Natural Resource Challenge 

Funding The National Park Service’s Action Plan 

for Preserving Natural Resources 

July 2001 

National Park Service 

Department of the Interior 

A Report to the United States Congress 

Fiscal Year 2000 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

Published by


U.S. Department of Interior


National Park Service


Natural Resource Stewardship and Science


1849 C Street


Washington, D.C. 20013

THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Natural Resource Challenge Program 

The National Park Service’s Action Plan for 

Preserving Natural Resources 

This report to the Congress details actions undertaken in Fiscal Year 

2000 as part of the Natural Resource Challenge. As a five-year 

program, the Challenge strategically aims to improve management of 

natural resources under the care of the National Park Service by 

building upon existing resource programs. It builds on and expands 

key existing programs and adds important new capabilities. In the first 

year of the Challenge, an increased base funding of $14,329,000 was 

used to accelerate completion of natural resource inventories, target 

efforts to eradicate non-native species, and improve current 

management and expertise of biological and geological resources. 

Certain actions were also mobilized through existing personnel, 

resources, and funding redirected toward the commitment of the 

Natural Resource Challenge. 

The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the 

American people so that all may experience our heritage. 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Table of Contents 

1. Introduction


2. Natural Resource Challenge and Strategic Planning


3. Fiscal Year 2000 Challenge Focus


4. Resource Inventories: Discovering America’s Natural Heritage


A. Resource Inventory Projects


B. Monitoring and Other Projects


C. Database Development and Management


5. Natural Resource Preservation Program Project Funding


A. Park-Specific Natural Resources Management Projects


B. Small Parks Resource Management Projects


C. Threatened and Endangered Species Projects


D. Disturbed Lands Restoration Projects


E. Servicewide Projects


F. USGS-BRD Projects


6. Exotic Plant Control and Strategic Biological Support to the Parks


1 

3 

5 

6 

9 

11 

11 

12 

13 

15 

16 

18 

19 

20 

21 

A. Exotic Species Management Teams and Ecological Restoration 21


B. Endangered Species Program 25


C. Integrated Pest Management 25


D. Wildlife Management Program 26


E. Biological Resource Projects - National Level Support 27


7. Geologic Resource Protection 28


Appendices 

A. Natural Resource Challenge Elements and Their Relationship to Strategic Plan Goals 30


B. Natural Resource Challenge Funding History 31


C. Description and Status of Natural Resource Inventories 32


D. Network Biotic Inventory Allocations 40


E. Allocation of Inventories Other Than Biotic Inventories 41


F. Complete List of FY 2000 NRPP-Funded Projects 43


Mesa Verde NP, Colorado and Mount Rainier NP, Washington

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

1. Introduction 

The Natural Resource Challenge is a five-year action plan focused on the 

natural resources of the national parks. The National Park Service (NPS) 

believes this topic is of the utmost importance to the future well-being of 

national parks. While many understand the importance of visitor facilities, 

infrastructure, and maintenance, there has been little understanding of the 

need to invest in information about our natural resources. The working 

assumption has always been that they will take care of themselves, if we 

leave them alone. The NPS now knows that if this was ever true, it certainly 

isn’t anymore, and we must be engaged in natural resource management. 

The National Parks will fulfill an increasing number of roles for our society in 

the future. Not only will they continue to be loved by American and 

international visitors for their recreational opportunities, parks will become 

future libraries, laboratories, and classrooms of rare importance because they 

will still contain the extraordinary plant and animal heritage that this nation 

treasures. The National Park Service can position itself, with Congress’ help, 

to provide this outcome for the nation. Biologist E. O. Wilson has predicted 

that the day will come when “the flora and fauna of a country will be thought 

part of the national heritage as important as its art, its language . . . .” The 

NPS will play a primary role in preserving that heritage. 

The National Park Service cannot meet this vision for the nation without a full 

commitment to natural resource management. Our past lack of emphasis and 

investment in natural resource management is documented in Preserving 

Nature in our National Parks by Richard Sellars, as well as by the General 

Accounting Office and other reviewers. The Challenge strives to rectify our 

management goals with our management practices by basing decisions upon 

sound scientific information. Currently, our decision-making is already 

documented for a public that is taking an increased interest in how our parks 

are being managed. The public has access to scrutinize all of the 

documentation we are required to develop on environmental and other 

impacts. This includes our decision-making concerning facilities, access, 

visitor activities, and any other significant actions and decisions. 

However, this documentation and decision-making often requires 

information we don’t have. Now more than ever, we must demonstrate 

a rationale based in fact, not intuition, about our resources. 

The continued effort to maintain roads, buildings, and visitor centers are 

important for the increasing levels of park visitation. However, they 

alone are not sufficient to manage visitors, parks, or the reasons visitors 

come to parks. If we are to preserve the 83 million acres of parks for 

present and future generations to enjoy, the National Park Service must 

understand and actively manage these resources. Some units of the National 

Blue Ridge Parkway 

1 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Park System include resources that are impaired, and these require 

restoration. But it is now also clear that all must be actively 

managed, even pristine resources that are unable to escape enormous 

economic, social, and environmental pressures. 

For example, even pristine areas are being overwhelmed by invasive 

plants and animals. There are over 2.6 million acres in the National 

Park system now impacted by invasive weeds. In addition, there are 

4,000 abandoned mineral land sites in 140 NPS units, and 220,000 

acres of disturbed lands. Such areas invite invasive plant 

colonization. Invasive plants change habitats such that they drive out 

native plants and animals, change fire regimes, encourage erosion, 

and interfere with the scenic qualities that parks were meant to 

preserve. Invasive plants have been called a “biological wildfire.” 

The Service must take action. The Natural Resource Challenge 

positions the Service to do this. 

The Natural Resource Challenge is a multi-year program that builds 

on key existing programs and adds important, previsouly missing 

components. Moreover, for the first time, it provides a coordinated, 

system-wide approach to natural resource management. Natural 

Resource Challenge actions will not remedy all issues concerning 

natural resource conditions within its five-year timeframe. It will make 

a strong start and provide the capability and foundation for resource 

preservation in the future. The Natural Resource Challenge positions 

the Service to meet the expectation of the American public that their 

national parks will be in good condition—the natural resources as 

well as the facilities—both now and in the future. 

“the flora and fauna of a country will be 

thought part of the national heritage as 

important as its art, its language. . .” 

E. O. Wilson 

Bristlecone pine in Great Basin NP, Nevada and Olympic NP, Washington 

2 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

2. The Natural Resources Challenge and 

NPS Strategic Planning 

Concurrent with the National Park Service’s recognition of the need to improve 

the management of park natural resources, the Government Performance and 

Results Act (GPRA) propelled the agency towards performance management. 

The GPRA required the Park Service to prioritize and focus its actions on 

programs and projects of the highest potential to furthering the mission of the 

NPS and to measure its progress in meeting its goals. As a result, the National 

Park Service’s Strategic Plan developed under GPRA reflects the Challenge 

goals and objectives and likewise, the Challenge supports GPRA goals. 

Additionally, the Challenge actions are rooted in performance management; that 

is, they have been structured to produce measurable results. 

As a result of the strong interrelationship of GPRA, the resulting NPS Strategic 

Plan, and the Challenge action plan, the Challenge assists parks to realize the 

mission and long-term goals of the NPS Strategic Plan. Most relevant mission 

goals of the NPS Strategic Plan are: 

National and cultural and associated values are protected, 

restored and maintained in good condition and managed within 

their broader ecosystem context. (Mission Goal Ia) 

The National Park Service contributes to knowledge about 

natural and cultural resources and their associated values; 

management decisions about resources and visitors are based on 

adequate scholarly and scientific information.(Mission Goal Ib) 

Visitors understand and appreciate the preservation of parks and 

their resources for this and future generations. (Mission Goal 

IIb) 

Following are the principal Strategic Plan long-term goals, targeted to be met by 

September 30, 2005, that are directly supported by actions included in the 

Challenge. A list of the Natural Resource Challenge elements and their 

relationship to Strategic Plan goals is included in Appendix A. The FY 2000/ 

2001 appropriation and proposed FY 2002 Challenge-related budget actions 

will allow some of them to be exceeded, since the goals were predicated on 

available funds without increases. 

Inventory and Monitoring 

§ Acquire or develop 87% of the outstanding data sets identified in 1999 of 

basic natural resource inventories for all parks. 

§ 80% of parks with significant natural resources have identified their vital 

signs for natural resource monitoring. 

Washita Battlefield NHS, Oklahoma Inventory & Monitoring vegetation survey 

3 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Restoration 

§	 10.1% of targeted parklands, disturbed by development or agriculture as 

of 1999, are restored. 

§ Exotic vegetation on 6.3% of targeted acres of parkland is contained. 

Threatened and Endangered Species 

§	 19% of the 1999 identified park populations of 

federally listed threatened and endangered species 

with critical habitat on park lands or requiring NPS 

recovery actions have improved status, and another 

18.1% have stable populations. 

Geologic Resources 

§	 Geological processes in 53 parks are inventories and human influences 

that affect those processes are identified. 

§ 20% of known paleontological localities in parks are in good condition. 

§ 72,500 square feet of cave floors in parks are restored. 

Resource Interpretation and Education 

§	 86% of visitors understand and appreciate the significance of parks they 

are visiting. 

Air and Water Quality 

§	 Air quality in 70% of reporting park areas has remained stable or 

improved. 

§ 85% of Park units have unimpaired water quality. 

Federally-threatened California red-legged frog in Point Reyes NS, California, bald eagle in


Denali NP & Pr, Alaska, and water quality monitoring in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland 4

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

3. Fiscal Year 2000 Challenge Focus 

Congress demonstrated its commitment to the natural resources of our nation by 

authorizing and appropriating funding to meet the needs of the Natural Resource 

Challenge in Fiscal Year 2000. Funding priorities for the first year of the fiveplan were directed at accelerating the collection of the data through 

resources inventories. In areas where data already exists on exotic 

vegetation, removal of the vegetation was begun. This conservative approach 

ensured overall success of the Natural Resource Challenge plan when it was 

finally completed and approved by the Director of the National Park Service 

August of 2000. 

Funding was increased for two existing programs, the Inventory and 

Monitoring Program and the Natural Resource Preservation Program. This 

ensured a quicker collection of park natural resource inventories and also 

addressed various resource management needs such as restoration. 

Biological and geologic resources management activities were improved 

by establishing a program to address native and exotic species and by 

expanding geologic resources protection capabilities. Ahigh priority was 

placed on multiple, focused efforts to eradicate exotic species and was 

especially evident through the creation of Exotic Plant Management 

Teams. 

Many other Challenge actions were undertaken that required no 

additional funding. For example, locations and partnerships for future 

Learning Centers were identified, a “Sabbatical in the Parks” program was 

established to attract scientists to use and assist parks, and a career development 

program was implemented to attract resource specialists with an academic 

background and to train them in NPS resource methods. These actions mobilized 

existing personnel and resources to refocus on the National Park Service’s highest 

priority. 

A table illustrating FY 2000 Natural Resource Challenge funding, as well as FY 

2001 and proposed FY 2002 funding, in relationship to all FY 1999 natural 

resource funding is included in Appendix B. 

Natural Resource Challenge Funding Increases in FY 2000 

Natural Resource Inventories $ 7,309,000 

Natural Resource Preservation Program Project Funding $ 2,875,000 

Exotic Plant Control and Strategic Biological Support to Parks $ 3,449,000 

Geologic Resource Protection $ 696,000 

TOTAL $ 14,329,000 

5

THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

4. Resource Inventories: 

Discovering America’s Natural Heritage 

FY 2000 Increase: $7,309,000 

To fulfill the National Park Service’s mission of preserving the nation’s 

heritage, it is essential that park managers know the nature and condition of 

the resources placed under their stewardship. Because of the importance of 

information on resources, the National Park Service commenced an 

Inventory and Monitoring Program in 1992. However, although periodic 

small increases for this program were received, there was not enough funding 

to complete basic inventories in a reasonable timeframe or to monitor the 

condition of resources in even the selected prototype monitoring parks. 

