I I 

PARK SCIENCE 

A RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BULLETIN 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

VOLUME 4 - NUMBER 4 SUMMER 1984 
a 

PARK 

SCIENCE 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

SUMMER 1984 

A report to park managers of recent and ongoing research in parks with emphasis on its 

implications for planning and management 

Combined Social Biological Research 

Works Both I” Park and m Court ...... .3 

Consortium Turns Flood Disaster 

Into Sc~ent~lic Learning Expwence ...... 4 

NPS Science Publications 

Transferred lo SE Region ............ 7 

Glacier Bay Affords Management 

Textbook Example 01 lnteract~on ........ 8 

Mapping Barrier Island Vegetation ........ 9 

Supenntendenl‘s Corner ............ 10 

Letters to the Editor .......... 10 

Agate Beds Story Reads More 

Like Agatha ChrIstie ................ 11 

Mimlcklng Nature Through 

Dune BulldIng ...................... 12 

Regional Hlghllghts .................. 14 

Grizzly Bear Recovery Notes ......... 15 

Smokies Conference Eyes Management 

of MAB Reserves .................. 15 

Fire Management Data Gathered 

at Cape Canaveral ..................... 16 

Spirit Lake Water Management 

Studied ..... .. ... .... ... 16 

The RMT Program: First Class 

Graduation and One Perspeciivee ......... 17 

Computerized Library Increases 

Efficiency, Saves Time, Money ........... 17 

Regions Get Nod to Continue CPSUs ...... 17 

Information Crossfile ................... 18 

Mount Rammer Symposium ............ 19 

Transport Crate Facilitates 

Goat Removal .................. .20 

Grand Canyon Assesses 1983 Flood ..... .20 

Buffalo River Air Project ................. 21 

Computer News ................. .22,2X24 

Cover: 

Canoezsts using the Ozark Nadonai Scent Rwer. 

ways (the Current and Jacki Fork Rwers) are the 

sub/ecf of Nltensrve sociological research. (Story 

Page 31 

Newspapers come and go. television news programming expands computer networks spread gnp. and 

tighten into tough new tegumenis of!nformalion exchange and m a// this upheaving sea of human cornmum 

c&on. small craft iike Park Sctence seek their proper ieveis andpaths. 

Probably not the most nolable joumakst~c event of 1984. but c&m/y a sig”;t/cani one in this editorb world. 

was the frst meeting in February of the Park Science editor;8 board. For the pas1 hvo years, the board members 

had been receinng by mail. readmg, and passing on at/ the materiaiai that went into each issue of Park Science. 

Edrlonal gwdeknes had been approved and d;ssemmated to a// NPS Regions through the Regional Chief 

Snenbt. Many a sticky problem had been resolved via the telephone. Bul never had lhe group come logether 

with an agenda that demanded defmition 01 the overali rote of Park Science. its aft& length iimits. ifs pokey 

with regard to /et& to the editor ils tolerance for humor, rts distribution practices, 16 editorial board composition 

and terms. 

The results have been communicated to the field in lhe form of a memo from the edItor Basicati)! the message 

6 that Park Science WI// continue to furnish as wde as possible a sampling of the various scientific research 

projects going on n the field, do so in shod, conrxe sty/e. m /aymanS terminology and in the tImekes! possible 

fashion. 

The board noted the usefuiness oi Park Science as a toot for gettmg new tindmgs into the mainstream of 

management, eve” while the more arduous route of sc;entific publication is grinding along. One of our board 

members, 67/i Lukens. a/so serves on the editorial board for the NPS Monograph Sexes, now based in the 

Southeast Region. From hispos~bon as a member of both boards. Bitt offered the view that Park Sue”& rapId 

d;sseminatkx - ‘keepmg everyone up to date on what’s gorng on”- sat&s a reai manageme” new’ R the 

System. After attendmg a Monograph board meetmg, immed!ateiy foilowing the Park Science gathering. he 

wrote that the two programs, together, amounted to ‘2 vev good, albeit lean publication progam dealing with 

the natural resources and the visitors’ reiattonshlp to them.- 

In the interests of keeping the distribution list spare and sharply targeted, a nottce wit shorlly be Nlcluded ;n 

a// ‘>ingte cop& on the kst, askmg rec;p,ents to re-request ;nclusion. If no rep/y is received the names wit/ be 

dropped. 

The editor was grateful and, frankly, somewhat surprised al the /eve/ of mterest and commitment shown by 

the hard-working board members, a// of whom have their own demanding jobs with the Serwce. The energy 

and enthusiasm they displayed is a priceless boon to a” editor and to the System we are a// trying to serve. 

Let this ed,for;ai also serve as an invitation to readers to contr;bute - articles, news notes, ietters. RB you 

thoughts and feelinqs as well as the results of your research and applications that make up Park Sc~ence’s 

ratson d&e. 

RUSSELL E. DICKENSON, Director 

National Park Service 

*/, 

zj 

U.S. Department of the Interior 

Editorial Board: 

Daniel J. (Jim) Tobin, RegIonal Director, and 

Donald R. Field, Sensor Scientist, Pac~flc Northwest Region 

Asst. Supt. Roland H. Wauer, Great Smoky Mountains NP, and 

John Dennis, biologist, WashIngton Ofttce: 

Supt. William M. Lukens, Padre Island National Seashore, and 

Supt. Dale B. Engqwt, IndIana Dunes National Lakeshore, 

Gaiy Davis, Mawe Research B!ologist, Channel Island NP 

Jean Marthews, Editor: Oregon State University NPS CPSU. Room 110 Forestry Sciences Lab, 

3200 Jefferson Way, Corvalks, OR 97331 (503) 757.4579; 8-420-4579 

ISSN-0735.9462 

‘An Ecological Study of the Cheliberg Forest at lndrana Dunes National Lakeshore, ~ “Probiem Analys!s of 

Denal; Caribou Herd Deckne, ’ ‘A Study ot Cave Temperatures at Lava Bed NM, ~ “011 Spiii Conlainment Training 

at G&way NRA, ~ “How RMPs Help tdentih/ Baseline Information Needs ,n Midwest Region, and a Supenntendentj Corner from Joe Kennedy of Dinosaur NM. 

2 
Combined Social/Biological Research 

Works Both in Park and in Court 

By Kenneth Chilman and Dave Foster 

Social research m national parks IS an often disxssed, but frequently confusing topic for park managers. This may be because social scientists use a 

specialized language not familiar to persons trained 

n natural resources management. It also may be be- 

:ause field methods for social sciences in park and 

,wldland settings are relatively new and evolving. 

An unusual sowa research program has been conWted at Ozark Nabonal Scenic R~verways (OZAR) 

n Missouri over the past 14 years. Its purposes were 

10 identify and conduct visitor studies needed for re 

creational carlying capacity deiermlnation in a park 

setting. The program is unusual, first because of the 

long-term continuing research cooperation between 

a university social science researcher and the OZAR 

siafl This occurred because of OZARs need and 

interest in having social research conducted. and the 

resewherB proximity (approximately 150 miles) and 

interest in working in a park setting. Second, the researcher had an unusual combinatton of natural science and social science training, and several years 

of experience in wildland resources management. 

This combination facilitated discussion of research 

needs, and interpretation of research rewlls that 

would aid management. And, third, the social research at OZAR is unusual in aggressively seeking 

ways to obtain social science information in the face 

of severe budget cwstralnts. 

One hundred and forty miles of the Current and 

Jac!& Fork rivers were designated as Ozark National 

Scenic Riverways in 1964. By 1970, rapidly increasmg 

numbers of canoe floaters began to cause management concerns about recreational carrying capacities 

and effects of recreational use on OZAR natural emronments. A balanced program of biological and social research addressing the carrying capacity concerns was designed by OZAR biologist Leo Marnell 

(now al Glacier NP) to gather data in the period 1972. 

1977 The rattonale lor the program and the search 

methods and results were reported in a 139.page 

summary publication River Recreation Research al 

Ozark National Scenic Riverways 1970.1977available from OZAR headquarters, PO. Box 490, Van 

Buren. Missouri, 63965. 

The social inputs needed for the program were 

identified by the participating soxa researcher 

through intenwe discussions with OZAR staff, managers of other wildland areas, and other social reseatchers. Field methods for studies of wildland visitors 

were new, developing, and scattered. The concept of 

a series of visitor studies I” one park, integrated with 

other research considerations, was unique. 

The studies selected for implementation followed 

from a series of questions relating to the canoeist 

increases. A central concern was how many 

canoeists actually were using the river. An innovative 

time-lapse photography program was developed by 

Marnell to count canoes on vancus parts of the weiways; the counts were done in 1972 thru 1975, and 

again in 1977 to establish trend data. Several visltor 

intewiew studies were conducted concurrently. The 

first sought informatlon about”wheredidflrst-time visitors learn about OZAR” and What were their visit 

expectations.” A series of ~perceptions of crowdIng’ 

studies began in 1972, and contlnued in 1977 and 

1979. agaln for trend data. 

HOW MANY PADDLERS does it lake to ‘ylil tip a tiver~ to the quaMy capacity level? At OZAR fhev decrded to 

find wf 

Research on management alternatives began with 

studying the characteristtcs of large group (over 20 

canoes) floaters, and implications of limlling group 

we. Another study investigated the effects of increasing numbers of canoeists on johnboat fishermen. 

(Johnboats are large, flat bottom, motorized boats). 

Characteristics of private canoe owners were SW 

veyed. Safety concerns were explored through an 

examination of accident records and river conditions. 

Finally, a study was done to determine perceptions 

of comparable river floating opportunities in the region, and reasons for canoeists choosing OZAR. 

Individually, these studies were rather small-scale 

and unsophisticated, although they used state-of-lheart social science research methods. But collectively, 

they began to form a data base for OZAR managers 

to use with biological research data (patterns of 

ecological site impacts, waterqualitystudwfisheries 

and wildlife studies, cave studies) for day-to-day dec!swn making. 

Then, two things happened. In 1978, research activities were put on hold during planning actiwties for 

a new master plan. But more impoiiantly, legal action 

was initiated to prevent canoe rental businesses without NPS concession permits from operating on the 

riverways. OZAR managers had to establish river usa 

capacities in order to show that control of numbers 

of canoes rented (approximately 87% of total canoe 

use) was necessary At the federal coult hearing m 

St Louis in 1992, the research data played an important part First, the 1978 summary research report 

provided strong ewdence of the serious NPS efforts 

to develop a data base for decisions. Second, both 

the blologlcal and social research documented the 

needs for maintalmng use with cellair constralning 

conditions 

Followng appeals and some legal compllcailons of 

3 

the federal court’s ruling favorable to NPS, research 

activities have been resumed. Some canoe counting 

was done in summer 1983 to learn the effects of restricting unlicensed canoe rentals (an estimated 40% 

of rental canoes available), and a use monitoring system was deslgned. As further changes occur in the 

recreation management situation at OZAR, new subjects for research and monitoring will be Identified. 

The questton of OZAR recreational carrying capacity has not yet been answered definitively. The complexibes of the OZAR river management situabon 

have afforded opportunity for examination of various 

carrying capacity strategies over a time period of several years We believe we have identified a carrying 

capacity strategy that will work for the OZAR river use 

plan to be developed in the next few months. That 

strategy also involves continuing research on monitor1ng the various aspects of carrying capacity for management purposes. 

The concept of designing a park research program 

to combine social and biological Inputs appears to 

have been the real key to utility of the research information. For OZAR, the data base obtained from the 

research program has been used frequently m dally 

decision-maklng. in planning actlvitles. and !n federal 

court Although difficult to measure, the utility of the 

data base for dally decisions is probably its greatest 

advantage For the cooperatmg researcher, the longterm series 01 studies has been an excepttonal opportunity to learn more abwt the kinds of SOCKI mformation that manaqers need and how to devise waw to 

obtain them ” 

Chriman is Assoc;a/e Professor Deoadment ot 
Consortium 7brns Flood Disaster 

Into Scientific Learning Experience 

By Henry E. McCutchen 

and David R. Stevens 

On July 15, 1982, the Lawn Lake dam, a privately owned reservoir within Rocky 

Mountain National Park, failed, sending a 700-acre-feet torrent of water down the 

Roaring River into Fall River and into the town of Estes Park. The flood caused three 

fatalities and over $30 million damage to public and private property. The site was 

later declared a major disaster area by the President of the United States. 

Impacts of the flood on the Park’s natural resources were numerous. Lawn Lake 

was partially drained. About 8 miles of aquatic ecosystems and the adjacent riparian 

and other plant communities were inundated. The river channels were scoured to 

bedrock with cuts up to 50 feet deep. A 42-acre debris fan was deposited, damming 

the Fall River and creating a new lake. 

Although the event was tragrc I” terms of loss of 

life and property scientists in the area saw the site 

as a unique opportunity for research. Rarely does a 

hrgh elevation perturbalion of this magmiude and 

Woe. in an easily accessible area and protected in a 

r&ma. park, o&r. 

In Mav 1983. lhrouah the interest of Dr. Gustav 

Swanso; of Colorado State Unnersity the Lawn Lake 

Flood Research Consorlium was formed. Its purpose 

is to share knowledge and resources in the course of 

conduchng research on the physical, biotic and social 

impacts of the flood. The consoflium is multidisciplinary, with about 15 scientists participating. Coniribut1ng Indiwduals. agencles and colleges include: The 

National Park Service, Rocky Mountam National Park, 

Rocky Mountain Regional Office (via Jim Reid, Regronal Chief Scientist), and Water Resource Field Suppod Laboratory at Fori Collins (via Dr. Raymond 

Herrmann. Director); Colorado Stale University; the 

Universiiy of Colorado; the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research; the University of Northern Colorado; 

the U.S. Geological Survey; and the Bureau of 

Reclamation. 

The park is seeking additional funding to meet the 

needs of an intensive J-year base line research program. This will be followed by a more limited long-term 

monitoring program. The research has basic and 

applied Implications; data for interpretation and management directton will be provided relating lo the natural recovery of high elevation ecosystems. The research also has implications as lo mitigation and restoratfon of mining Impacts, and in the developmenl 

of predictive models of dam breaks, their impact and 

recovery rates. Such information applies to several 

hundred other high elevation darns m Colorado. 

Stevens ;s the Research Biologist at Rocky Mountan NP; McCutchen is the Park Ecolog;st and &ordin&or of the Consotium. 

Revegetation Investigation 

By Mark G. Noble 

and Kenneth A. Barrick 

The recovery of disturbed areas in the tundra environment has received much attention at Rocky Mountain NP, where strong mountam winds are an impartant factor in the process of revegetatian. We have 

begun related work on the colonlzalion of wind-destabilized flooddepositsinanuppermontaneenvironment just a short distance below the tundra an 

opportunity that arose as a consequence of the Lawn 

Lake Flood. 

When the dam containing Lawn Lake failed, about 

986,400 m3 of water descended a mountam valley for 

7.3 km with an average fall of 99.6 m in each kiiometer. At the base of this valley an extensive outwash 

fan was deposited. Because the energy of the flood 

waters decreased rapidly with the abrupt reduction in 

slope, large boulders were depwited at the beginning 

of Ihe fan while fine sands were deposited much 

‘arther downstream. Streamchannel modifwtlonand 

the burial of the vegetation are two important consequences of this major flood. 

Our study of the ouhvash IS focused on four sites 

which range in stability from very little wind-related 

surface change to continuous deposition and shifting 

of wind-transported material. The revegetation rates 

differ greatly among these surfaces-the number of 

species and cover of vegetation are over 2.5 times 

greater on the most stable site compared with the 

others. Thirty-five species have become established 

among all of the sites after one full growing season. 

While 25 of these occur on Ihe mosl stable site, only 

three are present where stability is least. Even greater 

disparities exist among density values. Available 

moisture, nutrient slatus, and proximity lo a seed 

source are factors that can influence revegetation at 

these sites. However, the destabilizing effect of wind 

isclearlythe most imporfantfaclor atthistime. Colonization and establishment have been greatly impeded 

where the outwash is subject to continuous microsite 

adjustment as particles are shifted by the wind. 

A potential impact that might alter the rate and direction of succession is trampling by park visitors. 

The outwash fan is popular with visitors and readily 

accessible from the road. Although trampling is not a 

serious problem now. management of human impacts 

might be necessary if succession is to proceed unimpeded. On the other hand, the small extent of these 

unstable sites provides them with a scarcity value as 

a type of environmental surface. These early successional stages could be prolonged on the most unstable sites as part of a managementstrategyto maintain 

the current interprelive opportunrties for future park 

visitors. It is evident that, on unsheltered srtes in the 

upper monlane. the erosive and destabilizing effecis 

of the wind can b:: as great as in the tundra environment. 

Noble and &rick are scientists at the UnrVersity 

of Colorado$ Mountain Research StatrOn 

4 

Bird Population Effects 

By Ronald A. Ryder 

In 1983 two study sites were established, each 200 

x 600 m. One was severely disturbed by the flood; a 

second area (Ihe control), upstream on Fall River, 

was undisturbed. Boundaries of both areas were 

marked with stakes, as were random vegetation sampling points. Overstory and understory vegetation 

densities and structure were sampled wng 

techniquesdescribed byJamesandShugart(1970). 

Six visits were made lo the sites between Aug. 28 

and Oct. 15 and terrestrial vertebrates noted. Fiffy 

avian species, four mammals and one snake were 

seen. Breeding birds lefl the area by late August. Four 

birds were banded. Late nesting of Western Wood 

Pewee was observed. 

Results of Ii breeding bird surveys of the “treated 

area were obtained from Debra Bangs, who noted 16 

species, 62 territorial males (194 territorral malesIlO 

A). Her data are bung compared with ours and those 

we summarized from five summers’ counts (1976. 

1980) made in similar habitat in Moraine Park by 

Paula L. Hawley. 

One winier survey of Ihe plots was made Dec. 17, 

1983. Regular censuses resumed in April 1984. 

Ryder is on the facu/ty of the Department of fishery 

and Wiidirfe Boicg~ Colorado State Un;vers$ 

Dam Break Modeling Done 

By Robert D. Jarreli and John E. Costa 

On July 15, 1982. Lawn Lake Dam, a 26.fool high 

earthfill Irrigation dam built in 1902 in Rocky Mountain 

National Park, failed due to piping. Cascade Dam, 

downstream on Roaring River from Lawn Lake Dam, 

subsequenlly failed as a result of the flood. Various 

methods were used 1o compute indirectly the peak 

discharge, attenuation of flow, and flood travelbme. 

