Study Implementation Plan: Elk and Bison Grazing Ecology and Management in Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Singer, Francis; Schoenecker, Kathryn

In 2000 the U.S. Congress authorized the expansion of the former Great Sand Dunes National Monument by establishing a new Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in its place, and establishing the Baca National Wildlife Refuge. A new ungulate management plan to address the challenges brought about by the new land designations needs to be developed. The new land areas have different management requirements, and the situation is predicted to result in elk seeking out the park and other protected areas as refugia. Elk are currently far in excess of agency goals and heavily impact fragile dune grasslands and sensitive riparian habitats in the national park, refuge, Nature Conservancy lands, and private lands. In addition, about 1,500 bison graze the Medano-Zapata Ranch, owned by The Nature Conservancy (TNC). TNC seeks to increase bison numbers to represent a genetically viable unit and a representative, semi-wild and migratory population. Opinions vary as to the numbers of bison needed to accomplish that goal. Elk move freely across all elements of the new land designations (park, preserve, refuge, TNC ranches) and elk and bison share the Medano-Zapata Ranch. Thus this plan proposes to gather information in order to manage the entire land complex as one ecosystem. The plan also proposes to convene a steering committee to coordinate the needs and actions of the various management participants. The study will ultimately guide managers by providing the information needed to develop a predictive model to be used for grazing management of both elk and bison.