Capitol Reef National Park, in southcentral Utah, encompasses approximately 381 square miles, nearly all of which is managed for its rugged and remote wilderness value. Capitol Reef is known for its spectacular display of geologic features, and it hosts one of the largest concentrations of rare and endemic plants among national park units. The articles in this series describe the conditions of a group of resources in the park.
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Capitol Reef National Park
Article 1: Condition of Selected Natural Resources at Capitol Reef: 2022 Assessment
NRCA Overview: Understanding the condition of natural resources in our national parks is vital for their management and protection. A recent Natural Resource Condition Assessment for Capitol Reef National Park evaluated eleven resources at the park, although we focus on only a subset of these in this article: night sky and air quality; soundscape; springs, seeps, and tinajas; streams and their riparian areas; pinyon-juniper woodlands; and fish. Read more
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Capitol Reef National Park
Article 2: What do You Hope to Hear in a National Park?
Capitol Reef National Park: Some visitors spend time in national parks enjoying the natural quiet and listening to sounds of nature—falling water, singing birds, chirping insects, or the wind rustling in the trees. At Capitol Reef National Park, natural sound is a significant resource and an important component of wilderness. A ”soundscape” is composed of all the various natural and cultural sounds that help create a sense of place. What do you expect to hear in Capitol Reef? Read more
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Capitol Reef National Park
Article 3: Not Too Dense, Not Too Sparse: Pinyon-Juniper at Capitol Reef is Just about Right
Capitol Reef National Park: Pinyon-juniper woodlands cover as much as 15% of the land in five southwestern states (Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada) and are the predominant vegetation type in Capitol Reef NP. These woodlands provide valuable wildlife habitat and other ecological benefits. A recent assessment looked at the condition of these woodlands in the park. Read this article to learn more! Read more
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Capitol Reef National Park
Article 4: Assessing Night Skies, Air Quality, and Scenic Views at Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef National Park: Do you like stargazing at night or looking across the landscape at a beautiful view? If the answer is yes, then we have a place for you! Capitol Reef has some of the darkest night skies in the country, and its daytime scenic views are colorful and expansive. Dark night skies, scenic views, and air quality are all valuable resources, and the NPS recently conducted an assessment to see how these resources are doing in Capitol Reef. Read more
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Capitol Reef National Park
Article 5: Assessing the Condition of Fish in Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef National Park: Capitol Reef is home to both native and non-native fish. One native species, the roundtail chub, no longer occurs in the park. Capitol Reef contains only a small portion of the streams passing through it, so activities outside the park can have a large effect on fish in the park. The Natural Resource Condition Assessment Program partnered with Utah State University to evaluate the condition of fish and to identify gaps in information. Read more
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Capitol Reef National Park
Article 6: What do a Tadpole Shrimp and a Mule Deer Have in Common? They Both Rely on the Water Resources of Capitol Reef
Capitol Reef National Park: A handful of perennial (year-round) and many, many more ephemeral (temporary) water sources occur in Capitol Reef. These springs, seeps, tinajas, and streams provide important habitats and rare sources of water in this arid region. As part of a recent study, the Natural Resource Condition Assessment Program partnered with Utah State University to determine what is and is not known about these resources. Read more