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Title: Status of the flora and fauna on the Nevada Test Site, 1989--1991

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10151499· OSTI ID:10151499

This volume includes six reports of monitoring work to determine the status of and trends in flora and fauna populations on the Nevada Test Site (NTS) from 1989 through 1991. The Nevada Operations Office of the US Department of Energy supported monitoring under its Basic Environmental Compliance and Monitoring Program (BECAMP) since 1987. Under this program several undisturbed baseline plots, and numerous plots in disturbed areas, are sampled on annual or three-year cycles. Perennial plant populations, ephemeral plants, small mammals, reptiles, birds, and large mammals were monitored. Monitoring results are reported for five baseline sites, one from each major landform on the NTS (Jackass Flats, Frenchman Flat, Yucca Flat, Pahute Mesa, and Rainier Mesa), and for areas cleared of vegetation by fires, atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, construction, and gophers. Roadside flora and fauna were studied at two locations, and several historical study plots around the NTS were recensused to determine vegetation changes over long time spans. Three subsidence craters resulting from below-ground nuclear weapons tests were also studied. A major influence on plants and animals during the report period was a severe drought during 1989 and 1990, followed by more moderate drought in 1991.

Research Organization:
Reynolds Electrical and Engineering Co., Inc., Las Vegas, NV (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC08-94NV11432
OSTI ID:
10151499
Report Number(s):
DOE/NV/11432-57; ON: DE94011944; BR: 400700000; TRN: 94:013855
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: Mar 1994
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English