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The ecology of bighorn sheep in Canyonlands National Park, Utah was investigated between July 1974 and December 1975. Primary objectives of this study were: (1) to determine the distribution and abundance of bighorn sheep in the Park; (2) to examine the effects of human encroachment, and (3) to determine key habitat factors in relation to bighorn sheep movements. Data were collected by ground and aerial surveys. There were between 60 and 100 bighorn sheep in the Island in the Sky District and between 20 and 30 in the Needles District. Bighorn sheep distribution was closely related to the history of livestock grazing and landform characteristics of the canyons. Human activities have restricted bighorn ewe distribution more than ram distribution. Bighorn ewes were observed in canyons which were not used by domestic livestock or where much of the canyon was isolated from domestic livestock. Deer and bighorn sheep demonstrated different landform preferences. Deer occupied large level areas, washes, and river bottoms. Bighorn sheep remained on the more rugged terrain, moving to level areas to feed. In canyons which were completely isolated from deer and livestock, bighorn sheep preferred t he broad level areas and washes. Bighorn ewes did not demonstrate seasonal movements, whereas rams had definite movement patterns. In the southern portion of the Island in the Sky District , rams formed small bands and remained in a series of four canyons throughout the late winter and spring . In June, these rams dispersed individually or in pairs to higher elevations. During October they returned to the canyons below the White Rim to search for ewes. In the eastern portion of the Island in the Sky District, mature rams remained below the White Rim only during the rut, dispersing to higher elevations for the rest of the year. Physical barriers may minimize the impact of tourism upon bighorn sheep. If bighorn sheep were above or unable to see the source of disturbance , the impact was not as great as when bighorn were able to see the source. This may explain the tendency for bighorn ewes to quickly retreat when vehicles approached them on the White Rim Road where few physical barriers are present. Human encroachment also decreases the energy intake and increases the energy output of bighorn sheep. Bighorn sheep appear to be at equilibrium with the current range they inhabit. The National Park Service should monitor the use of the White Rim Road to evaluate effects on the bighorn sheep and restrict hiking below the White Rim to minimize stress on the bighorn sheep within this range. Studies should be initiated to investigate the bighorn sheep expansion of its range within the Park as a result of the cessation of lives tock grazing, and the role tourism plays in limiting it.

In August of 2012, the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) sent a letter to President Barack Obama asking him to designate the Greater Canyonlands National Monument (GCNM). The proposed 1.4 million acre national monument would surround the already present 337,570 acre Canyonlands National Park, and would include public lands/waterways from five Utah counties. The OIA’s goal for the GCNM is to preserve the landscape for quality outdoor recreation by decreasing the amount of off-highway vehicle use and to eliminate the possibility of oil/gas drilling and mining. Given the proposal highlights outdoor recreation use benefits as the main catalyst for justification of additional conservation/protection of lands surrounding Canyonlands National Park, this study surveyed recreationists in the Indian Creek Corridor—an area within the boundaries of the proposed GCNM—to explore their attitudes toward the GCNM and the management of the area. This study examined how environmental orientation, place dependence, place identity, residential proximity, and recreational activity type related to attitudes toward the GCNM. Environmental orientation and residential proximity were both good predictors of attitudes toward the GCNM and the management of the Greater Canyonlands area. More biocentric-oriented people, and people who lived farther away from the Greater Canyonlands area, were more likely to have favorable attitudes toward the GCNM and were more opposed to land uses such as mining and energy development. In addition, visitors were largely “unsure” if the GCNM should be designated. Visitors felt most strongly that if the GCNM is going to be designated, the process of designation, the land that would be included, and management of the GCNM should be agreed upon by stakeholders before the monument is designated. This suggests a quick designation via public proclamation under the Antiquities Act of 1906 could largely exacerbate the already present conflict over public land management in the region, which would create an even more difficult environment for federal land managers.