Channel cross sections were surveyed and other pertinent hydrologic data collected 

Immediately downs&m from Lawn Lake Dam the 

flood was a wall of water 25 to 30 feet high, but as 

the flood wave progressed downstream, ii attenualed 

so that approximately 20 minutes separated the leading edge and the flood peak. The channel slope 

ranged from approximately 0.4 10 more than 20 percent. The slreambed was scoured, as much as 50 

feat deep and 300 feet wide, in the steepest 4.5.mile 

seclion of the Roanng River. All flood waters eventually were stored !n Lake Estes 12.7 miles downstream 

from Lawn Lake. 

A version of the National Weather Service dam 

break flood model was used to: (I) Evaluate the 

model’s performance on sleep-gradient streams; (2) 

provide supplemental hydrologic informationforthese 

dam failures; and (3) evaluate various scenarios of 

dam-breach development and the probable impact of 

the failure of Cascade Dam. Satisfactory results were 

obtained, bul not without significant difficulties rn getting the model to run properly. To calibrate the model, 

Mannmg n-values between 0.1 and O.Zwere required, 

and subcritical flow was assumed. 

Jarrett is a Hydrokqist and Costa is a Research 

Hydrologist for the US. Gwlogtcal SuweH Denver 
Flood Disaster WHEW 

Lawn Lake Flood in Rocky Mm&in Nabonai Park cut fhe channel of fhe Roaring River as much as 50 feei. 

Geomorphology, Sediment Transport, and Hydrology 

By Colin lhorne, John Pitlick, 

David Biedenharn, Stanley Schumm, 

Samira Rais, Jeff Bradley, Mike Harvey, 

Lyle Zevenbergen, and Mark Siegenthaler 

We have bean studying the Fall River intensively 

since the Lawn Lake dam disaster. Work has been 

concentrated on the Horseshoe Park reach because 

the sedimentary impact of the flood was greatest 

there. 

The 1983 results are preliminary and data reduction 

is incomplete. However, an initial examination of the 

5 

data has yielded some interesting information and 

allowed some immediate conclusions. To present 

these findings, each project is brieflyreviewedin turn. 

Stage-Discharge Curve for Gauging Station 

Discharge, the most important single flow parameter in any river study, is difficult to estimate and timeconsuming to measure. Therefore, the first step in the 

study was to locate a stable section and establish a 

relationship between water surface elevation (stage) 

and flow rate (discharge). 

At Horseshoe Park the best stable stiion is at the 

Trail Ridge Road (Highway 34) bridge. a concrete 

culvert structure. A stage board and continuous recorder have been installed and a stage-discharge 

curve developed by stream gauging. At present this 

is the only gauging station on the Fall River. 

Mapping and Surveying of Fall River Channel 

The channel of the Fall River in Horseshoe Park 

has been monitored throughout the snowmelt hydrograph for 1983. Thedatashow remarkabledifferences 

in channel n?sWnse to the influx of sediment in different reaches. 

In reach 1, the uppermost reach studied, the channel is braided. The original, meandering channel of 

the Fall River is completely buried in alluvial fan sadiment. Deposition, mostly of gravel and cobbles, is 

spread over a wide area on the fan and consists of 

filling and tearing away of distributary channels together with erosion of new distrfbutaries. 

In reach 2, adjacent downstream, thesinuouschannel has changed little from its pre-flood condition. The 

channel’s lateral stability can be attributed to almost 

nonerodible banks of cohesive meander belt deposits 

bound by dense vegetation. 

In complete contrast, the highly sinuous, meandering channel in Reach 3, further downstream, has not 

been able to transport the sediment input from upstream. The channel here has been filled with sand, 

leading to a complete loss of channel capacity Downstream in Reach 4. little has changed so far. The 

sediment wave rn Reach 3 has not yet anived, although it will do so early spring runoff 1994. 

Measurements of Bedload and Suspended Load 

Direct measurements at two sites explain in process terms the results of the channel surveys. At the 

upstream site (Reach 2) high rates of transport have 

bean recorded all through the hydrograph. Unsteadiness is evident, probably associated with sporadrc 

inputs of sediment by slump failures in the ravines on 

the Roaring River. These unstable slopes could pro 

vide stgnificant sediment supply for many years to 

come. 

Transport rates at the downstream site (Reach 4) 

were vary much lower, explaining the sediment accumulation in Reach 3. The ‘wave” of sediment is 

moving slowly downstream, and transporf rates did 

beain to increase at the end of the snowmelt hvdrograph. 

NO sediment comes from the Fall River upstream 

of Horseshoe Park because the new lake. caused bv 

ponding behind the alluvial fan, traps all incoming 

sediment. This simplifies the task of isolating sediment sources that are confined to the Roarmg River 

basin. 

Bed Armoring 

The size of bed material has been monitored in 

Reach 1. Transport of gravel and coarser bed material 

is strongly influenced by selective transport of finer 

grains, leaving a coarsening surface layer. This pro- 
Flood Disaster ~~~~~~~~~~~ 

A 42 acre a//uvia/ fan, depos,ted by the Lawn Lake Flood n Rocky Mounlan Natronal Park. coniarned a” 

estimated 10 mfikon cubrc feet of mater;a/. 

cess is called arrnonng. In the lack of a coarse sediment Input. armoring leads eventually to the formation 

of an immobile, coarse surface layer-a pavement. 

If there is a continuing supply of sediment from upstream, a coarse, mobile bed forms but paving does 

not occur. Armoring and pawng have important effects 

on channel development in nvers with coarse beds 

and must be taken into account when modeling channel development. 

The bed matenal data show progreswe armoring 

throughout the reach. lnltlally the sediments were almost homogeneous with depth, but quickly a coarser 

layer developed. Upstream of the Roaring River-Fall 

River confluence, armoring progressed to paving because of the lack of sediment supply from the new 

lake. At the end of the summer an Immobile paved 

bed had developed. Downstream of the confluence 

an armored, mobile bed developed, but phases of 

coarsening were interspersed by periods of fining, 

associated with large unsteady inputs of sediment 

from the Roaring River. Overall, though, the armoring 

trend was clear. 

Bend Flow Measurements 

lntenswstud~esoftheflow andsedlmentryprocesses in conwutive bends in the meandering Reach 

4 are being made. The measurements show a ‘tlassicy llow pattern of primary and secondary velocities. 

Secondary flow is dominated by a skewnduced 

cell taking surface water towards the outer bank, 

where there IS a small cell of reverse rotation. At the 

innerbank,flowoverthepo~nt barisradiallyoutwards. 

The intent of this study is to continue these bend 

flow measurements in subsequent runoff seasons as 

the sediment stored In Reach 3 moves into Reach 4. 

Very few data sets for such situations exist even 

though bend response to high sediment supply IS a 

topic of some interest. 

Summary 

The research at Horseshoe Park has shown the 

response of the Fall Rwer to be variable and complex. 

The river is competent to transport the material being 

suppliedandthus hasthepowertochangeitschannel 

markedly. Theintenswdata being gathered will allow 

quanttfication of the response mechanism and the 

flow and sediment processes involved. The site is 

unique and deserves detailed, extenwe study for the 

advancement of both pure and applied science. 

Thome, Schumm and Harvey are with the faculty 

at Colorado Slate Unrvers@ P;tl;ck, Rau, Zevenbergen, Biedeoham, Brad/ey and Siegenthaler are 

graduate students. 

Amphibian Recolonization 

By C. Richard Tracy and Linda Zimmerman 

The dimenslons,of this overall project include: (a) 

A survey of the possible amphibians in the Lawn Lake 

area and their breeding requirements: (b) A time-dependent survey of the percentage of river course (including all backwaters and ponds) that is usable for 

amphlblan breeding; (c) A time-dependent survey of 

the water chemistry (especially with respect to heavy 

metals) of the water course; and (d) Bioassays of the 

potential of water in the Lawn Lake system to support 

successful reproduction. 

We have begun a survey of the waters in the Lawn 

Lake system for heavy metals and have found dramatic increases in the amount of iron in the waters of 

6 

the alluwal fan in Horseshoe Park. This is especially 

true in the bacawaters that move slowly and accumulate a characteristic ?wriacexum.~ We have not completed all analyses of water sampled in 1983, but 

those analyses will be completed before the 1984 

season. In 1984, we hope to expand the chemicals 

sampled to include O&O,, Nitrites, Nitrates, Ammonia, pH, and other standard mdicators of water 

quaMy 

We have initiated bioassaysof thepatentialofwater 

from various parts of the Lawn Lake system to sustain 

healthy sunworship in the aquatic eggs and larvae 

of amphibians. These laboratory experiments include 

preparing senal dilutions of water taken from the Lawn 

Lake system (along with a control), and testing for 

percent mortality in eggs and tadpoles raised in these 

sample waters. The experiments on waters collected 

in 1983 were completed in spring 1984. The problems 

encountered so far have centered aroundthe difficulty 

01 inducing oviposition in amphibians (of any species) 

in fall. Since our project could not begin until fall, we 

have had problems getting viable material for the 

bioassays. In 1984 we should not have any problems 

completing the bioassays during the normal breeding 

season for amphibians that can be found in the Lawn 

Lake system. 

In 1984 we will establish transects on expenmental 

and control stretches of stream, which will be tensused regularly to get a long-term time course of recolonization by amphibians. In addition, we will be 

collecting data on the abiotic factors of the enwonmen! that can be correlated to the pattern of recolonization. 

Our findings In 1983 suggested that water in the 

alluvial fan created bv the Lawn Lake flood was different from that of older stream beds. This difference In 

water quality could inhibit successful invasion of the 

backwaters of the alluvial fan area by amphibians. 

We have reoriented and expanded our orlginal research to investigate these possibilities. 

Clearly if our research finds that chemical changes 

in the water quality of the Lawn Lake system can 

inhibit successful reproduction in amphibians, these 

results would have profound implicattons that go 

beyond the scope of our current project. It is also 

important that permanent, long-term transectsareestablished before the natural time-dependent changes 

that occur in impacted ecosystems progress beyond 

points that should be documented in order to understand the natural succession of this flooded system. 

Tracy is on the facu/ty of the Depadment ofZoo/cgy 

and Entomolog): Colorado State Universfty Zimmerman is a graduale student. 

Effects on Macroinvertebrates 

By Nancy Jacobson 

Evaluation of longitudinal effects of a single large 

flood wave on the macroinvertebrates was conductec 

through a summerseasx’of 1983. Control sites were 

established and related chemical, physlcal and plani 

matter meawements and observations were made 

The kick sampling method was used. 

Roaring River 

During low flows In the Ice-covered Roaring Rivet 

In April 1983, n~nemonthsaHertheflood, hlghconducMy and high iron levels were found. AnaerobIc con. 

dltions. high turbidity, and suspended &men! were 

presumably due to the production of ferric hydroxide 

Suspended sediment, oxygen depletion and fine bet 

material are unfavorable for the macrolnvertebrate 

populations in winter. 
Flood Disaster ~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Snow melt flushed the high ron~c concenlrations 

and much sediment downstream Macroinveltebrate 

density at a midway point on the Roaring Rover was 

only 0.3 percent of the density at a control site on the 

Ypsilon, a trtbutary stream, during high flow. This was 

due to pulsar high suspended sediment levels and a 

mobile bed and to a largely drifting population In July 

a more stable armor layer was created on the 

riverbed. By August algae but no moss had re-estab. 

lished. The population rose to 3.2 percent of that al 

the control with a much higher percentage represent&on of Chlronomidae (48.2% versus 4.6%). Drifi decreased from 100 percent to 19.5 percent. 

Sites upstream of this midway point on the Roaring 

River sutfer less severe erosion and densities were 

slightly higher. The site below the confluence of the 

control stream showed a mixture of the densities and 

biotypes of the two streams but. by the lowest site on 

the Roaring River, the densities and biotypes were 

more typical of the Roaring River. 

In general at flood-disturbed sites. macrornveflebrate density decreased during peak flow and then 

increased aHer peak flow more radically than non-disturbed sites. 

Though diversity was not significantly different at 

flood-disturbed sites. the equitability component was 

higher and the species richness component was 

lower. However, both of these indices may be 

obscured by sample size. In the literature diversrty as 

well as density are reported to decrease followlog 

floods 

The primary swrces of macro~nvertebraie repopulation during the period observed seem to be downstream drift from tributaries and adult egg-laying in 

the Roaring River. with larval upstream mrgration play 

ing less, if any, role. 

Until some degree of bank siabilkzation occurs, 

these trends can be expected to continue. 

Fall River 

Fall River, in the small section upstream of the confluence with the Roarlog Rrver and below the floodformed lake, returned to a density equal to 11s control 

by early July because of the flushing of alluvial fan 

deposits and the construction of a stable armor. 

NPS Science Publications 

7kansferred to SE Region 

BegInning this ilscal year 1984, the NPS Servicewlde Science Publications program was transferred from WAS0 to the Southeast Regumal Office in 

Atlanta, with Jim Wood, technical writer’ediior for the 

Southeast Region, in charge. 

One function of the program is to produce high 

quality research publicationsinlheSewic&Scientific 

Monograph Series. An NPS Natural Resources Publications Review Board was established to assist 

Wood in reviewing manuscripts submitted for this 

Series. The following professionals constitute the 

board: Joe Abrell, Chief of Operations. Acadia NaThe site below the confluence formed a less stable 

armor on top of a mobile bed, like that formed in the 

Roarlog River, due to continuous pulses of new sediment from the Roaring River. 

Macroinvertebrate dewties, types andtrendswere 

similar at thrssite toobswations in the Roaring River. 

The downstream site in the Fall River initially served 

as a catch area for macro~nverlebrates transported 

downstream dung the flood. During the 1983 season, 

substrate at this site remained mobile as sediment 

from the snowmelt period, in the Roaring River, failed 

10 flush through; gradients are very gentle in this section of Fall River. Consequently, macroinvertebrate 

densities continuously decreased and percentage 

drtfi contrnuously increased. 

Though the downstream Fall River s&a was a 

baseline site for three past studies, it is difficult to 

draw conclusions about biotype because numbers are 

vary small and natural variability is very high. Percentage representation of Chironomidae did not increase 

here as the season progressed as It did at otherflooddisturbed sites. 

Jacobson 6 a foner graduate studenf at Colorado 

Slate Unrvers,tv and seasonat research fechnican at 

Rocky Mountain National Park. 

Editor’s Note: 

Because lhls projec! represents such an imaginative 

explottation of d;sasfer and wide scientific Interest, 

directed toward management and Nlterpretat!on of a 

unique situation, more than the usual space has been 

given to its cwerqe. 

Park visitors appear tiny Ni relation to the &-acre debr!s fan of lhe Lawn Lake Flood !n Rocky Mountain 

NahonaJ Park. 

7 

tional Park: Bill Anderson, Regional Chief Scientist, 

National Capital Region: Brian Harry, Superintendent. 

Hawaii Group; Dennis Fenn, Regional Chief Scientist, 

Western Region; G. Jay Gogue. Regional Chief Scientist, Southeast Region; Doug Houston, Research 

Biologist, Olympic National Park; Bill Lukens, 

Superintendent, Padre Island National Seashore. 

On March 6, 1984, a workshop of the NPS Natural 

Resources Publications Review Board was held in 

Atlanta to (1) revjew the hlstory and background of 

the Servicewide Screntific Monograph Series, (2) establish new criteria and standards for the acceptance 

of manuscripts in the Sews, (3) formulate new 

guidelines 10 authors, and (4) eslablish new procedures for the Board’s review of manuscripts submitted 

tot publication. The workshop resulted in numerous 

suggestions for improving both the qualIly and management of the Series. New revised guidelines to authors and review pro&was for the Sctentific Monoq 

raph Series now are available from Jim Wood through 

the NPS Science Publications Office. 75 Spring 

Street. SW., Atlanta, GA 30303. 

It has been broughttomyattenttonthat NPS 

scientists who publish the results of their 

research in the Servicewide Scientific Monograph Series may not be receivmg proper consideration for such publication in their research 

Grade Evaluations. 

I would like to stress thal the Suentific 

Monograph Series IS an important publication 

outlet of the National Park Service. Manuscripts published in the Scientific Monograph 

Series can have multi-regional, national, and 

international appeal. They can be valuable in 

Informing the public of the important resource 

management concerns of the Service and of 

the ‘problem-solving’ scientific research undertaken to guide the Service in fulfilling its 

mission. 

I recommend that your scientists give consideration, as appropnate, to publications in 

the Scientific Monograph Series when evaluating individuals under the Research Grade 

Evaluation Program. The weighting applied 10 

such publications must depend on the quality 

of the work as measured in terms of its scientific value and contribution, and as judged by 

the level of scientific peer review and accep 

lance that the publication has received. 

Dick Briceland 

ASSOC. Dir. for Natural Resources, WAS0 

In addition to the Scientific Monograph Series, the 

NPS Scrence Publicattons Office ~111: 

1. Provide editorial, design, layout, and printing services for the MAB Reference Series for Brsophere 

Reserves in the National Park System; 

2. Compile, edit, and publish annual proceedingsand 

transactions of park, regional, and ServIcewide 

science conferences, meetings, symposia, etc.; 

3. Provide editorial, design, layout, and printing services for “In-house” research publications (such as 

Research/Resources Management Reports, 

CPSU and parWlabora&y unit reporis, etc.) for 

the 10 NPS Regional Offces; 

4. Provide general grammatical review and editorial 

assistance to Sewewide field scientists in the 

preparation of reporls and articles intended for 

publication in outside professional scientific and 

technical ioumals. 
Glacier Bay Affords Management 

Textbook Example of Interaction 

Editor’s Note: 

The following unsolicited aMe was submitted to Park 

Science by a former participant in the Universi~ of 

Washrngton NPXPSU as “padial payment of the 

debt f owe NPS”and with the hope that it will “at the 

very feast convey my feefings of apprecfation.” 