Therefore, the Natural Resource Challenge made the acceleration and 

expansion of these efforts a keystone. 

In FY 2000, the first year of the Natural Resource Challenge, $7,309,000 in 

increased funding for inventories was received. Using funding received 

through the Natural Resource Challenge in FY 2000, the National Park 

Service is completing inventories of the basic natural resources placed under 

its stewardship. 

The table below shows the relationship of the Inventory and Monitoring 

Program as it existed in FY 1999 and in FY 2000 with the funding increase. 

The program encompasses 287 parks (270 administrative units for the 

purposes of the program) that have a significant amount of natural resources. 

Inventory and monitoring data are needed for park management in these 

areas. 

Inventory and Monitoring Funding 

Available in FY 1999 $ 5,787,000 

Pay Adjustment $ 8,000 

Transferred permanently to prototype park $ (305,000) 

Natural Resource Challenge Increase $ 7,309,000 

FY 2000 TOTAL $12,799,000 

Inventory and Monitoring Funding Categories 

Resource Inventory Projects $10,862,640 

Monitoring and Other Projects $ 1,474,300 

Database Development and Management $ 422,560 

T OTAL $12,799,000 

*Total reflects uncontrollable base changes in FY 2000 

Half Dome at Yosemite NP, California 

6 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

The inventories are being closely coordinated to ensure that they satisfy several important 

criteria: 

q	 Collectively, the inventory data represent the “core” set of information park managers 

need to deal effectively with park planning, management, and protection—not all the 

information needed, but a common core set. 

q	 The inventories are being conducted on a system-wide basis in accordance with 

clearly defined protocols and quality-assurance standards. 

q	 Data obtained through the inventories will be compatible to allow for synthesis and 

analysis at ecosystem and other broad levels. 

One strategic response to gathering both inventory and monitoring information lies in the 

creation of networks across the United States. For FY 2000, regionally based networks 

were organized, joining parks sharing similar geographical and ecological characteristics. 

Each network concentrates expertise and experience common to an ecological region 

containing a number of parks. 

Inventories of plants and animals are being conducted cooperatively using these networks 

in partnership with academic institutions and other agencies with expertise in local flora 

and fauna. 

Ecological Region-based Networks 

7

THE N

ATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Inventory Completion Summary 

June 2001 

Basic Data Sets 1999 1/ 2000 2/ Total Parks Expected 

To Complete 3/ Completion Date 

Underway Completed Underway Completed 

Automated Bibliographies 0 256 2 257 13 FY2003 

Base Cartographic Data 235 30 24 248 0 FY2002 

Higher Plant and Animal Occurrence (species lists) 103 86 186 86 0 FY2002 

Distribution of Species of Special Concern 0 0 271 0 1 FY2004 

Vegetation Maps 20 10 29 18 225 FY2010 

Soils Maps 134 15 136 18 118 FY2008 

Geology Inventories 239 0 239 0 33 FY2008 

Water Resource Locations (digital) 265 0 271 0 1 FY2003 

Water Chemistry 143 122 56 213 3 FY2001 

Air Quality 0 0 266 0 6 FY2002 

Air Quality-Related Values 0 0 0 0 272 FY2007 

Meteorological Data 0 0 0 0 272 FY2003 

1/ Based on 11/24/99 data. 2/ Based on 2/27/01 and 6/21/01 data. 3/ The Servicewide program acquires basic inventory data sets for about 272 parks with significant natural resources. New park units and reporting parks as administered for inventories, rather than by statutorily authorized units, has resulted in some slight changes in park numbers. Some parks have acquired some of these data 

sets and a few parks may not need all 12 sets. The number of parks to complete the data set reflects the number of parks Servicewide with outstanding needs. 

8

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

A. Resource Inventory Projects 

Funding Allocation: $10,862,640 

Resource Inventories must focus efforts to gather the most relevant scientific 

information in order to make sound decisions regarding their access or 

protection. These inventories will be based upon a network approach to 

ensure cost efficient sharing of researchers and methods. Parks must make a 

decision about their most vital inventory needs based on the context of 

resources and their larger ecosystem. 

Highlights of projects undertaken in FY 2000 are described below. Detailed 

information on the status of inventories by park, as well as a description of 

the inventories is included in Appendix C. 

Base Cartographic Data 

All parks urgently need the assembly of basic spatial information such as 

elevation and roads. This information, in digital form, is provided for 

geographic information systems (GIS) to support decision-making and 

resource protection activities. The Service is acquiring these products through 

a 50:50 cost sharing arrangement with the USGS. In FY 2000, this was 

accelerated with $1,250,000 to acquire more than 6,000 base cartography 

data products for 230 parks, increasing the number of parks for which this 

inventory has been completed to 96 percent. 

Higher Plant and Animal Species Occurrence and Distribution of 

Species of Special Concern 

Prior to FY 2000, very little inventorying of plants and animals had been 

initiated. With the FY 2000 funding, thirty-two networks overseeing 270 

parks with significant natural resources were organized for inventory and 

monitoring. Each network is based upon existing ecosystem maps 

illustrating similar species, habitats, and physical properties. In FY 2000, 

the Service began to undertake efforts to conduct inventories of plants 

and animals, organized on a network-by-network basis. A total of $4.4 

million was allocated to networks for this purpose. The efforts in FY 

2000 have yielded some exciting results. For example: 

•	 Initial efforts to inventory Pacific Island plants and animals focused on 

identifying and cataloging data available from other sources. A scientist 

who worked in American Samoa several decades ago loaned 

approximately 300 slides to NPS. As a result, some 650 entries of 

existing data and the private slide collection are now available for use in 

identifying and documenting near shore fish in all the Pacific Island parks. 

Other records located through the inventory suggest several possible 

additions to the bird list for Haleakala National Park, including a federally 

listed threatened seabird, the Newell’s Shearwater. 

Badger 

9 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

•	 An extensive search of the Montana State University Herbarium was 

conducted as part of the initial inventory work for the Greater Yellowstone 

network. This searching resulted in 1,951 specimens of 1,059 species 

reported to have been collected in Yellowstone NP, Grand Teton NP, or 

Bighorn Canyon NRA. Of the specimens discovered, approximately 20 

identified as having been collected in Yellowstone NP are of species 

previously unknown to the park. Four of these have been verified as new 

records for the park; the remaining 16 are being reviewed 

for accuracy to assure that they were properly identified. 

Additionally, a significant number of specimens collected 

from Glacier National Park were noted, and even a few 

from Yosemite National Park; information will be 

provided to those parks as well. 

See Appendix D for detailed information on Network Biotic 

Inventory Allocations. In addition to initiating network plant 

and animal inventory efforts, other traditional plant and animal 

inventories previously initiated were completed, and special 

amphibian inventories were undertaken. 

In recent years, the scientific community has gathered compelling evidence to 

support the conclusion that populations of amphibians are declining throughout 

many sections of the world, including the United States. However, the 

underlying causes of these declines, and an apparent associated increase in the 

percentage of amphibian deformations, are largely unknown. In response to 

these findings, in FY 2000 the USGS Biological Resources Division began its 

Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI), which is designed to 

document amphibian population declines on Department of the Interior lands 

and also conduct research into the mechanisms causing those declines. In 

support of the USGS amphibian initiative, the Service allocated nearly 

$1,000,000 of the FY 2000 increase to conducting special inventories of 

amphibian populations in 13 parks. These amphibian inventories will provide 

important information park managers can use to address a variety of resource 

management and protection issues and also acquire much of the baseline 

information needed to support USGS research efforts in these parks in the 

future. 

Water Chemistry, Soils Maps, and Geology Inventories 

Geologic inventory activities were funded in 23 parks, most of them in Utah 

and Colorado. State geologists in these states are working closely with the 

National Park Service on these projects. The USGS is helping with geologic 

mapping as well. Soils mapping was underway in eight parks, conducted by 

the Natural Resource Conservation Service. Water quality inventories in 19 

parks are focusing on information gaps identified by evaluating the EPA 

databases and other sources. See Appendix E for complete listing of projects. 

USGS biologist surveying water quality at Washita Battlefield NHS, Oklahoma 

10 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

B. Monitoring and Other Projects 

Funding Allocation: $1,474,300 

Prior to the Natural Resource Challenge, the National Park Service 

was engaged in testing different monitoring strategies through a 

prototype monitoring program. These prototype monitoring programs 

began in 1992 with 11 programs involving 22 parks selected for 

prototype monitoring. In FY 2000, prototype monitoring efforts in 

Denali National Park & Preserve, the Prairie Cluster of small 

Midwestern parks, Cape Cod National Seashore, and Channel 

Islands National Park continued to be supported through the 

Inventory and Monitoring Program. 

The current funding of the prototypes initiated in 1992 focuses largely 

on those parks which are still in the design and testing phase (assisted 

by USGS). The funding covers project costs other than monitoring 

personnel for other early prototype monitoring parks. 

Because the entire prototype park monitoring efforts had not been 

funded when the Challenge was developed, the Park Service 

determined that a new, less intensive (and less expensive) approach 

to monitoring was needed. While the prototype program tested 

sharing monitoring for clusters of small parks, the Challenge 

developed the concept of all parks sharing monitoring across 

networks. Each network must identify the most critical park vital 

signs to monitor. In FY 2000, in addition to organizing the networks, 

workshops and other efforts to help parks begin to identify the most 

important resources to monitor for future Challenge-related 

monitoring efforts took place. Finally, protocol development for 

soundscape monitoring to implement new legislation was also funded. 

C. Database Development and Management 

Funding Allocation: $422,560 

A key component of the Challenge is to make data more easily 

stored, accessed, and used for management purposes. Two major 

efforts funded in FY 2000 are the NPSpecies database and the 

Dataset Catalog. These two databases will standardize the efficient 

foundation of substantial inventory and monitoring data necessary to 

make the best decisions about park resources. The NPSpecies 

database will provide one web-based database to capture all data 

about species in parks and will link to related information, such as 

where specimens are housed and articles published about a species 

in a park. 

Two Medicine Lake in Glacier NP, Montana 

11 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

The Dataset Catalog will allow parks to maintain an organized list of their 

data collections. Both of these databases will allow data sharing with other 

researchers, agencies, and academia as well as interface with other park 

data. 

5. Natural Resource Preservation Program


(NRPP)


FY 2000 Increase: $2,875,000


Most resource management activities are undertaken at the park level, where 

resource management funding provides salary and support costs for 

personnel in parks. However, parks usually have little or no flexible, 

dedicated funding for cyclic and one-time project needs. To undertake large 

projects, most parks require special project funding. 

The Natural Resource Challenge resulted in an increase of $2.875 million in 

FY 2000, a nearly 50% increase over the previous $5.432 million available. 

As part of the Challenge, two special portions of NRPP were established to 

fund disturbed lands and threatened and endangered species restoration 

projects. A complete list of FY 2000 NRPP- Funded projects is available in 

Appendix F. 

In FY 2000, the Natural Resource Preservation Program (NRPP) provided 

funding to approximately 135 parks. It provides the only reliable and 

dedicated source of large NPS project funding (project costs greater than 

$50,000) available for natural resource management projects. The most 

recent analysis showed a backlog of $478 million in natural resource project 

needs. This includes $173 million for mitigation projects such as site 

restoration. 

The NRPP supports activities in a diversity of areas, such as wildlife, 

fisheries, and vegetation management, including specialized inventories, 

planning, mitigation actions and restoration activities. In recent years, due to 

funding, typically less than one dozen new projects have been initiated each 

year. About sixty percent of the funds ($5.1 million) are available for 

unspecified park-specific natural resource management projects. The balance 

strategically targets specific needs and is distributed as follows: $1 million for 

Small Park Projects, $850,000 for Disturbed Lands Restoration, $500,000 

for Threatened and Endangered Species Projects, $255,000 for USGS/BRD 

Technical Assistance Projects, and $600,000 for Servicewide projects. 

