Mt Graham
Copyright 1996. May not be reproduced for commerical purposes
The file contains numerous figures and hence will take a significant amount of time to download over a slow modem
You are visitor number | since 15 March 1996 |
More information can be found on the Mt Graham international observatory Home page
The complex of the high peaks (High, Emerald, Hawk, Heliograph peaks) of the Pinalenos mountains of SE Arizona
View of the Mt. Graham observatory complex. From left-right: VAT telescope, SMT telescope (north of SMT = maintance blgd), far right, cleared site for LBT. Scale: cleared LBT site = 1.6 arces, total footprint here is around four acres. |
| Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahemensis |
| The red squirrel has an extremely wide range in North America, with more than 30 named subspecies. The Mt. Graham subspecies was namely primarily because of its assumed isolation from other populations. Phenotypically, it is not distinquishable for other nearby populations. |
| Life zones on Mt. Graham |
When population size is low, the bulk of the population is assumed to reside in the spruce-fir, increasing the importance of this region
The above figure shows the probability of extinction (p) as a function of population size N. Hence, to compute the impact of the project, one simply computes the effect of the project on N and then finds the change in probablity of extinction p. For example, if the project reduces carrying capacity by x, then compare p for N and (N-x).
The increase in probability of extinction assuming a loss of 2 (blue dots) or 5 (white dots) squirrels, as a function of population size
Construction began in 1989
Squirrel densities (per acre) in Spruce-fir vs. mixed conifer
Mixed Conifer | Spruce fir | |
1984 | 0.15 | 0.12 |
1989 | 0.10 | 0.02 |
Montane conifer forests | 83.8% |
Spruce-Alpine fir forests | 16.2% |
As the following midden map shows, there is squirrel activity around the originally-proposed LBT site (LBT-RPAS). Here the notation x/y means x active middens and a total of y middens. Converesely, in over 8 years of monitoring, no squirrel middens have been found near the new site (LBT-10477).
Following approval by both the US Forest and Fish and Wildlife Services, the new 1.6 acre site was cleared in Dec 1993. This cleared site has sat vacant since then due to court actions.
A student asked why the courts allowed the project to be stopped. Here are the comments from the Circuit Judge Hall, the dissenting judge (the court ruled 2-1 for further studies):
This appeal gives rise to the fifth published opinion from this Court addressing legal challenges to the construction of the Mt. Graham International Observatory. I find this fact remarkable in light of Congress's recognition in 1988 ... to insure the "immediacy of construction to the first three telescopes." ... I find the further delay imposed by today's decision especially regrettable in light of the fact that the FS [US Forest Service] appears to have chosen to locate the LBT on Peak 10,477 in good faith and for laudable reasons: Peak 10,477, according to the FWS [US Fish and Wildife Service] , is now the location that would cause the least disruption to the squirrel's habitat.