By David 0. Duggins 

Glacier Say National Park and Presew (GBNPP) 

provides a unique opportunity to observe an acosystern dominated by Ihe dynamic ebb and flow of gigantic mountain and valley glaciers. Over the past 50 

years, GBNPP has served as a field laboratory for 

Scientists in such diverse disciplines as glaciology, 

plan ecology, and ethology. For example, early models relating to plant succession were derived an part 

from research along the 80 mile (ZOO year) path of 

glacial retreat. In fact it was this type of research that 

in the 1930’s led the Ecolcgical Scc~ety of America to 

lobby vehemently for the parkB creation; the park’s 

original mandate emphasizes its unique research 

values. 

A large section of the park is, however, rarely observed bv Dark visitors or researchers. Siiuated along 

the parI% Gulf of Alaska boundary IS a remote 

coastline, dominated by wave-swept headlands, highenergy sandy beaches, and deeply cut fjords. While 

physical disturbances such as vulent winter storms 

and landslides are a common occurrence, this 

coastline has remamed virtually untouched by man’s 

frequently disturbing influence. This portion of 

GBNPP remains the only example of wave-exposed. 

outer coast habitat under the protection of park or 

presewe design&n along the approximately 2000 

miles behveen southern Srillsh Columbia and the 

northern Gulf of Alaska. 

In the 196Os, two events owned which led park 

biologists and resource managers to believe that the 

outer coast of GBNPP could undergo significant 

ecological change resulting directly from the activities 

of man. First was the discovery of a vary large mmeral 

deposit (nickel-copper) in the region. Under certain 

circumstances, mimng is allowed in GBNPP; if developed, productlon levels from this deposit wuld 

reach 10,000 tons par day, and extend o”er atwut 30 

years. In addition to potential biological impacts from 

the mining operation, a large community would have 

to be built to accommodate mine personnel and their 

families-all this in a remote natural area, rarely even 

vlsited by man. 

The second potential human-generated disturbance event, virtually guaranteed to take place in this 

area, is very different in character. At the turn of the 

centuly, the northern sea otter (Enhydra /utrfs) wa$ 

hunted by man to near extinction. Once common lrom 

northern Japan and the Aleutian Islands to Baja 

Callomia, by the 1920s only small populations in central Califorma and the Aleutian Islands remained. In 

the mid 196Os, a small number of otters (about 40) 

were transplanted from the Aleutians lo an area just 

south of GBNPP. Since then, this southeast Alaskan 

population has grown and taken up residence within 

park boundaries. The elimination or re-Introduction of 

sea otters has dramatic, wide-ranging, long-term, and 

predictable ramifications throughout the entire nearshore manna ecosystem. Thus, whileotterreinlroduction represents the ‘correction” of an earlier human 

disturbance, it will also produce major changes in the 

area. 

Concern over these potential events led to establishment of a research program on Ihe outer coasl of 

GBNPP. The work involved scientists from the Universities of Alaska, Washington, Ohio, and \krmont, and 

included limnolaglsts, fisheries and avian biolcqists, 

mammologisls, geologists, terrestrial plant ecologists. 

and marine ecologists. As a group, our goal was to 

gather natural history and ecological informalion on 

resident organisms in order to 1) provide a basis from 

which to predict potenlial impacts of disturbance, and 

2) provide a baseline against which lo evaluate 

changes in the various biological communilies in the 

event that a man-made disturbance took place. 

The data gathered between 1973 and 1975 were 

published in a series of volumes entitled The Dixon 

Harbor Bfolcgicai Survey(NPS, Juneau, AK). My own 

work, in the area of marine ecology, has continued 

until the present and constituted the majority of my 

PhD thesis (1980, University of Washington) and subsequent published journal articles. Cooperative Park 

Studies Units at the Universities of Alaska and Washington played a major role in the project. 

My research was designed lo address several 

questions relating to the communities of plants and 

animals found in the inteltidal and shallow subtidal 

zones along wave-swept, rocky shorelines. I was particularly interested in 1) the biological factors determining the species assemblages observed. 2) the 

types and frequency of natural distudxnce (biological 

and physical) in these communities, and 3) the response of the communities to disturbance. 

The ralionale behind this type of ecological approach is as follows. If we know how cOmmunilies are 

organized biologically (for example, how predatorprey or compelitive intentions produce the communitys patterns of distribution and abundance), then we 

may be able to predict how disturbance at some level 

in that organization will affect the community as a 

whole. 

The methods we used to determine community 

structure are relatively slraightfoward and surprisingly powetiul. On a very small scale, we (the scientists) create disturbances in a well-conlrolled manner 

and observe the communit$s response. We may remove or add a species or group of species. or we 

may remove all species and observe whether the 

community returns IO ils original mnfiguration and 

how long it lakes to do so. While lime doesn’t allow 

the manipulation 01 all possible species within a community, existing ecological literature and theory make 

predictions as lo which organisms are likely to be 

most important, and this is where we begin. 

For example, in the Study area along GBNPP’s 

western boundary, giant seaweeds (up to 130 feet 

long) called kelps are a common component of nearContinued on neti page 

1 Q S.d. 

ez+ S.p. 

C 

D 

‘d LAMINARIA 
shore communities (dawn to a depth of about 50 feet 

below the 0 tidal datum). These kelps are grazed by 

a number of herbivores, the most conspicuous of 

which are the sea urchins. Sea urchins are, in turn. 

preyed upon by a species of very large (up to 3 feet 

in diameter) starfish. How do sea urchins affect seaweed biomass, specw diversity, and distribution? 

How impoltant are the seaweeds lo the primary productivity of the community? By performing expenments in which these components of the community 

were manipulated, these questions were answered. 

I learned thal sea urchins essentially control the 

distribution and abundance of kelps. Normally, large 

urchin populationsconsumevirtually all benthcalgae. 

In the absence of urchins, kelp biomass (and hence 

productiwty) reaches very high values (as high a productivity as has been measured in any system, terrestrial or marine). When sea urchins are removed 

for long periods of time, kelp species diversity drops 

to very low values as a single species of kelp outcompetes all the others-producing monospecific stands 

of plants. Starfish seem to have their major affect on 

urchin populations not so much by direct predation 

but by moving urchins around in space. When starfish 

abundance becomes high at a given site, urchins wll 

leave the area and kelps will flourish (at least temporarily). 

It is well known that sea urchins are a favorite focd 

of the sea otter. Based on results like those above, 

we would predict that areas with a large population 

of sea otters would have few sea urchins and cansequently would have dense kelp beds composed of 

a few competibvely superior specw This 1s exactly 

what I found when I visited the area south of GBNPP 

where sea otters were originally transplanted. The 

reappearance of sea otters caused the growth of giant 

kelp beds, leading to greatly increased benthic primary productivity. This productivity can be utilized by 

higher trophic levels both directy (by grazers) and 

indirectly (by pelagic zooplankton, when the kelp has 

degraded to padiculate detritus). Futhermore. kelp 

beds are thought to sawa as important habitats for 

pelagic organisms such as fish and shrimp by providing habitat heterogeneity and shelter from predators. 

Knowing what we now know about sea otter, sea 

urchin, and kelp interactions,wearein agood position 

to make strong predictions about the consequences 

of removing sea otters from communities where they 

are establtshed. Inasmuch as otters are particularly 

sensitive to cetiain types of disturbance (such as oil 

spills - there are no fat layers under their skin, so 

when thelr pelts become soiled. they cannot therm@ 

regulate). and since they will play such an important 

role in GBNPVs marine ecosystem, they probably 

represent the single mOSt important marine spaclas 

for resource managers to monitor. 

Using these same types of techniques, many questions regarding the structure or organization of different benthic marine communities in the study area 

have been addressed. I learned, for instance, that the 

intertidal appears to be much less structured by the 

types of biological interactions so important in subtidal 

kelp bedsand asawsult, the responsetodisturbance 

in the interlidal zone seems much less predictable. 

Furthermore, following a disturbance, the Intertidal 

community seems to take much longer to return to its 

original configuration. This may have to do with infrequent and variable recruitment of juvenile ofganisms and high year to year variation in reproduclive succass. Thus, were a large-scale disturbance to 

take place along GBNPPs outer coast, it would probably take many years for the area to return to its 

pre-disturbance appearance. 

Mapping Barrier island 

Vegetation 

By Beau McCaffray 

Barrier islands are some of the e&is most 

dynamic landforms; consequently, maps of the 

coastal barrierscan becomeabruptly antiquated. Barrier island mapping techniques must accommodate 

the natural forces that constantly shape these coastal 

barriers. A mapping technique sensititive to the 

dynamics of coastal barriers has been developed at 

North Carolina State University’s (NCSU) School of 

Forest Resources for Ocracoke Island, Cape Hatteras 

National Seashore (CHNS). Two features of this 

technique, the use of computer mapping and the available NCDOT aerial photography, combined. provide the capability to update and reproduce barrier 

island maps frequently and inexpensively. 

First, by using a computer, island map data may 

be easily stored, retrieved and changed. In addition. 

different scales and a wide variety of data, such as 

fire history and wildlife nesting locations, can be 

added easily to the base data and graphically partrayed on a map. Perhapsthe greatest benelitof using 

computer maps is that they are inexpensive to raproduce at multiple scales, shading configurations and 

overlays. 

Second. by using NCDOT aerial photographs, a 

rasourca base becomes available on a frequently up 

dated and inexpensive basis. The Department frequently takes aerial photos of its roads and highways. 

When severe weather events threaten or damage 

highways on barrier islands, the NCDOT takes aerial 

photos of the area to assess road status and to 

develop and analyze aifernatives to correct problems. 

The low anitudellargescale photography preferred by 

Department professionals is mexpensive and useful 

In additiontodoingexperimentsontheorganizatian 

of marine communities, we have attempted to gather 

a long-term set of baseline data. It is only with such 

background data that park resource managers will be 

able to determine if the marine communities are 

changing over time. Since most communlbes vary to 

some extent from place to place and time to time, this 

type of data must be gathered at the same locations 

and over as long a period as possible. in order to 

distinguish normal ecological variation from ecolcgical response to some hypothetical disturbance. In the 

future, we hope to train Park Service personnel in the 

gathering of these data. 

The structure and organization 01 rocky intertidal 

and subtidal communities along this se&n of 

coastline is now well enough understood that we can 

being to make reasonable predictions regarding community response to certain types of disturbance. The 

NPS has made our research possiblewith its financial 

and logistical support We hope that the results of our 

efforts will help park managers address future environmental problems which might arise along this 

pristine and dramatically beautiful coastline. 

Duggins has a post-doctoral appointment at the 

tJn;versity of Washington and is on the penanent 

staff at the Fdday Harbor Lab. 

9 

for interpreting vegetation communities, making 

NCDOT photography ideal for inexpensive diagnosis 

of changes in vegetation and other features wrought 

by storms, road rerouting and other events. 

For the Ocracoke vegetation map, Physiognomic 

floristic vegetation zones were: defined with the assistance of Kent Turner (CHNS) and E.D. Seneca 

(NCSU Botany Dept.). identified (interpreted) on 

1 :iZOOO black and whiteaerlal photographs, and then 

delineated on acetate overlays. Using a Bausch and 

Lomb stereo zoom transfer scope. the vegetation 

zones were transferred onto the base maps, USGS 

7.5 minuteloposheetscoveringOcracokeIsland.The 

1:24,000 vegetation map of NPS land displays 140 

zones of 11 different vegetation communities for a 

total of 5,HB acres. The minimum mapping area was 

.i9 acre. The State Plan Coordinate System frames 

the map; fire occurrence can be precisely located. A 

separate map report also is produced by the computer, which sequentially numbers each zone as it is 

plotted, giving the acreage and vegetation type of 

each zone. These sequence numbers also are prmted 

in each zcme on the map itself for easy reference to 

the map report 

A sampling procedure was developed totest photointerpretation accuracy by stratifying all data into 

boundary and interior vegetation. These two strata 

were created based on their assumed differing levels 

of difficulty of classification. That is, boundary points. 

by virtue of their close proximitytodifterently identified 

zones. were considered harder to idenbfy correctly 

than interior points. Additionally, the vegetative suecessional nature of many boundary areas could contribute to interpretation error, especially when the 

photos are more than a few years old. Interior points 

were considered to ba less difficult to identify since 

these areas texture, shading and panems were often 

uniform for some distance. Sampling results revealed 

the overall photointerpretation accuracy to be 76%. 

As expected, boundary points were more difficult to 

correctly identify (67% accuracy rate) than were interior points (90% accuracy rate). 

This mapping system provides a flexible capability 

to inventory data neededtomanagesomeofthemost 

dynamic landforms on earth. 

McCaffray is a research assistant work;ng under 

the dkaction of Prof Hugh A. Devine, Recreation Resourca Administration, North Carolina University 

School of Forestfy 

Ruckelshaus on Science 

William D. Ruckelshaus, admimstrator of the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, appeared in a wcent issue of Renewable Resources Journal (5410 

Grosvenor Lane, Bethesda, MD 20814), as author of 

‘Science, Risk and Public Policy.” 

“I believe,” he wrote, “that part of the solution to our 

distress lies with the idea of science. We will not wcover our equilibrium without a concerted effolt to 

more effectively engage the scientific community’ 
superin tenden t’s 

corner 

By John E. Cook, Superintendent, 

Great Smoky Mountains NP 

At Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we believe there is an urgent need to place greater emphasis on reducmg adverse impacts on park re 

sources. In a modern setting of technology and 

change, we are taking some unprecedented steps to 

address this need. 

Many more people are visiting the park than ever 

before, hiking Into the backcounliy, camping overnight, and creating impacts obviously detrimental to 

the Smoky Mountains ecosystem. A mynad of exotic 

plant and animal species is adversely affecting the 

park’s natural and cultural resources. External forces 

are at work, damaglng the park environment m ways 

we do not yet fully comprehend. 

To meet these real and potential threats to park 

values we have established an &grated research 

and resources management unit under the supewision of an assistant superintendent for resources 

management and science This comprehensive unit 

includes two newly formed divisions. The divisions of 

administration, mamtenance, interpretation and 

ranger activities have been retained under the supervision of an assistant supedntendentfor management 

and operations. 

This revised organizational format is designed to 

form a cohesive and integrated program for full protection of the park’s natural and cultural wsources. It 

will assure constant attention to these most important 

responsibilibes. As the Director pointed out in a 

speech to the Asswation of National Park Rangers, 

“The park ranger, resource specialist, maintenance 

personnel, scientist, and interpreter must function as 

a well oiled machine if we are to fulfill our proper 

mandates.’ Ranger and maintenance personnel will 

continue to be implementers. Scientists will gather 

inlormation and analyze it, and they must provide me 

with alternative courses of action to deal with problems identifwd. The resource specialist will be the 

facilitator and act as liaison between the scientist and 

management. It is the interpreter’s job to sell the program to the various publics. 

Paramount in dealing with the mitigation of adverse 

Impacts IS a management plan, whose ingredients 

and priorities are arrived at jointly. The patis reorganization actions WIII permit better communication between researchers and resource managers. who 

share in the identtficatlon of resource problems. They 

will jointly agree on information needed before corrective measures can begin. But these hvo groups will 

still be only part of the team dealing with resource 

problems. Field rangers, maintenance personnel and 

Interpreters must be strong supporters and particip 

ants in the total package. 

Resource management strategies in the General 

Management Plan are the prinapal projects needed 

to combat threats to the p&s ecosystem and to 

human life and safety. The document for dealing with 

these projects is the Resource Management Plan. 

Project statements are prepared for each wsource 

related problem. The specific acbons to be taken are 

id&lied. Actions are carefully assessed. Any that are 

conlrovers~al will be wewed by the public before 

implementing. Typical resoume management actions 

are as l0ll0ws: 

The park’s Fraser fir forest has been heavily infested by the balsam wooly aphid and numerous 

trees killed. In order to preserve a few of the 

species in the highly &val sensitive area of 

Clingmans Dome, spraying operations are being 

conducted on a twice annual basis. Early monitoring indicates success in controlling the insects in 

this area. A somewhat unique aspect of our pro. 

gram is the melding of both natural and htstoric 

resource management. Cades Cove is well populated with turn-of-the-century pioneer structures, 

including homes, outbuildings. churches and a 

grist mill. This 2,000 acre area is kept in a 

meadowlike condition as a backdrop to these 

remnants of 19th century pioneer life. Cattle raising and haying activities performed to maintain 

the meadow condition provide, artificially, a good 

habitat for deer. Turkey, black bear, fish and other 

aquatic life also are affected. The new division is 

prepared to deal with these conflicts and others 

associated with this challenging relationship. 

It has been evident for a long time that visitor 

impacts have created unnatural ecosystem 

changes; changes that must be minimized as 

much as possible. For example, people camping 

in the backcountry come in close contact with 

black bears. Frequent contact results in bears 

panhandling for food. The new division is applying 

principles of management derived from informatlon compiled from peoplelbearsocial relationship 

studies. Progress is being made to reduce confrontation, injuries, property damage, and to retain 

the animals’ natural character, 

It is with great pride and expectation that we move 

forward with this newly organized research and resource management unit. Ii is made up of talented 

individuals, dedicated to furthering the interests of the 

National Park Sewce and to the pursuit of scientific 

truths and their applications in the preservation of the 

natural and cultural wsources of the System. 

To the Editor: 

This past April I had the opportunity to selve es en 

instructor at Albright Training Centerforthe week-long 

‘Natural Resources Management” training courses 

for Superintendents and for Mid-Level Managers. As 

a typical NPS scientist who’d never had the opportumty to receive any training at Albright, I was more 

excited about what I could learn from the other instructors, staff, and”students’thanabout my9houropportunity to by to convince managers that there was an 

appropriate and effectwe role for research in the Park 

Sewice. 

The experience exceeded my most optimistic expectations. Most striking was the serious and professional approach taken by all palticipants. Training 

Specialist Doug Morris had seen to it that the cowse 

content was meaty. but the interest and concern of 

attending managers was an attitude that they brought 

with them. Chalkboards filled, pencils churned, and 

students and instructors debated one another in an 

amicable but energehc f&on. For someone like me 

whose orientation to the Park Service IS almostsinglemindedly fixated on natural wources whtle it oHens 

leek that eve~one else is more interested in budget. 

personnel, and visitor serwes. it was exhilarating to 

be reassured that we have not lost sight of our mis90”. 

