Development of Sampling Designs and Statistical Approaches for Monitoring Status and Trends in Several Indicators of Habitat Quality in Yosemite National Park
Project ID: P12AC15053
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: University of Idaho
Fiscal Year: 2012
Initial Funding: $8,000
Total Funding: $8,000
Project Type: Technical Assistance
Project Disciplines: Biological
National Park: Yosemite National Park
Principal Investigator: Steinhorst, R. Kirk
Agreement Technical Representative: Newburger, Todd
Abstract: Yosemite National Park will collaborate with the University of Idaho (UI) in a technical assistance project to conduct an analysis of sets of monitoring data focused on determining impacts to riverbank vegetation and meadow habitats in Yosemite National Park as well as the effects on the overall visitor experience. The datasets provided will reflect several monitoring indicators focused on protecting meadows and riparian habitats from trampling impacts. This project will allow the National Park Service (NPS) to seek instrumental statistical support and consultation regarding a variety of indicators selected to monitor the impacts from visitors on key natural and social resources. The first component of this project will involve the statistical analysis of three years of consecutively collected data at randomly selected monitoring sites along a 17km reach of the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Additionally, the park will provide data for analysis based on one season of bare meadow soil indicator being developed to detect trampling impacts in sub-alpine meadows. The cooperator will provide statistical and modeling expertise in order to assist with the data analysis and planning for future monitoring plan design and implementation. The objectives include: 1) perform a power analysis for the test of a mean falling above a threshold, and 2) provide a full reporting of findings and analyses. In a previous Task Agreement with the UI, a similar analysis was performed. However, this project will provide new data for analysis from subsequent years of data collection, as well as adding other variables and visitor impact indicators for statistical support. NPS will provide all data collected on vegetation impacts, streambank stability, avian diversity along riverbanks, bare meadow soils, and visitor use and associated spatial data sets, and all background information related to data collected, site selection and sampling design. This collaborative effort will benefit the public by providing an understanding of the relative impacts caused by visitor use along riverbanks to channel morphology, bank stability, wildlife habitat, and vegetation structure. This knowledge will assist land managers and scientists to develop management strategies related to visitor use along riverbanks with sensitive riparian vegetation and soils. The implications of the proposed methodologies and associated analyses will influence future efforts related to monitoring of impacts to Wild and Scenic Rivers and other protected meadow habitats and riparian systems.
Deliverables:
- SIEN Merced Riverbank Study: Power Analysis (Final Report)