PIPE SPRING Cultures at a Crossroads: An Administrative History

Landscape Changes

A Park Activity Standards report made in August 1971 provides a "snapshot" description of the monument's landscape at that time. The report stated that an estimated 500 trees and 50 shrubs were being irrigated, along with residential lawns. Cultivated areas included three acres of gardens, two acres of orchards, two acres of pasture, and five acres of alfalfa and grain fields. The balance of 28 acres was natural ground cover. [2209] The draft management objectives prepared for Pipe Spring National Monument in 1971 stressed the interpretive value of the native grass restoration area in the monument's southwest section, planted in 1968. (The restored area was pointed out to visitors as a vivid contrast to the overgrazed, denuded areas outside the monument.) It was recommended in this report that, in addition to removal of non-native weeds and exotics, "a continued and enduring program for restoration of native grasses should be continued not only in the grass restoration plot but in the entire monument." [2210] At the same time, it expressed the hope that "the development of a new source of water with the Indians will enable the historic trees, orchards, gardens, and vineyards of the pioneers to be maintained or re-established and cultivated as in pioneer times." [2211]

The joint-use water system constructed by the Park Service in 1973 did indeed expand the monument's agricultural horizons. Tracy did not wait for the completion of the new water system to get started, however. In late January 1971, monument staff wrote to the American Pomological Society for information about old apple varieties and received a list of suggested types that were still available. [2212] In the spring of 1971, just after the new well had been drilled on the reservation, Tracy wanted to begin replanting activities to establish an orchard using historic species, but his ambitions were hampered by lack of funds. In addition to a small number of fruit trees, a "historic" vegetable garden had been cultivated annually for some time. In February 1972, the monument placed several large orders for vegetable seeds (corn, cucumber, parsnips, pumpkin, sunflower, zucchini, several varieties of squash, and watermelon); 20 fruit trees (apple, apricot, quince, prune, plum, pear, nectarine, cherry, peach, and walnut); 25 grapes (four varieties); 25 asparagus and 10 blackberry plants. Order forms suggest that the Zion Natural Historic Association paid for the order which totaled about $400. [2213]

On June 28, 1971, a construction proposal was submitted by Pipe Spring National Monument for grounds improvement of the fort and picnic area. The proposed work included grading, seeding, and planting trees and shrubs on the monument, "to provide landscaping necessary to enhance the scenic beauty of the area." The project was needed due to "severe damage to the natural vegetation and scenic features" resulting from increased visitor use since 1967, the proposal stated. [2214] The timing of the landscaping proposal suggests a possible link to the Park Service's anticipation of a water agreement with the Tribe over the new well and water system.

While visitors to the monument must have enjoyed the growing gardens, vineyard, and orchard trees, Tracy's efforts did not please everyone. After an operations evaluation was conducted at Pipe Spring in May 1973, the team reported,

Considerable money and manpower are being spent in the expansion and care of gardens and orchards. While it is true that farming was a part of the historic scene, there is apparently some question as to the relationship of the present day efforts to create a historic scene and just how much the Mormons of the 1880s actually cultivated.... It is concluded by some people that [historic-era ranching operations were] not conducive to extensive gardening. There is also the question of methods used for cultivation, irrigation, harvesting, etc.... Apparently no real historic data is being used to guide the agricultural efforts at Pipe Spring National Monument, so locations and size of gardens are suspect, modern irrigation is incongruous, and varieties of crops planted probably are not historically accurate. [2215]

In its recommendations, the team stated, "The farming and orchard operation should be based on accurate historical data. This should include locations, size, crops, and techniques. The Superintendent should strive to restore the area to be the 1880 period, not turn it into a modern truck farm." [2216] The evaluation report noted that general appearance of the monument was "below average" and that "it appeared that the maintenance effort is concentrated on the raising of crops instead of maintaining the facilities." No doubt, Superintendent Tracy was disheartened to the read the report.

