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Welcome to April's edition of our newsletter!
We have a lot to share this month, from Discovery Pool updates, an awesome podcast featuring our executive director, and much more!
It's International Dark Sky Week! Get 15% off dark sky-themed merchandise in our online store now through April 8th when you use the promo code IDA24
We hope you have a great month, and we thank you for your ongoing support.
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CANYONLANDS NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION
Discovery Pool Update
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Project Summary: Identifying Resilient Food Webs in a Changing West by Moria Robinson
Plants and insects are key members of ecological communities. Not only are both groups highly abundant and diverse, but they also provide food for many other animals higher up the food chain.
In this way, plants and plant-feeding (herbivorous) insects can be thought of as the foundation of food webs. As environments in the Western United States change, the responses of plants and their insect communities will be of pivotal importance to the health of entire ecosystems.
In this project, members of the Robinson Lab at Utah State University are studying how insect communities vary across natural sources of environmental variation, in order to better understand how food webs might change as the landscapes around them dry, warm, and become more variable. Specifically, this project studies how nutritional and defensive traits of plants change across elevation and across soil types in the Wasatch Plateau. This information will tell us how plants have evolved to cope with different sources of environmental stress, and how such adaptations change their suitability as food for native insects.
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We are also studying differences in the abundance, diversity, and food web structure of the caterpillar (larval butterfly and moth) community across these different environments, and lastly measuring the importance of these insects as a resource for higher trophic levels (birds). To address these questions. this project focuses on Ericameria nauseosa (rubber rabbitbrush), a widespread and foundational Western plant that is of major ecological importance to herbivorous insects as well as to pollinators.
Excitingly, this project is the first to rigorously document the caterpillar community reliant on rabbitbrush, and will share natural history discoveries via a “Pocket Naturalist’s Guide” of the herbivorous insects on rabbitbrush.
Top right picture: Project Principal Investigator Dr. Moria Robinson (Utah State University) using a “beat-sheet” to collect native caterpillars.
Bottom left picture: a native caterpillar species in the genus Cucullia (this species specializes on rabbitbrush flowers in the late summer/early Fall).
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The Discovery Pool research grant program was established by CNHA to encourage and provide funding for research partnerships between qualified scientists and our federal NPS, BLM, and USFS partners in southeastern Utah.
Since its inception in 2007, CNHA’s Discovery Pool has awarded $950,250 in grants.
Learn more about Discovery Pool here.
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US FOREST SERVICE
Women in the Forest Service Webpage
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In honor of Women’s History Month this year, the US Forest Service introduced a new webpage Women and the Forest Service to provide the public with more information about the agency's history. This page is dedicated to telling the story of women in the agency.
"Women have been at the forefront of the Forest Service since its inception in 1905, serving in roles as advocates, foresters, rangers’ wives, clerks, information and education specialists, scientific researchers and lookouts. In these roles, they pioneered and supported the development of the agency’s forest management infrastructure, information base, conservation education, scientific research, and fixed-point fire detection system. Although women were not allowed in forestry schools or hired in professional or field positions during the first half of the 20th century, they found rewarding careers in the agency through alternative paths, studying environmental sciences or providing insight from the lens of daily administration."
Check out the webpage here.
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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
News Release: Hovenweep and Natural Bridges National Monument to Move to Cashless Fee Collection
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Beginning March 31, 2024, Hovenweep National Monument and Natural Bridges National Monument transitioned to a fully cashless fee system and accepts only mobile or electronic payments for entrance and camping fees. Camping at both parks transitioned to being managed through Recreation.gov, beginning March 31.
In addition to accepting debit and credit cards payments in-person, visitors can purchase entrance passes in advance on Recreation.gov. Visitors purchasing from Recreation.gov will have a digital pass that can be stored on a mobile device or printed out. America the Beautiful interagency annual and lifetime passes will continue to cover the cost of entry into the park, and must be shown in conjunction with proper ID.
