Natural resource conditions at Mesa Verde National Park: Findings and management considerations for selected resources
Jones A, McTague S, Mozelewski T, Crafford R, Maguire A, Suraci J. 2025. Natural resource conditions at Mesa Verde National Park: Findings and management considerations for selected resources. Science Report. NPS/SR—2025/295. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2311540
In 2023, the National Park Service (NPS) initiated a Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) project at Mesa Verde National Park (MEVE). The purpose of an NRCA is to: 1) synthesize information related to the primary drivers and stressors affecting natural resources identified by park managers, 2) report conditions for these natural resources, and 3) provide management recommendations to park managers based on NRCA findings. During a scoping meeting with report writers and Subject Matter Experts in September 2023, participants identified the top three drivers of change within MEVE to be climate change, increased incidence of fire, and spread of non-native plants, each of which are having direct influences over the conditions of MEVE’s focal resources. Also at the Scoping Meeting, MEVE Park staff selected six focal resources for the NRCA: avifauna, deer & elk, rare plants, the Mancos River, upland vegetation, and seeps & springs. Depending on data availability, resource conditions were evaluated through either condition assessments, which assess the current status of a focal resource, or gap analyses, which summarize known information and identify knowledge gaps. For the condition assessments, we evaluated a subset of wildlife including passerines and hummingbirds, selected rare plants, the Mancos River (specifically water quality and quantity, fish populations, & riparian corridor function), and piñon-juniper woodlands. Gap analyses were conducted for raptors, additional rare plants, deer & elk, upland vegetation (excluding piñon-juniper woodlands), and seeps & springs. Resources assessed via a condition assessment were rated using individualized condition rating tables. Additionally, report writers provided management recommendations in Chapter 4 for each natural resource.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Jones, Allison; McTague, Sarah; Mozelewski, Tina; Crafford, Rachel; Maguire, Andy; Suraci, Justin
- Date of Issue
- 2025-05
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2311540
- Units
- MEVE , NRSS
- Keywords
- Chapin Mesa milkvetch (Astragalus schmolliae), Cliff Palace Milkvetch (Astragalus deterior), climate, fire, fish, gap analysis, hummingbirds, Mancos River, Natural Resource Condition Assessment, NRCA, passerine birds, piñon-juniper woodlands, Rangeland Analysis Platform, Rapid Stream-Riparian Assessments, rare plants, riparian, trend analysis, water quality