I walked into my own session with a small chip on 

my shoulder, the consequence of feeling that most 

10 

managers view NPS science as either an extravagance or an expensive nuisance. I was provocative, 

even confrontational in my argument that htgh-quality 

scientific research is an essential element of responsible resoumes management. I said that if managers 

were unhappy with the quality or the relevance of 

scientific work performed tn their Parks, it was their 

own fault for not stating what they wanted !n advance 

and then following through with enough interest to get 

what they had pad for. The challenges and conversations that ensued from my presentation were stimulating and educational for me, and went far to persuade 

me that resources management in the National Park 

Service is viable and in increasingly supportive hands. 

The whole experience made be proud to be a pad of 

this orgamzation, and optimistic about its future. 

David Gaber 

Research Scientist 

To the Editor: 

I would like to suggest that Park Snencedo an alticle 

discussing the rationale behind the recent revisions 

to 36 CFR 2.5. This involves a considerable change 

in how parks administer collecting permits. Although 

I am in complete agreement with stricter standards 

and a stronger system tar managerial accountability 

in protecting park resources, I feel there may be some 

misinterpretation of legislative intent in this revision. 

If nothing else, an explanation of the rabonale will 

help managers explain to researchers the reasons for 

denying collecting permtts. 

My specific concern is with 36 CFR 25(f): “In park 

areas where the enabling legislation prohibits the killing of wildlife, issuance of a mllecting permit for 

wildlife or fish or plants is prohibited.” 

This is a major change from past policy Questions 

I have are’ 

Why are plants included when the legislation only 

specifies wildlife? 

Why is any ‘Taking” prohibited when the legislation 

only spwfies “killing? (Taking is the term used in 

2.5(a) and defined in 1.4 that applies to specimen 

MlleCtion permits. And taking is defined as not 

only killing but any pursumg, harm, capture, 

harassing, etc., in other words, any handling.) 

Why do the regulations only specify restricbons on 

biota? AHer all, the same enabling legislatton that 

prohibits killing of wildltfe often instructs managers 

to protect other resources too. For example, the 

1917 enabling act of Mount McKinley (now Denali) 

says, in addition to a killing prohibition. “preservation of the natural curiosities and scenic beauties.” 

I think similar language can be found for many 

parks. Thus why not prevent collection of such 

items as rock samples by geological researchers? 

It seems to me that the same reasoning that extends a prohibition of killing to any handling of 

biota should also extend a prohibition to damagmg 

of nonliving resources. 

As now written the regulations will prohibtt. in some 

parks, any researchers not pad of NPS projects. from 

handling specimens of any biota. As such, this topic 

should be interest to Park Scwvx readers. 

John Dalfe-Molk 

Resource Management Ranger 

Denali NP 

Editor’s Note: 

The editorial board agrees thaf clarfffcafion ol these 

questk?ns IS c&-d lo6 and has asked the Washmgton 

office to prepare a polrcv statement II) response to 

the questions rafsea in the foregung letfec 
Agate Beds Story Reads More Like Agatha Christie 

By Jean Matthews 

Mystery fans who like their thrillers laced with a 

dash of the ancient and exotic will find these tastes 

well served at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument 

in Nebraska. There, a 20 millIon year old story of the 

carnivorous “bear dog” is being unearthed and pieced 

together by means of modern research effort that 

spans eight decades. 

The scientific Sherlock Holmes in this remarkable 

unraveling of the ages is played by Dr. Robed M. 

Hunt, Jr., Department of Geology and State Museum 

at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Hunt began to suspect in 1977 that he might have found, on Beardog 

Hill within the park, the location of Carnegie Quarry 

3 - discovered !n 1905 by O.A. Peterson and then 

lost again in the mists of intervening time and waning 

paleontolcgical interest. 

The Agate Spring Quanies, as they have been 

known for 60 years. constitute one of the greatest 

fossil mammal deposits in North America - a 20 million year old bone bed buried in stream-laid sandstone 

01 Miocene age and exposed in two hills (Carnegie 

and University) overlooking the Niobrara River valley 

of northwest Nebraska. 

‘So abundant are the fossil bones of mammals,” 

Dr. Hunt was written, “that a man could walk on a 

pavement of bones without touchmg the sediment in 

some areas in these quarries.” 

What constituted the mystery was the significantly 

atypical distribution of numerous carnivore bones 

compared to the rare and fragmentary bones 01 herbivores inone particular site-the sitedubbed in 1905 

Carnegie Quarry 3. Olaf Peterson of the Carnegie 

Museum, who discovered the site, had reported it to 

be in the same Miocene stream channel deposit as 

the quarries in the main hills, but unfortunately he had 

left no pictorial or written record of the Quarry’s exact 

location. A photograph published in 1910 indicated it 

was somewhere on Beardog Hill. 

Intrigued by the record of what he considered this 

unusual aggregation of extinct carnivores, Dr. Hunt 

applied in 1981 for National Park Service permission 

to do a preliminary excavation at Beardog Hill. A cornpkte and detaIled description of the search - its trials, 

errors, failures and eventual success. of the logic behind each move, and of the evidential reasons for the 

moves -can be found in the Winter 1964 wue of the 

George Wright Society FORUM. 

Eventually, after repeated attempts and the reluctant conclusion that “there was little probability of aver 

locating the exact site,” Dr. Hunt adopted a routine 

procedure of field paleontology -screening the surface soil for bone fraqments - that led to discovery 

of the elusive site. 

The first two trenches worked produced nothlnq of 

interest. no bone or bone fragments, no sign of ea%er 

digging. The third attempt led to a most amazing rssuit. In Dr. Hunls awn words, this is what took place: 

Vpon sieving the soil. carnivore bone fragments 

appeared on the screens; part of the pelvic bone, a 

parlial arm bone, and the upper part of the shm bone 

or tibia These were recognized as bear dog bones, 

in fact the same species found by Peterson, and the 

work continued in some excitement. The probability 

that we had located the quarry was high, for since 

carnivore bones are scarce in most field settings. bear 

dog bones of the kind found by Peterson in Quarry 3 

were an improbable and thus a strongly confirming 

find 

“When we sieved the surface dirt and recovered 

the fragmentary bear dog bones we had no thoughts 

that one of these pieces would match one of the Carnegie bone fragments found in 1905. One of the most 

exciting moments of the work was Cad Swisher’s 

match of the partial tibia with one of the Carnegie 

fragments, proving that they were once part of the 

same bone The two pews were collected 76 

years apart! 

On the third day of the 1961 excavation, two large 

bunows were discovered, each filled with a line gray 

ash-rich sediment that contrasted sharply with white 

sandstone bedrock intruded by the burrows. When 

the scientists examined the bedrock below the burrows, to their surprise there appeared a shallow de 

pression similar in shape to pits left by professional 

baleontologists. 

“lmmediatelv. we remembered that Peterson had 

removed the Lo nearly complete skeletons of the 

rare bear dog (which he named Daphoencdoo superbus) in a single large block of sandstone,” Hunt recalled. “It this was the place from which the sandstone 

block had been collected, the two nearby burrows 

could explain why the two skeletons had been found 

together-one an adult female, the other a juvenile 

male about 6 months to 1 year old. Proof was lacking, 

but thecircumstantialevidenceseemed compelling.” 

The burrows dismwy provided the scientist with 

their first hypothesis for why Quarry 3 had produced 

so many carnivores. Possibly it had breached an 

ancient den complex. The professional thoroughness 

with which the group went ahead to confirm this hunch 

makes up the rest of the story The signtficance of the 

den complex lies not only in the wealth of extinct 

Carnivora found there but also in what was learned 

about the way of life of these animals. In addition to 

throwing new light on the ability of amphicyonids (bear 

dogs) to burrow and use dens as long as 20 million 

years ago, the research confirms that species members of two diverse lineages used the burrows and 

suggests that many amphicyonids could burrow and 

use dens upon occasion. 

WorkonQuariy3 iscontinuing, with high probability 

that more dens will come to light. The hope is to 

discover the extent of the dens, and thus come to an 

understanding of their content and manner of filling. 

The results of these research efforls - the hardwon 

understanding of the fossils at Agate -are contributing to the overall comprehension of the prehistoly of 

this plains site and to the larger picture of the evolubon 

of life on Earth. 

An article on “Miocene Burrows of Extinct Bear 

Dogs: Indkxt;on of Ear/y Denntng Behavior of Large 

Mamma/&n Carnivores,” by Dr Hunt, Jr., Xue Xlang 

Xu, and Joshua Kaufman appeared in the Juty 22, 

1983 issue of Science, pp. 364-6. 

PLAN MAP of eady M;ocene carnivore dens, Quarry 3, Agate Beds National Monument. Stipple pattern indfcates 

Miocene burrow fi// that also surrounds beardog skeletons. Dens I and I/t contained the beardog Daphoenodon: 

Den /I produced a rare temnocyonine beardog. Excavation god is in square meters 

I 

c- 6 I D c B r I 1 

+ + 

DEN Ill 

\ 

+ + 

1 

11 
Mimicking Nature Through Dune Building 

By John T Tanacredi and Al Farrugio 

Figure 5 PLANTING 

Figure 2 BEACH NOURISHMENT 

12 

The dynamic geomorphological processes that 

shape our coastline are teshmony to nature’s landscaping abikties. Erosion and accretion of our coastal 

barriers has both plagued and nurtured man’s desire 

lo settle clo.w and closer to our rising seas. A! the 

Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation 

Area, a natural sand spit exists where the shoreline 

dynamics have separated the tip area (a spit in 

geological defmition) from the malnland time aHer 

time over the last several hundred years. 

Considerable effort on the part of many federal and 

state agencies has gone into evaluating alternatives 

for solwng the potential breaching of the “crittcal 

zone.” (Figs. 1 and 3) Erosion was leading to the 

separation 01 the spit from the mamland. A single 

access route to the tip is the only way factlities such 

as the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanographic 

and Atmospheric Administration, New Jersey Marme 

Science Consortium. and American Littoral Society 

continued to operate, as well as being the only access 

for over 2 mIllion beach users annually. A spectal 

Congressional appropriation 01 $12 mlllmn, to be 

reimbursed to the Federal Government by charging 

beach user fees, was allotted to help restore the original 1954 Sandy Hook shoreline profile. 

The plan called for sqme 4 million cubic yards of 

sand material dredged from Sandy Hook and Ambrose Channels to be placed by hydraulic pumps up 

into the critical zone, beginnmg in March 1983. In 

addition to the sand material, an attempt at dune construction and stabilization would be made along a 1.5 

mile strip of beach once the sand had been placed 

establishing the original shoreline. (Fig. 2) Three 

hundred thousand culms of dune grass, Ammophila 

breviligulata(Fig. 4) would be purchased, planted and 

fedilized over a two month period beginning in 

November 1983. Aenal photographs of the entire 

planted area are being made, coupled wdh an on-site 

ground evaluation of the swvorshlp of the culms. 

The process is surprisingly simple. The plant 

species is dependent upon the locatzon along the 

coastline. Only a handful of species IS tolerant of the 

stresses associated with the beach enwronment. The 

plants must be able to ~u!vwe sand blasting, burial 

by sand, salt spray, saltwater flooding, drought, heat 

and low nutrient supply. A perennial grass such as 

Ammophda breviligulala (American beachgrass) fits 

the Sandy Hook bill. This specres is a cool-season 

dune grass, vigorous, and grows in dense clumps 

spreading laterally by rhizomes; It is easy to pmpagate, harvest, and store. and IS readily available from 

commercial nurseries. The grass is extremely easy 

to transplant: (Fig. 5) It establishes and grows rapidly 

to begin trapping sand by the middle of the first growing season. The rhizomes may spread as much as 

10 to 12 feet per year while accumulatmg as much 

as four feet of sand in the one growing season. 

The work force for this project cons&-d of the 

Sandy Hook maintenance staff equipped with a tractar andan agricultural transplanter, and50volunteers. 

The volunteers included representatives of the NPS, 

NOAA, USCG, local Sierra, Audubon and Garden 

Clubs, Boy Scouts, Camping Clubs, and others. The 

planting went quickly to total approximately 150 rows, 

each with somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200 

plants. Toencourage rapid establishment of the beach 

grass, a complete fertilizer was applied shortly after 

planting in the fall of 1983 and then reapplied in the 

Spring of 1984. 
Figure 1 SANDY HOOK Figure 3CRITICAL ZONE 

As the new dune system takes shape, powered by natural processes, other plant 

species will be introduced both naturally and with the help of the park To do this, 

Gateway has begun a nursery system with the prime objective of growing coastal 

plant species that often are unavailable from commercial sources. A nursery site at 

Sandy Hook and one at Floyd Benneti Field in Brooklyn, along with a 24’ x 36’ 

free-standing greenhouse, will provide lransplants of such plants as Artemhs;a stel- 

/aria (Dusty Miller). Solidago sempervkens (Seaside Goldenrod), My&a pensylvanica (Northern Bayberry), Corwpsis lanceolata (Lance-leaved Coreopsis). Opuntla cunpressa (Prickly Pear), Prunus marikma (Beach Plum), and Jun;perus vk. 

g;n;ana (Eastern Red Cedar.) 

The dune planting exercise at Sandy Hook is by no stretch of Ihe imagination 

Intended to stop erosional processes there. What is anticipated is that the grass 

will ald in stabilizing a new dune system, reduce the rate of erosion at the critical 

zone as the dunes become stabilized. increase coastal habitat diversity thereby 

providing for additional passive recreatIonal opportunities. and continue to maintain 

the connection that provides access to Sandy Hook. 

In the long term, other multi-purpose habltat development acllvities such as this 

one will be fostered al Gateway NRA, as welt as at other coastal barrier parks. This 

habttat improvement, however, should not be achieved al the cost of elimination or 

substitution for ‘natural or virgin” habitat. A considerable period of time must elapse 

before any newly established habitat area can approach the level of dwersity, complexity, and equilibrium a natural system develops over bme. 

Tanacredi is Natural Resource Managemenf Speciaiist and Farrug@ IS Park Agronom~sf af Gateway NRA. 

13 

i 

Figure 4 BEACH GRASS 
regional highlights 

Southwest Region 

From Milford Fletcher, SWR Chief Scientist, comes 

word of a three-day workshop in March, primarily for 

Resource Management Specialists, covering a wide 

range of topics and engendering ‘Frequent, lively dw 

cussions.” Of particular Interest to the 26 who attended was the prioritization workshop, where resource management needs and funding capabilities 

were discussed and long-term strategies were plotted 

for resolving problems. 

Also of tnterest was the ADP section, since the 

SWR is moving forward to computerize natural resource datain connection wtth geographic information 

systems used to computerize archeological data. In 

June, the Region hosted the first of several workshops 

with the Remote Sensing Division of the Denver Service Center, southwest Cultural Resources Center, 

WAS0 personnel, and Regional field users -‘to determrne our direction tn computerizabon 01 nalural resource data for the luture.’ 

The success of the March workshop has given rise 

toplansforafoltow-up workshopthiscoming winter. 

Rocky Mountain Region 

The 239.page Proceedings of the international 

Sympostum held at Kalispeil. Mont., in June 1962. is 

now available from Glacier NP. Towards the Biosphere Reserve: Exploring Relat;onsh;ps Befween 

Parks and Adjacent Lands IS the outgrowth of a conference co-sponsored by Parks Canada and the U.S. 

National Park Service. 

A background paper, “Biosphere Reserves in Concept and Practtce,” by U/Michigan’s Kenton R. Miller, 

sets the stage for six papers on issues and problems 

tn applying the biosphere reserve concept; seven papars on research, monitoring, and education in parks 

and adjacent lands: four papers on the search for 

solutions; four papers on international experiences; 

and three papers on the future of the biosphere reServe in North America and abroad: opportunities for 

cooperatton. 

Western Region 

Proceeolngs of the First Biennial Conference of Flesearch ,n Cahforn~a’s Nal;onal Parks is now avatlable 

from Charles van Rtpper !!I, Unit Leader at the NPS 

CPSU, UC-I, Davrs. 95616. The document contains 

35 of the research papers presented at the conference held in September 1982. 

. . . 

Recently Issued publicattons or reprints of adtcles 

by Charles van Riper Ill include the followtng: “The 

Influence of Nectar Resources on Nestrng Success 

and Movement Patterns of the Common Amakihi’ rn 

The Auk, January 1964: “Basal Metabolism of the 

Apapane: Comparison of Fresh+ Caught Bards wtth 

Long-term Captives,” (with Wesley W. and Debra L. 

Weathers) tn the October 1993 issue of The Auk 

“Censuses and Breeding Observatrons of the Bards 

on Kohala Mountarn, Hawaii.’ tn the Wi/son Buliet!n 

94(4) 1982; “Wtthtn-Territory DIVISION of Foragtng 

Space by Male and Female Amaklhl: (with Alan C. 

Kamtl) tn Condor 64 117-119, 1962; “Temperature 

Regulation in Two Endangered Hawaiian Honey 

creepers: the Palila and the Laysan Finch,” (with Wesley W. Weathers) rn The Auk 99: 667-674, October 

1982; and Tech. Report 44 of the CPSU at Universtty 

of Hawaii, Manoa, -Avtfauna of Kohala Mountain, 

Hawaii.” 

..t 

Two Technical Reports just off the presses from the 

NPXPSU at U/Cal, Daas, are #16, Management 

of an Endangered Spec;es in a National Park: The 

Peregrine Falcon in Yosemile, by Christopher E. Asay 

and William E. Daws, and #17. SensLve P/ant 

Spec;es of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National 

Parks. The latter is an update to Technical Report #8. 

The former is a 142.page, illustrated study, with recommendations, of the peregrine falcon program conducted at Yosemite from 1961-63. 

