The Glacier Lakes Ecosystem Experiments Site

102 Pages·1994·6.6 MB·English

by  Musselman, Robert C

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

£2>\ United States
The
|LAJj) Department of Glacier
"^P7 Agriculture
Forest Service
Lakes
Rocky Mountain
Forest and Range
Experiment Station
Ecosystem
Fort Collins,
Colorado 80526'
Experiments
General Technical
Report RM-249
Site
Ms
y
IP \
deceived By:
Indexing Branch
,
Musselman, R. C, technical coordinator. 1992. The Glacier Lakes
EcosystemExperiments Site. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-249. FortCollins,
CO: U.S. Department ofAgriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Moun-
tain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 94 p.
The Glacier Lakes Ecosystem Experiment Site (GLEES), a 600 ha
research watershed at 3200-3400 m elevation inthe SnowyRange of
SE Wyoming, has been established to examine the effects of atmo-
spheric deposition on alpine and subalpine ecosystems. This docu-
ment provides preliminary data on the landscape habitats, floristics,
geology, soils, aquatics, atmospheric environment, hydrology, snow,
and air quality conditions occurring at GLEES. Checklists ofvascu-
lar plants and plankton, detailed soils descriptions, and maps ofge-
ology, soils, vegetation, and topography are provided.
Keywords: Snowy Range, wilderness, subalpine, krummholz, subal-
pinefir, Engelmannspruce,geology, floristics, landscape, soils, aquat-
ics, atmosphere, meteorology, hydrology, snow, deposition, water-
shed, monitoring, air quality.
The use oftrade and company names is for the benefit ofthe read-
ers; suchuse does notconstitutean official endorsementorapproval
of any service or product by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to
the exclusion ofothers that may be suitable.
USDA Forest Service July 1994
General Technical Report RM-249
The Glacier Lakes Ecosystem
Experiments Site
Technical Coordinator:
Robert C. Musselman, Plant Physiologist
Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station1
Contributors:
B.H. Connell M.A. Conrad
R.G. Dufford D.G. Fox
J.D. Haines V.C. Hasfurther
R.W.E. Hopper H.C. Humphries
G.L. Kerr B.C. Kondratieff
R.C. Musselman G. Parks
CM. Regan E.A. Rochette
A.W. Schoettle C.L. Simmons
R.A. Sommerfeld F.A. Vertucci
P.M. Walthall Wetstein
J.
G.L. Wooldridge K.F. Zeller
Received By:
Indexing Brprvh
'Headquartersisin FortCollins, incooperation with ColoradoState University.
Contents
Chapter Title Authors Page
1 Introduction R.C. Musselman, D.G. Fox,
A.W. Schoettle, and CM. Regan 1
2 Landscape Habitats C.L. Simmons 11
3 Floristics J.D. Haines, R.C. Musselman, and
CM. Regan 15
4 Geology E.A. Rochette 20
5 Soils R.W.E. Hopper and P.M. Walthall 23
6 Aquatics F.A. Vertucci and M.A. Conrad 30
7 Meteorology D.G. Fox, H.C Humphries, K.F. Zeller,
B.H. Connell, and G.L. Wooldridge ... 42
8 Air Quality R.C Musselman 48
9 Hydrology V.C Hasfurther, G.L. Kerr, G. Parks, and
Wetstein 50
J.
10 Snow R.A. Sommerfeld 57
Appendix Title Authors Page
A
Vascular Plants
ofGLEES J.D. Haines and CM. Regan 59
B Phytoplankton
Species R.G. Dufford 68
C GLEES Macro-
invertebrates B. C. Kondratieff 70
D The Map Units
for GLEES Soil
Survey Area R.W.E. Hopper and P.M. Walthall 72
E Representative
Pedon
Descriptions for
the Soils ofthe
GLEES Wyoming
Soil Survey Area:
EGL, WGL &
Lost Lake
Watersheds R.W.E. Hopper and P.M. Walthall 80
F 100-Meter Grid
Orthophoto
Maps Rocky Mountain Station 93
The Glacier Lakes Ecosystem Experiments Site
INTRODUCTION,
1.
