Natural resource condition assessment: Petroglyph National Monument

Schwemm, Catherin

doi:10.36967/2294627

A subset of natural resources at Petroglyph National Monument (PETR or monument) was assessed for current condition. All available information, data, and expertise were utilized to determine resource condition and to evaluate whether the condition was stable, improving, or deteriorating (trend). A level of confidence was also provided for each assessment. Results of this assessment are presented in detail in Chapter 4 and discussed in Chapter 5. In addition to overall assessments for the selected resources, a focused geomorphic assessment was conducted for arroyos—water courses in the monument that are seasonally dry but that can carry heavy sediment loads during storm events—to determine whether human land-use practices have led to increased erosion. Methodology, results, and references for this effort are presented in Appendices 1A–1D. Petroglyph National Monument is directly adjacent to the rapidly growing city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and human development and urban expansion are by far the greatest threats to monument natural resources. Habitat integrity (natural night skies and natural quiet) is most affected by urbanization and are in moderate to poor condition with generally downward trends. (Due to the near absence of perennial freshwater sources in the monument, water quality was not assessed.) Significant downstream modifications related to development have negatively affected the natural hydrology within the monument, though the cessation of land uses upstream that increase erosion (particularly grazing) have allowed vegetation recovery that reduces sediment transport. Volcanic resources are well-documented and in generally good condition. Continued monitoring will assure that accidental and intentional human damage and/or erosion do not degrade these features in the future. Climate change impacts in the region are expected to relate mostly to changes in precipitation patterns. Whether annual precipitation will decrease overall or remain at past levels but not within historic seasonal patterns (e.g., more intense summer storms coupled with reduced snowfall) is not clear. Biological resources (vegetation and small to medium size vertebrates) are largely assumed to be in good condition, though data are mostly lacking or not current enough to have high confidence in this assessment. If climate change impacts include long-term drought, all biological resources will likely be affected. The potential impacts to biological communities from seasonal changes in precipitation are less clear.

Natural resource condition assessment: Petroglyph National Monument

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