Vegetation and exotic plant management: 2017 annual report for Bent’s Old Fort NHS
Roberts A, Pannebaker F, Herberlie A, Cartmell Z, Folts-Zettner T, Bennetts R, Sosinski H, Bonilla J, Fields B, Gatewood R, McDaniels J, Bekedam S. 2018. Vegetation and exotic plant management: 2017 annual report for Bent’s Old Fort NHS. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/SOPN/NRDS—2018/1173. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This report is intended to be used in concert with the Vegetation and Exotic Plant Management Implementation Strategy for Bent’s Old Fort NHS (Bent’s Old Fort NHS 2016). The implementation strategy provides an overview of the initial reference conditions and direction and this report provides the results for 2017 as well as an annual update (adaptation) of the direction based on ongoing results. Reference conditions represent a combination of ecological and cultural values of the Bent’s Old Fort NHS setting. The data used to determine condition of each vegetation unit relative to reference conditions is from the vegetation monitoring surveys conducted by the Southern Plains Network and Southern Plains Fire Group in accordance with Folts-Zettner et al. (2017). The primary management treatments during 2017 were mowing, herbicide, seeding and limited irrigation. Mowing was done to control exotic plants, particularly kochia. Most treatments were effective during the treatment year but long-term results remain to be determined. Of the 12 transects monitored in 10 management units, all transects had 5% cover of high priority exotic species. Four transects each did not have over >50% native grasses expected for the unit, had >15% shrub cover, and >10% exotic plant cover. Five transects did not meet >50% native grass cover. Only three transects met the reference condition of having >15% native forb cover. 2017 management actions appear to be improving vegetation conditions as a whole, although several years of continuous management will be required to firmly establish these conditions. A Management Work Plan has been included for 2018.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Roberts, Alexa; Pannebaker, Fran; Herberlie, Adam; Cartmell, Zach; Folts-Zettner, Tomye; Bennetts, Robert; Sosinski, Heidi; Bonilla, Jerimiah; Fields, Bruce; Gatewood, Richard; McDaniels, Jason; Bekedam, Steven
- Date of Issue
- 2018-05
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- BEOL , FIEC , NRSS , SOPN
- Keywords
- Exotic Plant Monitor, fire monitoring, Grasslands Monitor