Cougar 

12 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

Natural Resource Preservation Program (NRPP) Project Funding 

Available in FY 1999 $5,432,000 

Natural Resource Challenge Increase $2,875,000 

FY 2000 TOTAL $8,307,000 

Natural Resource Preservation Program Project Funding Categories 

Park-Specific Natural Resource Management Projects $4,612,062 

Small Parks Projects $ 987,000 

Threatened and Endangered Species Projects $ 482,000 

Disturbed Lands Restoration Projects $1,073,000 

Servicewide Projects $ 597,938 

USGS-BRD Projects $ 555,000 

TOTAL $8,307,000 

A. Park-Specific Natural Resource


Management Projects


Funding Allocation: $4,612,062


This is the largest segment of the Natural Resource Preservation 

Program. Priority park projects are submitted by regions and reviewed 

and ranked by a panel of NPS and other subject matter experts, which 

recommends projects for funding based on project quality, resource 

threats and other factors. Typically, more projects are approved than can 

be funded in any one year and approved projects are carried over for 

initial funding in the following year. Projects must cost at least $50,000 

and no more than $900,000 and may last no more than three years. 

Most projects require at least two years to complete and others three 

years. Projects receive their funding annually. Approximately 140 

projects received park specific funding for fiscal year 2000. Eight of 

these were completed this year. Following are examples and highlights of 

projects completed in FY 2000. 

Sequoia at Sequoia NP, California and grizzly bear in Denali NP, Alaska 

13 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Exotic Plant Control Team: Lake Mead National Recreation Area and


Multiple Parks (17)


$104,000 FY 2000/ $594,000 total


This team implemented multiple projects in six states totaling more than 1,000 

acres of exotic plants. The team from Lake Mead also provided exotic plant 

control training to partner parks, instructing them to carry out long term weed 

maintenance and follow up with monitoring. Multiple partnerships followed up 

initial work of these teams by dedicating $150,000 to restoration and 

$140,000 to revegetation following Plant Team intervention. 

Paleontological Inventory: Mammoth Cave National Park, KY 

$138,000 FY 2000/ $411,000 total 

Inventories were undertaken and completed to discover the significance of 

over 450 individual fossil sites within park caves. Especially important 

fossils were found and identified including a water rat, an extinct giant 

armadillo, and a peccary. In addition, bone-rich deposits were sampled, 

washed, and proved to be a rich, extremely important find. 

Prarie Dog Protection: Bryce Canyon National Park, UT 

$12,000 FY 2000/ $92,000 total 

To protect the threatened Utah prairie dog and stop impacts to vegetation and 

soils a multi-phase project was conducted. The first step was to construct a 

physical barrier to keep visitors from dispersing through occupied Utah prairie 

dogs colonies. The second step was to revegetate areas within the barrier 

impacted by heavy trampling of native vegetation. The barrier around the Utah 

prairie dog colony appears to be a success because visitors are staying near 

their cars as they stop to view the wildlife in this meadow. Mule deer also 

frequent the meadow and are not being disturbed by park visitors trying to 

venture out in to the meadow to get closer. 

Bryce Canyon NP, Utah and Lake Mead NRA, Nevada with exotic plant management team 

14 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

B. Small Park Resource Management Projects 

Funding Allocation: $987,000 

Funding is provided to regions to allocate for projects in small parks. Small 

parks are defined for purposes of this funding as those that fall in the lower 

third of funding for all parks, although there is discretion to vary this by 

region. The funds are allocated according to the natural resource 

management workload of these parks. 

In FY 2000, approximately 90 projects were funded, for between $1,000 

and $30,000 each, with most under $10,000. 

Region 

Alaska 

Intermountain 

Midwest 

National Capital 

Northeast 

Pacific West 

Southeast 

Funding Number of Completed


$ 20,000 

$ 195,000 

$ 150,000 

$ 82,000 

$ 104,500 

$ 208,000 

$ 223,000 

$ 4,500 

TOTAL $ 987,000 

Projects 

2 parks/2 projects 

22 parks/28 projects 

18 parks and projects 

7 parks and projects 

5 parks and projects 

11 parks/20 projects 

13 parks/13 projects 

authorized, not expended 

78 parks/93 projects 

Following are examples of some of the FY 2000 projects. 

Prairie Restoration: Fort Scott National Historic Site, KS 

$8,000 

Fort Scott was established as part of a peace-keeping effort along 

what was then considered the “Permanent Indian Frontier.” It also 

played a role in the Civil War and railroad expansion. Fort Scott 

National Historic Site interprets all three time periods. Use of the fort 

changed the area from the prairie that the first settlers viewed. The 

site maintains a small tallgrass prairie for interpretive purposes, which 

needed restoration work. A contractor removed undesirable trees and 

undergrowth. Two resource assistants, obtained through the Student 

Conservation Association, and a part-time seasonal employee 

removed the remaining vegetation and prepared the soil for seeding. Woody 

sprouts were cut and stumps treated with a herbicide throughout the prairie 

and Johnsongrass was removed manually. Six species of grasses and 17 

species of forbs were broadcast into the area in December. 

Tallgrass prairie restoration at Fort Scott NHS, Kansas 

15 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Assess Presence of Tick Borne Disease: Arkansas Post National


Memorial, AR


$9,500


In FY 2000, 25,831 ticks were collected by flagging and through small


mammal trapping. Of those collected, 1,698 ticks, or 289 pooled samples,


were sent to the United States Army Center for Health Promotion


and Preventive Medicine – North for testing. Ticks are being tested


for presence of carriers for Ehrlichiosis and Lyme Disease.


Frequencies of both diseases will be determined and the disease


infestation rates will be used to determine management actions on


pest population.


C. Threatened and Endangered Species Projects 

Funding Allocation: $482,000 

A special portion of the NRPP for projects related to threatened and 

endangered species was established in FY 2000 with a portion of the FY 

2000 increase. Examples of projects completed in FY 2000 are described 

below. 

Monitor Peregrine Falcons: Dinosaur National Monument, Glen 

Canyon National Recreation Area, and Zion National Park, UT/CO 

$114,000 

This multi-park project used NRPP funds to purchase equipment and 

field teams of seasonal employees to search for peregrine nests, 

photograph and characterize those nests, and monitor occupancy, 

breeding biology, and fledgling success. The results show that while it 

was not a very good year for peregrine breeding, on average 1.54 

young fledged per occupied territory. 

Park Ranger collecting ticks and disease testing in a laboratory setting at Arkansas Post NMem,


Arkansas and Zion NP, Utah 16

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

Ute Ladies’-Tresses Orchid Protection: Dinosaur National


Monument, CO/UT


$86,000


This rare orchid is a federally threatened species. Dinosaur National 

Monument contracted with Utah State University to analyze the effects of 

future Flaming Gorge Dam operations on the orchid’s distribution and 

abundance. The University has completed geomorphic mapping of the 

Green River and an inventory of orchid populations. The University is 

now working with NPS staff to determine the likely impacts to orchid 

population that might result from changes to how the dam is operated and 

how much water is released. 

Protect Kemp Ridley Sea Turtles: Padre Island National


Seashore, TX


$138,500


This park used its NRPP funds to outfit and field patrols of turtle nesting 

beaches. Seven seasonal employees were hired to conduct daily and 

overnight patrols along with 30 volunteers and 8 USGS-BRD staff in 

order to protect the turtles and their nests. In total, over 97,400 miles of 

beach were patrolled. Twelve Kemp’sRidley, one green, and five 

loggerhead turtle nests were protected. A total of 1,000 Kemp’s Ridley, 

349 loggerhead, and 169 green turtle eggs were hatched and nestlings 

successfully released as a result of these efforts. 

The federally-threatened Ute Ladies’-Tresses Orchid at Dinosaur NM, Colorado 

17 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

D. Disturbed Lands Restoration Projects 

Funding Allocation: $1,073,000 

This funding category was established with a portion of the FY 2000 increase. 

Before the FY 2000 increase, there was no dedicated funding for disturbed land 

restoration projects. Disturbed lands are those parklands where the natural 

conditions and processes have been impacted or altered by development (e.g., 

facilities, roads, mines, and dams) or by agricultural practices (e.g. cropping, 

grazing, timber harvest). Restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of 

disturbed areas and reintegrating the site into the surrounding natural system. 

Projects funded are those that are submitted by regions and reviewed and 

ranked by a panel of subject matter experts. The panel recommends projects for 

funding based on project quality, resource threats, and other factors. Projects 

must cost at least $50,000 and no more than $250,000 and may last no more 

than three years. Examples of projects completed in FY 2000 follow. 

Lawn Lake Dam Removal: Rocky Mountain National Park, CO 

$250,000 

The failure of Lawn Lake Dam on July 15, 1982 achieved national attention. 

Three people were killed and over $30 million in damage occurred. The remains 

of the disaster—the alluvial fan, the scoured and deeply incised channel and the 

remains of the dam—are among the most heavily visited sites in the park. Yet, 

even after eighteen years, the failed dam and debris remained in essentially the 

same condition as they did shortly after the catastrophic flood. This project 

removed the remainder of the dam and restored the area to its original condition. 

Rainbow Wells Site Restoration: Mojave National Preserve, CA 

$100,000 

The Rainbow Wells area is within designated critical habitat for the federally 

threatened desert tortoise. The site includes over 10 acres of disturbed soil and 

vegetation with an abandoned mine, shafts, residential buildings, and large open 

wells. This project completed site cleanup by removing automobiles, trailers, 

equipment, and exotic vegetation. Soils were decompacted and numerous 

drainage alterations were corrected to support erosion control. In addition, 

backfilling open shafts with on-site waste rock eliminated safety hazards to park 

visitors and staff. 

Lawn Lake Dam removal at Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado 

18 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

E. Servicewide Projects 

Funding Allocation: $597,938 

In addition to park-specific projects, there are often broader project needs 

to address Service-wide goals, some of which do not fall within other funding 

sources. Projects to meet these needs are proposed and recommended by 

Service-wide program managers—often in response to recommendations of 

the Natural Resource Advisory Group—to the Associate Director, Natural 

Resource Stewardship and Science. FY 2000 projects are listed below, 

along with the appropriate Challenge goal and accomplishments for each. 

Haskell Indian College Agreement and Student Hires 

$27,000 

Under a Cooperative Agreement with Haskell Indian Nations University, the 

National Park Service works in partnership with the school to fund students 

working in the Midwest Region National Parks. This internship serves as a 

work-study experience complete with college credit for the students. Two 

Native American students assisted two separate parks in natural resource 

monitoring programs, restoration plans, fire management, and a biological 

control program. 

During the summers of 1998-2000, a former Haskell Indian Nations 

University student assisted Apostle Islands National Lakeshore with a variety 

of natural resource monitoring projects, including: breeding bird survey; 

eagle banding; piping plover monitoring; water quality monitoring; sandscape 

monitoring; frog and toad monitoring; and purple loosestrife control. She also 

assisted with the development of a restoration plan for several previous use 

and occupancy sites. 

At Theodore Roosevelt National Park, a Native American student assisted 

the Resource Management staff with the biological and chemical control 

program for the management of leafy spurge, a non-native plant. The student 

also monitored biological control release sites and collected leafy spurge flea 

beetles for redistribution to establish new sites, as well as assisting with fire 

management. Having completed fire suppression training, her third summer 

was devoted to fire management and its relationship to controlled burns. 

