Water Resources Division 

SUMMARY OF FISCAL YEAR 2011 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Natural Resource Stewardship and Science

Water Resources Division

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM
Water Resources Division 

SUMMARY OF FISCAL YEAR 2011 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Natural Resource Stewardship and Science

Water Resources Division

1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 250

Fort Collins, CO 80525

www.nature.nps.gov/water

Cover: Parks Climate Challenge 

participants snorkel on Ross Lake 

to conduct a fish survey, North 

Cascades National Park Complex 

(Washington). NORTH CASCADES 

INSTITUTE/BENJ DRUMMOND
If there is magic on this planet, 

it is contained in water.

 Loren Eiseley

Snowy Egret at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (North Carolina). NPS/PAUL DOSHKOV
Contents

A Message from the Water 

Resources Division Chief 1

Ocean and Coastal Resources

Branch Highlights 4

Jeffrey Cross, Branch Chief 4

Thom Curdts 5, 7

Joel Cusick 6

Karl Brookins 8

Eva DiDonato 9

Andrew Maguire 9

Cliff McCreedy 10

Planning and Evaluation Branch

Highlights 11

Patrick Mangan, Branch Chief 11

Don Weeks 12

Kevin F. Noon 13, 16

Joel Wagner 14

Nic Medley 15

John Wullschleger 16

Mark Flora 17, 18

Water Operations Branch 

Highlights 19

Gary M. Smillie, Acting Branch Chief 19, 20

Pete Penoyer 22

Dean Tucker 23

Jia Ling 23

Larry Martin 24

Michael Martin 14, 25

Katherine Converse 25

Jon Riedle 25

Water Rights Branch 

Highlights 26

Bill Hansen, Branch Chief 26

Jennifer Back 27

Mark Wondzell 28

Gwen Gerber 29

Eric Lord 30

James Harte 31

Jeff Hughes 32

Technical Assistance 

Highlights 33

Alaska Region 34

Intermountain Region 35

Midwest Region 37

National Capital Region 39

Northeast Region 40

Pacific West Region 42

Southeast Region 44

 

Park Index 47

Appendixes

Appendixes are separate, linked documents:

A Summary of Water Resources Division

Funding 

B Technical Assistance 

C Publications/Posters/Presentations/

Webinars 

D 2011 Staff 

E Acronyms and Abbreviations

The Water Resources Division (WRD) is one of 

eight divisions that make up the NPS Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate and 

was established to provide servicewide program 

management and specialized advice and assistance to parks in the protection and management 

of natural resources. 

The mission of WRD is to provide leadership 

and senior-level technical, scientific, policy, and 

resource management expertise in the protection, preservation, and restoration of water 

resources and water-dependent environments 

within the National Park System. WRD provides 

its services directly to parks through a broad 

range of programs in the areas of hydrology, water quality, wetlands, fisheries, marine resources, 

water rights, information management, watershed condition assessments, and planning. 

The primary focus of WRD is, as it always has 

been, to provide the highest level of support 

possible to parks in addressing their water and 

aquatic resource-related issues. 
Researchers at Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Missouri). NPS COLLECTION 
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 1

American white pelicans, Missouri National Recreational River 

(Nebraska). NPS COLLECTION

THIS REPORT PROVIDES A SUMMARY 

of the accomplishments and an accounting 

of the budget for the Water Resources Division (WRD) of the National Park Service 

in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. As you review the 

reports that have been contributed by the 

WRD staff, I believe you will see that we 

have endeavored to provide the highest level 

of support to park units on wide variety of 

water and aquatic resources–related issues. 

In 2011 WRD continued to provide management and support for the water resources component of the Natural Resource 

Challenge. Water quality monitoring was 

supported in 32 networks; Natural Resource Condition Assessments were completed in 19 parks; fifteen aquatic resources 

professionals were funded with a vacant position filled in the National Capital Region; 

and the Water Rights Branch supported 

the protection of park water rights at many 

parks.

The Ocean and Coastal Resources Branch is 

in its second operating year and continued 

implementing the Ocean Park Stewardship 

Action Plan. In 2011 the branch completed 

and published Reference Manual 39-1, 

NPS Ocean and Coastal Park Jurisdiction 

Handbook; completed benthic habitat maps 

for two parks; and provided support for the 

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment by co-chairing 

the Vegetation Technical Working Group for 

the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

High-profile restoration projects were the 

focus of WRD’s hydrologists and wetland 

scientists. After almost 20 years of planning 

and environmental studies, the physical restoration of the Elwha River in Olympic National Park started in 2011 with the beginning of the removal of the Elwha and Glines 

Canyon dams. In another project, the result 

of eight years of hard work by the wetlands 

staffs of WRD and Channel Islands National Park was realized when the restoration of 

Prisoners Harbor began in late 2011. 

WRD continued to provide high-visibility 

assistance to the Department of the Interior’s renewable and fossil energy initiatives. 

