Project abstract for task agreement under master cooperative agreement P24AM01168BETWEEN the united states department of the interior, national park service and colorado state universitytitle:…

Project abstract for task agreement under master cooperative agreement P24AM01168BETWEEN the united states department of the interior, national park service and colorado state universitytitle: rangeland health assessment at black canyon of the gunnison national park curecanti national recreation area invasive annual grass decision support and research replicationassistance listing 15.945: cooperative research and training programs resources of the national park systemthe result expected from this project is to deliver information on current rangeland health condition (soil site stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrity) on selected domestic livestock allotments (10-20 points total) within black canyon of the gunnison national park (blca) and curecanti national recreation area (cure). A current rangeland health condition assessment on NPS prioritized livestock allotments is the primary data deficiency park staff wish to address, and this project proposal will provide the resources to complete these assessments. Interpreting indicators of rangeland health assessments (iirh) at blca cure will help the park units promote resiliency in native upland and riparian vegetation communities across both park units. A research team from colorado state university will also work with NPS staff to identify candidate treatment areas and provide decision support for invasive annual grass management at blca cure. In addition, they will work with NPS staff to replicate ongoing research investigating restoration techniques for plant communities dominated by invasive and non-native grasses to help NPS land managers increase vegetation diversity and ecological resilience at various national parks.