What We Monitor

The Sierra Nevada Network conducts long-term monitoring to track changes in a subset park natural resources and processes, called "vital signs." Monitoring these selected vital signs helps us to understand the overall health or condition of bird populations, high-elevation forests, lakes, river hydrology, and wetlands. Monitoring also helps us track variability in climate, a driver of change in park ecosystems.

Knowing if and how key resources or processes are changing can help park managers develop effective approaches to management, restoration, and mitigation. To monitor park vital signs, the Sierra Nevada Network has developed and implemented the long-term monitoring projects shown below.

Network Monitoring Projects

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  Birds

  Studying the status and trends of bird populations in network parks

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  High-elevation Forests

  Learning about the health of these forests and how they are changing

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  Lakes

  We monitor water chemistry and lake levels, and also conduct amphibian surveys.

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  Wetlands

  Monitoring wetland plant communities, invertebrates, and groundwater level.

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  River Hydrology

  Existing stream gages help us monitor timing, volume, and quantity of streamflow.

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  Climate

  We use existing stations to monitor temperature, precipitation, snowpack, and drought.