THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2001

Participants for the field trip will meet at the BLM Grand Junction Field Office for introductions and morning presentations.

Presentation 1 - Avian and Other Wildlife Research Needs

Discussion Lead: Ron Lambeth (Wildlife Biologist, Grand Junction Field Office)

Topics: Avian and other wildlife research needs

What We Know: Bird populations of the grey vireo and Scott’s oriole are in decline. Native fish are struggling, a result of habitat problems, competition, and predation. In recent years, we have lacked high-peak flows in spring. Just like to the south, mule deer are absent. Elk and bighorn sheep preside.

Science Needs: Learn why the bird, native fish, and mule deer populations mentioned above are absent or in decline.

Discussion Lead: Harley Metz (Ecologist, Grand Junction Field Office)

Topics: Land health and ecosystem restoration needs; fire effects and rehabilitation efforts from fire to control invasive weeds

What We Know:

Geology (along with climate, organisms, topography, and age) is one of the five factors of soil formation that influences vegetation, and hence the occurrence of fires, invasive species, and limitations to land uses such as grazing and recreation. The healthiest sites are the ones that are steep and rocky; such pinyon-juniper sites respond well to restoration.

Science Needs:

Many of the issues discussed were addressed by the USGS when they assisted the adjacent Colorado National Monument. They include issues also raised at the other NCA and NM. Blowing soils is both an aesthetic as well as an environmental and health issue. Knowledge of fire histories, fire roles, and invasive weed interactions is important. Both the fire risk (CANM) and invasive (GGNCA) studies help address the needs of the MCNCA. Increased population growth and development adjacent to the NCA also presents environmental and social issues. Identifying soil that shrinks and swells is important to home building and highway construction.

Topics: USGS study to help MCNCA understand visitor attitudes

What We Know: The people of the Colorado Plateau are complex with many divergent and changing values. It is important to identify the people’s perception of the environment in which they live.

Science Needs: USGS can provide planning information on collaborative training, conflict management, stakeholder analysis, and a process to work out problems.

Topics: Past fires and seeding efforts

What We Know: Portions of the McInnis Canyons NCA that are in need of restoration have resulted from a very stark, dry, and hot environment where a couple seasons of reduced moisture and high temperatures led to failures in restoring native habitats. Seven-year-old fire rehabilitations are evident where several native wheat grasses, four-wing saltbush, Indian rice grass, etc., have died. Cheatgrass predominates today, with a smattering of volunteer globemallow and gaetta grass trying to come in. Sagebrush communities killed by fire are now replaced by cheatgrass.

Science Needs: The proposals at the CANM and GGNCA help address similar needs for the MCNCA by improving knowledge of fire history in the Black Ridge Wilderness, fire effects on invasive species, and how and when to rehabilitate after wildfires.

Topics: Water quality and salinity

What We Know: Water quality investigations are important to plan for measures to protect human and aquatic health. Both the Gunnison River and Colorado River have significant levels of selenium to warrant study and remediation.

Science Needs: Descriptions of changes in loads of sediment, salinity, and selenium are needed. Very little data on surface waters from the BLM exists, despite findings that overall trends in salt and selenium are in downward trends at the Utah and Colorado State line.

Participants identified common needs and the ability to meet those needs for the three areas studied on the field tour: the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area, McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, and Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. This led to the development of four cost share proposals and a joint fire science research proposal.