Night Sky Monitoring 

$30,000 

This funding was successful in initiating the NPS Night Sky Team, which 

evaluated and selected methods to measure light pollution at four parks in the 

Western Region. The team also provided technical assistance to three other 

parks in internal lighting issues. A portion of this funding was used to produce 

60 comprehensive handbooks for parks. The Night Sky Team will continue 

inventories at 8 additional parks and provide technical assistance to others 

with the recently established 20% Fee Demo funding proposal. 

19

THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Field Guide to NEPA 

$25,000 

A contract has been entered into to develop a web-based tool that will 

provide a variety of resources to those working within NEPA. This up-todate public web-based site will include guidance to the field, NEPA 

documents, decision documents, and project summaries. Users will be able 

to search for NPS projects and documents with similar focus and generate 

summary reports for Congressional and other inquiries. 

F. USGS-BRD Projects 

Funding Allocation: $555,000 

This is a two-part allocation. The first portion, $300,000, funded the US


Geological Survey-Biological Resources Division (USGS-BRD) research


related to brucellosis. Three ongoing projects were funded. First was the final


year of a 5-year study of brucellosis in Yellowstone National Park bison. The


second project was the fourth year of a study assessing the effect of


brucellosis on Grand Teton National Park bison. The third project funded


was surveillance of the southern portion of the Greater Yellowstone Area.


Other projects addressed vaccine biosafety and efficiency, and


deliverability of brucella vaccines for elk and bison.


As part of the second FY 2000 USGS-BRD allocation, the NPS jointly


funded and helped select BRD projects to support short-term park


needs for tactical research and technical assistance. BRD announced


project awards in mid-March, with 21 projects scheduled to start in FY


2000 and 4 additional projects scheduled to start in FY 2001.


All except one of the 20 projects that started in FY 2000 will continue


into FY 2001. These 20 diverse projects will benefit 21 parks in 18 states.


The 20 projects include 15 that are mostly exploratory research and 5 that


are mostly technical assistance. Project topics range widely. Examples


include studying the effect of an exotic plant species on pollination and seed


set of native plant species, conducting a post-fire burn assessment by remote


sensing, developing indicators of freshwater emergent wetland ecosystem


integrity, synthesizing over 60 years of existing surface and ground water


data, and assessing the ecological reaction of red-throated loons to present


and future perils.


Bison at Yellowstone NP, Wyoming 

20 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

6. Exotic Plant Control and Strategic


Biological Support to Parks


FY 2000 Increase: $3,449,000


The Service has not had a national program to develop and implement 

strategic management approaches to issues such as exotic species control, 

species restoration, and wildlife disease and population management. To 

ensure a systematic and nation-wide approach the Biological Resource 

Management Division (BRMD) was established in FY 2000. In less than a 

year the BRMD has consolidated and initiated activities to provide the NPS 

with state of the art, science-based support programs addressing exotic 

species management, ecosystem restoration, threatened and endangered 

species protection and wildlife management. 

Exotic Plant Control and Strategic Biological Support Funding 

Available in FY 1999 $ 

Natural Resources Challenge Increases: 

Exotic Plant Management Teams & Ecological Restoration $1,987,000 

Endangered Species Program $ 393,000 

Integrated Pest Management $ 232,000 

Wildlife Program $ 385,000 

Biological Resource Projects $ 452,000 

FY 2000 TOTAL $3,449,000 

Highlights of these efforts on behalf of park resources and funded through the 

Natural Resource Challenge include: 

A. Exotic Species Management Teams 

and Ecological Restoration 

Funding Allocation: $1,987,000 

Following habitat loss, invasive or exotic plant and animal species are 

considered the greatest threat to our natural heritage. They are implicated in 

the listing of 42 percent of all plant and animal species protected by the 

Endangered Species Act. Additionally, approximately 2.6 million acres of 

national parklands are infested by invasive plant species. The threat of 

invasive species has grave implications for the preservation of natural and 

cultural resources throughout the national park system. 

21


0 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

A new weapon to combat exotic plant species was launched by the National


Park Service in 2000 as part of the Natural Resource Challenge. Called the


Exotic Plant Management Team or EPMT, the new capability was modeled


after the coordinated rapid response approach used in wildland fire fighting


because it is also effective in controlling exotic plants. The first test 


EPMT concept was made in 1997 at Lake Mead National Recreation


Area (Nevada and Arizona) and served national park units throughout 


Southwest. Its success led to the establishment of four EPMTs through


the Natural Resource Challenge in 2000. The long-term goal is to 


EPMTs deployed wherever serious threats to resources are identified.


Each EPMT provides a highly trained, mobile strike force of invasive


plant management specialists to assist parks with limited capabilities


and expertise in the control of exotic plants.The success of the EPMT


derives from its ability to adapt to local conditions and needs. Each


team employs the expertise of local citizens and the capabilities of


local agencies. Each sets its own work priorities based on the


following factors: severity of threat to high quality natural areas and


rare species; extent of targeted infestation; probability of


successful control and potential for restoration and opportunities


for local public partnerships.


The EPMTs of Florida and the National Capitol Region provide excellent yet


contrasting illustrations of regional adaptability. The Florida EPMT formed a


partnership with the Upland Invasive Plant Management Program of the


Florida Department of Environmental Protection and approximately 136


other groups in the program to control invasive plants. Together they fund


removal of exotics in 11 units of the national park system in Florida. The


EPMT of the National Capital Region takes another approach. This team


serves 10 regional parks directly by assisting in the control and monitoring of


exotic plants.


The Chihahuan Desert/Southern Shortgrass Prairie Exotic Plant Management Team 

22 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

Four Exotic Plant Management Teams


Funded in FY 2000


38 Parks Represented in Teams


Pacific Islands Exotic Plant Management 

Team 

Host: Haleakala National Park 

Benefiting Parks 

Haleakala National Park


Hawaii Volcanoes National Park


Kalaupapa National Historical Park


Kaloka-Honokohau National Historical Park


Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Site


Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site


Florida Partnership 

Host: Southeast Environmental Research Program at 

Florida International University 

Benefiting Parks 

Big Cypress National Preserve


Biscayne National Park


Canaveral National Seashore


Carl Sandburg Home National Historical Site


De Soto National Memorial


Dry Tortugas National Park


Everglades National Park


Fort Caroline National Memorial


Fort Moultrie National Historic Monument


Gulf Islands National Seashore


Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve


Chihahuan Desert/Southern Shortgrass


Prairie


Exotic Plant Management Team


Host: Carlsbad Caverns National Park 

Benefiting Parks 

Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument


Amistad National Recreation Area


Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site


Big Bend National Park


Capulin Volcano National Monument


Carlsbad Caverns National Park


Fort Davis National Historic Site


Guadalupe Mountains National Park


Lake Merideth National Recreation Area


Washita National Battlefield


White Sands National Monument


The Chihahuan Desert/Southern Shortgrass Prairie Exotic Plant Management Team removing 

23 Tamarisk in White Sands NM, New Mexico 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

National Capitol Region Exotic Plant 

Management Team 

Host: Rock Creek Park 

Benefiting Parks 

Antietam National Battlefield


Catoctin Mountain Park


Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Park


George Washington Memorial Highway


Harpers Ferry National Historical Park


Manassas National Battlefield Park


Monocacy National Battlefield


National Capital Parks East


Prince William Forest Park


Rock Creek Park


Locations of the Four Exotic Plant Management Teams 

Pacific Islands 

Florida 

Partnership 

National Capital 

Region 

«

«

«

«

Chihuahuan Desert/ 

Southern Shortgrass 

Prairie 

In light of the needs demonstrated in unfunded EPMT proposals submitted for 

competition in FY 2000 and the associated extent of exotic species represented, 

the NPS Biological Resource Management Division also distributed funds to four 

regions to support park based efforts in forming working relationships and 

strengthening their ability to formulate responses to exotic species threats. 

24

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

B. Endangered Species Program 

Funding Allocation: $393,000 

During FY 2000, the Natural Resource Challenge provided numerous 

opportunities for the Biological Resource Management Division to contribute 

to the recovery of endangered plants and animals. A key project for the 

Division was an effort to integrate and update several outdated NPS 

endangered species databases. This new database will provide parks and 

others with current data on listed species in each park unit, indicate the 

presence of Critical Habitat, identify responsibility for implementing recovery 

plan tasks, and provide a means of verifying the Service’s performance 

management goals. 

The Biological Resource Management Division also worked closely with the 

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units system to provide parks with 

academic-based expertise on endangered species. In addition, the Division 

drafted aConservation Agreement for the Canada Lynx that is currently 

under review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and assisted 

FWS with reviews of recovery plans and Critical Habitat. Specialists in the 

division also helped parks with design reviews and other technical assistance 

on eleven endangered and threatened species projects. 

C. Integrated Pest Management 

Funding Allocation: $232,000 

Integrated pest management (IPM) techniques require managers to clearly 

understand the biology and ecology of the pest and its environment before 

developing management strategies. Armed with this scientifically sound 

information, resource managers can choose the most effective, 

economical, environmentally safe, and socially acceptable method of 

management. The NPS IPM program, viewed as a model by other 

resource agencies in managing pest species, has provided a broad 

range of services to parklands in FY 2000. For example, the first 

interagency West Nile Encephalitis Workshop was convened by the 

NPS-BRMD in December 2000. A broad range of participants who 

strove to enhance efficient response to this disease attended this 

workshop. Participants identified roles and responsibilities, 

communicated new research and drafted management actions. 

Seedhead removal of pampas grass prior to mechanical removal of plant at Washita Battlefield 

25 NHS, Oklahoma 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

D. Wildlife Management Program 

Funding Allocation: $385,000 

The BRMD’s Wildlife Management Program provides policy guidance, 

technical assistance, and training tailored to enhance the ability of park staff 

to meet the increasing demands for professional wildlife management. This 

includes the areas of wildlife health and disease, wildlife restoration, exotic 

species management, wildlife population management, and the identification 

of wildlife research needs. During the past year assistance was provided for 

the following: 

Non-lethal removal of Exotic African Oryx: White Sands National 

Monument 

Approximately 130 animals were removed from the park and 

relocated to the White Sands Missile Range. This exotic species 

removal was a cooperative effort involving the National Park 

Service, New Mexico Game and Fish Department, and the 

Department of the Army-White Sands Missile Range. Efforts will 

continue in 2001 to remove the last of the African oryx from White 

Sands National Monument. 

Non-lethal removal of Exotic Burros: Mojave National Preserve 

Assistance included aerial census, defining and addressing methods to 

prevent ingress of burros from surrounding Bureau of Land Management 

lands, and evaluating capture methods. Since 1997, approximately 2400 

burro have been non-lethally removed from the Preserve with 569 removed 

in FY2000. The park’s ultimate goal is a population of zero. 

Multi-region White-tailed Deer Management Team 

This team assists parks with management issues specific to white-tailed deer 

management. In addition, training is provided in various monitoring 

techniques that enhance the parks’ ability to conduct sound professional 

management. The multi-region white-tailed deer management team is 

available to provide assistance to any park, parks, or region upon request. 

During the past year the white-tailed deer management team has provided 

services to five parks in the NPS. 

Veterinary Diagnostics for Wildlife Species 

A collaboration between Biological Resource Management Division and 

Colorado State University has created a team specially suited to assist parks 

by providing pathology and other diagnostic services, technical assistance, 

and biological sample storage. Additionally, this collaboration facilitates twoway training opportunities and information exchange. 

African oryx removal in White Sands NM, New Mexico and white-tailed deer 

26 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

E. Biological Resource Projects –


National Level Support


Funding Allocation: $452,000


These funds were for biological resource projects that address national issues 

facing various park units and benefiting multiple partners. Projects this year 

included an assessment of Golden Eagle activity surrounding Wupatki 

National Monument, surveying threatened and endangered Shilo Bats at 

Shilo National Military Park, and a national data management workshop. 

Other projects from this fiscal year include those listed below. 

