Scotts Bluff National Monument

tts Bluff National Monument is situated in the panhandle region of western Nebraska . It contains 3,003 acres of mixed-grass prairie and pine-studded bluff habitats.  The monument boundaries abut the North Platte River on the north, the city of Gering on the east and rural farmland to the west and south.  The massive 800-foot high promontories of Scotts Bluff and South Bluff became notable natural landmarks along the pioneer Oregon and California Trails, plus the Overland Stage, Pony Express and Transcontinental Telegraph.  Their trail “ruts” survive to this day.  Presidential Proclamation established the monument in 1919.  It is recognized primarily for its historical significance and unique geologic features.  The monument also contains significant fossil deposits in its badlands area.

Native Prairie Restoration

President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation establishing the national monument in 1919, and facilities were constructed in the mid 1930s, which included a museum, ranger quarters and maintenance garage.  At that time approximately 2,000 acres was “public domain” and relatively undisturbed prairie.  The remaining 1,000 acres was privately owned land and in differing stages of disturbance.  Today, the monument is a combination of sandstone/siltstone bluffs, mixed grass prairie, and clay badlands.  The summits of the monument’s two bluffs (South Bluff and Scotts Bluff) are covered by a forest of ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain juniper.  The “virgin” mixed grass prairie is dominated by needleandthread grass and blackroot sedge.  The clay badlands are very sparsely vegetated.

• Determine if the monitoring data (vegetation) from the fire effects monitoring and the Long Term Ecological Monitoring (LTEM) programs can be compared and examined for trends in vegetation changes.

• Prepare a historic vegetation study

• Determine the impact of gopher activity on exotic plant invasion and spread

• Determine composition of plant communities within riparian zones

• Determine prescribed fire's effect on Downy Brome

• Restore native prairie species

• Determine the vegetation composition of grazed vs. ungrazed prairie

• Restore Clema/Krueger property to native prairie

Non-vascular Plants

• Inventory mosses

Exotic Weed Control

Scotts Bluff contains more than 100 exotic vegetation species.  Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop, and musk thistle, Carduus nutans L, are on the state list of noxious weeds and are required to be controlled.  The two most invasive exotic grasses are downy brome, Bromus tectorum, and smooth brome, Bromus inermis Leyss.

• Control downy brome, Bromus tectorum

• Determine the most effective method to control smooth brome, Bromus inermis

• Treat exotic plants at Scotts Bluff National Monument using an integrated approach

Vertebrates

• Research the feasibility of re-introducing sharp-tailed grouse, Tympanuchus phasianellus.

• Determine the most effective and humane method to control the population of black-tailed prairie dogs, Cynomys ludovicianus

• Research the feasibility of re-introducing Rocky Mountain big horn sheep

• Assess trends in prairie dog numbers using monitoring data

• Develop inventory and monitoring protocols for raptors, fish, and edge of range species

• Study the interaction of the sympatric populations of mule and white-tailed deer

• Study movement and prey selection of the western prairie rattlesnake

• Expanded fish inventory of the North Platte River and Central Canal using electro-fishing 

• Rodent-proof structures following hantivirus mitigation treatment

Invertebrates

Invertebrate populations can serve as indicators of habitat quality.  Baseline data provides a starting point and extended monitoring of key species can provide details into the status of the habitat (quality, changing).

• Inventory mollusks in the North Platte River.

• Develop inventory and monitoring protocols for terrestrial invertebrates

Threatened and Endangered Species

Special attention must be made to the needs of threatened and endangered species.  Identifying methods to accurately inventory and monitor such species is critical to ensuring the needs of these species are being met.

• Implement inventory and monitoring protocol for state listed rare plants

Air Quality

• Establish air visibility baseline

• Recommend methods to monitor air quality and visibility

Water Quality

Three irrigation canals traverse the monument and pre-date its enabling legislation.  The canals originate from the North Platte River and provide irrigation water to thousands of acres of farmland in the North Platte Valley .  The canals also receive surplus water from irrigated fields.  This surplus water may be leeching pesticides from fields into the canal waters.

• Sample the water in the three irrigation canals and the North Platte River for pesticides and evaluate the potential effects of these pesticides on native plants and animals.

GIS/GPS

• Compile GIS data for natural resources & physical facilities

• Provide global positioning system support

Cultural

• Conduct historic resource study

• Update Administrative History

• Write cultural landscape report for the Oregon Trail

• Curate archeological collections

• Catalog administrative historic photos & format to CD-ROM

• Inventory historic dumps