Campground use in our national parks is increasing yearly, but little quantitative data are available concerning the impact this use is having on the ecology of the campground and surrounding area. This paper reports on some of the effects of campgrounds on small mammal populations in Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, Utah. Data collection consisted of live-trapping from April to November, 1975 (12,337 trap-nights). The populations of Ordls kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii), antelope ground squirrels (Ammospermophilus leucurus), deer mice (Peromyscus spp.), woodrats (Neotoma spp.), Colorado chipmunks (Eutamias guadrivittatus), and desert cottontails (Sylvilagus audubonii) inhabiting campgrounds were compared with non-campground control areas. Squaw Flat campground in Canyonlands National Park contained significantly higher populations of woodrats and Colorado chipmunks than the control. Devills Garden campground in Arches National Park exhibited significantly higher populations of deer mice, but a lower population of woodrats than the control. No significant difference was found between campgrounds and control areas for all other species. Occurrence of species in the campground and control areas was identical.

I studied the habitat characteristics of Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis lucida), a federally threatened species, in the canyonlands region of southern Utah. Vegetative and geologic features were measured within 10m wide belt plots at each current or historic nest/roost site. Based on our findings, past research, and species life history characteristics, I constructed a species distribution model (SDM) predicting Mexican Spotted Owl distribution in Utah for the Colorado Plateau region. The SDM was generated using the following inputs as important habitat variables: elevation, aspect, surface ratio, curvature, slope, geology, and vegetation. Program R was used for model development and generation. The SDM was generated using an ensemble model approach by combining three modeling techniques: random forest, logistic regression, and maximum entropy. This study combines measured habitat characteristics, with sophisticated geographic information system (GIS) tools and SDMs to provide managers with an informative and useful toolkit for Mexican Spotted Owl conservation. Chapter 2 discusses modeling techniques and SDM development. I detail how individual models were constructed using random forest, logistic regression, and maximum entropy and how these were combined into an ensemble model. Final models indicated that several vegetative and geologic characteristics were considered important habitat characteristics for predicting Mexican Spotted Owl presence within the Colorado Plateau. The SDMs produced eight distribution maps predicting Mexican Spotted Owl presence and probability of occurrence in Utah for the Colorado Plateau region. Chapter 3 explains the use of SDMs by managers and synthesizes findings of measured habitat characteristics for southern Utah. For habitat characteristics I measured a combination of vegetative and geologic features within 10m wide belts at current and historic Mexican Spotted Owl sites. Vegetative features measured included: height and species of all trees and shrubs, position of tree or shrub within plot, presence of canopy cover, and tree diameter at breast height (DBH). Geologic features measured included: geologic formation type, wall height, structure type, number of caves, and number of solution cavities. I found that canyon width and density of vegetation > 2.5 m tall were significantly correlated with Mexican Spotted Owl presence.

An examination was conducted of the potential of proposed highway construction for serving the needs and interests of the population of the Canyonlands Region of southeastern Utah. The history of the highway development issue in the region was first examined with special attention given to the local position on the issue as expressed by local government spokesmen. Next, the total system of development proposals for the region was divided into four sections using criteria of area served and degree of controversy. A map analysis was conducted to determine how these four separate proposals would serve transportation needs of the region. Travel data for 1971 Utah nonresident travelers were utilized to determine present tourism travel and expenditure patterns within the region. Projections were made as to how these patterns would be altered by the four proposals and of how such alterations would affect the tourism industry in the five Canyonlands counties. Region resident perceptions of how the proposals would serve transportation, tourism development, and general economic needs of the region, its counties, and communities were obtained from 231 questionnaires. The same instruments also examined resident preferences for route development. The analyses indicated that the proposed developments will have few effects on regional transportation needs, and that the impact on the tourism industry will be substantial in some areas within the region and negligible in others. Resident expectations of which proposals would best meet county, community, and household needs were generally realistic. Residents assigned priority for development to proposals anticipated to best serve needs at these levels. Regional needs were not clearly perceived and were not important in determining development preferences. The position on the highway development issue taken by local government leaders distorts the views of residents but does so in a way which generally serves the local interest.

An examination was conducted of the potential of proposed highway construction for serving the needs and interests of the population of the Canyonlands Region of Southeastern Utah. The history of the highway development issue in the region was first examined with special attention given to the local position on the issue as expressed by local government spokesmen. Next, the total system of development proposals for the region was divided into four sections using criteria of area served and degree of controversy. A map analysis was conducted to determine how these four separate proposals would serve transportation needs of the region.

Thesis (M.S.)--Baylor University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 53-55).

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