage of a second law which called for an extension of grazing activities. This law also called for the establishment of a comprehensive grazing research program, initially overseen by the National Academy of Sciences, to determine the effects of the activity on the park's natural and cultural resources. By 1991, with NPS funding, the Division of Resource Management and science at Capitol Reef National Park eventually shepherded to completion 11 separate studies as part of this effort. This document is the first report to be published as part of this grazing research series.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Heil, Kenneth; Porter, J.; Flemming, Rich; Romme, William
- Date of Issue
- 1993-09
- Units
- CARE , HIST
- Keywords
- Classification, Communities, Ecology, ehistory, Elevation, Endangered Species, Flora, floristics, Geology, Grazing, History, Inventory, Species Abundance, Taxonomy, Threatened Species, Vascular, Vegetation