Invasive exotic plant monitoring in Capitol Reef National Park: 2015 field season and invasive plant infestations, 2003–2015
Perkins D. 2016. Invasive exotic plant monitoring in Capitol Reef National Park: 2015 field season and invasive plant infestations, 2003–2015. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NCPN/NRR—2016/1260. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
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 created a target list of priority IEPs for early detection. During surveys conducted on June 5–10, 2015, NCPN staff detected three IEP species (all priority IEPs) on monitoring routes and three IEP species in transects along 41.3 kilometers of Oak Creek, Scenic Drive, and Cathedral Valley Road. Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.), Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia), and field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) were detected along monitoring routes in 2015, with 65, 3, and 4 patches, respectively. Tamarisk was widespread along Oak Creek and Cathedral Valley Road. Tamarisk was the only priority species found on transects. Russian thistle (Salsola tragus) along Cathedral Valley Road was the most widespread IEP species, present on 58% of transects, and had the highest average percent cover, at 0.13%. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) was also detected on transects. When the most recently completed monitoring rotation of 2013–2015 is compared to the earlier time periods of 2003–2005 and 2009–2012, it appears that park control efforts have resulted in decreases of targeted invasive plants, such as tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) and Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens) across the park, Russian olive along the Highway 24/Fremont River corridor, and tamarisk along the Scenic Drive. Tamarisk has increased and/or grown larger along Cathedral Valley Road, Highway 24/Fremont River, Oak Creek, and Pleasant Creek, where the park has not performed control efforts. Russian olive has also expanded along Oak and Pleasant creeks.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Perkins, Dustin
- Date of Issue
- 2016-08
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CARE , NCPN , NRSS
- Keywords
- Exotic Species, Exotic/Invasive Species - Plants, Invasive Species, Monitoring, NCPN Invasive Plants Monitoring, Plant Studies