News Release

Lily Lake Phenology Walk At Rocky Mountain National Park

Phenology walk at Lily Lake.

Courtesy Rocky Mountain National Park

News Release Date: May 29, 2019

Contact: Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer, [phone]

Contact: Park Information, [phone]

Help Rocky Mountain National Park document seasonal biological events as a citizen scientist on your next stroll around Lily Lake. The Lily Lake Phenology Walk allows visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park an opportunity to collect scientific data and learn more about plant and animal species found within the park. Over time, as observations are collected, the park will gain a better understanding of how plants and animals at Rocky Mountain National Park respond to environment changes. Has there been a shift in when willow shrubs begin to bud in the spring? Are Aspen leaves changing color later or earlier than in the past?

With just a smartphone or a tablet with an internet browser, the Lily Lake Phenology Walk webpage provides descriptive images to help answer simple questions related to the timing of biological life cycle events of certain species found along the trail. Adding only 20 minutes to your hike on the 0.8-mile trail that circles Lily Lake, this activity is perfect for frequent or one-time visitors of all ages.

Phenology, the study of the timing of biological life cycle events and how climate and habitat influence them, has been a topic of interest lately as we contemplate how species will react to a changing climate. The data gathered with the Lily Lake Phenology Walk can help determine if there are shifts in the phenology of the park’s species in this area.
 
Further information about the Lily Lake Phenology walk, including links to the questions page and previously submitted data is available at go.nps.gov/LilyLakeScience.   For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park please visit www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at [phone].