R.C.(Musselman, D.G.(fox, A.W.Igchoettle, and C.M.Iaegan
/Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station
Fort Collins, ColoradoJ
Background Information require measurement of inputs and outputs between
tightly defined components of the overall ecosystem,
Wilderness ecosystems in the United States are fed- with these components defined as small (e.g., a square
erally mandated and set aside by the Wilderness Act. meter)terrestrialorsoilplots, smallsectionsofastream,
They are managed to minimize human impact using a lake, a small subcatchment, a watershed encompass-
methodsthat leavethesesystems, totheextentpossible, ing a lake, or a group of lakes and their watersheds.
in their natural state uninfluenced by manipulation or Atmosphericandecosystemprocesses, andinteractions
disruptionbyhumans. Managementofteninvolves con- between abiotic and biotic portions of these research
trolling orminimizingvisual impactby enforcing strict units needtobe studied, withan importantcomponent
use rules such as no roads, motorized or mechanized of these studies being estimation of nutrient budgets.
equipment, structures, or harvesting. In addition to Process-based models will be constructed to integrate
human-caused impacts, natural and anthropogenic en- individual studies into asystem-levelunderstandingof
vironmental stresses affect the rates and magnitudes of ecosystem processes that canbe used to predict the re-
natural dynamic processes innatural ecosystems. These sponse of the system to potential changes in physical
stresses can have a large effect on ecosystem structure or chemical environment. Long-termbaseline monitor-
and function. The Clean Air Act designates federally ing data are important for model development, and de-
mandated wildernesses and National Parks as Class I tailedprocess-levelstudieswillprovideinformationfor
areas tobe protected from deteriorationfromairpollut- validating the model predictions.
ants. Data are not available to quantify and distinguish Researchinvolvingextensivemonitoringandmanipu-
between natural and anthropogenic factors that cause lationsisnotpossibleinfederallymandatedwilderness
changes in wilderness ecosystems. areas, which impose strict limits on means oftransport
Wilderness managersarefacedwithmakingdecisions and prohibit installations causing visual impact. The
concerning effects ofatmospheric pollutants on Class I GlacierLakes EcosystemExperiments Site (GLEES) has
wilderness ecosystems. The permitting process for sit- been established in an area that is wilderness-like, but
inga new point-source ofpollutants requires anassess- notafederallymandatedwilderness,wheretheresearch
ment ofthe potential effects ofsuch a facility on Class I described here can be conducted to provide baseline
areas. Little data are available to determine the effects andexperimental dataforalpineand subalpine ecosys-
of atmospheric deposition on these ecosystems. Back- tems. GLEES was selected to represent Class I wilder-
ground collection of deposition data in these areas is ness areas that might be exposed to atmospheric depo-
justbeginning, and effects ofthis deposition are largely sition. Itis locatedonNationalForestlandandhasbeen
unknown. In addition, changes in the structure and managed to preserve its natural state. GLEES is easily
function ofthese ecosystems induced by long-term cli- accessible all year, yet has received limited human use
matechange cannotbe quantifiedwithoutbaseline data orimpact. GLEES provides asitewithhabitatsimilarto
concerning current environmental status of sensitive wilderness areas in the West but without the restric-
systems. Prudentmanagementofwilderness ecosystems tions ofthe statutory designation ofaClassIarea. These
requires a basic knowledge ofthe present environmen- unique characteristics provide an excellent site for ex-
tal and biological condition of these systems and an tensivealpine and subalpine ecosystemresearchactivity.
