Tonto National Monument: Natural resource condition assessment

Baril, Lisa; Struthers, Kimberly; Brunson, Mark

The Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) Program, administered by the National Park Service’s (NPS) Water Resources Division, provides a multidisciplinary synthesis of existing scientific data and knowledge about current conditions of important national park natural resources through the development of a park-specific report. The NRCA process for Tonto National Monument (NM) began with a December 2017 conference call and an on-site scoping meeting held in May 2018. Nine of the monument’s natural resources, grouped into four broad categories, were selected for condition assessment reporting. The categories included landscapes, air and climate, water, and biological integrity, (i.e., wildlife and vegetation resources). With the exception of the air quality condition, which is considered to be of significant concern, the majority of the monument’s resources are found to be in good condition. Some unknown conditions exist, especially pertaining to the wildlife topics due to the lack of repeat, comparable surveys. Aspects of the upland vegetation/soils, Cave Canyon riparian area, and night sky warrant moderate concern. The conditions reported represent ‘a snapshot in time’ based on the best available data. Unfortunately, as of June 2019, a major wildfire, the Woodbury Fire, has burned 50,111 ha (123,827-ac) throughout Tonto National Forest, which includes Tonto NM. While the full effects of the fire’s impact to the monument’s and surrounding region’s resources are currently unknown, the fire has undoubtedly created natural resource conditions that are vastly different from those delivered in this report.

Tonto National Monument: Natural resource condition assessment

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