Inventory & Monitoring at Pea Ridge National Military Park

Pea Ridge National Military Park is located three miles west of the town of Garfield in Benton County, Arkansas. The park was established in 1956 to preserve, commemorate, and interpret events associated with the March 1862 battle that occurred on the site. The park is comprised primarily of deciduous hardwood forests (3,600 acres), but also includes ledges and bluffs, riparian vegetation, restored prairies, a limestone and sandstone glade, and fields. Forests, cultivated fields, or abandoned fields at different stages of ecological succession are present throughout the park. Restoration and reconstruction of a prairie is underway in the western quarter of the park. The park's hardwood forest vegetation varies with site conditions. Distinct forest types include post oak/blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) forest, oak/hickory forests, and mixed forest types typical of the region (James 2008).
The wildlife species found in the park are typical of northwest Arkansas. Animal populations vary among the different plant habitats. Sixty-three species of breeding birds are confirmed through ongoing monitoring efforts with 16 being species of continental importance (Peitz 2009). The yellowthroated vireo (Vireo flavifrons) was the most commonly occurring species during the breeding season, and indigo bunting and northern cardinal were common. Three grassland obligate species were recorded, the eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna), grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), and Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) (Peitz 2009).

Check out the links below for other interesting science information about your park:

Air Quality in Parks
Learn about the air quality at your park and how it has changed over time.

NPS Geodiversity Atlas
An interactive map to explore the full variety of natural geologic (rocks, minerals, sediments, fossils, landforms, and physical processes) and soil resources and processes that occur in your park.

NPSpecies
Find out what plants and animals are present in your park or other parks.