..f 

A symposium entitled Protection and Management of 

Terrestrial Hawatian Ecosystems was held at Hawaii 

Volcanoes NP June 5-6. 1984. With 133 paid registrants in attendance, the meeting was convened by 

NPS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to (1) 

encourage cooperative efforts in resource planning, 

management, and research; (2) identify successes 

and bohlenecks in working together; (3) bring together 

people with diverse interests such as ranching, ttmber 

harvest, education, protected area management, 

hunting, native Hawaiian culture, and legislation; and 

(4) move forward with the job of wise stewardship of 

the natural resources for whtch we all share responsibility 

The sessions were structured to present overviews 

of the status, research, and management needs for 

nativeand alren (introduced) biotaand todiscussconcepts useful in managing ecosystems for and against 

these components. Such topics as preserve design, 

moitonng. genetc considerattons, and restoration 

were considered. 

At the final session, entitled Current and Future 

Roles of Agencies, Conservabon Groups, Legislation, 

and the Public in Presewing and Managtng Hawairan 

Ecosystems, representatives from the State Senate, 

conservation groups, a native Hawaiian group, the 

ranchmgcommunity, Stateand Fede[alagencies.and 

others, were heard from. 

The ecological status of the tidewater goby, Eucyclogobus newberyf, (a small salt water fish), is discussed in Technical Report No. 15 from the Cooperatwe NP Resources Studies Unit at the University of 

Californta, Davis. The report, by Johnson C.S. Wang 

describes Rodeo Lagoon, an anifically detached lake 

in the San Franctsco Bay area-the only place in that 

area where the trdewater goby has been found recently. The yellotitn goby, an introduced species 

thought to be a serious competrtor of the tidewater 

goby, was abundant rn the lagoon in 1960. but Its 

populatron decltned drastrcally in 1981 and 1982. 

when the water tn the lagoon was less saline. Wang 

recommends that saltntty in Rodeo Lagoon be controlled to protect the trdewater goby. 

1. . 

The Second Bkenn~al Conference on Research in 

Caltfornia‘s National Parks wtll be held Sept. 5-7 1964, 

14 

at the University of Calilomia. Davis, for presentation 

and discussion of research related lo the biological 

and sociological resources of California’s National 

Parks. Two days of paper presentations with keynote 

speakers are planned; evenings will feature poster 

sessions and one swial gathering. Selected papers 

will be published. 

Dr. Charles van Riper Ill, unit leader of the U/Cal 

Davis CPSU. is in charge of the program. All Inquiries 

concerning arrangements should be addressed to 

Marsha Murphy, CPSU - Institute of Ecology, Universtty of California, Davis, CA 95616. 

Pacific Northwest 

The 1963 Annual Reports, one for each of the three 

CPSU’s in the PacificNorthwest Region, areavailable 

now. The Oregon State University Unit’s report contact is Ed Starkey, Peavy Hall, OSU, Corvallis, OR 

97331; the University of Washington Unit report cantact is Jim Agee, College of Forest Resources, AR-IO, 

University of Washington, Seattle, WA 96195; the University of Idaho Unit report contact IS Gerald Wright, 

College of Forestry Unrversity of Idaho, Moscow, ID 

63643. 

tt. 

Histodc Landscapes of San Juan /s/and National 

Historical Parkis the title of a 45.page document by 

Jim Agee, published as a Winter 1964 report (CPSUI 

UW 64-2) of the University of Washington CPSU. This 

report defines historic landscapes of English and 

American Camps at the Park, discusses desired alterations to existing landscapes in order to restore the 

htstoric look of the area, and is one of the source 

documents for the San Juan Interdisciplinary Team, 

whose report is scheduled for publication this summer. 

.*. 

From R. Gerald Wright and Ban Butterfield of the 

NPSCPSU at the University of Idaho, Moscow 

63643, comes CPSU 83-4 - a publication entitled 

Great Blue Heron Nesting Habitat on the N&h Fork 

of the Nathead Rivet Montana. 

l ** 

A study comparing prehistorfc and modem smoke 

production from forest fires in Western Washington, 

aimed at facilitating atr quality planning and management, is described I” an arhcle by George R. Fahnestack and James K. Agee in the October 1963 issue 

of the JoumalotForestfy “Biomass Consumption and 

Smoke Production by Prehistoric and Modern Forest 

Fires in Western Washington” concludes that total fuel 

consumptton and smoke production has declined by 

about 22 percent since prehistortc times. 

Agee is sole author 01 “Fuel Werghts of Understory 

grown Conifers in Southern Oregon,” whtch appeared 

in the Canadfan Journal of Forest Research, Vol. 13, 

No. 4, 1983. 

t.. 

Don Field and Darryl1 Johnson have completed a 

manuscript entitled ~Rural Communities and Natural 

Resources,” which will be published as part of a collection of readings by Penn State University Press. 

The article outlines the contrtbutions of early rural 

sociologists to the understandtng of sehlement patterns and resource development in rural America. 

Cmtinued on next page 
a 

Midwest Region 

Isle Royale NP has completed an updated research 

bibliography which includes over 6OQ citations pertaining to the natural history and archeology of isle 

Royale and the Lake Superior basin. 

A continuing cooperative education and research 

prcgram between George Washington Canw 

National Monument and Missouri Southern State College has resulted in the publication of Vol. 2, No. 1 of 

the George WashIngton Carver National Monument 

ResearchBullefin. Although prtmarily anatural history 

publication the current issue includes two articles on 

George Washmgton Calver’s ancestry and personal 

lkdiers. 

. . . 

The Ninth North American Prairie Conference will 

be held July 27 through Aug. 1, 1984, in Moorhead, 

Minn., and will continue the series of biannual prairie 

conferences held since 1968. Papers on a variety of 

topics relating to prairie including prairieconservation, 

ecology, restoration, management and interpretation 

will be presented. 

North Atlantic Region 

Len Bobinchock is the new Regional Resource and 

Visitor ProtectIon Specialist; Nora Mitchell has been 

named Resource Management Specialist for the Region. Both work in the Division of Management and 

Operations. 

Southeast Region 

Proceedings of the Workshop on Biosphere Reserves and Gther Protected Areas for Suslainable 

Developmen! of Smaii Caribbean Islands is the title 

of a 190.page publication now available, from Jim 

Wood of the Southeast Regional office. Paper copies 

are $1750; microfiche from the National Technical Information Service, is $4.50. NTIS acquisition number 

is PB84 - 189869: the address is NTIS, 5285 Port 

Royal, Springfield, VA 22161. 

**(I 

Research/Resources Management Report SER66, The Vegetation History of Foil Frederica, Sa;nt 

Simorw Island, G&?rgfa, by Susan P Bratton, 

examines historical colonial records of the landscape 

and vegetation of the fort and finds the present landscape bears little resemblance to the actual forest 

cwposition during the colonial period. Coptes of the 

wart can be obtained from Bratton at the NPSi 

CPSU, Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, 

Athens, GA 30602. 

tt. 

The final report from Arthur T Leitheuser and John 

R. Holsinger of Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va., 

entitled Ecolwical Analvsfs of the Kentuckv Cave 

Shrimp, a/ M&moth C&e NF: found that the part& 

boat concession operation had no impact on populations of the endangered shrimp. The boat cOncession 

will therefore continue to operate. 

A one-year contract extension will allow Leitheuser 

and Holsinger to conduct systematic sampling of the 

microfauna within the cave system. addressrng management-related questions. 

Grizzly Bear Recovery Notes 

Update IGBC Plan -Efforts 

The March issue of Grfzz/y Bear Recovery Noles 

[No. 2 of an ongolng series published by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC)] announced 

availability of the Population Review Task Force Report of data on grizzly bear population size and trend 

in the Northern Continental Divide Grizzly Bear 

Ecosystem. The authors conclude that available data 

(1) do not permit an estimate of population, and (2) 

do not allow a quantitative population trend estimate, 

as no indicator provided unequivocal evidence of increase, decrease. or stability. 

The IGBC has selected future research priorities 

based on what managers said they needed to know 

in order to better manage gnulies and grluly habitat 

for population recovery 

Research topics selected by the IGBC included development of a population trend monitoring system; 

development of a population augmentation system; 

quantification of the effects of oil and gas exploration 

and development on grizzly behavior and habitat use; 

quantification of the effects of road access and associated activity on grizzly behavior and habitat use; 

quantification of the effects of non-motorized recreation !n backcountry areas on grizzly behavior and 

habitat use; development of a habitat suitability standard or Index; and compilation of a single source 

state-of-the-art compendium of all research results 

and management techniques information for Nolth 

America The research subcommittee is developing 

scope of work statements and detailed research proposals for these topics. 

What a Difference A Digit Makes 

“OOPS” read the headline in the Seattle Post-lntelligencer. 

Who goofed? 

A one-digit error made in compiling the population 

statistics on Yellowstone NP’s grizzly bear population 

led to an erroneous report published in January 1983, 

stating that there was no significant trend in grizzly 

numbers. 

A recheck of the statistics showed that someone 

mistook a four for a nine, when figuring the number 

of female grizzlies with cubs. By figuring the population trend on the faulty basis of a more than doubled 

number of griuly bear mothers, the conclusion had 

been reached that grizzly numbers might be ~mproving. The newspaper quotes wildlife advocates as 

commenting: “The revised findings make It clear that 

Yellowstone’s grizzlies are indeed in trouble.” 

The item was forwarded to Park Science by Gary 

Machlis (of the University of Idaho CPSU) as “an 

example of how proofreading can never be taken for 

granted! 

If. 

Peter S. White, Plant Ecologist at the Uplands Field 

Research Lab, Great Smoky Mountains NP, has been 

elected vice-chairman of the Vegetation Section of 

the Ecological Society of America. Purpose of the 

Section IS to encourage research and to sponsor 

meetings for commumcating results of all phases of 

vegetation science. The second annual meeting of 

the group will be held Aug. 6-9, 1984, at Fort Collins 

and will feature a pre-meeting field trip similar to the 

one held last year at Grand Forks, ND, at the first 

annual meeting. For more information, contact White 

at the Uplands Lab, at (615) 436.7120. 

15 

Smokies Conference 

Eyes Management 

of MAB Reserves 

National Park Service managers. scientists, and 

others mcluding several lrom elsewhere in the world, 

will gather at Great Smoky Mountains NP Nov. 27.29, 

1984 to talk about the implications of managing Biosphere Reserves. Coordinators are designing a conference to improve the understanding of the multiple 

roles of Biosphere Reserves and to introduce new 

ideas and techniques. 

The concept of Biosphere Reserves isone in which 

a national park is one portion of a larger zone of 

cooperation that may include other Federal and State 

lands as well as private holdmgs. The park usually 

selves as the core of the Biosphere Reserve and 

prowdes the “control” for comparisons wth the less 

protected and more manipulated portions of the raserve. Management of a Biosphere Reserve Park 

therefore differs somewhat from that of a park without 

Biosphere Reserve designation. It is this difference 

that will be discussed at the Smokies’ conference. 

The first conference day will feature six presentations on topics designed to set the stage for the next 

day’s workshops. The first day presentations ate: (1) 

The Biosphere Reserve in Concept and in Practice, 

Dr. Harold Eldsvtk, Senior Policy Advisor, Parks 

Canada; (2) The Roles of Biosphere Reserves in De. 

veloped Countries, Dr. William Gregg, Jr., Cochairma”, U.S.-MAB Project Dtrectorate on Biosphere Resews. NPS: (3) Research, Technology Develop 

ment, and Information Transfer, Dr. Jerry FrankIln, 

Project Director, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Corvalis, Ore. USFS: (4) Public Communications and De. 

velopment of a Conservation Ethic, Dr. Gabriel 

Cherem, lnterp General. Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich.; (5) 

Resources Management in Biosphere Reserves, 

Asst. Supt., Roland Wauer. Great Smoky Mountains 

NP; and (6) Strategies for Cooperative Programs, a 

three-part presentation, chaired by Dr. John McCrone, 

Dean, School of Arts and Sciences, Western Caroltna 

University. 

The second day’s workshops WIII be co-chaired by 

Eiosphere Reserve managers and scientists. Topics 

and chairmen include: (1) Air Pollutants, John Christiano, Field Coordinator. NPS Air and Water Quality 

Division, and Supt. Boyd Evison, Sequoia and Kings 

Canyon NPs; (2) Development of Nonrenewable Resources, Tom Lucke, Chief, NPS Branch ot Water 

Resources. and Supt. Robert Haraden, Glacier NP; 

(3) Use of Renewable Resources, Dr. Stanley Krug 

man, Director, TimberManagement Research, USFS. 

and Supt. Robert Barbee, Yellowstone NP: (4) Problem Species, Dr. Michael Ruggetio, NPS Pest Management Program Coordinator, and Supt. David 

Ames, Hawaii NP; and (5) Visitor Activities, Dr. Don 

Field, Senior Sac~al Scientist,Oregon State University 

CPSU, and Supt. Don Brown, Isle Royale NP. 

Reports on each of the live workshops will be made 

the morning of the third day. These topics will then 

be summarized by Supt. Jack Morehead. Everglades 

NP 

A special committee will develop suggestions that 

evolve from the workshops and can be utilized by 

Biosphere Reserve managers. 

For further conference details write to Dr. John 

Peine, Uplands Research Station. Great Smoky 

Mountams NP, Gatlinburg. TN 37738. 
Fire Management 

Data Gathered 

by Dean Simon 

Canaveral National Seashore (NS) has long been 

troubled by lightning-caused wfldfires. Though these 

fires are considered pad of the natural fire regime, 

suppression activibes (both intentional and non-rntentional) have fed to heavy accumulations of fuels. 

Currently, the US. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(USFWS) and the National Park Service are 

cooperafrng to extinguish wildfires throughout government properties at Canaveral including Merritt Island 

National Wildlife Refuge and NASA’s Kennedy Space 

Center, but as both agencfes have recognized, sup 

pression alone will only rntenstfy present frre management problems. 

Since 1961, the USFWS has used prescribed burnrng to reduce heavy fuel accumulations in lands adjoining the seashore. Very little information has been 

gathered on fuel dynamics, however, and the impacts 

of present prescribed burning rotations are poorly 

documented. Hazardous fuel situations still exist 

within the park. 

In Spring, 1963. the NPS Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Georgia began working with the Canaveral staff to document fire effects 

on birds. plants. soils, and fuels in the important fireadapted habitats of the National Seashore. Major objectives of the study are: 1) to determine how post-fire 

plant recovery correlates to resident bird species 

composition; 2) to determine how post-fire plant re 

covely correlates to soil nutrient levels; 3) to gather 

baseline data on fire behavior; 4) to develop a fuels 

model for use in a prescribed burning program at the 

Seashore, and 5) to provrde a basis for long ternI 

monitoring. Since there is a lack of pre-burn data from 

areas where lightning-caused fires have occurred, it 

was desirable to plan three controlled research burns 

between May and October, the primary Irghtningcaused fire season. 

Studv sftas were established in each of the three 

marn fr&adapted community types at Canaveral NS: 

the coastal strand, the slash pine (Pinus ell;ottiivariety 

densa) flatwoods. and the oak scrub. The size of the 

coastal strand and slash pine flatwoods study sites 

are about 60 ha and 80 ha respectively, and each 

was dwided into a “burn” and “non-burn” hall. The 

oak scrub study sate was chosen primarily because 

of the presence of an immature Australian prne 

(Casuarkx equ;sefifo/;a) stand. Australian pine is an 

undesirable exotic that is difficult to eradicate. The 

stand was cut down in 1979 and in its rejuvenating 

stage covers approximately 0.5 ha of the surrounding 

4 ha oak scrub study site. 

Pre-bum sampling of vegetation, soils, and fuels 

was conducted during the month of August. Twentytwo permanent i5m transects were established over 

the three study sites on which percent cover par plant 

species was measured and recorded. Close to each 

transect. a lyskneter was placed to measure for soil 

water nutrient content. Also, a pair of soil samples 

was collected near each transect. Fuels were measured by bromass collection and separation into various size classes for live and dead-standrng and litter. 

In preparing for the burns, an effort was made to 

utilize exrsting natural and man-made fire breaks, including roads, canals, and trails, some of which were 

widened to rmprove the margin of safety The USFWS 

The once thickly accumulated MS 01 the coaslai 

sirand are quickly reduced after lhe passage of fire. 

assisted by usmo a small bulldozer to roll overvegetatlon and push It asrde along an old trarl. wrdenrng the 

break while causing as little disturbance as possible 

to the soil surface. 

National Seashore staff conducted two bums in 

September: one on the oak scrub study site and one 

on the coastal strand study site. Weather conditions 

were not conducive to safely burn the slash pine flatwoods,sothethirdfirewasdelayeduntilnextseason. 

Though weather conditions were nearly identical 

on the two daysof burning, fire behavior varied greatly, primarily because of the great variation in community structure between the two study sites. Due to the 

consistent nature of its saw palmetto cover, the 

coastal strand burned much more quickly and cleanly 

than the oak scrub. fmmedtate post-fire observatron 

on the oak scrub revealed that the young Australian 

pine stand was not affected significantly by the burning. 

Post-fire data collection for vegetation, fuels, and 

soils began immediately following the burns and will 

proceed at two month intervals for the next year. 

Timed bird species diversity counts will be made in 

mid-winter, early summer, and late summer, along 

with measurements of saw palmetto fruit production, 

an important wildlife food. 

All data yielded from this study and from continued 

monitoring of the study sites will be tncorporated into 

the development of a fuels model and prescribed 

burning program for Canaveral. Eventually, the study 

will reduce dependence upon extrapolations of data 

from outsrde studres. The ultimate goal of the project 

is to help Canaveral develop a fire management plan 

that allows fire adapted communities to burn, while 

reducing safety hazards and maintarning natural disturbance regimes in native ecosystems. 

Simon is a graduate sfudenf at the Universky of 

Georgia School of Forest Resources, working with 

the NPS/CRU and Ihs USFWSICWRU. 

16 

Spirit Lake Water 

Management Studied 

Public concern that large releases of Spent Lake 

water will threaten domestic water supplies, fish, and 

other valuable downstream resources rn the Mount 

St. Helens (WA) area led to the recent publication of 

an Army Corps of Engineers study, Waler Quakty Investigations - Split Lake Stab~lizafion Project, a 74. 

page document (NPPEN-HH-R), complete wth 16 figures (some in full color) and 16 tables. 