Through Recreation.gov, campsites at both parks may be reserved up to three months in advance. Same-day reservations will be possible if unreserved campsites are available. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1-877-444-6777.
Entrance and camping fees are an important source of revenue used to improve the visitor experience in national parks, including road and facility repairs and maintenance, trail improvements, installation of accessible exhibits, visitor and resource protection services, and more. Moving to a cashless system allows parks to be better stewards of visitor dollars by reducing the amount of time park staff spend managing cash, increasing the amount of fee revenue available to support critical projects and visitor services, improving accountability, and reducing risk.
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CANYONLANDS NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION
Trail Less Traveled Podcast
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Last month, CNHA Executive Director Sam Wainer was featured on The Trail Less Traveled Podcast. In this podcast, he shares his life story, along with the history of Canyonlands Natural History Association.
The Trail Less Traveled podcast, hosted by Mandela Leola van Eeden, is an internationally broadcasted adventure radio series & weekly podcast dedicated to documenting humanity & planet earth by gathering stories & sounds from the most remote locations around the world. Mandela has recently spent time in Zion National Park and Yellowstone National Park, too!
The podcast is sponsored by Xplorer Maps.
Listen here or here.
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BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT AND US FOREST SERVICE
BLM, USDA Forest Service Invite Input on Bears Ears National Monument Draft Plan
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The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service are seeking public input on a draft plan to guide management of the Bears Ears National Monument, incorporating considerable input from the Bears Ears Commission, the State of Utah, other cooperating agencies, and the public. The agencies are committed to ensuring that existing uses of cattle grazing, recreation and traditional gathering of firewood and plants continues as part of the monument’s management.
The proposed plan includes five alternatives for public comment. The Bears Ears Commission--comprising the Hopi Tribe, Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation, and the Pueblo of Zuni—provided input during the development of the draft plan consistent with the vision of President Biden’s restoration of the national monument and the central role Tribal Nations have had in stewarding these ancestral homelands.
Read the full press release here.
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Want to know more about the draft plan for Bears Ears National Monument?
The BLM will conduct seven public meetings - five in-person and two virtual - which serve as forums for the public to learn more about the Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.
During the open houses, the agencies will provide a brief presentation on the plan alternatives.
For more information, and to register for virtual meetings, please visit: https://www.blm.gov/BENM
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Community Artist in the Parks: Annie Dalton
It's Annie's first month out in the parks! See how Annie turns her inspiration into art, or join her (with your own art supplies) for a side-by-side creative endeavor. Bring water, sun protection, and your imagination.
Annie Dalton was born in Moab but lived all around the southwest as a child. She studied Fine Art and Biochemistry in college, graduating with a BA from Arizona State. Annie strives to create art that encourages people to slow down, savor the moment, and reconnect with nature. Raised by an artist and miner/driller, her art and a love of this landscape and its elements are interwoven.
Learn more and check out April dates here.
Can't make it but still want to support? Check out her artwork here!
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MIC Free Lecture Series
Mark your calendars! Starting in May, join us on Thursdays at 5 pm at the Moab Information Center for our free lecture series.
Check out upcoming lectures here.
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Membership Hike
We are delighted to announce that our membership events are back for 2024! Mark your calendars for a wonderful wildflower hike in the Manti-La Sal National Forest on Saturday, July 13th. Join us to experience how plant life has regenerated in the Gold Basin area, which burned in the Pack Creek Fire of 2021.
Current members were emailed an invite at the end of March. Didn't receive yours? Email Denise at denise@cnha.org or call 435-259-6003 ext. 480
Become a Member here!
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It's International Dark Sky Week! Get 15% off dark sky-themed merchandise in our online store now through April 8th when you use the promo code IDA24 | |
Your Purchases Support Education and Research on the
Public Lands of Southeastern Utah.
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Our Mission
Canyonlands Natural History Association (CNHA) is a non-profit organization, which exists solely to assist the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management in their education and visitor efforts. Proceeds from sales support these agencies’ educational, interpretive, and scientific programs on the Colorado Plateau.
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