Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Curecanti National Recreation Area: field season 2014

Perkins, Dustin

Invasive exotic plant (IEP) species are a significant threat to natural ecosystem integrity and biodiversity, and controlling IEPs is a high priority for the National Park Service. The Northern Colorado Plateau Network (NCPN) selected the early detection of IEPs as one of 11 monitoring protocols to be implemented as part of its long-term monitoring program. In conjunction with park staff, NCPN staff created target lists of priority IEPs for early detection. During surveys conducted from July 2 to September 3, 2014, observers detected 23 priority IEP species on monitoring routes and 10 priority IEP species in transects along 164.5 kilometers (102.2 miles) at Curecanti National Recreation Area (NRA). Canada thistle (Breea arvensis), woolly mullein (Verbascum thapsus), Russian thistle (Salsola spp.), and reed canarygrass (Phalaroides arundinacea) were the most widespread species. The routes with the highest densities of invasive plant patches were along the Gunnison River in the Cooper/Neversink area (20.9 patches/km), the Elk Creek area (18.6/km), and the Blue Mesa routes 1, 3, 5, and 7 (12.2–28.1/km). Relatively few patches were found along some areas surrounding Blue Mesa Reservoir Route 4 (0.00/km) and Route 6 (1.0/km), and the Pine Creek Trail (1.4/km). IEPs were found on 29% and 88% of transects around Blue Mesa and the Cooper/Neversink extra area, respectively, with an average of 0.37 and 1.24 IEP species detected per plot. Percent cover of reed canarygrass (16.3%) and Canada thistle (2.0%) in the Cooper/Neversink area was the highest of any invasive plant on any route. While there were twelve invasive species recorded in transects around Blue Mesa, the percent cover of all invasive species combined was less than 1%.

Invasive exotic plant monitoring at Curecanti National Recreation Area: field season 2014

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