Specific evidence of severe water quality degradation in the lake included (1) total depletion of dissolved 

oxygen during summer months; (2) substantial generation of methane in lake bottom sediments: (3) high 

concentrabons of phenolic compounds; (4) extremely 

drscolored (blackish) water; and (5) an abundance of 

various reduced elements, including iron, manganese, and sulfur. These reduced metals gave rise 

to chemotrophic bacteria in aggregations two or three 

orders of magnitude above those reported for lakes 

unaffected by the eruption. Leg;oneila sp., a 

pathogenic bacterium, was found in significant concentrations, and was given as the cause of a puzzling 

respiratory illness which had been contracted by several scientists working in the Spirit Lake vicinity. 

Study objective was to provide a water quality assessment of the various alternatives for stabilizing 

Spirit Lake, which presently presents the potential for 

,ailuw of the natural debris dam restraining the lake’s 

outkow. The study describesthe baseline limnologlcal 

characteristics of Spirit Lakeand the changes leading 

to lake recovery, considers the public health signdicance of bacteria in the lake and in altematrve receivrng waters, and evaluates the potential for stream 

channel disturbance by streamflow augmentation 

from the lake. 

A limited number of the reports is available at no 

cost from the U.S. Army Corps, PO. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97208. 

Restoration Ecology 

Conference Slated 

A half century of restoration research at the University of Wisconsin Arboretum will be commemorated 

Oct. 11 and 12, 1984, with a symposium to explore 

the value of ecologrcal restoration as a technique for 

baste research Entitled “Restoration Ecology: Theory 

and Practice,” the symposium also will examine the 

role of experimental and theoretical emlogy in the 

development of ‘The science and art of community 

and ecosystem restoration.” 

The registration fee of $40 (through Sept. 28) 

covers admission to all sessions, two lunches, an 

evening banquet, and a tour of the UW Arboretum. 

Speaker come from Michrgan. Wisconsin, California, 

Minnesota, Florida, Liverpool, England, and North 

Wales, and will address basrc questions on the role 

of soil and climate in community development, tmtroduction of species, community structure and specres 

diverstty, assembly of communities, plant-so11 interactions, nutrient cycling and mycorrhizae. competition, 

successton. and the role of fire and other disturbances. 

The presentation is designed for scientists, manaaers. administrators, and others interested tn ecoysiem r&or&ton and development. Contact IS Nancy 

Dopkins. UW Arboretum, 1207 Semrnole Highway, 

Madtson, WI 53711, or (608) 262.2746. 
The RMT Program. . . One Perspective 

BY Johnathan B. Jarvis 

Two years ago this September I met for the first of 

several times with the other Natural Resource Management trainees in Fort Collins, Colorado. Our backgrounds were diverse, some spolting Masters degrees. some PhD.‘s, all at least a BS or BA. Some 

hailed from backgrounds in resource management. 

some from interpretation, and some from law enforcement. All regions were represented and most of the 

lrainees already had a number of years in the NPS 

under their belts. Those few from other agencies 

seemed relieved that they finally had made it into the 

NPS. All the trainees were elated at being chosen for 

the program. 

As we listened to our charge from Roland Wauer, 

I could not help feeling a sense of pride and an awareness of building electricity The group meshed well, 

minds were sharp, ideas came quickly, and there was 

an overall sense of purpose - an advocacy for the 

protection of park resources. We were challenged by 

Ro that the two years would not be easy, that it would 

require dedication and self-sacrifice. He said some 

would not make it. Looking back, he was right on all 

counts. I recall feeling that in some ways the NPS 

would never be the same after this program. 

As we left for our respectivetraining parksthat September, each of us was well aware that the NPS had 

made a very expensive investment in us. We were 

paid to learn everyihingwepossibly could intwoyears 

about resource management. We were to build on 

our existing knowledge through formal and on-the-job 

training, conferences, reading. and Independent 

study. We ware granted the funding and (theoretically) 

thetime toaccomplish alaundiy listof actionsoutlined 

in a lengthly IDP (individual development plan). In my 

own case, practicality and park priorities often interrupted the IDP schedule and specifics. However, builtin flexibility of the program allowed ma to achieve 

each component in one manner or another. The 

travel/training budget provided me the freedom to attend necessary courses without competing for slots 

from within park staff lntegrabon into the park operabon allowed ma to tailor IDP components to park 

needs so that both would benefit. The end result 1s 

that the park accomplished programs it never before 

had the time to do, while I developed expertise and 

reference materials over a broad range of resow? 

management issues - assets I can apply to future 

problems. 

Over the two yeras, I have communicated frequently with the other trainees and I can attest that 

the enthusiasm has only heightened. There is asense 

of camradery in that we have all faced similar frustrations in our respective parks. There is, too, a sense 

of professionalism as we recognize the position of 

Resource Management Specialist and sea it rising to 

its proper place of influence on park management. 

I believe that the program has been a success and 

subsequent programs of its kind will be successes 

because they sow seeds within the System that will 

invevitably grow mto a group of managers with strong 

resource management backgrounds. II is this group 

that will lead the NPS, or perhaps drag it, kicking and 

screaming. into the 21~1 Century of natural rasourca 

management. 

Computerized Library Increases 

Efficiency, Saves Time, Money 

The NPS Pacific Norfhwest Regional Office has 

established a Regional Library System using computer technology to provide comprehenswe information services to Its staff and 17 field areas in the region. 

Using the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), 

the Regional Library can order and catalog all publications for itself and park library collecIions in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. 

Located in the Westin Building in downtown Seattle, 

the library will contain the main catalog of all the parks 

in the region. Park employees no longer need worry 

about the technical aspects of wllection management; they can provide catalog information for a new 

publication to the Regional Librarian. In most cases 

a set of catalog cards can be in the return mail. 

In addition to a centralued catalog, staff members 

will be able to borrow from the 2,400 other libraries 

on the OCLC System, which includes some of the 

largest natural and cultural resowa collections in the 

country, such as the Department of the Interior Library, 

other NPS libraries, Alaska Resources Library, Deparfment of Agriculture Ltbtary, etc. The OCLC system uses a specially designed Beehive terminal with 

a dedicated line to the central computer located in 

Columbus. Ohlo. 

Computer reference services are an integral part 

of Raglonal Library services. The four services currently available are Lockheed Corp., DIALOG; System Development Corp., ORBIT; the Department of 

Energy, RECON systems; and Bibliographic Retrieval 

Service (BRS). Each of these systems prowdes access to approximately 200 databases on different 

subjects. By searching thesedatabases, the Regional 

Librarian can produce a bibliography of recent publications or alticles on almost any subject. 

Managers, scientists, and researchers often cxmduel surveys of the available literature before they 

begin a project to avoid duplicating work already accomplished by others, and to study the most recent 

developments and trends before making decisions. 

Cost savmgs realized by using these systems are 

dramatic on the order of 10 times less expensive 

than a manual search. These database systems are 

reached by dial-in through standard telacommunications utilities, such as TELENET, TYMSHARE, and 

UNINET, using any standard dumb terminal. The 

PNR Library uses the Hewlett-Packard 2645A terminal for this purpose. 

Ellen Traxell, Librarian 

Pacffic Northwest Region 

17 

First RMT Class 

Graduation Slated 

By Bob Gartner 

Thirly-two trainees, who constitute the first class of 

the Natural Resource Management Training Program, 

will gather for the final time at Mather Training Center, 

Aug. 13.17, for a Remote Areas Management training 

coursa. A graduation ceremony WIII be held on Friday, 

Aug. 17, for the trainees. who have completed two 

years of intensive natural resource training. 

Two of the trainees will be reassigned to new parks 

within their Regions, while the remaining 30 will stay 

in the parks wherethey trained. The trainees currently 

are assigned as follows: 

A/aska:Brad Cella, WrangelliSt. Elias; Kathy Jope, 

Katmai; Mid Atlanbc: Beth Johnson, Delaware Water 

Gap; Dave Reynolds, New River Gorge; Dave Haskell, Shenandoah; Bruce Rogers, Assateague Island: 

M;dwst:JohnTownsend, Indiana Dunes;Garee Williamson, Cuyahoga Valley: Walter Loope, Pictured 

Rocks; 

North Atlantic: Norm Fletcher, Acadia; Barbara 

Samora, Cape Cad; Allan O’Connell, Fire Island; 

Debra Buuell, Morristown; Western Region: John 

Miller, Southern Arizona Group; Ron Nag& 

Haleakala; Tim Tunison, Hawaii Volcanoes: Steve 

DeBenedeni, Sequoia/Kings Canyon; 

Pacific Northwest: Jon Jarvis, Crater Lake; Ed 

Schreiner, Olympic; Rocky Mountain: Jeff Conner, 

Canyonlands; Larry Belli, Glen Canyon; Steve BuddJack, Mesa Verde; Jeff Bradybaugh, Theodore 

Roosevelt; Jack Gulvin, Yellowstone; Southeast: 

Bruce Freet, Big Cypress: Linda Dye, Biscayne; 

Southwest: Frank Buono, Chaco Culture; Steve 

Chancy, Buffalo River; Steve Cinnamon, Wupatki; National Capital Ragion: Chris Bauman. C&O Canal; 

Keith langdon. Catoctin; Gordon Olson, Ant&am. 

The second class of Natural Resource Trainees will 

begin in FY 1965. Currently the Regions are reviewing 

new recommendations to restructure and improve the 

program, based on the experiences of the present 

class. 

Gardner is the Program liaining Cootiinator at 

WASO. 

Regions Get Nod 

To Continue CPSUs 

Cooperative Park Studies Units (CPSUs) passed 

their examinations with flying colors. according to re 

commendations of the evaluation team, which conducted a study of the concept and ins actual workings 

as part of the Realignment Committee’s Phase 2 operation. 

Generally, CPSUs were found to be a productive 

and good use of a centralized work force to produce 

benefits for a number of field areas. They supplement 

the limited number of Service scientists with a wide 

diversity of professional disciplines and provide a 

cost-effective source 01 research. The Park Service 

benefits greatly, both in effectiveness and in efficiency, 

from having formal research facilities such as Ii. 

bra&, computers, and staff available to carry out 

the Service’s needs in performing approved research, 

the Committee found. 

The NPS has 17 active CPSUs in 6 Regions, employing 36 fulltime equivalents. 
info ation crossfiie 

An article by Michael P Kinch, ~Online lniormation 

Retrieval for Biologists,” in BioSc;enceVol. 34, no. 3, 

March 1984, discusses the principles and procedures 

of online searching, including the concepts of boolean 

search logic and searching strategies. Also discussed 

are data bases important to biologists and the future 

role of biologists as online searchers. For additional 

information, on onltne literature searchlog access, 

contact, Ellen Traxel, Pacific Northwest Regional Librarian at (206) 442-5202 or FTS 399.5202. 

* 

From Gerry Wright at thyUniversity of Idaho CPSU 

comesthewordof a report by L. W. Barnthouse eta/in 

B&xnce, Vol. 34, No. 1. on the controversy that 

raged, largely in the courtroom, over the siting of nuclear power plants on the Hudson River, and the resultant effect of coolmg water entrainment and Impingement on the striped bass fishery. This ISSUB, which 

spans more than a decade, focused on the develop 

ment of a succession of increasingly complex 

mathematical simulation models. These models developed by Industry and agency experts respectively, 

either predicted that cooling water use would have a 

negligible or substantial impact on the striped bass 

population (dependmg on wewpoint). In the long run. 

this controversy was not resolved through the use of 

such models. Rather, an accord was reached only 

aHer several years of intensive data gathering, which 

in turn allowed the development of relatively simple 

empirical models. 

The authors therefore conclude that although corn. 

plex s!mulatlon models can be useful for focusing 

long-term research and monitoring programs needed 

to solve the pressing enwonmental problems of the 

day, the models themselves do not present a shortcut 

to solutions to those problems. They further point out, 

this being the case, that biologists as well as the 

courts must recogmze the limitations of thetr science 

and recognize that decisions relative to enwonmental 

impacts will often have to be made on the bases of 

incomplete information rather than being deferred indefimtely in the hope that scientists will come up with 

definitive soIut!ons. 

-** 

In B~oSc;ence, March 1984, Ralph E. and Norma 

F Good analyze the prospects for fulfilling the landuse regulations endorsed by the PInelands Commas- 

$10” to protect the New Jersey Pinelands NatIonal 

Reserve. The Goods find that “continued malntenance and enhancement of Pinelands ecosystems 

will depend on appropriate application of existing 

knowledge and future studies in such areas as nutrient transfer, the role of fire in nutrient dynamics, 

sustainable aqufer yields. and the affects of ecosystem fragmentation.” 

*** 

Consideration of a forest tree as a long-continuing 

entity that changes in form and function over time in 

its relation to the forest is the focus of a 56.page 

USDA Forest Service General Technical Repoti 

(PNW-I 64). The Seen and Unseen World of the Fal- 

/en Tiee, recently published by the Pacific Northwest 

Forest and Range Experiment Station, P.O. Box 3890, 

Podland, OR 97208. Chris Maser and James M. 

Trappe suggest, in this report that a new look at time 

considerations and at what is becoming known about 

the structure and function of large woody debris raises 

profound questions about forest management. The 

publicatton examines some new concepts in the light 

of current forest management practices. 

In particular, the report discusses how fallen trees 

funtilon in providing moisture, suppofl microbial activity, and dwersifying fresh water and estuarine 

habitats. 

A companion paper, by the same two authors, entitled ‘“The Fallen Tree - A Source of Diversity” will 

be contained in New Forests for a Changmg World, 

the Proceedings of the Society of American Forestry’s 

1983 National Conference. 

From Roland H. Wauer, assistant superintendent 

for Resource Management and Science at Great 

Smoky Mountains NP, comes a detailed look at 

changes in the NPS resource management thrust 

from 1979 to 1983 as presented in March at the Fourth 

Conference on Social Research in National Parks and 

Wildlands. ‘I interpret the recent emphasis on resource management within the PS as a trend and not 

as a fad. It is a grass-roots event that seems to be 

increasing in scope: Wauer said. The full text of his 

address will appear in a forthcoming issue of the 

George Wright FORUM. 

Also to appear in FORUM will be an abstract of the 

keynote address by William E. (Bill) Brown. at the 

August 16-19 Sun Valley, Idaho, Conference on Parks 

!n the West. Speaking on “Western Parks and the 

American Character: Brown discusses the ‘varying 

success’ of our national parklands in allowing the 

“parlly vicarious national experience’ 01 our early 

heritage to continue. Brown is historian with the NPS 

Alaska Region and the author of islands of Hope. 

* 

Don Johnstone. directo:bt the National Parks and 

Wildlife Service of New South Wales, writing in the 

Comment section of the Ausfriaiian Ranger Bull&n 

(Spring, 19831, suggests that “our organisations. our 

land managers and officers at all levels must give 

greater emphasis and play an even more active role 

ln promoting public awareness if our wildlife and wildlands are to swwe the mcraasing pressures that will 

be placed upon them in the commg years.’ 

*** 

A literature review and abstracts of recant publications III the field of human/wildlife interaCtions are part 

of the publication Human Dimens;ons in W!/dkfe 

Newsletter put out by the Yale School of Forestry and 

Environmental Studies. Editors Joyce Berry and 

Stephen R. Kellert Invite material. Their address is 

205 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06511 

x 

Bob Stottlemyer, at the NPS Great Lakes Area Research Studies Umt, sends us the Spring issue of 

Builehn of the Ecolog~calSoc@v of Amerw wntainIng an aIt& by Sam Iker, reprinted from MOSAIC - 

the instItutIonal publlcatlon of the Natumal Science 

Foundation. 

Entitled “A LifetIme of Listenlog,” the anlcle enum18 

crates the advantages of long-term ecological rasearch and makes the case for how these seemingly 

unrelated studies actually “are linked by a common 

thread.- The scientists Involved, lker writes, dare 

among the handful who have spent decades seeking 

to decipher that ‘vast, pulsing harmony’ whose 

rhythms, as Aldo Leopold put it, span not only the 

seconds but also the centuries.” 

There are signs, according to Iker, that the importance of continuity in ecological research is now bemg 

recognized by the scientific establishment. He de. 

scribes a newly launched pilot program sponsored by 

the NSF-a network of 11 long-term ecclogical study 

sites established across the United States and containmg a variety of ecosystems. from alplne tundra to 

oak savanna to freshwater swamp. Each site has a 

coordinating investigator, asitedirector, and anumber 

of researchers from various disciplines who will focus 

on key aspects of the particular ecosystem. Whether 

or not thts “golden opportunity’ is seized, says Iker, 

depends on how many young scientists come to beIteve m long-term ecological research as “a new frontier:’ 

*** 

From Bruce Kennedy, manager of the Statewide 

Planning SectIon. California Depatiment of Parks and 

Recreation, comes a just released study, Stewardship 

- 1983, summat~z~ng statIstical data on natural resource threats to California state parks and making 

a wide range of recommendations for remedial 

policies, programs and actions 

Inspired by the NPS State of the Parks study of 

1980, the California study examlnes the number. nature, severity, and priority of threats to the natural and 

scenic resources of the state’s 267 units. Focus is on 

threats to the five basic natural systems-air, water, 

soil. vegetation, and animal life. Aesthetic values are 

included and strong emphasis IS given to threats to 

the agency’s ability to properly manage its lands. 

Summary ftgures are provided for all threat categories 

and, based on measures of severity and priority, a 

dozenofthe worstcategoriesofthreatsare Identified. 

This report along with a separate working appendix 

on methodology and on statistical analyses, IS of general mterest to managers of large, resource-based 

parks, reserves, or sanctuary systems. Copies of 

Stewardship - 1983 are available for $3 (postage 

paid) from the California Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Distribution Center, PO. Box 2390, Sacramento. CA 95811. 

Cumulative Effects of Forest Practices on the Env;. 

ronment A State oi fhe Knowledge, is the title of a 

recent publication prepared for the State of Washington’s Forest Practices Board and funded in part by 

the National Park Selvice. The 268.page publication 

was compiled and edited by Rollin R. Geppert 

Charles W. Lorenz, and Arthur G. Larson and is available from the Washington Department of Natural Resourcas. Photos, Maps & Reports OW-21, Olympia, 

WA 98504, for $7 par copy 

The book’s foreword describestheattempttosingle 

out problems and solutions in terrestrial and aquabc 

ecosystems as ‘an on-going, reiteratwe process tempered by social economic perceptions. There are few 

absolute answers What we know best is what 

happens today.” 