Bird Conservation and Education Projects - Park Flight Partnership 

This project is a partnership between four organizations and American 

Airlines to support the parks in their migratory bird conservation efforts. The 

project focus is to provide support to park-based efforts at migratory species 

monitoring, protection, management, and education. 

The Pulling Together Initiative and the Plant Conservation Alliance 

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation coordinated with BRMD to 

develop two cost share programs that provide federal funds for park based 

partnership efforts. In both the Initiative and the Alliance, all federal funds 

must be matched at a minimum dollar for dollar. These partnerships focus on 

invasive plant management efforts and restoring native species. 

West Nile River Virus Assessment 

The North East Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit and BRMD are 

working together to identify parks along the eastern seaboard that have 

habitat for mosquitoes known to be vectors or reservoirs for this disease. 

This information will then be used by the NPS to more effectively target 

disease surveillance, mosquito population monitoring efforts, establish action 

thresholds/protocols, and determine management efforts should they become 

necessary. 

Wood ducks and red-winged blackbird 

27 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

7. Geologic Resource Protection 

FY 2000 Increase: $696,000 

Challenge funding enabled expansion of professional geologic expertise in the 

Geologic Resources Division of the Natural Resource Program Center. 

Previously this division focused only on addressing mining and mineral issues 

specific to the NPS. Its role was expanded to include expertise outside of 

mining specific issues based on assessment of Resource Management Plans 

and consultation with field managers. Now all parks seeking to plan and 

implement protection programs for geologic resources can base their 

strategies on current expertise through the Geologic Resources Division. FY 

2000 highlights are described below. 

Geologists in the Parks offers education and technical positions to 

geologists who wish to work in National Parks for 2-6 months. Over 45 

volunteers assisted parks in education and resource management issues. 

Natural Resource Challenge funding facilitated this program’s ability to 

partner with others and leveraged additional outside funding. 

Fossil Resource Protection Training was provided for over 100 law 

enforcement rangers on the rising trend in fossil theft on NPS lands and what 

they need to be aware of to respond and protect park fossil resources. 

Volcanism in the National Parks Workshop was sponsored by the NPS 

to improve cooperation and collaboration between the parks and USGS on 

volcanic hazard management and public education. 

Mapping and Education Project was conducted at Lassen Volcanic 

National Park in a partnership between USGS scientists and NPS staff to 

address gaps of information in geologic maps and develop public education 

materials 

National Cave and Karst Management Symposium was held with the 

NPS as the primary sponsor of a multi-agency and private sector forum for 

addressing interrelated research and management issues 

Fossil Surveys were initiated in five National Parks in California, Wyoming, 

and Utah. 

Technical assistance was provided to several national parks to include 

geologic expertise within management plans and assist with the protection of 

geologic resources. 

28

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

29

§

§

§

§

§

§

§

§

§

§

§

§

THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Appendix A


The Natural Resource Challenge Elements and


Their Relationship to Strategic Plan Goals


§	 Native and Endangered Species — Protect native and endangered species and their habitats 

( Ia2A. Threatened and Endangered Species) 

§ Non-Native Species —Aggressively control non-native species (IA1b. Exotic Species) 

§	 Environmental Stewardship —Enhance environmental stewardship (Mission Goal Ia. and IVa9. 

Environmental Leadership) 

§	 Air Quality —Expand efforts to monitor and understand air quality and related values in parks to 

prevent damage to air quality and related values. (Ia3. Air Quality) 

§	 Water Resources —Measure and protect water quality, natural flows, and the health of aquatic 

systems. (Ia4. Water Quality and Ib5. Aquatic Resources) 

§ Inventory — Accelerate natural resource inventories (Ib1. Natural Resource Inventories) 

§	 Monitoring — Acquire accurate information about the condition of natural resources, monitoring 

how that condition changes over time, and evaluate changes in condition and management actions. 

(Ib3. Vital Signs) 

§	 Collaboration —Work with others to achieve mutual natural resource goals, expanding 

collaborative relationships with universities, other Federal agencies, and others. (Mission Goal IVb. 

and IVbX. Park Partnerships) 

§	 Resource Planning —Ensure that all park plans are based on a thorough understanding of natural 

resources and protect resources. (Mission Goals Ia. and Ib.) 

§	 Parks for Science —Enhance the use of parks as centers for broad scientific research and inquiry 

(Mission Goal Ib. and IVbX. Park Partnerships) 

§	 Parks for Learning —Use parks for learning (Mission Goal IIb. and IIb1. Visitor Understanding 

and Appreciation) 

§	 Fully Professional Staff —Assure a fully professional staff (IVa3. Workforce Development and 

Performance) 

30

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

Appendix B


Natural Resource Challenge Funding History


F unding Elements F Y 1999

B ase 11/

F Y 2000

C hange

F Y 2001

C hange

F Y 2002

R equested

C hange

F Y 2000-

F Y 2002

I ncreases

T otal

R equest FY

2 002

N atural Resource Challenge Categories

C omplete basic natural resource inventories, except

v egetation mapping 1/ $ 5,787 $ 7,309 $ 7,309 $ 13,096

V egetation mapping cost-share with USGS 0 1 ,746 1 ,746 1 ,746

M onitor vital signs in networks of parks 0 4 ,191 4 ,200 8 ,391 8 ,391

E xpand water resource protection and restoration 2/ 4 ,754 8 23 1 ,000 1 ,823 6 ,577

M onitor water quality in parks and asses watershed

c onditions 0 1 ,272 1 ,272 1 ,272

E xpand air quality monitoring and related activities 6 ,285 2 ,600 2 ,600 8 ,885

I nventory air emissions in parks 3/ 0 2 00 2 00 2 00

M ake natural resource data useable for management

d ecisions and public 4/ 4 55 1 ,098 1 ,098 1 ,553

E xpand NRPP project fund 5 ,432 2 ,875 4 ,000 6 ,875 1 2,307

C reate native/nonnative program/field teams for nonnative

s pecies management

0 3 ,449 2 ,400 5 ,849 5 ,849

P rotect geologic resources 5/ 1 ,918 6 96 6 96 2 ,614

I ncrease park bases for nonnative and threatened and

e ndangered species recovery 6/ 2 5,693 3 ,395 3 ,200 6 ,595 3 2,288

E stablish Learning Centers 0 8 98 1 ,800 2 ,698 2 ,698

E stablish CESUs 0 1 ,596 1 ,596 1 ,596

E stablish resource protection fund 0 3 00 3 00 3 00

I mplement Resource Protection Act to restore resources 0 5 00 5 00 5 00

N atural Resource Challenge Plus Affected Programs $ 50,324 $ 14,329 $ 15,219 $ 20,000 $ 49,548 $ 99,872

N atural Resource Categories Not Affected 7/

P ark Base $ 31,402 $ 5,046 $ 6,014 $ 2,235 $ 13,295 $ 44,697

R egional Project Programs 2 ,093 0 0 0 0 2 ,093

S ervicewide Project Programs 8/ 2 ,216 -23 8 1 2 -3 2 ,213

C entral Office Support 9/ 8 ,196 1 ,731 1 ,498 1 56 3 ,385 1 1,581

T otal Natural Resources Categories Not Affected $ 43,907 $ 6,754 $ 7,520 $ 2,403 $ 16,677 $ 60,584

E verglades Restoration and Research $ 12,800 -$4,092 $ 1,299 $ 862 -$1,931 $ 10,869

T otal Natural Resources Appropriation by Year 10/ $ 107,031 $ 124,022 $ 148,060 $ 171,325 $ 171,325

1/ FY 1999 figure includes program support and $895,000 for monitoring projects; in addition, $2.2 million appropriated for this program


was previously transferred to parks for their prototype monitoring activities.


2/ Part of larger Water Resource Program; Water Quality Monitoring will be included in this total in the Budget Justification as well.


3/ Included in Budget Justification as Air Quality Program, with air quality monitoring, shown separately here.


4/ In FY 1999, these funds were not shown separately in the Park and Program Summary.


5/ Part of a larger Geologic Resources Program that also includes Abandoned Mine Land Restoration and other mining and minerals-related


activities.


6/ Estimated amount in park bases, prior to the initiation of the Natural Resource Challenge, devoted to activities related to invasive and


threatened and endangered species management. Estimated amount is derived from park base amounts contained in official NPS accounting


system, adjusted to reflect portions of amounts identified against GPRA Goals (Ia1and Ia2).


7/ Primarily consists of “uncontrollable changes” (i.e., pay cost) and park specific increases (outside the Challenge) affecting natural


resources. Small amounts of uncontrollable changes affecting base amounts in Natural Resource Challenge categories are included here.


Uncontrollable changes to base have not been tracked in the Natural Resource Challenge numbers.


8/ Oil Pollution Program and Geographic Information Program.


9/ Includes Headquarters and Regional Office support


10/Comprised of the following three Program Components included as part of the Resource Stewardship Budget Subactivity in ONPS:


Natural Resource Research Support; Natural Resources Management, and Everglades Restoration and Research.


11/ Enacted amount shown in FY 2000 Budget Justification.


31 
THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Appendix C


Description and Status of Natural Resource Inventories


There are 12 basic natural resource data sets identified by the National Park Service as being required for parks 

with natural resources. In most cases, there will be additional inventory needs, but these are the 12 sets identified 

as common needs of all natural resource parks. Below is a brief description of each data set, followed by a table 

showing the status of inventories for each park. In parentheses below are the abbreviated titles used for each data 

set in the table. 

q Automated Bibliographies


q Base Cartography Data


q Higher Plant and Animal Species Occurrence


q Distribution of Species of Special Concern


q Vegetation Maps


q Water Resource Locations


q Water Chemistry


q Soils Maps


q Geology Inventories


q Air Quality


q Air Quality-Related Values


q Meteorological Data


Automated bibliographies (BIBLIOG) are databases of past and present reports, books, and other documents of research and surveys on natural resources parks. Base cartographic data (CARTO) are those found 

on USGS “quad sheets,” such as elevation and roads, and are provided in digital form for use in geographical 

information systems. For higher plant and animal species occurrence (SP_OCCUR) inventories, existing 

information about the occurrence of a species in parks is collected from park, museum, and other records; 

evaluated and supplemented with additional surveys where needed. For species of special concern, such as 

threatened and endangered species, or those unique to a park or mentioned in park legislation, distribution 

information (SP_DIST)is also developed about the location and range of the species within the park, as well as 

other population information. Vegetation maps (VEG) are digital maps with associated data on plants and plant 

communities and are developed from a combination of ground surveys and aerial photographs. Water resource 

location (W_LOC) inventories are digital data on the location of streams, lakes and other water bodies. Water 

chemistry (W_CHEM) is water quality information gathered from existing sources, such as the Environmental 

Protection Agency’s STORET database, supplemented by gathering new data where there are gaps. A soils 

map (SOILS) is another digital product conforming to NRCS standards which characterizes soils by type, along 

with reports interpreting any management implications, such as erosion susceptibility. In geologic inventories 

(GEOL), existing geologic information from USGS, states and other sources is compiled and assessed to 

determine what other data are required for basic management purposes, and these are acquired. Air quality 

inventories (A_QUAL) consist of identifying nearby monitoring stations that may provide information about 

gaseous pollutants and visibility in the vicinity of the park and analyzing that information to provide estimated air 

quality. Inventorying air quality-related values involves identifying park resources that may be affected by 

gaseous pollutants or visibility. In most cases, a meteorological inventory consists of locating available basic 

information such as temperature and precipitation data having special significance for resource management. 

