NCCN Elk Aerial Monitoring Data Package, 2008-2017

This data package contains North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) Inventory and Monitoring Program elk survey tabular data collected during 2008-2017 at Mount Rainier National Park (MORA) and Olympic National Park (OLYM).

The protocol, publications, and all other associated links can be found in the project reference NCCN Monitoring Elk in Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2193716

Objectives were to use helicopter surveys to monitor trends in elk abundance, distribution, and composition in selected subalpine summer ranges in MORA and OLYM. Data were collected to develop and inform double-observer sightability model. Sightability data included elk fitted with GPS/VHF collars, survey weather conditions, light levels, elk activity, and percent of concealing vegetation. Aerial survey observations also included double-observer data by recording observer seating positions and which specific observers independently saw each elk group.

In 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began collaborating with the National Park Service (NPS)-North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN), the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe (MIT), Puyallup Tribe of Indians (PTOI), and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to develop a standard aerial survey protocol for monitoring long-term changes in the abundance, distribution, and population composition of elk on key summer ranges within Mount Rainier National Park (MORA) and Olympic National Park (OLYM). In MORA, surveys were conducted in two trend count areas (TCAs) that correspond with primary summer ranges used by the North Rainier Herd that winters outside the park to the North, and the South Rainier Herd that winters outside the park primarily to the South. Five TCAs were defined in OLYM that encompassed summer ranges at the core of the park around Mount Olympus and four other TCAs that encompassed other primary summer ranges throughout the park. Please refer to NCCN Elk Aerial Monitoring Sample Design Geodatabase for the spatial representation of elk survey polygons: https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2230205