National Park Service

Riparian Condition Assessments for the Pecos River and Lower Glorieta Creek: Pecos National Historical Park, New Mexico (Natural Resource Report Nps / Nrss / Nrr ? 2011/422) National Park Service

This report presents the results of riparian condition assessments conducted during July 6-8, 2010 on the Pecos River and lower Glorieta Creek within Pecos National Historical Park, New Mexico. These assessments were intended to inform the Natural Resource Condition Assessment and the Resource Stewardship Strategy now being prepared for the park. The authors used methods described in "A User Guide to Assessing the Proper Functioning Condition and the Supporting Science for Lotic Areas" (USDI 1998) to evaluate 17 hydrology, vegetation, soil and geomorphology elements for three assessment reaches on the Pecos River and one reach on lower Glorieta Creek. The authors then rated the reaches as being in "proper functioning", "functional at-risk" or "nonfunctional" condition. Riparian condition checklists and supporting notes prepared for all assessment reaches are provided in the appendices.