Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment
Tierney G, Gibbs J, Environmental Science and Forestry College, State University of New York. 2014. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NERO/NRR—2014/882. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) evaluates current condition and trend for a subset of natural resource indicators and identifies critical data gaps for Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (MABI). The resources and indicators included herein reflect the park’s resource setting, status of resource stewardship planning and science, and availability of data and expertise to assess current conditions for a variety of potential indicators. The goal of this report is to provide clear, credible, integrative reporting to assist and inform park managers and other stake-holders. Located on 220 hectares (550 acres) in central Vermont, MABI preserves a nationally significant cultural landscape, and interprets conservation history and the evolving nature of land stewardship in America. The park’s primary purpose is preservation, education and interpretation of the historic landscape and features. This landscape is comprised of about 50 forested stands including both naturally-regenerating forest and plantations managed for historic values, interspersed with open fields, a 5.8-ha (14.3-acre) pond, a single perennial stream, and several small wetlands. Rare species or species of concern documented in the park include five sedges, a fern, five bats, one salamander (Jefferson salamander), a mammal (long-tailed weasel) and 23 bird species. MABI is unusual within the National Park System for its cultural mandate of continuing forest and agricultural management and timber extraction within the Park; these activities are key drivers of park natural resource condition, including soil and water quality, forest condition, maintenance of wildlife habitat, and protection of sensitive vegetation. However, additional key drivers of natural resource condition lie outside the park boundary and are largely outside the control of park managers; these external drivers include climate change, atmospheric deposition, landscape fragmentation, and the advance of invasive, exotic forest pests. Forest management at MABI seeks to “recognize and work with ecological change in preserving the historic character of the forest.” This approach attempts to preserve the overall configuration of forest stands, fields, vistas and pond that existed in the mid 1990’s, and that reflects historical management of the landscape, while allowing for ecological change in some areas. This approach allows the continuing adoption of new best forest management practices alongside demonstrations of historical practices. Using the NPS Vital Signs Indicator Framework, 25 Vital Signs of natural resource condition were selected for assessment and reporting herein. Assessment points sought to distinguish acceptable or desired conditions from those that warrant moderate or significant concern. Assessment points were derived from knowledge of ecological integrity, as well as from regulatory or program standards, park management goals, historical data and other sources.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Tierney, Geri; Gibbs, James; Environmental Science and Forestry College, State University of New York
- Date of Issue
- 2014-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- MABI , NERO , NRSS
- Keywords
- Acidic deposition & stress, Amphibians and Reptiles, Bats, Breeding Birds, Climate & phenology, Contaminants, Forest Management, Forest soil condition, Forest Vegetation, Invasive exotic animals, invasive exotic plants, Land Use, Landcover / ecosystem cover / connectivity, legacy trees, Lightscape , MABI, Mammals, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, natural resource condition assessment, NRCA, Ozone, Soundscape, Streams-macroinvertebrates, Terrestrial Invertebrates, Vermont, Visitor usage, Vital Signs, Water chemistry (Pond/Stream), Water quantity (Pond/Stream), wetland vegetation, White-tailed deer herbivory