Status of Terrestrial Vegetation and Soils at Big Bend National Park, 2020–2024
Studd SE , Hubbard JA , McIntyre CL , Mateljak J , Pingatore AD . 2026. Status of Terrestrial Vegetation and Soils at Big Bend National Park, 2020–2024. Science Report. NPS/SR—2026/424. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2317772
This report summarizes the status of vegetation and soils at 74 monitoring sites across Big Bend National Park in the context of management assessment points. These assessment points are designed to provide managers with a reference level for evaluating current conditions and determining if management action may be needed. Recent data indicate that exotic plants are common in low to middle elevations of the park but in low abundance. Overall, exotic plants were present in 21 of the 74 monitoring plots (28.3%), with Lehman lovegrass present in half of those plots (10) and buffelgrass only present in two plots. None of the exotic species observed had cover values (abundance) approaching our assessment point of 5%. Enhanced erosion potential appears moderate at most sites, based on mean soil stability values below 3 in half the strata and most plots having mature biocrust cover below the desired 2% cover stated in our management assessment point. This suggests that water erosion of upland soils may be a management concern. The Chisos High Elevations plots exceeded the assessment points for fine fuels cover and ladder fuels, with mean subcanopy (0.5–2.0 m height layer) woody cover approaching 30% and litter cover approaching 40–50%. Chisos Mid-Elevations sites also have high litter and duff cover (around 35%), but less woody subcanopy structure. Combined with other environmental stressors, such as prolonged drought, these conditions suggest severe wildfire risk. Finally, we evaluated the frequency of sensitive cactus species co-occurring with non-native grasses and found only four plots parkwide had both present during the most recent round of sampling (2020–2024). While this is encouraging, in future analyses we will evaluate the abundance of the non-native grasses at these sites with particular attention to any increases in cover that might warrant some focused management action.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Studd, Sarah; Hubbard, J.; McIntyre, Cheryl; Mateljak, Jason; Pingatore, Adam
- Date of Issue
- 2026-04
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2317772
- Units
- BIBE , CHDN , NRSS
- Keywords
- ecology, fuels, invasive plants, long term monitoring, management assessment points, plants, soil, Soils Vegetation Monitor, terrestrial ecosystems, terrestrial vegetation and soils, wildfire