Abstract

Endangered Sentry Milkvetch Habitat Model, Grand Canyon National Park
Track: Parks, Natural Reserves, Fisheries, and Wildlife Management
Authors: Mark Nebel, Janice Busco, Shahed Dowlatshahi, Lori Makarick

The Sentry Milkvetch (SMV) is a federally-listed endangered plant species endemic to the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. As part of the species’ Recovery Plan, iterative GIS analyses and modeling were effectively used to identify and prioritize suitable potential reintroduction sites, based on geology, soil, vegetation, and elevation-derived criteria. Field investigation confirmed the model validity, and a new population of SMV was discovered in a location predicted by the model.