32

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

PARK NAME 

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site KY Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Acadia National Park


Agate Fossil Beds National Monument NE Complete Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Alagnak Wild River AK Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site


Amistad National Recreational Area TX Complete Complete Complete Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve 

erway Underway Antietam National BattlefieldM D Complete Complete Und Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Complete Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Assateague Island National Seashore


Aztec Ruins National Monument N M Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Badlands National Park
Bandelier National Monument N M Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve AK Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site


Big Bend National Park TX Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park


Blue Ridge Parkway NC Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway
Bluestone National Scenic River WV Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Booker T. Washington National Monument


Bryce Canyon National Park UT Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway
Buffalo National River AR Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Buck Island Reef National Monument VI Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Cabrillo National Monument


Canyon de Chelly National Monument AZ Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway 

Cape Cod National Seashore M A Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Status of Natural Resource Inventories 

BIBLIOG CARTO SP_OCCUR SP_DIST VEG SOILS GEOL W_LOC W_CHEM A_QUAL 

Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway American Memorial Park CM Complete 

Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Complete Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument TX Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area M A Complete 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Und Underway erway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Complete 

Underway Complete 

Complete Complete 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Complete 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore


Appalachian National Scenic Trail Underway Underway


Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

AK Underway 

ME Complete Complete 

Complete Complete Appomattox Court House National Historical Park VA 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

M D Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

PA Complete 

WI Complete 

CO Complete 

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area M T Complete Big Hole National BattlefieldM T Complete 

CO Complete 

SD Complete 

VA Complete 

CA Complete 

Arches National Park UT Arkansas Post National Memorial AR Big South Fork Nat. River & Rec. Area TN Big Thicket National Preserve TX 

ST 

Big Cypress National Preserve FL Biscayne National Park FL 

33

THE N

ATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Casa Grande National Monument


Cape Hatteras National Seashore NC Complete Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway


Cape Krusenstern National Monument
Cape Lookout National Seashore NC Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway 

Cedar Breaks National Monument
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area GA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Chickamauga/Chatanooga National Military Park GA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Chaco Culture National Historic Park N M Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Chickasaw National Recreation Area OK Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Chiricahua National Monument AZ Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Channel Islands National Park


Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park M D Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


City of Rocks National Reserve ID Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Colorado National Monument CO Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Coronado National Memorial


Congaree Swamp National Monument SC Complete Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

erway Underway Cowpens National BattlefieldSC Complete Complete Und Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway Crater Lake National Park


Craters of the Moon National Monument ID Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Cumberland Gap National Historic Park


Cumberland Island National Seashore GA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Curecanti National Recreation Area


Cuyahoga Valley National Park OH Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Death Valley National Monument
Delaware Water Gap Nat’l Recreation Area & Upper PA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Dinosaur National Monument
Dry Tortugas National Park FL Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway


Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve WA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Complete Complete Colonial National Historical Park VA 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Complete 

Underway Complete 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Complete 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

AK Complete Underway 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

AZ Complete 

Catoctin Mountain Park M D Complete Carlsbad Caverns National Park N M Complete Capulin Volcano Natoinal Monument N M Complete 

UT Complete 

CA Complete 

AZ Complete 

OR Complete 

KY Complete 

CO Complete 

Denali National Park and Preserve AK Complete Devils Tower National Monument WY Complete 

CA Complete 

CO Complete 

Canyonlands National Park UT Capitol Reef National Park UT Carl Sandburg Home National Historical Site NC Devil’s Postpile National Monument CA Castillo de San Marcos National Monument FL Canaveral National Seashore FL 

34

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Effigy Mounds National Monument


Eisenhower National Historical Site PA Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway Underway 

El Malpais National Monument
El Morro National Monument N M Complete Complete Complete Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Everglades National Park FL Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Fire Island National Seashore NY Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument CO Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Fort Bowie Natoinal Historic Site AZ Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Fossil Butte National Monument


Fort Caroline National Monument FL Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway


Fort Clatsop National Memorial OR Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Fort Frederica National Monument


Fort Laramie National Historic Site WY Complete Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Fort Larned National Historic Site KS Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Fort Matanzas National Monument FL Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

erway Fort Necessity National BattlefieldPA Complete Complete Complete Und Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Fort Point National Historic Site
Fort Pulaski National Monument GA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway
Fort Scott National Historic Site KS Complete Complete Complete Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Fort Sumter/Fort Moultrie National Monument


Fort Union National Monument N M Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway 

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site


Friendship Hill National Historic Site PA Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Fredericksburg Bt’l Fd/Spotsylvania Nat’l Mil Park


Gates of the Arctic Nat’l Park/Preserve AK Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway


Gauley River National Recreation Area


Gateway National Recreation Area NY Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Gettysburg National Military Park


George Washington Birthplace National Monument VA Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument


Glacier National Park M T Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve


Glen Canyon National Recreation Area UT Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Golden Spike National Historic Site


Great Basin National Park NV Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Complete Golden Gate National Recreation Area CA 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Fort Union Trading Post National Historical Site ND Complete 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway AZ Complete Grand Canyon National Park 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Complete 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

AK Complete Underway 

N M Complete Complete 

WY Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

GA Complete Complete 

CA Complete 

WA Complete Complete 

WV Complete Complete 

N M Complete Complete 

IA Complete 

SC Complete 

VA Complete 

PA Complete 

UT Complete 

Fort Davis National Historic Site TX Fort Donelson National BattlefieldTN 

35

THE N

ATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Underway Underway Underway 

Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Grand Portage National Monument


Great Sand Dunes National Park CO Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway
Great Smoky Mountains National Park TN Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Grand Teton National Park WY Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Guilford CourtHouse National Military Park NC Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Gulf Islands National Seashore


Guadalupe Mountains National Park TX Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


George Washington Carver National Monument M O Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway George Washington Memorial Parkway VA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Harpers Ferry National Historical Park WV Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument


Haleakala National Park HI Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park AL Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Hopewell Culture National Historic Park OH Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site PA Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Homestead National Monument of America


Hot Springs National Park AR Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Hovenweep National Monument CO Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore


Isle Royale National Park MI Complete Complete Complete Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Jewel Cave National Monument SD Complete Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Jean LaFitte Nat. Hist. Park & Preserve LA Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway John Day Fossil Beds National Monument


Johnstown Flood National Memorial PA Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway John Muir National Historic Site


Joshua Tree National Park CA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway


Kaloko Honokohau National Historic Park HI Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Kalaupapa National Historic Park


Katmai National Park and Preserve AK Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Kenai Fjords National Park


Kennesaw Mountain National BattlefieldGA Complete Complete Und
 erway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Complete Complete Kings Mountain National Military Park SC 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park


Knife River Indian Villages National Historical Site ND Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Kobuk Valley National Park AK Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Complete 

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Underway Underway Complete Herbert Hoover National Historic Site IA Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete Complete Underway Complete Complete Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site AZ 

Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Complete 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

MS Complete Underway 

AK Complete Underway 

AK Underway 

M N Complete Complete 

Greenbelt Park M D Complete Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historical Site M T Complete 

ID Complete 

HI Complete 

NE Complete 

IN Complete 

OR Complete 

CA Complete 

HI Complete 

36

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS Underway Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve


Lake Mead National Recreation Area NV Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area


Lassen Volcanic National Park CA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway
Little Bighorn National Monument M T Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Complete Underway Lincoln Boyhood National Monument


Little River Canyon National Preserve AL Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park TX Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park VT Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway Mammoth Cave National Park


Manassas National Battlefield Park VA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway Mesa Verde National Park


Minute Man National Historic Park M A Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Mississippi National l River and Recreation Area M N Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Montezuma Castle National Monument


Moores Creek National BattlefieldNC Complete Complete Und
 erway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Mount Ranier National Park


Morristown National Historical Park NJ Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway National Capital Parks East


Natchez Trace Parkway MS Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway Nez Perce National Historic Park


New River Gorge National River WV Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway
Niobrara National Scenic River NE Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Ninety Six National Historic Site SC Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Noatak National Preserve 

WA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway North Cascades National Park 

Underway Underway Underway 

National Park of American Samoa


Obed Wild and Scenic River TN Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Complete Manzanar NHS CA Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Complete Lava Beds National Monument CA 

Underway Underway Complete Complete Underway Complete Complete Lake Meredith NRA TX 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Complete Missouri National Recreation River NE 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete Complete Underway Complete Complete Navajo National Monument AZ 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Und Underway erway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Complete 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

AK Complete Underway 

AK Complete Underway 

WA Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete 

WA Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

IN Complete 

KY Complete 

CO Complete 

AZ Complete 

DC Complete 

ID Complete 

HI Complete 

Monocacy National BattlefieldM D Mojave National Preserve CA Muir Woods National Monument CA Natural Bridges National Monument UT Mount Rushmore National Memorial SD 

37

THE N

ATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Underway Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Ocmulgee National Monument


Olympic National Park WA Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Oregon Caves National Monument


Organ Pipe Catcus National Monument AZ Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Ozark National Scenic Riverways M O Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Padre Island National Seashore


Pecos National Historic Park N M Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Petrified Forest National Park AZ Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Pinnacles National Monument
Pipestone National Monument M N Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore


Pipe Spring National Monument AZ Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway
Point Reyes National Seashore CA Complete Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Prince William Forest Park VA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site


Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park HI Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Rainbow Bridge National Monument


Redwood National Park CA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Richmond National Battlefield Park


Rock Creek Park DC Complete Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Rocky Mountain National Park CO Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historical Sites


Russell Cave National Monument AL Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


San Antonio Missions National Historical Site TX Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway WI Complete Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Saguaro Natonal Monument


Sagamore Hill National Historic Site NY Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


San Juan Island National Historic Park


Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area CA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument


Saratoga National Historic Park NY Complete Complete Complete Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park


Shenandoah National Park VA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Complete Saugus Iron Works National Historical Site M A 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Complete Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park TX Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Complete Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site NH Complete 

Underway Underway Complete Complete Complete Complete Underway Complete Complete Scotts Bluff National Monument NE 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Complete 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

GA Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

WA Complete Complete 

N M Complete Complete 

OR Complete 

TX Complete 

Petersburg National BattlefieldVA Complete Petroglyph National Monument N M Complete 

CA Complete 

MI Complete 

HI Complete 

UT Complete 

VA Complete 

NY Complete 

AZ Complete 

CA Complete 

Pea Ridge National Military Park AR 

38

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway 

Underway Underway 

Sitka National Historic Park
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore MI Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Sunset Crater National Monument


Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve KS Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway
Theodore Roosevelt National Park ND Complete Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Vicksburg National Military Park


Virgin Islands National Park VI Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway Underway 

War in the Pacific National Historical Park


Weir Farm National Historic Site CT Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Underway 

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area CA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Whitman Mission National Historic Site WA Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway White Sands National Monument
Wind Cave National Park SD Complete Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway


Underway Underway Complete Underway 

erway Wilson’s Creek National BattlefieldM O Complete Complete Complete Und Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway 

Wolf Trap Farm


Wrangell St. Elias Nationall Park & Preserve AK Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway


Yukon Charley Rivers National Park 

CO Complete Complete Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Underway Yucca House National Monument 

Underway Underway Complete Underway 

Underway Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Complete Shiloh National Military Park TN Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete 

Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Complete Underway Underway Underway Underway Complete Complete Zion National Park UT 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Und Underway erway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Underway Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Complete Underway 

Underway 

Underway Underway 

Complete Complete 

AK Underway Underway 

AK Complete Underway 

Complete Stones River National BattlefieldTN Complete 

Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

MS Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

GU Complete Complete 

N M Complete Complete 

VA Complete 

Complete Complete 

Complete Complete 

Thomas Stone National Historic Site M D Underway 

AZ Complete 

Voyageurs National Park M N Complete Yellowstone National Park WY Complete Washita Battlefield National Historic Site OK Timpanogas Cave National Monument UT Tonto National Monument AZ Tumacacori National Historic Park AZ Tuzigoot National Monument AZ Walnut Canyon National Monument AZ Wupatki National Monument AZ Yosemite National Park CA Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River PA Valley Forge National Historic Park PA Timucuan Ecological and Historic Reserve FL 

