Saguaro National Park: Natural resource condition assessment

Valentine-Darby, Patricia; Baril, Lisa; Struthers, Kimberly; Filippone, Colleen; Swann, Don; Mathis, Allyson; Chambers, Nina

The Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) Program, administered by the National Park Service’s (NPS) Water Resources Division, aims to provide documentation about current conditions of important park natural resources through a spatially explicit, multidisciplinary synthesis of existing scientific data and knowledge. The workshop for Saguaro National Park’s (NP) NRCA was held in conjunction with their State of the Park report planning effort on October 28 - 29, 2014. Saguaro NP was originally established as a national monument in 1933, and its rich scientific legacy predates its inception. This body of literature and research was used to report on current conditions for the 15 natural resource topics park staff selected for its NRCA. Some of the assessments included combined resources, such as grassland, woodland, and forest vegetation and soils, whereas other assessments included resource topics as indicators and measures (e.g., non-native invasive plants detected or water quality conditions). The 15 natural resources were grouped into three broad categories: landscape-scale, supporting environment (i.e., physical resources), and biological integrity, which included wildlife and vegetation topics. Most of the assessments resulted in a moderate concern condition rating. The most significantly impacted resources included night sky, soundscape, air quality, and the middle reach of Rincon Creek -one of the park’s most biologically rich areas. The only natural resources considered to be in good condition were biodiversity, although its trend is deteriorating due to the many threats negatively impacting park resources and birds. Saguaro cactus was assessed as good to moderate condition. Saguaro NP faces many threats due to an ever-increasing human population within and surrounding Tucson, Arizona and was identified as one of the most threatened national parks because of the surrounding land use change. Couple that with its ranking as one of 25 national parks most at risk due to climate change, and the park’s scientific legacy will become even more important in informing resources conditions and identifying necessary adaptations in a rapidly changing environment.

Saguaro National Park: Natural resource condition assessment

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