Saguaro NP Madrona Pools “Pulse study”

In May 2003, Saguaro National Park sponsored a “pulse study” of the Madrona Ranger Station area in the park’s Rincon Mountain (east) District. The main goal was to bring together scientists and land managers to quickly assess the ecological health of an area. Scientists and managers worked side-by-side in the field at Madrona for a week. Days began at dawn with bird surveys, and mornings were spent on animal and plant surveys, water quality measurements, sampling for aquatic invertebrates, and studying buildings and trails. At night, participants searched for frogs and checked mist nets for bats.

Scientists concluded that Madrona was rich in ecological and cultural resources. More than 50 species of birds and 153 plants were observed during the short study. The pools, fed by bedrock springs in a unique geological setting, appear to be one the least impacted aquatic resources of their kind in the Tucson area due to low levels of historic diversions and recreation, and contain a stable population of the protected lowland leopard frog (Rana yavapaiensis).