Not all landscape changes that took place during the 1970s were agricultural in nature. Some trees were planted during 1973 for screening purposes. In 1974 over 30 trees were planted in the monument to help obliterate old monument roads and the parking area made obsolete by the new visitor center. Throughout the 1970s, youths employed under first the NYC then CETA programs provided essential labor to maintain the historic gardens and orchard which required considerable time and attention. The Western Tree Crew also continued to provide tree pruning at Pipe Spring under a program of cyclic maintenance.

Zion Biologist H. E. ("Hank") McCutchen completed a pasture survey at Pipe Spring on April 9, 1976. [2217] The study assessed resource damage, vegetative condition, and trend. Two pastures were described. One was a three-acre irrigated pasture of perennial grass. It was "probably originally a moist area with cane and willow," McCutchen stated. Adjacent and to the west was a nine-acre pasture of four-wing saltbush with an understory of annual cheat grass and filaree. Also in the larger pasture was a small stand of saltbush without understory, a stand of silver maple and a stand of willow. The nine-acre pasture was the site occupied by the CCC camp in the 1930s. Three burros and two horses were using the pastures in 1976. Other than some damage to tree bark, he found the pasture in good condition but pointed out that a decision need to be made on how much livestock would be maintained by the Park Service. The decision was delayed until 1977.

136. Mel Heaton plowing demonstration garden, May 1977
(Photograph by Dale Scheier, Pipe Spring National Monument).

137. Mel Heaton resting with Mick and Molly, June 1977
(Photograph by Dale Scheier, Pipe Spring National Monument).

On January 31, 1977, the monument's Resource Management Plan was approved. Historian Glenn Clark prepared the plan. Under "Maintenance of Historic Grounds" the report stated,

All of Pipe Spring National Monument is considered historic ground. The native grasses, historic fruit trees, pioneer shade trees, pastures, gardens, sandstone cliffs, and trails have historic significance at Pipe Spring. All of this will be managed as a part of the historic setting at Pipe Spring. Modern intrusions will be minimized by placement and by natural vegetation. Historic crops, grasses, and trees will be selected for planting after adequate historical information is obtained. All that is possible within safety guidelines will be done to preserve trees that have stood since the pioneer era at Pipe Spring. Walks, trails, and wayside exhibits will blend with the natural environment to avoid a look of functional modernity. Any structure, sign, utility, or other modern improvement will not be placed in such a way as to conflict with the historical structures and their environs. The objective is to manage the ranch to appear as close as possible to the historic scene of the 1870-1890 period without violating [NPS] standards.

Exotic plant species intrude on the historical scene at Pipe Spring.... Russian thistle, sand burs, cockle burs, puncture vine, cheat grass, tumble mustard, and red brome grass must be eradicated by hand.... If they are not controlled they will crowd out valuable historic species of grasses and shrubs. Other species [young silver-leaf cottonwoods, buffalo or desert gourds, ailanthus and young Potawatomi plums] must be curbed annually.

Native grasses at Pipe Spring have been crowded out or overgrazed nearly to extinction. Some species maintain a tenuous hold.... A proposal has been written for future funding consideration for planting native grasses, trees, and shrubs [including sand dropseed, Indian rice grass, blue grama grass].

The only endemic trees in the area are the pinyon pine and the Utah juniper. The silver-leaf cottonwoods, English elms, black locusts, ailanthus, Carolina and Lombardy poplars, and Potawatomi plums, along with various other fruit varieties of which the original trees are gone, were all imported by Mormon pioneers to Pipe Spring. [2218]

The report goes on to recommend preservation of these trees and/or replacement with accurate varieties of fruit trees. "The original Concord grape vine planted by Dr. James Whitmore in the 1860s will be given due care to insure its survival." Trees that "noticeably conflict with the historic scene" were to be considered for removal. The report stated,

It is important to maintain the gardens with similar types of vegetation cultivated by the pioneers. [They] will be cared for with hand labor or horse drawn equipment to complement the historical scene. Irrigation methods will be similar in appearance to the open ditch method of Mormon pioneer times [hiding the modern pump system]. [2219]

Visually intrusive black asphalt-surfaced walkways were to be repaved with color-blended soil cement as funds became available. A decision needed to be made between maintaining the nine-acre pasture for stock or reseeding the area with native grass. If stock (horse and cattle) was to be maintained "it will be of an appropriate variety," stated the report. A seasonal laborer position was needed to maintain the landscape, as the availability of NYC labor was unpredictable.

