Natural resource condition assessment: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Bates, Peter; Miller, Jerry; Styers, Diane; Langdon, Keith; Burda, Carey; Davis, Ron; Martin, Thomas; Kloeppel, Brian; McFarland, Scott

This Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) describes the state of the natural resources in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). The primary goals of the NRCA were to (1) document the current conditions and trends for important park natural resources, (2) list important data and knowledge gaps, and (3) identify some of the factors that are influencing park natural resource conditions. The information delivered in this NRCA can be used to communicate current resource condition status to park stakeholders. It will also be used by park staff to support the implementation of their integrated approach to the management of park resources. In 2011, GRSM staff identified and prioritized critical natural resource issues as part of their long-term ecological monitoring program. The 2011 monitoring plan lays out the park’s Vital Signs, which are a subset of physical, chemical, and biological elements and processes that represent the overall health or condition of park resources. Park staff identified six top Vital Signs that would be most indicative of the park’s overall health. These are (1) Water Chemistry, (2) Atmospheric Deposition, (3) Soil Quality, (4) Vegetation Communities, (5) Freshwater Communities and (6) Climate Change. For this assessment, we considered the park’s monitoring plan and then grouped resources into six broad general categories: Air and Climate, Geology and Soils, Water, Biological Integrity, Human Use, and Landscape Patterns and Processes. Each of these general categories, referred to as Level 1, was further subdivided into Level 2 and Level 3 categories. As the categories move from Level 1 to Level 3, the resolution of the data involved also increases. This NRCA conducted assessments of 52 Level 3 resources. Since the primary purpose of the NRCA is to provide a snapshot of current conditions, we focused largely on the most recent data available. However, temporal trends are important when assessing current conditions for most metrics and were evaluated where possible. Relevant inventory and monitoring data were analyzed quantitatively and applied directly to the assessment of resource condition. Where data were lacking, we conducted a review and synthesis from existing assessment reports, and we relied heavily on input from GRSM staff and resource specialists. This NRCA identified four resource areas of particular importance in terms of management and monitoring that are critical to the park’s mission. These are (1) air quality, (2) water quality, (3) non-native plants, animals, and diseases, and (4) biodiversity, particularly as reflected in rare plants and animals. These resource areas largely overlap with the top vital signs identified by park staff as most indicative of the park’s overall health. GRSM experiences some of the highest measured air pollution of any national park in the U.S. Acid deposition has been shown to cause measureable effects on ecosystem structure and function, and the high levels of sulfate and nitrate wet deposition recorded in GRSM easily exceed ecological thresholds. Other aspects of air quality that are measured and evaluated include mercury deposition, ozone, particulates, and haze. While most air quality indicators have improved in recent years (with the exception of wet nitrogen deposition) all indicators still exceed ecological and national standards and are of significant concern. Stream water acidification resulting from the atmospheric deposition of sulfur and nitrogen likely poses the most significant threat to water quality and aquatic biota within the park. High-elevation watersheds are subjected to high atmospheric deposition of nitrate and sulfate, and therefore exhibit lower pH values (higher acidity) than lower elevation stream reaches. These areas are particularly sensitive to atmospheric deposition due to the low natural buffering capacity of the soil and water.

Natural resource condition assessment: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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