What We Monitor

Two people in a ponderosa pine forest. There are branches, pine needles and green ferns on the ground. A woman is bending over a white frame that is laid out along measuring tape and pointing at the ground. A man is standing beside her, writing on a pad.
The Southern Colorado Plateau Network conducts upland vegetation and soils monitoring in network parks.

NPS

SCPN Monitoring Sites Webmap (NPS staff only)

The Inventory & Monitoring Program of the National Park Service monitors natural resources in parks over extended periods of time to better understand their condition. Some natural resources are essential components of the ecosystems where they occur. Monitoring the condition of these “vital signs” can (1) give an indication of the health of ecosystems, (2) provide an early warning of ecological problems, and (3) inform us about the status and trends in those resources.

Data is the currency of the Vital Signs Monitoring Program. While the national parks are stewards of our natural and cultural resources, the Inventory & Monitoring networks are the stewards of the irreplaceable data that we collect about the natural resources in parks.

The Southern Colorado Plateau Network’s Vital Signs Monitoring Plan describes how network and park scientists selected the vital signs to be monitored, and the strategy for monitoring them. Network protocols describe the methods to be used in monitoring a particular vital sign. Data summary reports for the Southern Colorado Plateau monitoring program are available from the Reports and Publications page.

Our Monitoring Projects

  • Black nymph with antennae and two sets of appendages on a leaf.
    Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

    We monitor aquatic macroinvertebrates to learn about the health of riparian ecosystems.

  • Bright yellow bird with black cap and eyes and greenish wings, perched on a slender branch.
    Bird Communities

    Birds respond quickly to changes in resource conditions, thereby functioning as good indicators of ecosystem health.

  • Snow covered rim of Grand Canyon under cloudy skies.
    Climate

    Climate is a primary factor influencing the distribution of ecosystems across the landscape.

  • A river floating towards a hill with lush riparian trees on either bank.
    Groundwater

    Groundwater is the largest source of fresh water on Earth. Monitoring such an important component within our Parks is vital for the future.

  • Yellow butterfly sitting on plant with green leaves and orange flowers.
    Land Surface Phenology

    Phenology is the timing of natural annual events, like flowering, and is an indicator of an ecosystem's response to environmental variables.

  • Pond nestled by the side of a hill surrounded by lush green vegetation.
    Spring Ecosystems

    Springs rely on groundwater and support unique plant associations, sustaining high levels of biotic diversity in arid landscapes.

  • Three people wearing hard hats, gathered around a grassy area contained within a quadrat of PVC pipe
    Upland Vegetation & Soil

    Vegetation and soils provide animal populations with habitat and food and are the foundation for terrestrial ecosystems.

  • Small creek, lined with rocks and banks with sparse grass and litter cover, and a few saplings.
    Water Quality

    Water quality is used to characterize the condition of surface waters and identify existing or emerging problems.

Last updated: May 8, 2025

Tools