scholarly journals Impact of Irrigation Cessation on Wetland Communities within the Elk Ranch, Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyoming

2006 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 46-50
Author(s):  
Clayton Marlow ◽  
Sarah Summerford
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Wetland Mitigation ◽  
Flood Irrigation ◽  
Flow Paths ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Water Tables ◽  
Natural Wetlands ◽  
Irrigation Levels

Riparian ecology research in Arizona and California has documented the likelihood of a subsurface linkage between irrigation, especially flood-irrigation, and riparian function (Smith et al. 1989; Stromberg et al. 1996). Initial groundwater monitoring results from rural New Mexico indicate water tables rose 1 to 2m after the onset of field irrigation and subsurface flow paths towards the Rio Grande River developed soon after (Fernald et al. 2008). Results from a study of wetlands in southeastern Wyoming suggest that declining flood-irrigation levels would lead to a reduction in the total area of wetlands and related areas of wetland vegetation types in the Laramie Basin (Peck and Lovvorm 2001). Stringham et al. (1998) have reported further evidence for a linkage between irrigation and riparian function. These Oregon researchers noted lower water temperatures in stream reaches receiving subsurface return flows from irrigated hayfields than similar reaches flowing through non-irrigated lands. This information is timely because Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) managers have begun an evaluation of historic irrigation operations within the Park and are endeavoring to learn how cessation of flood irrigation will affect Park wetlands. The historically irrigated hayfields at the Elk Ranch provide an opportunity to address the Park Service's informational needs through identification of vegetation composition, soil physical characteristics and groundwater patterns associated with irrigated and naturally occurring wetlands. Successful description of patterns unique to natural wetlands will provide an avenue for predicting which Park wetlands would remain functional should irrigation efforts be brought to a close. Development of criteria for identifying naturally occurring wetlands could also serve as a basis for identifying areas for wetland mitigation and rehabilitation elsewhere in GTNP and the mountain valleys of the Northern Rocky Mountains.

scholarly journals Impact of Irrigation Cessation on Wetland Communities within the Elk Ranch in Grand Teton National Park, Moose, Wyoming

2008 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 29-34
Author(s):  
C. Marlow ◽  
S. Summerfield
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Community Change ◽  
Wetland Mitigation ◽  
Vegetation Community ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Hay Meadows ◽  
Growing Conditions

This study began in 2006 to provide an ecologically based decision platform for Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) managers to use when evaluating the pros and cons of continuing the historic Elk Ranch irrigation operation. Ideally, this platform would also provide criteria for identifying landscapes within the irrigated hay meadows that would experience the most rapid change in vegetation community structure if the decision were to terminate irrigation operations. These criteria would aid in the identification of areas where species composition could quickly change as growing conditions shifted to the drier conditions common in surrounding undeveloped range and forestland. Once identified these sites could be closely managed to prevent invasive non-native species from disrupting site re-occupation by native upland species. To accomplish this goal the study was designed to 1) identify soil and hydrologic features associated with wetland and upland plant communities in the hayfield complex and 2) monitor shallow groundwater patterns associated with these wetland complexes. Predictive responses generated from the soil/vegetation inventories would then be compared with the recorded groundwater patterns to validate the measures as indicators of vegetation community change. If successful, these criteria will also be useful for identifying the potential for wetland mitigation and rehabilitation at other localities within Grand Teton National Park.

scholarly journals Exotic Plants of Northern Rocky Mountain Environmental Zones

1985 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 103-108
Author(s):  
Bryant Woods ◽  
Tad Weaver
Keyword(s):  
Rocky Mountains ◽  
National Park ◽  
Rocky Mountain ◽  
Exotic Plants ◽  
Exotic Plant ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Present Distribution ◽  
Scientific Value ◽  
Exotic Invaders

The Rocky Mountain exotic plant project is designed to determine (1) what exotics are capable of invading disturbed sites in major vegetational (environmental) zones of the Northern Rocky Mountains and (2) whether they are capable of invading near-climax closed vegetation in these zones. As an accessory activity we are determining (3) what natives are invading the same disturbed zones since we hope to find, among them, species likely to be successful on these sites and therefore species that might competitively exclude exotic invaders. A second accessory project of interest to managers, but with less immediate scientific value, was designed to (4) record the present distribution of major weeds along roadsides of Grand Teton National Park as they were recorded in Glacier during 1983-84.

scholarly journals Lichens of Grand Teton National Park

1995 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 26-30
Author(s):  
Sharon Eversman
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Species List ◽  
Element Analysis ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Slow Growth Rate ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Air Quality Assessment ◽  
Lichen Flora

Lichens are an important group when considering the biodiversity of a region. While not usually considered economically important, they are conspicuous parts of the flora of alpine rock and soil, contributing to rock weathering and providing habitat for small invertebrates. In the forest zones, large hanging fruticose species are food for deer and elk and are indicators of high air quality. Soil lichens at all elevations are important stabilizers, helping to prevent wind and water erosion. Since lichens have a very slow growth rate, a diverse lichen flora indicates stable undisturbed environments. The major objective of this project was to characterize the lichen flora of Grand Teton National Park, providing a species list as part of the ongoing lichen studies in the northern Rocky Mountains and as a contribution to the database for all national parks. Lichen specimens were also collected for element analysis to provide a baseline for air quality assessment.

scholarly journals Inquiry-Based Geology Field Course for In-Service Educators

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 124-125
Author(s):  
David Harwood ◽  
Kyle Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
South Dakota ◽  
National Park ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
Excellent Opportunity ◽  
History Of ◽  
Teton Range ◽  
Park Area

Eight in-service teachers and two instructors engaged in an inquiry-based geology field course from June 14 to 29, 2014 through Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nebraska. This team of learners spent three days in mid-June working in the Grand Teton National Park area. The UW-NPS facilities provide an excellent opportunity for participants to discover the natural history of the Teton Range, as well as close-out a few projects while sitting in a real chair, at a real table, a welcome change from our usual campground setting.

scholarly journals River Otter Distribution and Food Habits in Grand Teton National Park as Part of an Ongoing Project in the GYE

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 75-78
Author(s):  
Kelly Pearce ◽  
Tom Serfass
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Public Support ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Lontra Canadensis ◽  
Flagship Species ◽  
River Otter ◽  
Grand Teton National Park ◽  
River Otters

Grand Teton National Park is part of the known range of the North American river otter, however not much is known about this semi-aquatic mammal within the park. The results presented here are part of a larger project to investigate the potential of the river otter (Lontra canadensis) to serve as an aquatic flagship (species that engender public support and action) for the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. River otters, known for their charismatic behavior have the potential to serve as an aquatic flagship species to promote conservation of aquatic ecosystems. The primary objective of this portion of the study was to identify river otter latrines on portions of the Snake River, between Flagg Ranch and Jackson Lake, and between Jackson Lake Dam and Pacific Creek, collect river otter scats to determine diet of the river otter, and employ remote cameras to determine activity patterns of the river otters. Between 20 June and 1 July 2015, 26 river otter latrines were identified during shoreline surveys, 186 river otter scats were collected, and cameras were deployed at 6 latrines between 7 July and 24 August 2015. River otter scats have been cleaned and prepared for analysis, but have not all been processed to date. Camera traps recorded 222 images, of which 7% (n = 14) were of carnivores, 70% (n = 155) were of non-carnivore mammals, and 9% (n = 22) were of birds. River otters were detected at 1 of the 6 latrines, a total of 5 independent times during the study.

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