Natural Resources Overview
Welcome to the Devils Postpile National Monument natural
resources web pages. Their purpose is to provide information
about aquatic, biotic, and geologic resources as well as
Inventory & Monitoring projects in Devils Postpile. There
are links to related web pages, species lists, and other
resource information pertinent to the monument.
Devils Postpile is nestled on the western
slope of the Sierra Nevada, just below the Mammoth Crest. It
ranges in elevation from 7,200 to 8,200 feet (2,200 to 2,500
meters). Two and one-half miles long and one-half mile wide (4
km long and 1 km wide), the monument contains 798 acres (320
hectares).
The monument is small in size, but
contains a wealth of natural resources. The Middle Fork of the
San Joaquin River winds through the small canyons, forests,
and meadows of its valley. Life flourishes along this river
corridor. Meadows are lush with flowers that support insects
and with grasses that nourish other wildlife. Due to its pristine
nature, Congress designated 747 acres (302 hectares) of the
monument as part of the Ansel Adams Wilderness in 1984.
 |
| Devils Postpile Superintendent Deanna Dulen surveying the Monument in winter, when it is accessible only by skiing or snowshoeing. The rugged Minaret peaks are visible in the background.
© NPS photo. |
Devils Postpile is administered by Sequoia and Kings Canyon National
Parks. As a result, natural resources management in the
monument is the responsibility of the Devils Postpile Superintendent and
the Division of Natural Resources staff at
Sequoia and Kings Canyon.
Resource management at Devils Postpile has the following objectives:
- Maintain and/or restore the natural ecosystems of the monument so they may operate essentially unimpaired by human interference, with special attention to the outstanding geological phenomenon.
- Provide the highest quality opportunities for visitor understanding and enjoyment of the monument's resources.
- Cooperate with other agencies and outside interests in the development of plans and major management programs.
- Limit development to that which is necessary and appropriate for public use and protection of the area.
Despite their protected status, natural resources in the monumment face numerous
potential threats. These include invasion by alien species, loss
of the natural fire regime, habitat fragmentation, and rapid human-caused
climate change. An ongoing inventory & monitoring program will
help to identify more components of the resources and to detect
sensitive resources in need of long-term monitoring.
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