understandingofthebasicprocesses influencingchange GLEES is characteristic ofhigh-elevation alpine/sub-
in these systems. alpine wilderness sites having massive winter snow-
Research to provide answers to the question ofenvi- pack, harsh climate for terrestrial vegetation, exposed
ronmental impact ofatmospheric deposition orclimate and slow-weathering bedrock, shallow immature soils
change in wilderness sites requires an integrated eco- having low base saturation, and lakes with extremely
system approach involving the study of meteorology, lowacidneutralizingcapacity. Thedeepsnowpacktypi-
geology, soils,hydrology, limnology, plantecology, plant cal ofthese areas accumulates sulfates andnitrates. The
physiology, and snow chemistry and physics. These aquatic systems arehighlysensitiveto deposition, since
disciplines mustbe integrated to determine interaction spring snowmelt can bring a pulse of chemicals deliv-
andmovementofpollutants, chemicals, orgases among ered rapidly to the system. The low inherent buffering
different components of the ecosystem. Research will capacity of alpine lakes and streams can make them
1
especially sensitive to this chemical pulse, which can upper GLEES area ofEast Glacierand West Glacier and
result in drastic changes in the biotic complex ofthese Lost Lakes watersheds has been characterized for this
systems. report. Except for this introductory chapter, the mate-
Ecosystems exposedtothe conditionstypicalofthese rial presented in this manuscript, unless otherwise
sites experienceshortgrowingseasons,highwinds, cool noted, refers onlyto the East Glacier, West Glacier, and
temperatures with summer frosts, low nutrient supply Lost Lake watersheds. This is where much of the re-
from soil, and drought conditions aftersnowmelt. Such search and monitoring is conducted. Additional infor-
environmentally stressed systems are likely to be most mation on the remaining areas of GLEES will be com-
sensitive to additional stress from atmospheric pollut- piled later.
ants. Global climate change caused by increased atmo- East and West Glacier Lakes are located in the S 1/4
spheric C0 may cause changes in environmental con- ofSection 3, and Lost Lake is in the NW 1/4 ofSection
2
ditions in wilderness ecosystems. In high-elevation 9, T16NR79W, 6thRM. The site is located on the Sand
ecosystems, dramaticvegetationresponses are possible Lake, Centennial, Medicine Bow Peak, and Morgan
as a result of climate change. For example, the transi- Quadrangles, WY USGS 7 1/2 Minute Series Topo-
tion zonebetween alpine and subalpine will likelyrise graphic Maps. The site is north and east of Brooklyn
in elevation with a warmer climate. GLEES represents Lake, and it canbe reachedby driving north from State
a unique opportunity to study such phenomena, with Highway 130ontheForestServiceBrooklynLakeRoad,
alpine/forestandterrestrial/aquaticfeaturesbeingdomi- FDR 317, which exits Highway 130 at the Mountain
nant at the site. MeadowsResort(figs. 1.2, 1.3). AtrailheadtotheGLEES
lakes is located at the north end of the Brooklyn Lake
Campground.
Site Location
GLEES is an area ofapproximately 575 ha located at Site Management and Access
3200 to 3500 m elevation in the Snowy Range on the
Medicine Bow National Forest, 55 km west ofLaramie, GLEES is in the Laramie Ranger District ofthe Medi-
Wyoming, and 15 km NW of Centennial, Wyoming, at cineBowNationalForest. LaramieRangerDistrictHead-
41°22'30" latitude and 106°15'30" longitude (figs. 1.1- quarters is located at Laramie, Wyoming, but a Visitors
1.3). The upper portion ofGLEES contains three small Center located about 1.5 km NW ofCentennial is open
lakes located inglacial cirquebasins: LostLake (6.7 ha, during the summer to provide information to Laramie
fig. 1.4), West Glacier Lake (3.3 ha, figs. 1.5-1.7), and District users. Current management of GLEES and the
East Glacier Lake (2.9 ha, figs. 1.6-1.8), with their cor- surrounding area is primarily for recreation use, with
responding watersheds of51.4, 60.7, and 28.7 ha. Also off-trail use of motorized vehicles restricted to snow
included in GLEES are about 110 ha north ofthe East machines. Primary summer use is for fishing and day
Glacier, WestGlacier, andLostLakeswatersheds onthe hiking, but infrequent overnight camping is also evi-
GlacierPeakridge; and 110 ha south ofthethree water- dent. GLEES is inanareaoftheLaramieRangerDistrict
sheds, north of Telephone Lakes and the road on the thathasbeenremoved fromminingclaims;butthe area
north side ofBrooklyn Lake. An additional area ofap- still contains many active, though unworked, mining
proximately 200 ha extends southeast of the East Gla- claims. Grazing has recently been removed in the up-
cier Lake watershed, east ofthe Brooklyn Lake road, to per portion ofGLEES.