The report obtactives are to “bring about progressive change in the way forest managers perceive their 

problems, cause researchers to work more closely 
a 

Information Crossfile (Cont~n”edi 

with forest managers and administrators to fill data 

and knowledgegaps, and provide admimstrators with 

new perspectives on envtronmental effects of forest 

practices:’ 

:* 

Monitoring by “whole guild mventor~es’ - a new 

approach to evaluatrng wrldlrfe and wildlife habitat - 

is described in Forestry Research West (September 

1983), published by the Western Forest Experiment 

Stations, USFS. Jared Venter, research wildlife 

biologist at the Pacific Northwest Station (809 N.E. 

6th Ave., Portland. OR 97232). describes a wildlife 

guild as “a group of specres that exploits the same 

class of enwonmental resources in a similar way? 

Author Dennis G. Hanson makes an rnteresting 

connection between the term “guild’ as it IS used in 

the wildlife inventory approach, and the Anglo-Saxon 

root word “gild’ - a penitent offering. a protection 

against the future. Hanson points out that the guilds 

can be grouped in a number of ways, dependrng on 

management needs. The plan, whtch is being trred 

by the Srerra National Forest in California, uses integrated monrtoring at three levels; (1) Species - only 

those management Indicator species requrred by law; 

(2) Management guilds - guilds of bards in three 

habitats especially vulnerable to change by human 

activities; and (3) Habrtats - most wildlrfe species to 

be monitored by inference from trends in habttats 

based on knowledge of each speaes habitat requirements. 

** 

Landscape architecture students at the Harvard 

Graduate School of Desiqn took their act to Yosemrte 

NP last fall and developed a program to evaluate 

environmental changes in the park, using a geographic informatron system. The project was wrrtten up 

in the March 30, 1984 issue of the HarvardUnivers~ty 

Ga.Z/te. 

The system is a computer mapping program often 

used by natural resource managers. urban planners, 

and market strategists to process spatial data. The 

geographic software system can be used to create 

and displav maps as well as to analyze problems in 

a given study area. 

Jan van Waqtendonk. research scientist with the 

NPSCPSU at UlCal Davis, and based at Yosemite 

NP, is in charge of developing the Yosemite data base 

that will make such a system useful for resource management. Van Wagtendonk has his information down 

to 15.meter resolutation (compared to the ~quick and 

dirty” 100.meter resolution of the graduate school project) and IS currently working with Maury Nyquist and 

Harvey Fleet of the Denver ServiceCenter, where the 

data sets for Yosemite are being created. 

*** 

The popular press (Newsweek, Dec. 5. 1983) has 

taken noteofthedecades-longstudiesofwolf-moose. 

predator-prey relationships on Isle Royale and the 

fact that such studies are “of more than academic 

interest:’ In a signed ark& by Sharon Begley and 

John Carey, Newsweekdescribed the unfolding information that only such lengthy research can hope to 

uncover. Much of this information turns out to be 

counter to ‘the conventional wisdom.” Rolf Peterson 

of Michigan Tech University described the greatest 

surprise to emerge from the on-going study -that the 

wolf packs do not help Obalance’ nature, but Instead 

cause Moore numbers to fluctuate even more wildly 

than they would without the pressure of the packs. 

Heavy Trace Metal 

Deposition Studied 

Gary Larson, Regronal Chief Screntist. and Robert 

Stonlemyer, Depanment of Biologrcal Scrences, 

Michrgan Technological University (MTU). are co+ 

vestigators m a new study of heavy and trace metal 

deposrtion in the Great Lakes Basin. This research 

involves national park umts in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wrsconsin, and Minnesota. 

The best available EPA and state deposition data 

suggest that across these states there exists a pronounced west to east gradient of increasing atmospheric metal inputs. Chref objectives of the research 

are to continue monitormg of atmospheric Inputs; determine metal input/output budgets in small gaged 

watersheds in each park unit; determine concentrabon levels in selected ecosystem biotic and abiotic 

components; and see if correlations exist between 

past and present atmospheric inputs, ecosystem retention, and orgamc decomposition rates. 

,: 

In the hindsight afforded by the 1980 Mount St. 

Helens volcanic episode, geologists have been looking with new eyes at an old question: what event or 

events were responsible for the “drmpled hills” that 

make up the land area surroundrng California’s Mount 

Shasta? Piectng together the Mount St. Helens story 

and applying the information to the geologic evidence 

found around Mounta Shasta. five USGS scientists 

have concluded that the Shasta Valley represents the 

largest known landslide of the past 2 millron years, 

according to an adicle by Richard A. Kerr in the April 

20. 1984 isSue of Snence. 

A recent study by Lee Siebert of the Smithsoman 

Institution found that only half a dozen of the world’s 

more than 75 identifwd debris avalanche deposits are 

known to exceed the 2.8.cubic kilometer volume of 

the St. Helens event. “But the Shasta deposits volume is a mammoth 26 cubic kilometers,’ Kerr writes, 

“and covers at least 450 square kilometers The 

horseshoe shaped scar that the avalanche presumably left on the mountain had healed in the approximately 300,000 years since the slide, but the deposit 

itself closely resembled those at St. Helens and other 

volcanoes.’ Siebetis ariicle, in press, will appear m 

the Journal of Volcanic Geothermal Research. The 

fwe USGS scientists who “discovered’ the Shasta 

landslide, are D.R. Crandell, C.D. Miller, H.X. Glicken, 

R.L. Christiansen, and C.G. Newhall, and their art& 

appears in Gwlog): 12, 143, 1984. 

*‘* 

From Prof. Robert B. Dinon, Texas AR M Depadment of Recreation and Parks, comes word 01 the 

one-week training course dealing with visitor aspects 

of na!ural resources management, held last December at the University at College Station, Texas. 

The course provided a groundrng in current understandings of the park visttor and stressed the importance of considenng visitors in managing National 

Parks. It was pad of the NPSs Natural Resources 

Management Training Program, involving approximately 35 NPS employees in a series of assignments 

running 24 months. 

Faculty included Gary Machlis and Don Field, with 

NPSICPSUs at the University of Idaho and Oregon 

State University respechvely, plus 11 addttional faculty 

members from Texas A & M, the University of Maryland, Purdue University, and Utah State Unwersity. 

19 

This research is designed to complement a Basinwide study Initiated last year on small gaged watersheds located in these national parks. Increasing from 

west to east across the Great Lakes Base is one of 

the most pronounced gradrents of acid deposition in 

the United States. Historrcal data suggest this gradient has been in place for some time. This provides 

an opportunity to undertake time-trend analyses on 

the responses of watershed ecosystems to anthropogenic atmospheric inputs Stonlemyer is principal investigator for this study. 

Spring 1984 also starts the third year of research 

on the long-term study of ecosystem responses to 

acidic precipitation on Isle Royale. This work is being 

carried out at the Boreal Research Station on Isle 

Royale and at MTU. 

Objectives of this research are to look at long-term 

changes in critical plant mrneral nutrient budgets and 

in selected biotic components which might indicate 

effects due to acid deposition. Three lakewatershed 

ecosystems, representative 01 the drversity of perennial surface-flow systems in the Lake Supenor Basin, 

are under study. They are thought to vary widely tn 

their “sensitivity” (buffering capacity) to acidic deposition. 

Isle Royale IS one of four national parks involved 

in thus research coordmated by Ray Herrmann of the 

Water Resources Field Support Laboratory !n Ft. Collins, CO. The other national parks are Olympic, Rocky 

Mountam and Sequoia. 

Ths repal was submitted by Stottlemyer and LarSO”. 

Mount Rainier Hosts 

Research Symposium 

Approximately 50 men and women concerned with 

screntific research and resource management in the 

Pacrfic Northwest gathered on their own time at Mount 

Raimer National Park on the weekend of January 21. 

22 to exchange research findings and ideas for their 

applicatron to park management. 

Nearly a score of presentations were made in the 

course of the tightly programmed weekend. Most of 

them dean with research in the host park, but they 

included two presentations from Olymprc NP as well 

as reports on the general topic of atr qualrty and sulfur 

baseline momtaring. concerns that cannot be compartmentalized or handled on a single park basis. 

Subject matter ran the gamut from spotted owl 

habitat and goat surveys to rates and patterns of tree 

bole decay and included a lively discussion of the 

NPS mission to conserve and its relationship to basic 

research. 

William Briggle, then superintendent of Mount 

Rainier NP and now Deputy Director of the Pacific 

Northwest Region, opened the meeting and welcomed panicrpants. Abstracts of all the presentations 

were collected and compiled by Robed Dunnagan, 

Assistant Superintendent of Mount Rainier and host 

for the conference. Abstracts of many of the papers 

are available in duplicated form from Dunnagan, 

Mount Rainier NP, Tahoma Woods, Star Route, 

Ashford, WA 98304. 
mansport Crate 

Facilitates 

Goat Removal 

By Bruce B. Moorhead 

Wildlife problems in parks can lead to need far safe 

and practical means of translocating animals. Crates 

or other enclosed containers, tend to quiet as well as 

sacura captured ammals m tranat. Emphasis, however, is often on strength (and wetghl) more than portability and animal care. An experimental program to 

translocate non-native mountam goats from Olympic 

National Park has led to the development of a maneuverable, 90.pound crate that is easy to make and 

may be adaptable to other wildlife species. 

In three years of capture operations, 25 of these 

crates have been used repeatedly in translocating 

more than 150 goats from the park. The crates have 

survived much war and tear, requiring only minor 

repairs. Animals are placed in them as soon as possable after capture and transferred successwely by 

helicopter and truck to release sites 100 + miles from 

the park. 

The crate is scaled in design to goat dimensions. 

and measures 48 x 17 x 49 inches exteriorly. The 

narrow, rectangular shape encourages goats to remain upnght and expel ruminant gases, and discourages them from twisting around and becoming injured 

in transit. The stdes and top are constructed from a 

sheet of ‘/z inch exterior plywood. Sides also are rein. 

forced at three locations with % inch wide metal strap 

ping: mterlor faints are reinforced with 1 inch chamfer 

strips. The floor is 3% inch plywood; longttudinal treading is optional to m~prova footing and encourage internal drainage. 

Animals are loaded through a vertically sliding gate 

at one end. Gates at both ends of the crate aid in 

unloading animals, but also require added reinforcement (and weight) to the crate. Openings are spaced 

along the sides. top. and on the floor to provide vantilation and to drain urine and melt water from crushed 

ice placed beneath the animal as a coolant and water 

sourca. A wooden cleat on the gate protects fingers 

when the gate is being lifted or closed. The gate is 

fastened, up or down, by lock bolts mounted atop the 

crate to fit through matching holes in the gate. 

The crate extenor IS palmed with a light-colored 

latex to reflect sunltght and counter heat build-up 

withln. A number code stenciled on the top, sides, 

and door, aids in keeptng track of the antmals. Vital 

information about each animal (size, medications, 

etc.) IS stapled to the respective crate I” a ztp-lock 

bag. The empty wght of the crate is stenciled on 

the top and sides to asstst in rapidly calculating 

helicopter loads. 

Crates are moved to and from capture locations, 2 

to 4 at a time, in hellcopter slingloads. Loaded crates 

are maneuvered at hellcopter landing sates by 2 to 4 

people lkftmg them (like a sedan-chair) with lengths 

of plastic p!pe suspended through nylon loops on the 

sides of the crate. Most goats wgh in the 75 to 200 

pound range. Large males war 250 pounds have 

been successfully transported, but a bit confined by 

a crate of these dlmenslons. 

This dwgn was adapted from a standard crate for 

hooved animals described I” the Amma/ Restramt 

Handbwkby D. Jessup and W. Clark of the California 

Depariment of Fish and Game. The improvements 

Grand Canyon Assesses Effects 

on Beaches of 1983 Flooding 

By Nancy Brian 

Prior to completion of Glen Canyon Dam, the Colorado River through Grand Canyon experienced wide 

fluctuations in flow as a result of spring run-off and 

summer thunderstorms. The predam spring floods 

were heavily silt laden and had a mean discharge of 

86,000 cubic feet parsecand (cfs). Asthefloodwaters 

receded, terraces of fine-grained sediments were depwted on the banks of the river channel. 

In 1963, Glen Canyon Dam was completed and 

lake Powell began to fill. Since that time, normal dam 

controlled discharge has ranged between 1,000 and 

31,000 cfs. with a median discharge of 12,200 cfs. 

Because of the retention of sand and silt in Lake Powell. the sandy terraces. (colloqurally termed beaches), 

have been progressively eroded by wind deflation, 

sheet wash, flash floods, mass wasting, and reworking by fluctuating riverflows. In 1976, sediment hydrologists predicted that beaches below Glen Canyon 

Dam will vanish within about 200 year?. However, the 

rate of beach erosion has been slowed by the dense 

band of riparian (or streamside) vegetation which has 

become established in areas formerly scoured by the 

pre-dam floods. Since 1972, the beaches have been 

utilized by up to 15.000 river runners par year with 

use concentrated on approximately 100 popular 

beaches. Concomitantly, wildlife has colonized this 

newly vegetated streamside zone. a habitat which 

has become rare in the largely arid southwest (See 

Park Sc;ence, Vol. 4, No. 2 article “Effects of Colorado 

River Flooding on Rip&an Nesting Birds Studied” by 

Brown and Johnson). 

are a mllaborative effort by park rangers, scientists, 

veterinarian Jim Foster, and park carpenter Spew 

Thompson. 

Moorhead is Managemenl Biologist at Olympia NP, 

Oregon Bighorn Transport 

Fifty-two btghorn sheep from Halt Mountain 

National Antelope Refuge !n Oregon are now in residence at new sties in Southeastern Oregon after the 

Fish and WIldlife Department’s most successful sheep 

Ikve-trapping effort ever. Success was largely due to 

a contracted hellcopter pilot wtfh “extreme flying agility 

and a sixth sense that tells him when to push the 

sheep and when to back off: according to a F&W 

Department press release. 

The transplant is part of long-term department efforts to reestablish bighorn sheep rn much of its histor1x1 range. The California subspecies of bighorn once 

inhabited most of the open nmrock desert, river 

canyons, and rugged mountains of southeastern Oregon. Their disappearance from the state by 1915 is 

belwed by blologlsts to have been caused by early 

over-hunting, competition with domestic livestock for 

food, and diseases brought in by domestlc sheep. 

The transport operation was held during the fall 

“r~t.~ The sheep were hauled in pickup trucks or horse 

trailers to three release s&s after being herded by 

helicopter into previously established traps. The animals all were in good condition, “hauled well,’ and 

qutckly dispersed upon release. Some of the animals 

were m&&d to help them past the stress of transport 

20 

The public and park managers became concerned 

about the fate of the beaches during June 3 to August 

11. 1983, when flows from Glen Canyon Dam exceeded the 1963.1982 levels. Unseasonal precipitation and rapid thaw in the Upper Colorado River Basin 

states dunng spring 1983, resulted in unprecedented 

inflow into a nearly full Lake Powell. In response. the 

Bureau of Reclamation released flows from Glen Canyon Dam which ranged from 38.000 cfs to war 

90,000 cfs. The high flows, approximating the predam floods, submerged campsites and inundated 

riparian vegetation. Beach sediments were either actively reworked on site, transpolted and redeposited 

downstream, or removed from the system to Lake 

Mead. 

The receding floodwaters revealed an aiiered 

riverine environment. To assess the changes in size, 

number, and distribution of beaches, personnel from 

Grand Canyon National Park’s Division of Resources 

Management and Planning made an inventory of the 

status of the beach campsites two months after the 

high flows. Results were compared to a similar beach 

inventory conducted in October, 1973. The rapid erosion that occurred at many sites is evidence that 

beaches are not yet in equtlibrium. 

Campsites in existence prior to the high flows had 

various fates: some ware removed or reduced in size. 

others were replenished or scoured, and some 

showed no appreciable change in beach profile. New 

deposits not in existence prior to the high flows also 

ware created. In areas where the current was awleratad by high river gradient and constdcted channels, sediment was eroded; conversely, in areas with 

reduced velocity due to lower gradient and wider 

channels, sediment was deposited. In many straight 

stretches of the river, sediment was deposited behind 

the dense band of shoreline vegetation. The 1983 

high water deposits range from ephemeral dunes undergoing rapid erosion by shoreline currentsto per.+ 

tant deposits protected by woody vegetation and;ar 

rock armoring. 

Riparian vegetation inundated by the high water 

flows likewise experienced a range of impact: some 

stands showed little effect, while in other stands vegetation was damaged, killed, buried, or removed. It 

was observed that understory vegetation (grasses, 

herbs, and subshrubs) was more severely damaged 

than woody tree and shrub species. and native 

species were more severely impacted than exotic 

species. Post-dam riparian vegetation succession appears to have been set back to conditions existing 10 

to 15 years ago. However, the pre-dam old high water 

line vegetaton (honey mesquite and acacia zone) 

situated above the 90,000 cfs waterline benefitted 

from the high flows. New, vigorousgrowth isevidence 

that these species were well watered by the high 

flows. 

Potential Colorado River beach campsites numbaring 443 were identified between Lees Ferry and Dlamond Creek (excluding areas closed to campIng). 

Large campsites (capable of holding 35.40+ parsons) comprised 38 percent, with medium camps (21. 

30 persons) 36 percent, and small camps (15-20 persons) 26 percent. A majority (44 percent) showed 

active erosion taking place, whrle31 percentexhiblted 
MARBLE CANYON CAMPSITE, locatedat River M//e 19.3 is shown here on three dales before, during and 

ski the flood event. The Before photo was laken in 1973, lhe During photo was taken n June 1983, with river 

‘iow a/ approxfmateiy 60,300 cubrc feet per second; the Afief photo was taken October 1983. 

During 

no erosion and 25 percent showed inactive erosion. 

In areas along the river corridor critical to campsile 

selection due to a scarcity of camps. four campsites 

were removed, while numerous new sand beaches 

were depostted in non-critical sectvans. 

