Fuels and vegetation spatial data layers required by the spatially explicit fire growth model FARSITE were developed for all lands in and around the Gila National Forest in New Mexico. Satellite imagery, terrain modeling, and biophysical simulation were used to create the three vegetation spatial data layers of biophysical settings, cover type, and structural stage. Fire behavior fuel models and vegetation characteristics needed by FARSITE were assigned to combinations of categories on maps developed from sampled field data and also from estimates by local fire managers, ecologists, and resource specialists. FARSITE fuels maps will be used to simulate growth of fires on the Gila National Forest aiding managers in the planning and allocation of resources for managing fire. An extensive accuracy assessment of all maps indicated surface and crown fuels layers are about 30 to 40 percent accurate. This methodology was designed to be replicated for other areas of the western United States. Garner has worked on various GIS and field research projects for ecosystem management. She has assisted with the GIS analysis and map production in projects focused on gradient modeling and ecosystem dynamics. She received a B.S. degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Arizona, Tucson, and an M.S. degree in organismal biology and ecology from the

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Plant Communities. 142 plant species were identified from the 2005 riparian surveys. Average species richness per site is 34. Ash Creek upper, Charcoal Creek, Cow Creek lower and upper were the most diverse riparian plant sites with >43 species. The SOC (G5/S1, USFS sensitive species) plant, Carex gravida, was reported at 2 sites, Cow Creek upper and Stocker Branch. Macroinvertebrate Communities: Overall, 111 macroinvertebrate taxa were reported from all 2005 sites. Average macroinvertebrate taxa richness per site was 25 and the highest taxa richness reported at 2 sites was 38. Using the macroinvertebrate multimetric index (MMI), 5 of the 16 sites were ranked non-impaired (good to excellent biological integrity), 6 were slightly-impaired and 5 moderately-impaired. Cow Creek upper and Stocker Branch contain reference condition macroinvertebrate communities. Amphibian and Reptile Communities: Herpetofauna surveys in conjunction with the macroinvertebrate surveys identified 8 species across the 16 sites. Four amphibians (the Tiger salamander, Woodhouse's Toad, Boreal Chorus Frog and the Northern Leopard Frog) and 4 reptiles (Painted Turtles, Eastern Racer, Gopher Snake and the Terrestrial Garter Snake) were recorded during the surveys. Woodhouse's Toad had the highest site occupancy rate at 31%. Cow Creek Reservoir remains the hotspot for herpetofauna with 5 species. Integrative Communities: Overall, diverse plant and macroinvertebrate communities with high biological integrity are all highly correlated with good vegetative riparian coverage, and high habitat quality ranked with the EPA Habitat Quality Index. Number of herpetofauna species, breeding amphibians and more tolerant macroinvertebrates are all highly correlated with high livestock use, increased stream wetted width, more emergent instream vegetation, increased sedimentation and bare ground in the riparian area. The likely result of cattle intrusions in the spring riparian areas, and their associated effects of increasing wetted width, emergent vegetative area, percent in-stream sediments, and percent bare ground is to negatively affect the biological integrity of riparian plant and macroinvertebrate communities, while providing more breeding habitat for amphibians. Community Integrity results from the plant, habitat and macroinvertebrate surveys combined to rank the Cow Creek reach upstream of Cow Creek Reservoir the most ecologically intact site, followed by the Stocker Branch reach, and the Charcoal Creek 2005 site. We recommend choosing these as integrator and future monitoring sites and should be managed for their high diversity and integrity as Northwestern Great Plains Perennial Spring ecosystems. Additional sites that have high ecological potential to recover if cattle exclusion occurs, include Cow Creek below the

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