justeastofLittleBrooklynLake. Thisareaincludes sub- GLEES has no roads within the study area but is ac-
alpine forest not present in the upper GLEES. Only the cessiblefromForestServiceRoadFDR317 onthesouth-
west portion ofthe site in the summer. The site can be
accessed by snowmobile in the winter and is about 5
km from the Highway 130 winter closure turnaround
point at Green Rock Picnic Area (fig. 1.2). The south
edge ofEastGlacierLake is abouta 15-minutehike from
the Brooklyn Lake road at the Brooklyn Lake Camp-
ground, while Lost Lake is a 20-minute hike west of
WestGlacierLake. AtrailentersLostLakefromthewest,
just northwest ofthe Lost Lake outlet, and is used pri-
marilybyfishermenandhikers. Numeroussmallertrails
exist within the site, but most site users are fishermen
or hikers who confine themselves to the main trails or
stay near the lake edges. Most visitors remain in the
area ofEast and West Glacier Lakes. East and West Gla-
cier Lakes are at lower elevations than Lost Lake and
arethemosteasilyaccessible. LostLake is farthestfrom
the road and is closest to the edge ofthe glacial cirque.
Figure1.1.—GenerallocationofGLEES,inMedicineBowNational Avalanchehazardinhibits access toboth Lost Lake and
Forest, southeastern Wyoming. West Glacier Lake in the winter.
2
Figure 1.2.—Local area map of GLEES, showing location of Cen-
tennial,Centennial WorkCenter, Green Rock PicnicGround (win-
ter highwayturnaround), and area lakesand streams.
3
—
Figure 1.5. West Glacier Lake, from the ridge between East and Figure1.7.—WestGlacierLake(front)andEastGlacierLake(back-
WestGlacier Lakes, looking NW. ground), takenfrom thewestofWestGlacier Lake.
— —
Figure 1.6. West GlacierLake(right)and EastGlacier Lake(left) Figure1.8. EastGlacierLakefromtheeasternedgeofthewater-
from the base of the snowfield feeding Meadow Creek. Meadow shed. Note the snowfields at the top of the glacial cirque in the
Creek is to the left of the tree-covered ridge running toward the West Glacier Lake watershed. Meltfrom the smaller snowfield to
lakeinthelowercenterofthephoto; CascadeCreekistotheright therightflows intoMeadowCreek.Thissnowfield meltsoutmost
ofthat ridge. Long CreekentersWest Glacier Lakefrom the right years. Meltfrom the larger, permanentsnowfield to the leftflows
ofthe photo,throughthescreefield atthe bottom rightcornerof intoCascade Creek.
thelake.BoulderCreekentersthroughthescreefieldatthelower
leftcornerofWestGlacierLake.BrooklynLakecanbeseenabove
therightsideof EastGlacier Lake.
not vegetated, consisting primarily of scree, rock out-
crop,water,and/orsnowfields. A descriptionof12 land-
scape habitats at the Lost, East Glacier, and West Gla-
Landscape Habitats cier watersheds is presented in Chapter 2.
GLEES is inthe subalpine forest/alpine ecotone. Veg-
etation at the site is characteristic alpine and subalpine Vegetation
taxa. Engelmann spruce and subalpine firforests domi-
nate at the lower portions of the site (fig. 1.9). These Plant communities at GLEES are distributed across a
two species form krummholz stands at the higher el- mosaic ofhabitat types thatare influencedbycomplex,
evations (fig. 1.10), where willows are also common in discontinuous stress gradients of wind distribution,
drainageorotherwetareas. Thisareaisalsointerspersed snowcoverduration,andmicrotopographicfactors. The
with meadow vegetation or cushion plants, depending plant associations are separated by different species
upon soil development and moisture availability. The complexes and by dominant life forms. GLEES vegeta-
higher elevations become increasinglybarren and have tion is characteristic of central and southern Rocky
a covering ofsmall cushion plants characteristic ofal- Mountain subalpine forests, subalpine wetlands, and
pine flora. A considerable portion ofthe watershed is alpine tundra. No endemics have been identified at
4