In the fall of 1977, Hank McCutchen made a follow-up survey of the monument's pasture area and reported indications of overuse. The survey report compared conditions to the earlier 1976 survey. A drought in 1977 and continued livestock use resulted in "major changes" in vegetation since 1976, due to reduced irrigation capacity. The bark of a stand of fruit trees on the north end of the three-acre pasture was being damaged by livestock, whose heavy browsing also impacted ailanthus trees on the south end of the pasture. A downward trend in ground cover and perennial grasses was also observed. The report said due to the heavy use of the area by livestock for over 50 years (prior to Park Service acquisition), "...it is believed that the native vegetation can never be fully restored to its original condition." [2220] The downward trend in vegetative condition in the pastures "warrants some type of management decision," particularly as the visible condition might be interpreted by visitors as neglect, said the report. Several alternatives were suggested. Tracy fenced off the fruit trees on the north end of the pasture, as well as a grove of nearby cottonwoods, so that animal damage to tree bark would stop. In December he removed the livestock from the two pastures and put them in the corral below the east cabin.

There seemed to be some confusion and disagreement among Park Service officials administering Pipe Spring in the late 1970s over the manner in which the historic landscape was to be managed. Tracy was caught in the middle. In July 1977, Tracy asked permission from Heyder to cut down a stand of 12-15 silver-leaf cottonwoods that were originally planted for shading around the site of the CCC swimming pool (meadow pond) in the 1930s. "This grove is not part of the historic scene of the 1870-1890 interpretive period of Pipe Spring and obstructs the view of the Arizona Strip from the west cabin," he wrote to Heyder. [2221] Tracy's request was denied at the regional office level on the grounds that the trees were providing needed vegetative cover. "Their removal, in our view, would be too great a price to pay for the sake of historical purity," countered Deputy Regional Director Bean. [2222] In September 1977, Tracy asked Heyder if he could remove all the ailanthus in the pasture, which he described as an undesirable exotic species. Former Custodian Leonard Heaton had routinely done this. Heyder replied that the Mormons brought the ailanthus to Pipe Spring during the historic era. "These areas may be managed to the degree to prevent their taking over a disproportionate share of the vegetative cover," he wrote Tracy, but advised him that any removal program had to be pre-approved to determine if Section 106 clearance was needed. [2223]

Tracy read and reread Hank McCutchen's two pasture surveys in October 1977. Managing the grounds as a natural resource area made no sense to him, given his knowledge of historical cattle ranching practices. "If [the area] is to be operated as a.Living History Ranch of 1870-1890," he wrote Heyder, "then the vegetation within the area becomes secondary. The stockmen of that period gave no thought to preservation of the nine acres referred to as 'the large pasture.' They had 10,000 square miles of forage as their front yard." [2224] In a tone of exasperation, Tracy declared, "A final decision should be reached — i.e., Living History vs. Natural Area — and a written directive should be issued, that we may operate the monument in accordance with the Service's plans." Heyder replied,

We believe that there is no question that Pipe Spring is a historic area, but the vegetation growing upon the property does provide the landscape of the area and it should be managed in such a way to prevent its degradation. The monument, from an interpretive standpoint, is operated in the living history concept, but when the operation affects the vegetation, as is the case of the pastures, we must correct the situation in favor of ground cover. The vegetation never becomes secondary to the operation of the living history ranch. [2225]

The problem of how to manage the monument's landscape remained essentially unresolved for many years. [2226]

Other than the degradation of the two pastures, no landscape changes were reported from 1975 to 1979. Historic orchards were maintained, gardens were planted each year, and the pasture and balance of the area were maintained in keeping with the historic concept of the area. Horse-drawn equipment continued to be used in the maintenance of historic areas.