39

THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Appendix D


Network Biotic Inventory Allocations


FY 2000 and 2001*


Network FY 2000 Annual 

after 2000 

1. Southwest Alaska 1/ 

2. Northwest Alaska 1/ 

3. Central Alaska 1/ 

4. Southeast Alaska 879,000 

5. Great Lakes 65,000 

6. Heartland 80,000 

7. Northern Great Plains 

8. Mid-Atlantic 

9. Eastern Rivers and Mts. 

10. Northern Coastal and Barrier 

11. Northeast Temperate 

12. Capitol Region 

13. Appalachian & Gulf Coastal Plains 

14. Southeast Coast 

15. Gulf Coastal 

16. Blue Ridge & Great Smoky Mts. 

17. Tropics 

18. Northern Colorado Plateau 

19. Rocky Mountain 

20. Greater Yellowstone 

21. Southern Colorado Plateau 

22. Southern Plains Dry Steppe 

23. Southern Desert West 

24. Southern Desert East 

25. North Coast and Cascades 

61,000 

65,000 

112,000 

122,000 

121,000 

103,000 

138,500 

88,000 

72,000 

2/ 

112,000 

123,000 

84,000 

62,000 

70,000 

53,000 

67,000 

141,000 

95,000 

26. Northern semi-Arid 60,000 

302,222 

326,195 

213,969 

91,824 

268,191 

178,884 

177,624 

96,360 

136,733 

196,716 

131,588 

155,728 

128,334 

263,915 

193,538 

153,322 

317,438 

235,419 

131,782 

151,072 

268,961 

63,607 

139,676 

161,075 

178,733 

109,324 

154,837 

177,152 

165,888 

136,608 

327,315 

165,970 

/3 

/3 

/3 

27. San Francisco Bay Area 

28. Mojave desert 

29. Mediterranean Coast 

30. Sierra 

31. Pacific Islands 

32. Klamath 

33. American Samoa (part of Pacific Islands) 

34. Guam (part of Pacific Islands) 

35. Saipan (part of Pacific Islands) 

TOTALS 

150,000 

135,000 

146,000 

108,000 

167,000 

165,500 

129,000 

88,000 

60,000 

$3,922,000 $5,900,000


Total dollar allocations in FY 2000 for integrated biological inventory pre-proposals by network and projected future annual 

allocation for conducting field inventories. Future allocations are based on an assumed servicewide budget of $5.9 million. (i.e. 

no funding allocated to separate, specialized inventories for amphibians undertaken in FY 2000 to support USGS initiative, but 

may not be the most efficient way to accomplish inventories). In FY 2000, balance of increase going to abiotic inventories, while 

networks prepare for biotic inventories. 

1/ Included in one pre-proposal shown under Southeast Alaska


2/ Included in one pre-proposal shown under Appalachian & Gulf Coastal Plains


3/Funded amount in FY 00 to cover initial basic biotic inventories; the need for future supplements will be assessed. These parks


are handling inventories separately, rather than in a network fashion, due to their isolation.


40 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

Appendix E 

Allocations for Inventories other than Network Biotic Inventories/1 

Organization 

BIOTICINVENTORIES 

NPS


NPS


Grand Canyon NP


Chaco Culture NHP


Gettysburg NMP


Hopewell Furnace NHS


Valley Forge NHP


Eisenhower NHS


Allagheny Portage Rld NHS


Johnstown Flood NM


Antietam NB


Fort Necessity NB


Friendship Hill NHS


Olympic NP


Alaska NP’s


Fire Island NS


Joshua Tree NP


Great Smoky Mts NP


All Intermountain Parks:


Theodore Roosevelt NP/


Big Bend NP/


Glacier NP/


Rocky Mountain NP


Acadia NP/ Shenandoah NP


Olympic NP/


Sequoia/ Kings Canyon NP


All Southeast Parks:


Great Smoky Mts NP/


Everglades NP/


Virgin Islands NP


ABIOTICINVENTORIES 

NPS 

Title 

Database Contract


ITIS Development


Bird Inventory (cont. FY99)


Bird Inventory (cont. FY99)


Bird Inventory (cont. FY99)


Bird Inventory (cont. FY99)


Bird Inventory (cont. FY99)


Bird Inventory (cont. FY99)


Bird Inventory (cont. FY99)


Bird Inventory (cont. FY99)


Herp Inventory (cont. FY99)


Herp Inventory (cont. FY99)


Herp Inventory (cont. FY99)


Herp Inventory (cont. FY99)


Vegetation Maps/2


Vegetation Maps


Vegetation Maps


Vegetation Maps


Amphibian Inventories/3


Amphibian Inventories


Amphibian Inventories


Amphibian Inventories


FY 2000 Funding 

$100,000 

$5,000 

$86,888 

$51,000 

$29,083 

$29,083 

$29,083 

$29,083 

$29,083 

$29,083 

$24,000 

$23,550 

$23,550 

$104,000 

$500,000 

$80,000 

$60,000 

$90,000 

$394,000 

$156,000 

$156,000 

$234,000 

Bibliographic Inventory Updates $67,000


NPS-164 Parks Base Cartographic Maps (digital) $1,644,000


Arkansas Post NM


Pea Ridge NMP


White Sands NM


Colorado NM


Navajo NM


Salinas Pueblo Miss. NM


Walnut Canyon NM


Grand Portage NM


Scotts Bluff NM


Water Resource Inventories $8,500 

Water Resource Inventories $4,200 

Water Resource Inventories $14,810 

Water Resource Inventories $ 25,000 

Water Resource Inventories $25,000 

Water Resource Inventories $25,000 

Water Resource Inventories $25,000 

Water Resource Inventories $7,000 

Water Resource Inventories $25,000 

41

THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Sagamore Hill NHS Water Resource Inventories $23,300 

San Juan Island NHP Water Resource Inventories $8,130 

City of Rocks NR Water Resource Inventories $20,000 

Nez Perce NHP Water Resource Inventories $2,100 

Lava Beds NM Water Resource Inventories $25,000 

John Muir NHS Water Resource Inventories $25,000 

Cumberland Island NS Water Resource Inventories $10,000 

Stones River NB Water Resource Inventories $25,000 

Cowpens NB Water Resource Inventories $9,300 

NPS GIS for Water Inventories $20,000 

Wrangell-St. Elias NP & Pr Geologic Inventories/4 $10,000 

Big Bend NP Geologic Inventories $8,000 

Capitol Reef NP Geologic Inventories $10,000 

Cedar Breaks NM Geologic Inventories $20,000 

Fossil Butte NM Geologic Inventories $6,000 

Glen Canyon NRA Geologic Inventories $50,000 

Golden Spike NHS Geologic Inventories $12,000 

Natural Bridges NM Geologic Inventories $1,000 

Petrified Forest NP Geologic Inventories $6,000 

Yucca HouseNM/ Geologic Inventories $5,000 

Hovenweep NM 

Mesa Verde NP Geologic Inventories $17,000 

Dinosaur NM Geologic Inventories $45,000 

Intermountain UT/CO Geologic Inventories $115,000 

Voyageurs NP Geologic Inventories $15,000 

Wind Cave NP/ Geologic Inventories $15,000 

Jewel Cave NM 

Death Valley NP Geologic Inventories $25,000 

Great Basin NP Geologic Inventories $15,000 

NPS Southeast Scoping $6,000 

NPS Digitizing equipment and supplies $23,000 

Denali NP & Pr Soils Maps $50,000 

Grand Canyon NP Soils Maps $181,000 

St. Croix NSR Soils Maps $19,000 

Apostle Islands NL Soils Maps $40,000 

Crater Lake NP Soils Maps $93,000 

Channel Islands NP Soils Maps $81,000 

Redwood NP Soils Maps $24,000 

Great Smoky Mts NP Soils Maps $17,000 

NPS Digitizing 15 park soils maps $54,000 

1/Total funding for these types of inventories will be less in future years, when more is allocated to regions for


network biotic inventories.


2/These are generally funded by BRD, except for Alaska; some lower 48 were supplemented.


3/Total is $940,000. Figures are based on average per park.


4/Pilots were conducted with state geologists in Colorado and Utah.


Capitol Reef NP, Utah 

42 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

Appendix F


Complete List of FY 2000 NRPP-Funded Projects


Organization 

Servicewide Projects 

Natural Resource Program Coordination 

Natural Resource Program Coordination 

Natural Systems Management Office 

Natural Resource Information Div 

Natural Resource Information Div 

Natural Resource Information Div 

Natural Resource Information Div 

Air Resources Division 

Environmental Quality Division 

Geologic Resources Division 

Environmental Quality Division 

Environmental Quality Division 

Environmental Quality Division 

Environmental Quality Division 

Associate Director NRSS 

USGS/Biological Resources Div 

USGS/Biological Resources Div 

Title 

Haskell Indian College agreement & student hires 

Director’s Natural Resource Awards 

Professional Organization Partnerships 

Year In Review Report 

Park Science 

Research Permit Automation/Integration with 

Investigator’s Annual Reports 

Data integration software enhancement & park 

implementation 

Night Sky Monitoring 

Field Guide to NEPA 

National Cave and Karst Institute initiation 

Emergency Response Guidance 

NEPA training 

Section 19jj guidance 

Revolving fund for Resource Protection Act 

mitigation of San Juan damage 

AS Ecosystem Report 

Interagency Brucellosis Research 

Park Technical Assistance Projects 

(See USGS-BRD projects in this appendix) 

Park-Specific Unspecified Natural Resource Management


FY 2000 

$27,000 

$28,800 

$40,000 

$29,000 

$31,050 

$68,088 

$50,000 

$30,000 

$25,000 

$30,000 

$65,000 

$25,000 

$60,000 

$65,000 

$24,000 

$300,000 

$255,000 

$116,000 

$32,000 

$108,000 

$64,000 

$165,000 

$252,000 

$244,000 

$130,000 

$70,000 

$297,000 

$145,000 

Big Cypress NM


Hagerman Fossil Beds NM


Channel Islands NP


Buck Island Reef NM


Rocky Mountain NP


Golden Gate NRA


Shenandoah NP


Mulitple Intermountain Parks


Multple Pacific West Parks


Mojave NPr


White Sands NM


Shenandoah NP


Multiple Southern Parks


Congaree Swamp NM


Badlands NP


Great Smoky Mountains NP


Denali NP & Pr


Katmai NP


Kenai Fjords NP


Noatak N Pres


Grand Canyon NP


Petrified Forest NP


Glacier NP


Complete off road vehicle mapping analysis


Survey and map paleontology sites


Develop exotic species control strategy


Exotic pest control for tree rats


Restore Hidden Valley Ski Area


Cape ivy management


Test backcountry plan


Remove exotic tamarisk


Remove exotic tamarisk


Remove exotic burros


Non-lethal removal of exotic Oryx


Develop definitive Air Quality Related Values Report $288,000


Invasive exotic plant management in smaller parks $77,000


Species diversity and condition of fish community $25,000


Baseline mapping of fossil bone beds


Inventory and delineation of remnant


Fraser Fir stands


Managing human use and wildlife resources


Alagnak River Management Plan


Carrying capacity exit glacier


$85,000 

$15,000 

$30,000 

$80,000 

$118,000 

Population abundance & Demography of Dall’s Sheep$100,000 

Himalaya Blackberry control $27,000 

Preservation of petrified wood $56,000 

DNA bear hair survey $129,000 

43

THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

El Malpais NM Survey Boundary $78,000 

El Malpais NM Fence Boundary $55,000 

Big Bend NP Eradicate Salt Cedar at spring $37,000 

Lake Meredith NRA Control non-native Salt Cedar $44,000 

Bryce Canyon NP Protect vegetation/prairie dogs $12,000 

Arches NP Refine and implement VERP $40,000 

Fossil Butte NM Assessment/protection of new paleontological sites $56,000 

Grand Teton NP Monitoring of wolves $126,000 

Yellowstone NP Native Cutthroat Trout conservation in Yellowstone 

Lake $175,000 

Isle Royale NP Impact to natural fire regime due to moose browsing $50,000 

Voyageurs NP & Pictured Rocks NL Gray Wolf Management in the Lake Superior Region $90,000 

