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Pipestone
National Monument
Pipestone
National Monument
(NM) is named
for the soft, red, mudstone (catlinite) deposits that occur
along an outcrop of Sioux quartzite. Prior to the settlement of
the northern Great Plains, Native Americans from various tribes
traveled up to hundreds and even thousands of kilometers to
quarry the sacred pipestone. Pipestone NM
was established
in 1937 to protect the pipestone deposits and provide all Native
Americans with free access to quarry the pipestone.
Natural
resource research needs have been identified by subject area and
projects indicated with an asterisk (*) are high priority.
Native Prairie
Conservation and Restoration
Pipestone
NM
consists of
114.5 ha and is located in a shallow glacial valley in
southwestern Minnesota. Historically, this area was dominated
by tallgrass prairie and subjected to periodic wildfire.
Natural fires were excluded for several decades and prescribed
burning was reintroduced in the early 1970’s. Some undisturbed
tallgrass prairie tracks remain, but some areas have been
degraded over time. Old fields that were farmland or planted
smooth brome pastures have been restored to native prairie
vegetation. Pipestone
NM
also contains a plant community, Sioux quartzite prairie,
which the Nature Conservancy has designated as endangered
throughout its range.
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Determine
status and ecology of buffalograss in the Sioux Quartzite
prairie
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Determine
prescribed fire effects on Sioux Quartzite prairie*
-
Determine
prescribed fire effects on early spring flowering forbs
-
Investigate
the effects of prescribed fire on the spread of sumac
-
Evaluate
causes for degradation of the tallgrass prairie remnants and
identify restoration options (e.g. fire, chemical,
overseeding)*
-
Research
the disturbance history and weed ecology of restored
prairie*
-
Evaluate
tallgrass prairie (species richness, bird surveys, soils,
etc) following removal of invasive woody plants from
degraded areas
-
Determine
if data from the plant community inventory in 1986 and the
current plant community monitoring can be compared and
examined for trends*
-
Evaluate
success of restorations in relation to model plant
communities*
-
Inventory
the bryophytes and macrofungi
-
Restore
formerly disturbed lands to tallgrass prairie
-
Restore and
maintain tallgrass prairie
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Inventory/Define upland vegetation conditions and implement
disturbed lands restoration
Endangered and Threatened Species
Several endangered and threatened species occur at Pipestone
NM
. Research is
currently being conducted on specific species.
-
Update
status of the Topeka
shiner in
Pipestone Creek, obtain information on habitat conditions,
and identify existing and potential threats*
-
Identify
insect pollinators of the western prairie fringed orchid*
-
Investigate
effects of different fire return intervals on the western
prairie fringed orchid*
-
Determine
spatial and seasonal soil moisture patterns to explain a
threatened species habitat needs
Exotic
Species
Several
areas within the Pipestone NM are dominated by exotic species,
including smooth brome, Kentucky bluegrass, sweet clover, Canada
thistle, buckhorn, and Tartarian honeysuckle. Management
practices need to be investigated to identify ecologically and
economically practical management options.
-
Investigate, implement and monitor success of management
strategies (prescribed fire, mechanical, and chemical) for
reed canarygrass control
-
Verify
effectiveness of past and current buckthorn management
-
Determine
prescribed fire effects on smooth brome in a species-rich
native prairie
-
Deelop
effective eradication methods of leafy spurge populations at
Pipestone
NM
*
-
Develop
effective control measures for Canada thistle
-
Exotic
Plant Species Control (3 years), Phase 3
Vertebrates
Many vertebrate
populations have not been studied or inventoried at Pipestone
NM
.
-
Study nest
success of two grassland endemic birds: bobolink and western
meadowlark
-
Conduct
wildlife (bird, mammals, reptile, amphibian) reintroduction
feasibility study
-
Inventory
bat populations
-
Monitor
populations of key prairie vertebrates
Invertebrates
Invertebrate
populations can serve as indicators of habitat quality. The
study of various invertebrate populations requires further
investigation.
-
Develop
monitoring protocol for selected insect species after
inventory is completed
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Monitor
butterfly species following established protocol
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Determine
prescribed fire effects on grassland specialist and prairie
obligate butterflies
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Inventory
mollusks
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Baseline
Insect Collection
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Catalog
insect collection
Wetland/Surface and Ground Water/ and Air Quality
Surface and
groundwater quality of Pipestone NM has declined since the
establishment of the monument. The decline in water quality and
changes in water use directly influence wetland and riparian
areas.
-
Investigate
loss of wetland plant species in the Sioux Quartzite prairie
and riparian areas
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Investigate
the restoration of the riparian corridors once reed canary
grass has been controlled.
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Study
surface and ground water hydrology effects on rare plant
habitats*
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Continue to
conduct chemical water quality and macroinvertebrate
assessment of Pipestone Creek*
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Analyze
lichens for elemental concentrations to determine air
quality baseline
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Conduct
comprehensive ground water survey*
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Create a
detailed wetlands/riparian map for Pipestone NM*
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Examine
feasibility of using common milkweed to monitor air quality
as done in 1984-1987
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Conduct an
intensive water quality investigation
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Develop
strategies for wetlands management and implement disturbed
lands restoration
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Inventory
riparian areas and implement disturbed lands restoration
Cultural
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Evaluate
and Assess the condition of archeological resources
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Prepare a
cultural/ethnographic landscape report
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Develop an
American Indian sacred exhibit
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Prepare a
Cultural Affiliation Study
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Catalogue
Archival Collections Backlog
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Catalog the
Backlog of Pre-1987 Images
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Complete
oral histories of Pipestone NM
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Assess and
catalog the rare book collection
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Catalog
Gunderson collection
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Prepare
Historic Structure report for Mission 66 Visitor Center
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Digital
collections project
Other
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Produce new
interpretive visitor film
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Produce
expanded format uni-grid park brochure
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Develop new
Circle Trail Guidebook
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Prepare a
comprehensive trail plan and environmental assessment
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Develop
educational outreach material
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Catlinite
quantity assessment, quarry use modeling, and quarry
monitoring development
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Create GIS
base map of Pipestone National Monument’s Infrastructure
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Integrate
Pest Management Plan Development/Implementation
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