Natural Resource Condition Assessments for Mesa Verde National Park

Learn about NRCAs

• How do parks use NRCAs?
• Learn more about the NRCA Program

The Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) Program provides framework, funding, and publishing support to parks to aid in the synthesis and documentation of natural resource conditions. Condition assessment reports are a tool to describe selected park resources, record a snapshot of their current condition, identify trends in condition, and determine potential or current threats and stressors. Understanding the condition and trend of natural resources is key for parks and NPS planners to appropriately prioritize and allocate stewardship resources.
 

Cliff Palace, Mesa Verde’s largest cliff dwelling, as viewed from across the canyon at Sun Temple.

NPS / Sandy Groves

For over 700 years, the Ancestral Pueblo people lived on the mesas and in the cliffs of Mesa Verde, building elaborate stone communities in the alcoves of the canyon walls. Located in southwestern Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park preserves nearly 5,000 known archeological sites from this ancient culture. Visitors to the 52,485-acre park can explore the culture and nature of the park through guided or self-guided tours, hiking, wildlife watching, snowshoeing, and stargazing.

Links to NRCA Products
Materials produced by the park and the NRCA Program.

For other reports and natural resource datasets visit the NPS Data Store.

Source: NPS DataStore Collection 7765 (results presented are a subset). To search for additional information, visit the NPS DataStore.