Cape Cod NS Effects of off-road traffic on biotic communities $67,000 

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal NHP & 

George Washington Mem Parkway Develop inventory/monitoring planning process $67,000 

Fire Island NS Adaptive management of deer, people, plants $120,000 

Multiple Northeast Parks (8) Control invasive exotic vegetation $185,000 

Channel Islands NP Rescue Island fox population $167,000 

Multiple Hawaiian Parks (4) Stabilize Endangered/Threatened Plant Species $188,000 

Olympic NP Conduct demographic monitoring of N. Spotted Owl $59,000 

Buffalo NR Macroinvertebrate community assessment $25,000 

Gulf Island NS Post nesting satellite tracking of Loggerhead Turtles $18,000 

Jean Lafitte NHP & Pr Modeling risk of Chinese Tallow invasion $82,000 

Cape Lookout NS Immunocontraception and EIA testing feral horses $41,000 

Congaree Swamp NM Develop Feral Hogs reduction plan and 

initiate reduction $3,600 

Great Smoky Mountains NP Brook trout reclamation of Sam’s Creek $80,000 

Great Smoky Mountains NP Complete Natural Resources Inventory and Atlas $80,000 

Threatened & Endangered Species 

Dinosaur NM Ute Ladies’ Tresses Orchid protection $86,000 

Dinosaur & Glen Canyon NMs & Zion NP Monitor Peregrine Falcon Productivity $114,000 

Padre Island NS Protect Kemp Ridley Sea Turtle $138,500 

Capitol Reef NP Endangered Plant Inventory $57,000 

Mojave NPr Baseline Survey Desert Tortoise $32,000 

North Cascades NP Implement Human/Bear Management Plan $54,500 

Disturbed Land Restoration 

Wupatki NM Borrow pit reclamation plan $9,000 

Mojave NPr Rainbow Wells restoration $100,000 

Rocky Mountain NP Willow restoration assessment $11,900 

Rocky Mountain NP Rehabilitate Lawn Lake Dam $250,000 

Cape Cod NS Wetlands restoration assessment $50,000 

Moores Creek NB Savannah restoration plan $2,800 

Pecos NHP Glorieta Creek restoration $3,600 

Fire Island NS Plug and abandon flowing water wells $14,700 

Zion NP Develop restoration plan for the Virgin R. $24,000 

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP Remove Milstead Pond and restore wetlands $25,800 

Apostle Islands NL Restore Oak Island sandscape $7,000 

New River Gorge NR Inventory abandoned mine lands $30,000 

Denali NP & Pr Caribou Creek Restoration $51,000 

Buffalo NR Stream restoration, Boxley Valley $88,000 

Golden Gate NRA Lower Easkoot Creek restoration $73,000 

Big Cypress NPr Restoration of the Turner River headwaters $50,000 

44

REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

Jean Lafitte NHP & Pr 

Great Basin NP 

Small Park 

Klondike Gold Rush NHP


Sitka NHP


Alibates Flint Quarrie NM


Aztec Ruins NM


Aztec Ruins NM


Bent’s Old Fort NHS


Bents Old Fort NHS


Casa Grande Ruins NM


Chiricuaha NM


Coronado NM


Devils Tower NM


El Morro NM


Flagstaff Group


Florissant Fossil Beds NM


Florissant Fossil Beds NM


Fort Bowie NHS


Fort Laramie NHS


Fort Union NM


Fossil Butte NM


Fossil Butte NM


Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS


Little Bighorn Battlefield NM


Lyndon B. Johnson NHS


Palo Alto Battlefield NHS


Petroglyph NM


Petroglyph NM


Tumacacori NM


Washita Battlefield NHS


Yucca House NM


Agate Fossil Beds NM


Arkansas Post NM


Dayton Aviation Heritage NHP


Effigy Mounds NM


Fort Scott NHS


Fort Union Trading Post NHS


George Washington Carver NM


Grand Portage NM


Herbert Hoover NHS


Hopewell Cultural NHP


Homestead NM of America


Knife River Indian Village NHS


Lincoln Boyhood Home NM


Pea Ridge NB


Pipestone NM


Scotts Bluff NM


Tallgrass Prairie NPr


Wilson’s Creek NB


Catoctin Mountain Park


Backfill dead-end oil & gas canals $200,000 

Restoration of the Bonita Mine $82,200 

Georeferenced aerial photography, Sheep River $10,000 

Compile historical database for Indian River $10,000 

Inventory/assess/control non-native fauna $5,000 

Flora and fauna inventory $3,300 

Revegetate picnic/archeological area with 

native plants $9,000 

Boundary survey and fencing $6,000 

Tamarisk Control $6,000 

Boundary Fence $5,000 

Evaluate rhyolite forms vibration risk $5,400 

Install gates on abandoned mines for bat protection $6,000 

Non-native plant control $12,000 

Assess rockfall hazards and develop monitoring 

systems $8,000 

Evaluate threats to bats $5,000 

Paleontological database & literature review 

for website $20,000 

Dam removal/restoration $8,000 

Vegetation preservation treatment project $3,800 

Develop Vegetation Management Plan $12,000 

Natural resources base inventory $12,000 

Exotic weed control $7,500 

Reclaim/revegetate 4 stock ponds $6,300 

Develop Agricultural Use Plan $7,800 

Complete baseline inventory of vascular plants $3,000 

Re-establish native vegetation $5,000 

Conduct inventory of sensitive amphibians $3,400 

Develop Geographic Information System database $12,000 

Develop long term biotic rescue prototype $4,800 

Complete inventory of vertebrates and vegetation $10,000 

Initiate GIS database $2,000 

Geologic survey $12,000 

Control Canada Thistle $7,500 

Assessment of tick borne diseases $9,500 

Inventory mammals $8,000 

Control exotic plants $7,000 

Restore tallgrass prairie $8,000 

Native prairie restoration $10,000 

Develop Vegetation Management Plan $10,000 

Caddis Fly baseline inventory $2,500 

Conduct prairie vegetation survey $10,000 

Develop native plant demonstration projects $10,000 

Prairie restoration improvement $10,000 

Leafy spurge removal $10,000 

Improve wildlife habitat $1,000 

Restore native prairie $10,000 

Restore disturbed lands to tallgrass prairie $7,500 

Exotic weed control $9,000 

Conduct inventory of springs $10,000 

Control exotic plants $10,000 

Deer Advisory Team $11,000 

45

THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal NHS


Geo Washington Mem Pkwy


Harpers Ferry NHP


Monocacy NB


Prince William Forest Park


Rock Creek Park


Colonial NHP


Eleanor Roosevelt NHS


Morristown NHP


Valley Forge NHP


Weir FarmNHS


Cabrillo NM


Devils Postpile NM


Fort Clatsop NM


Fort Point NHS


Hagerman Fossil Beds NM


Hagerman Fossil Beds NM


Hagerman Fossil Beds NM


Hagerman Fossil Beds NM


Kaloko-Honokohau NHP


Muir Woods NM


Oregon Caves NM


Oregon Caves NM


Oregon Caves NM


San Juan HP


San Juan HP


San Juan HP


San Juan HP


War in the Pacific NHP


Whitman Mission NHS


Whitman Mission NHS


Chattahoochee River NRA


Cowpens NB


Fort Donelson NB


Fort Pulaski NM


Fort Raleigh NHS


Great Smoky Mountains NP


Kings Mountian NMP


Ninety Six NHS


Obed Wild & Scenic River


Shiloh NMP


Timucuan Ecological & HPr


Vicksburg NMP


Wright Brothers NM


Amphibian monitoring


Inventory


Implement geologic hazard program


Exotic vegetation mitigation


Amphibian monitoring


At risk Kenk’s Arthropod analysis & raptor survey


USGS shallow aquifer study


Delineate wetlands boundary


Develop plan to preserve critical vegetation


Vegetation classification


Conduct impact assessment


Performance analysis of rocky intertidal monitoring


Install bearproof lockers


Night sky


Cape ivy removal


Control non-native vegetation


Develop Integrated Pest Management Plan


Agricultural chemicals


Natural resource bibliography


Provide waterbird nesting platforms


Hold workshop to evaluate redwood forest stands


Research natural areas


Fungi survey


Integrated Pest Management Plan


Conduct vital signs monitoring scoping meeting


Thinning trees in woodland at American Camp


Boundary survey


Inventory of invertebrates


$9,000 

$12,000 

$14,000 

$13,000 

$9,000 

$14,000 

$30,000 

$2,500 

$25,000 

$22,000 

$25,000 

$7,000 

$15,000 

$3,000 

$20,000 

$15,000 

$3,000 

$10,000 

$5,000 

$17,000 

$31,000 

$1,000 

$8,000 

$12,000 

$3,000 

$10,000 

$9,000 

$15,000 

Assess rare plants and develop management strategy $10,000


Doan Creek restoration


Integrated Pest Management Plan


Document damage of sewer leaks to resources


Pine Beetle hazard tree removal


Plant collection/herbarium


Develop long-term Water Quality Plan


Assess and monitor shoreline


Coordinate small parks exotic plant team


Reptile and amphibian inventory


Vascular plant baseline


Mussel monitoring


Aquatic monitoring


Compile natural resources


Exotic plant management


Manage deer population


$8,000 

$6,000 

$19,000 

$24,000 

$21,000 

$29,000 

$15,000 

$5,000 

$12,000 

$25,000 

$15,000 

$8,000 

$21,000 

$16,000 

$13,000 

Mallards in flight 

46 
REPORT TO THE CONGRESS 

USGS/BRD Assistance Projects Funded in FY 2000 

(Combined USGS/NPS Funding) 

Project USGS/NPS $ 

Great Basin National Park freshwater mollusk inventory $11,000 

Determining causes and rates of adult elk mortality in Yellowstone National Park $40,000 

Effect of Euphorbia esula on pollination and seed set of native plants $35,000 

Effects of fire at Joshua Tree National Park $32,000 

Implications of 1998/1999 mortality pulse to genetic diversity and population of the grizzly bear


population in Glacier National Park $40,000


Expanded collection and collation of erosion data and landscape change information to protect


pinyon-juniper woodland resources at Bandelier National Monument $20,000


Population estimation and development of a land-based classification protocol for bighorn sheep


in Grand Canyon National Park $30,000


Predicting exotic plant species locations in Rocky Mountain National Park $40,000


Red-throated loons of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve: Ecological predisposition to


present and future perils $28,000


Streamflow-vegetation relations to quantify Federal reserved water rights $33,000


Post-fire burn assessment by remote sensing on National Park Service lands $37,000


Exotic species invasion and structural damage along horse trails in sensitive natural areas at


Ozark National Scenic Riverways $28,000


Population monitoring and population dynamics of elk at Theodore Roosevelt National Park $26,000


Assessing aerial survey methods to determine community composition and resource hotspots


for waterbirds in coastal parks $13,000


Developing indicators of freshwater emergent wetland ecosystem integrity for monitoring and


management at Acadia National Park $30,000


Historical salmon production in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve: Relevance to emerging


subsistence use issues $30,000


Evaluation of native freshwater mussel populations in the C&O Canal National Historical Park:


Strategies for integrating management of biological with cultural resources $36,000


Synthesis of over 60 years of surface and ground water data at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore $31,000


A clearinghouse for natural resources data at North Cascades National Park $40,000


Inventory of cryptogams of Olympic National Park $35,000


47

THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE 

National Park Service 

The National Park Service is a bureau within the Department of the Interior. 

We preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the 

national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and 

future generations. We also cooperate with partners to extend the benefits of 

natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor education throughout 

the country and the world. 
The Natural Resource Challenge is increasing NPS scientific understanding in parks all around


the nation, from Maine to Florida to Alaska and the Pacific Islands. For more information about


the Natural Resource Challenge, visit www.nature.nps.gov/challenge/nrc.htm.