# Presentation: 911849

## A Collaborative Approach to Assessing Watershed Conditions in Coastal National ParksKristen Keteles, Cliff McCreedy, Jim Tilmant and Mark Flora

## >3 million ac marine area
5,000 miles shoreline
Coastal fjords, bays, rivers, estuaries, barrier islands, coral reefs, wetlands, Great Lakes, open ocean
Coast and uplands inextricably linked via  watersheds

- 5,000 miles shoreline
- Coastal fjords, bays, rivers, estuaries, barrier islands, coral reefs, wetlands, Great Lakes, open ocean
- Coast and uplands inextricably linked via  watersheds

**NPS Coastal Watershed Portfolio**

## Stressed Coasts 

- 53% population occupy less than 17% entire U.S. land area (coastal zone)
- 75% by 2020
- Wetland loss >20,000 acres year
- Water quality problems, algal blooms, pfiesteria, salinity changes, hypoxia
- Recreational overuse, overfishing
- Shoreline, sediment flow alterations

## Coastal Watershed Condition Assessment (CWCA)

- Funded by the NPS Watershed Condition Assessment Program (WCAP) began funding assessments of Coastal parks in 2003
- NPS plans to complete assessments of 52 coastal park units by 2008
- As of April 2006 assessments have been completed in 9 parks (SE/Gulf coasts, SE Alaska, Hawai’i)
- Assessments currently underway in 37 parks

## Goals of the Coastal Watershed Condition Assessments

- Determine the state of knowledge concerning overall water resources condition
- Identify information gaps and resource threats
- Assess overall ecosystem health
- Sets the stage to establish the context for management actions and collaborations

## NPS Coastal Watershed Condition Assessment Reports

- Describe coastal water resources (marine, estuarine, island)
- Determine state of knowledge on their condition using existing data
- Identify information gaps
- Draw a conclusion or hypothesis re: relative condition (unknown, degraded, unimpaired)
- Identify resource threats or potential issues affecting ecosystem health
- Recommend further studies, if needed (Phase II Collaborations)

## Components of the CWCA Assessments

- Land Use Patterns & Trends
- Water Quality Data & Assessments
- Biological Inventories and Studies
- Habitat Quality Assessments
- Invasive Species Issues
- Resource Utilization Issues

## Who does the work?

- Thru CESU Networks
- Universities with regional/local orientation near Park
- Interdisciplinary Teams
- Marine expertise
-  Provide geospatial information, water quality analysis, biological assessments

## Protect last remaining undeveloped beaches
Rare habitat for T&E species: sea turtles, amphibians, manatees, shorebirds, etc.
Productive estuarine habitats: seagrass beds, salt marshes
Fish, bird and invertebrate nurseries and feeding grounds
Valuable recreation sites > 15 million visitors per year

- Rare habitat for T&E species: sea turtles, amphibians, manatees, shorebirds, etc.
- Productive estuarine habitats: seagrass beds, salt marshes
- Fish, bird and invertebrate nurseries and feeding grounds
- Valuable recreation sites > 15 million visitors per year

**South Atlantic & Gulf Coast National Seashores & Parks**

## Park area: 36,402 ac
Beaches & dunes: 2,405 ac
Salt marsh: 10,717 ac 
Forested wetlands: 804 ac
Evergreen forest: 10,924
Roads: 1,190 ac
Open water:  9,651 ac

- Beaches & dunes: 2,405 ac
- Salt marsh: 10,717 ac
- Forested wetlands: 804 ac
- Evergreen forest: 10,924
- Roads: 1,190 ac
- Open water:  9,651 ac

**    ****Cumberland Island NS    Land Cover/Land Use**

- OK=Not currently a problem, PP =Potential problem, EP=Existing problem, ND: No data, Shaded=limited data

- Stressor Table for Cumberland Island National Seashore

## CUIS Assessment Summary: Water Quality

**CUIS Assessment Summary: Water Quality**

- CUIS Assessment Summary: Habitat Disruption and Other Threats

**Goal: Fill information gaps to clarify condition and identify stressors on coastal resources**
- National Coastal Condition Assessment: Use of protocols, similar indicators
- Park Service Leads: NPS Water Resources Division/NPS Vital Signs Monitoring Networks (parks grouped by bioregions)
**Partners:**
- State agencies
- Coastal Parks overlapping or located near NOAA Estuarine Research Reserves, National Marine Sanctuaries, EPA National Estuary Program sites, State parks, etc.
- Monitoring Programs: U.S. Geological Survey, EPA, NOAA
- Local Watershed Councils and Planning Agencies

- Collaborative Monitoring and Assessment

- Goal:  Work cooperatively with states and local groups to address impacts on park resources
- Point Reyes National Seashore/Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center/Tomales Bay Watershed Council
- Assateague National Seashore/Maryland DNR/Maryland Coastal Bays Program
- Olympic National Park/Olympic National Marine Sanctuary

- Park-Level Management Action

## www.nature.nps.gov/water/watershedconds.cfm

**www.nature.nps.gov/water/watershedconds.cfm**