Riparian Vegetation Data for Streams Monitoring in the Southern Plains Network: 2011-2021 - Data Package

Stream ecosystems are one of the most ecologically important, rare, and threatened natural resources in the American Southwest. Riparian vegetation (including xeroriparian vegetation and habitat) represents a small percentage of the land cover in this region and the southern plains, but provides important services, functions, and benefits. These data were collected using the riparian vegetation monitoring module of the Sonoran Desert Network (SODN) and Southern Plains Network (SOPN) streams monitoring protocol at Pecos National Historical Park (PECO) within the Southern Plains Network in 2011, 2016 and 2021. The monitoring data inform managers on status and trends of vegetation community dynamics, invasive species distribution and abundance, plant lifeform abundance, soil cover, tree demographics (size class), density and biomass (diameter at breast height) and tree seedling and shrub counts. These data were collected across the stream segment within the park boundary and were co-located with river cross-sections where channel morphology data are also collected. Additional data collected within the stream segments under other modules in the streams monitoring protocol include water quality, water quantity, and macroinvertebrates. The overall goal of streams monitoring is to ascertain stream condition via a holistic approach integrating key geomorphological, hydrological, and biological processes and indicators.