The comparison between the post-high water 

campsite wentmy and a 1973 beach mventory 

showed the variety of change. A total of 227 

campsites was ldentifled in both surveys. Forty-two 

percent exhibited no discernible size change; 30 percent increased I” size (due to sand deposltlon and/or 

vegetation removal): 28 percent decreased m size. 

Twenty-four camps%% were either removed by the 

1983 high water or so depleted in SW? that they no 

longer qualify as campsltes. Thrty.two campsites 

were lost prior to the 1983 high water flows due to 

overgrowth by vegetation, erosion by tluctuating nvel 

currents, or tributary canyon flash flooding. Eight-six 

pre-exisbng camps&s were increased in we by sand 

deposition and/or by vegetation removal. Fifty new 

beaches were deoosited where none existed DreviOUSIY. 

The 1983 high water resulted in a net movement 

of sediment downstream as reflected in the general 

decrease in size and number of camps in the upper 

140 river miles below the dam and an mcrease !n size 

and number of campsites in the lower 140.209 rwer 

miles. Sediment from the wer bed brought into the 

system from tributaries since the completion of Glen 

Canyon Dam may have contributed to the riveis sediment load during the 1983 flood event. These wer 

bottom sediments would have substantially contributed to the aggraded beach profiles. 

Changes m campsite distribution brought about by 

the 1983 flood event have not required park managers 

to mod@ the level or pattern of wer running. Sufficient camps remain throughout the canyon to accommodate established use levels. However, future 

change in number, size, and distribution of beaches 

is expected to war. The Bureau of Reclamation 

began releasing 43,000 cfs on May 7. 1984, in antlcipation of the predicted 178 percent of normal run-off. 

If the river bed has been substantially degraded by 

the 1983 high flows and there has been little input of 

sediment from tnbutaries, the 1984 high flows may 

result IK a greater net loss of campsites than experienced in 1983. especially in the upper reaches. 

The future of the Colorado River beach resource 

is difficult to predict even with normal post-dam flows. 

Fluctuating flow regimes affect not only erosion rates 

but also the vegetation communities. their associated 

fauna, and the river running industry. In December 

1983, the National Park Swice in cooperation with 

the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Arizona Department of Game and Fish initiated research to quantify 

the impact of Glen Canyon Dam release patterns on 

the natural and recreation resources. Areas of investigation include sediment transport and erosion. terrestrial and aquatIc biology, and river recreation. Results of these projects, to be completed in October 

1986. will identify dam operating procedures that may 

minimize impacts on downstream resources. However, any change in the operating criteria for Glen 

Canyon Dam will follow an enwronmenlal impact 

statement produced by the cooperating agencies. 

The fate of the Grand Canyon riverine environment 

is dependent upon the interadion of dam management and the dynamic nature of the Colorado River. 

Preservation of downstream resources will be enhanced by cooper&m between Government agencies, public input, and results of the on-going research. 

Brian is a Park Technican al Grand Canyon NP. 
Buffalo River Air 

Proiect Publicized 

‘A siff. steady whrr emanates from a secluded 

rldgelop above Arkansas’ Buffalo Natx~nal Rivw A 

few drops of rain beg/n to fal As if by mag,c, a pyramidal metal plate gkdes lhrough the a~ Not far away 

on a tall metal lower a black box clicks. Is i/an mvaSVJ~ from outer space? No just a roubne data c&v 

tion at Buffaio RiverS ab quakty sampling site.” 

This catchy lead, deslgned to lure the average 

reader into “the rest of the story,’ (s the way Park 

Volunteer Connie Toops opened her May 23 news 

release describing Buqalo NatIonal R~ver’s air quality 

data collection work. 

The release goes on to describe the fine parliculate 

sampling station and how it works as one of approximately 100 such sites sponsored by the Nalional 

Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), the way 

the park is conducting itsvislbllItysludy, andthepar!& 

air quality monltor~ng site role as one of 36 collection 

points for the Arkansas Department of Ecology and 

Pollution Control. 

‘Although northwestern Arkansas is not heawly industrIa/ved, (( the release concludes, ‘park studies reveai Impact from emissions originafmg as far away 

as Ihe Guif Coast and the Ohio V&y Resource managemenlpersonnei af Buffalo NR. expect to benefif 

from /he ar quakty data being collected for years to 

cmle. 

A resource management technician at Mfaio 

Nationa! River replaces the drum graph ;n the NADP 

record!ng raflguage. The Mrument chafts the intensirv and duration of each ,a,” or snow shower which 

tails on the sampiing site. 

Editor’s Note: 

The Spring issue of Park Science was devoted to computer news from a/i over the NP 

System. Every entry did not get in on time, and some that did make the deadline couldn? 

be squeezed info the 24 available pages. Here, then, is the ‘bverset,“as the first of a special 

section on computer news that will appear in the future as developments warrant. 

Air, Water Quality Computer Uses 

The Air and Water Quality Division uses computers 

lor four basic purposes: word processlog and admlnistration; data management; data analysis: and modeling. The types 01 equipment in each of the three divisional locations are determined by the functional 

needs of the office. WAS0 uses two Lexttron word 

processors, with communication capabilkties, and a 

CPT word processor. Denver uses two Lexitrons wih 

communications, a Tektronix 4052 interactive 

graphics plotter, and has access to the Bureau of 

Reclamation CYBER mainframe. In Fort Collins a 

Multi-Net multi-user computer suppotts a variety of 

word processing, communications, data management and data analysis software packages; a Data 

Polnt system and communications, in addillon to access to the extensive Colorado State University 

CYBER systems, also are available 

For administrative purposes. the computercapabllties have grown very important. Telecommunications 

among all the word processors allows the transfer of 

text from offtce to office with a mlnimum ot re-typing. 

It also provides access to the NPS Electronic Mail 

system and other service-wide data base management systems. The Lexttron RMS and the “Star proNew Book Takes Look 

At How People Behave 

On Interpretation: Sonology for Interpreters of NaturalandCuituralH;sto~ Gary E. Machlls and Donald 

R. Field, editors, takes a sociological approach to the 

basic element of successful interpretation - namely, 

how people behave toward one another, how they 

live, how they work, how they enjoy themselves. 

This 176.page paperback book, with a toreword by 

NPS Director Russell E. Dickenson, was published in 

1964 by the Oregon State Unwersity Press in Cowlie. The book IS dwided into three sections: Toward 

Theory and Technique. Case Studies, and Essays: it 

even includes a “r&al” (and dissenting) view - lhe 

paper by Kenneth L. Nyberg based on his 1977 presenlaliontofhe Associationof Interpretive Naturalists. 

Various authors examuve a wide range of interpretive situations for useful strategies and approaches. 

Chitdren, family camping, the elderly, the Japanese 

tourist, cruise ship travelers-these are lust a few of 

the facets of Interpretation covered in this collection. 

The overall thesis IS that socloiogy and interpretation 

can be useful partners. 

Machlts is an assistant professor in the depafiments 

of forest resources and sociology at the University of 

Idaho and IS sociology project leader for the NPS 

Cooperative Park Studies Unit there. He co-edits the 

Journal of Interpretation. Field IS senior scientist 

(sociology) for the NPS/CPSU at Oregon State Universtly a professor of resource recreation management there, and co-editor of the journal Le&re SC;- 

ences. 

On Interpretation IS available lor $11.95 from the 

Oregon Slate Uwersity Press, 101 Waldo Hall, Corvallis. OR 97331. 

22 

grams” - C.&Star. DataStar and SuperSort, which 

are all compatible with the WordStar word processing 

package on the Forl CO&IS multi-user system - 

facililate project management and routine administrative tasks. 

Data management ~ the organization and reorganizabon of vast quantities of data - IS handled on 

two of the Fort Collins and two of the Denver systems. Programs are being developed to handle a hy 

drological data base on the Data Point, while the 

Multi-Net supports a separate visibility data base. 

The status of permit rewws is maintained on the 

Tektronix in Denver. NPFLORA, which catalogs and 

sorts flora ldentifled in park units resides on the Denver CYBER. 

Data analysis frequently requires last computer 

systems, fondly called “number crunchers.” Any of 

the programmable Air and Water Quality systems is 

capable of data analysis, but the very powerful 

CYBER svstems are available for complex or extensive analyw 

Modelina is a oredictlve tvoe of data anal!& The 

Tektronix I’; Denier plays asignificant role I; the permit review process by modeling the concentrations to 

be expected from eource~ of pollutants Hydrological 

(river flow and waler release) and air quality modeling 

are performed on the Colorado Slate University 

CYBER systems. A spaal application IS the computerlzed imaging which generates photographs depicting visibility conditions arising from given pollutant 

COncentratiOnS at a mta. 

A promising directton for future development of 

computer uses lies in field research. Already a portable computer (Atrona Attache) is used to control the 

ZAPS fumigation system developed to determine in 

situ air pollution sensitivities of vegetation in park 

umts. The Atrona, with the approprnte mterface. 

reads output from air quality monitoring and 

meteorological equipment, then stores and manipulates real-bme data developed during fumigation 

models. Another growth area is Ihe optical portion of 

the vwblllty mon,tor,ng program. Increasingly automatic monlioring sites are being used to collect 

greater amounts of data more eHiciently and accurately. Electronics control the automatic equipment 

and transmit data to a satellite. A ground station collects these signals and transmits them to the Air and 

Water Ouallty Diwon for analysis. Computers control the system. lrom collection to transporiatlon to 

analysts of the data. 

The creat~wty and usefulness proven by the existing systems indicate that insufficient imaglnalion may 

be the on/y llmltatlon to the fruitful relationship between computers and at and water research. 

CONTACT: Ma Waiker. NPS Air and Water Ouaiity Div,s,on. 30 1 S. Howes, Fait Coil;ns. CO 80521. 

Formoreoncomputersseethefollowing pages. 
Uplands Research Lab 

Computers Versatile 

By John Peine 

What a difference a year makes! Uplands Field Research Laboratory at Great Smoky Mountains NP 

purchased an IBM PC with all the standard accouterments early last year. Just as Importantly, we hired 

Mark MacKenzie, a Ph.D. candidate in plant ecology 

from the Unlverslty of Tennessee, to computerwe! as 

many of our program functions as possible. As a result, the computer plays a role I” all laboratory functions now. 

Our primary computer application is, of COUISB, research data entry and analysis The computer has 

been programmed to be self prompbng. allowing any 

one with or without computer experence to enter 

data. We have developed a system for data management thal includes clear documentation, duplicate 

sets for storage. and reallstlc programming of resourcesfordataenby and analysis. We alsoadverlise 

that the data are awlable for outside scientists to 

“se - data marketing, d you ~111, to get as much 

mIleageout of itaswecan Eight different field studies 

were being conducted simulianeously last summer. 

involvtng over 40 people. Within six weeks of the end 

of the fleld season, all data were entered and proofed, 

and wIthIn four months, all data analysis was corn. 

plete. Our high-speed printer and phone modem has 

allowed us to hook up with the Uwersity of Tennessee man frame computer to analyze our data “sing 

the larger. more sophisticated statistical packages. 

We have also used the IBM PC to we a number 

of programs which allow us to perform analysis other 

than statistics. Programs have been written to estlIn Great Smoky Mountains NP, the vascular 

plant checklist has been automated and developed into a sews of expanded data bases. 

Each of the separate data bases concems a 

particular theme. For example, one data base 

includes the status of the plants on state and 

national rare endangered species lists. 

Another data base includes the geographic 

and habitat distribulions of the species. We 

have developed a data base from information 

about wildlife food habits and have expanded 

information abouiexoticstatuslorecordcountry of origin and current staius in the parks 

liora. In all, there are seven separate themes: 

l~le history and growth form, phenology and 

floral biology, habltat dlstnbutlon. geographic 

distribution and rarity exotic status, wildlife 

food habits, and air pollution sens~t~wty The 

seven themes include a total of 50 variables. 

With some 1500 vascular plant taxa m the 

GRSM flora, this makes 75,000 individual 

pieces of mformatlon. Addttional “selul 

themes can be enviwned - for example, 

suitability of the native species for “se I” cultivation around park wtor centers and parkmg lots. We will also be addlng a list of plants 

found along the Foothills Parkway that are not 

yet known wIthin GRSM itself-the Parkway 

isadmlnlstered bytheGRSM Superintendant. 

Peter S. White, Research Biologist 

mate fish population size from electroshocklng data, 

Summarize vegetation data collected from field sampling, and to randomize creel surveys We hope to 

develop a program to estimate mast crops. 

IBM Personal Computers 

By Dominic Dottavio 

,For the past two years the NPS Southeast Regton 

has been developing microcomputer capabillties 

throughout the parks of the region TheseeHmIs have 

resulted m a network of over 50 IBM Personal Computers (PC). Concurrent with this eflort, the College 

of Forest and Recreation Resources at Clemson University has been engaged in a program to upgrade 

the management of natural areas through a regional 

informationrcommunlcatlon network. The Un~vets~ty’s 

program received major impetus through the location 

of an NPS Cooperative Park Studies Unit (CPSU) I” 

the College. One of its missions is to assist in developing the reglow% NPS computer system. The College 

viewed the National Park Service’s developing network as a model that should be emulated by other 

federal and state land management agences. 

As both programs developed, It became clear that 

the capabilitles of the technologies were outstripping 

the capabilibes of the users to make full and creative 

“se of the systems Both organizations were concerned that the personal computer network would fall 

short of its promise due to human constraints. 

To address this problem, the College of Forest and 

Recreation Resources and the Clemson CPSU approached International Bwness Machines, Inc. (IBM) 

se&g the company’s cooperation and partnership 

in developing a training laboratory featuring the IBM 

Personal Computer. In September, 1983, IBM responded favorably to the request. 

The proposed laboratory WIII be located on the 

Clemson University campus adjacent to the CPSU 

and will provide network links to the NPS system. The 

Another research application of the IBM PC IS computerizatlon of the vascular plant check list. It IS hoped 

that when this data base is completed we WIII have 

ready access to information on rare and endangered 

spews in GRSM, along with other information pertanning to plant species within the park. 

We receive, and print daily, reports over the lelephone life from our Look Rock a~r quality station. 

Parameters reported Include SO,, O,, TSP, 

meteorological data, and data lrom t&radiometers. 

We hope to Include data from a continuous pH monitor 

for wetfall. We plan to receive satellite data from the 

USGS transmwd from a remote weather station on 

ClIngmans Dome. 

Our most ambitious application 01 the IBM PC is to 

“se the remote sensing and cartographic data base 

being developed for the park by the Geographic Informatlon Systems Unll m Denver. We want a hands-on 

terminal for lhls data base which will eventually I”- 

elude vegetation, topography, watersheds, stream 

systems, d!sturbance history so~is, geology, roads 

and trails, bulldIngs, etc! A demographer at the University of Tennessee is helping on this. 

Not only has the IBM PC been used ior research, 

but it also has been used lor a number 01 adminlstrative activities. The mailing list for the annual science 

meeting has been computerized and ldentlfied by 

various categories. Now, 400 to 500 mailing labels 

can be printed !n about 30 minutes. We are currently 

in the process of creating programs to simplify the 

budgeting and bookkeeplng operations at Uplands. A 

data base program also IS being developed to store 

inventory inform&on in order to track the location and 

condition of equipment used by the Lab. 

Peine IS a sonologxl and dreclor of the Great 

Smoky MowVans Upland Lab. 

23 

laboratory will be wired to accommodate PC to PC 

communication, PC to main frame (the Clemson IBM 

3081) communication, and stand-alone PC capabilities. 

IBM IS viewing the lab as a showpiece on network- 

!mg possibilities and is therefore considering ixtallalion of the most advanced commwxation systems 

available for the Personal Computer. 

Equipment lor Ihe laboratory will Include 19 IBM 

Personal Computers, with a least one of each model 

lype being represented; pnnters. mstructlonal pro]ectlon monitors, modems. and a variety 01 applicalion 

software. In total, the grant from IBM is expecled to 

approach one-quarler mullion dollars. 

This facility is bemg viewed not only as a showpiece 

for displaying sophisticated equipment, but also as a 

model of federal. state, and privatesectorcooperation 

and partnership. The combmation of the reso”rces 

and talents of the lhree organizations has resulted m 

a mutually ben&cl.l, cost-effective means of meeting 

the needs of each organization. 

Dottavio is Research Coordinator at the NPS,’ 

CPSU, Clemson University 

Back Country 

Permits Computerized 

By Bob Flewelling 

In the summer of 1973 a comupierized system was 

Initiated for processing backcountry “se permits from 

North Cascades NP The system. developed at the 

University of WashIngton NPS CPSU, had as its immediate goal the prowon of summary Information 

for management on backcountry “se In 1974. three 

more parks ~ Mount Rainier, Olympic. and Mount 

McKinley (now Denall) -were added to the project. 

In 1977, computer processing responsibilities were 

turned over to the WashIngton D.C. OHI% to bedone 

on a Service-wide basis. This setwe was discontlnued in 1980, and once again backcountry permits 

from Pacific Nolthwest parks were processed 

through theCPSU. Sincethattlme, permit processlng 

services have been extended to Include Grand Canyon NP whereas Mount Ranter NP has developed its 

own on-line computerwd system. 

For most parks, at present, backcountry permits 

data are processed only at the end of each calendar 

year The system generales a set of tables summanzIng backcountry “se and user characierlstics for indivldual months and for the entire year. The tables produced ma standard run summarize the following: 

Travel zone use: number of paws. people, and 

wtor nights for each travel zone in the park: entry 

and exit pant “se: number of parties camping each 

mght of year: number of people camplng each night 

of year: mg’” of wtors; length of stay I” the backcountry: and group sizes. 

The computerized system can produce any number of specialized information tables as well, iallored 

to the specilic needs of Individual parks. 

The permits from all parks involved are sent to the 

Urwers~ty of Washington. where their information IS 

transferred lo magnetic disk files “~a data entry termsnals a lask performed by a professional data entry 

SewIce. 

Data processing is done on a large mainlrame 

computer system (CDC Cyber) at Ihe University of 

WashIngton The tables are printed on standard 11 x 

14’ computer output papet and sent to backcountry 

managers in the parks Both the data and cop16 01 
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