In conjunction with staffs of the Inventory 

and Monitoring Program, regions, and 

parks, WRD continued to support NPS efforts to identify protected areas for the Bureau of Land Management’s Supplement to 

the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States. The NPS 

relied on best-available geospatial information for viewsheds, night skies, wetlands, 

sensitive soils, watersheds, and critical habitat to identify where high potential for resource conflicts might occur with proposed 

solar energy development near parks in the 

six-state study area. 

With the Geologic Resources Division, 

WRD continued to track the numerous areas of high geologic potential for shale gas 

development, also known as shale gas plays, 

throughout the country and in particular 

A Message from the Division Chief

Gary W. Rosenlieb, Acting Division Chief
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 2

the expansive Marcellus Shale gas play surrounding Delaware Water Gap National 

Recreation Area and other parks in the 

Northeast Region.

WRD continued to support numerous 

Colorado River issues in 2011. WRD remained active in the Glen Canyon Adaptive 

Management. The Water Rights Branch 

completed the draft Arches Water Rights 

Agreement and provided technical assistance to Dinosaur National Monument and 

the Intermountain Region to assess the 2011 

high flows on the Yampa and Green rivers. 

WRD continued to provide leadership for 

the NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers Program by 

completing the Interagency Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Coordinating Council’s Section 7 

flowchart.

The latter part of 2011 brought the implementation of a new organizational structure 

that will realign WRD beginning in FY 

2012 to better address emerging issues in 

renewable energy, climate change water 

shortages, and aquatic invasive species. 

The restructuring established an Aquatic 

Systems Branch which combines functions 

of the former Water Operations Branch 

(floodplain and groundwater management 

and water quality) with the wetlands, fisheries, and aquatic invasive species functions 

that were formerly managed in the Planning 

and Evaluation Branch. The Planning and 

Evaluation Branch has been reformed as the 

Planning and Information Branch (PIB) and 

will receive two programs from the former 

Water Operations Branch: the Data and 

Information Management Program and the 

Natural Resource Condition Assessment 

Program. PIB will provide assistance for water resource management planning, climate 

change scenario planning, and resource 

stewardship strategy planning. The Water 

Rights Branch and the Ocean and Coastal 

Resources Branch will largely retain their 

existing missions and functions.

Finally, 2011 saw the retirement of three key 

WRD personnel. Dr. Bill Jackson retired 

from the National Park Service on 1 October 2011 following a 31-year federal career 

that included 22 years with the National 

Park Service Water Resources Division, 

nearly five of those as the chief of the Water 

Resources Divisions. Bill had substantive 

roles in establishing servicewide programs 

in water quality protection and ocean and 

coastal resources stewardship. He provided 

leadership to the implementation of elements of the NPS Natural Resource Challenge, including servicewide water quality 

monitoring, the establishment of the fieldbased aquatic resource professionals program, implementation of the servicewide 

natural resource condition assessments, and 

the establishment of the servicewide Ocean 

and Coastal Resources Branch. Also retired 

in 2011 are Sharon Kliwinski, who has been 

referred to by many as the moral compass 

for the Natural Resource Stewardship and 

Science directorate and served as the WRD 

liaison since 1992, and Dr. Roy Irwin, senior contaminants specialist for the NPS. 

Sharon retired in March 2011. Roy retired 

on 31 December 2011. We thank them all 

for their service. 

I am pleased with the accomplishments of 

WRD this past year. It is indicative of the 

professionalism of WRD and the ability 

of our staff to work with management and 

staff in parks, regions, and the Washington 

Office to address water resources issues at 

every level of the organization. I can speak 

for all of our WRD staff in saying that we 

enjoy working with the parks on any water 

resources management issue, and I am extremely proud to provide leadership, if only 

for a short time, for a dedicated and meticulous group of professionals.

Mabry Mill in autumn, Blue 

Ridge Parkway (North Carolina, 

Virginia). NPS/JIM EVANS
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 3

The harvest that comes from well-directed and thorough 

scientific research has no fleeting value, but abides through 

the years, as the greatest agency for the welfare of mankind.

John Wesley Powell 

 

Heidi Kristenson, Yukon–Charley hydrologic technician, enters field data 

on the edge of a lake in Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska). NPS/ERIC SIEH
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 4

Sheephead and diver, Channel 

Islands National Park (California). 

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH 

AND GAME 

OCRB Projects

www.nature.nps.gov/water/

oceans.cfm

Coastal Watershed Assessments

www.nature.nps.gov/water/

nrca/coastalreports.cfm

Sitka Sound from the visitor 

center at Sitka National Historical Park (Alaska). NPS/CLARENCE 

WADKINS

THE OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCES 

Branch (OCRB) is responsible for leadership and coordination of NPS ocean 

responsibilities, policies, and interests in 

the Natural Resource Stewardship and Science (NRSS) directorate. The goals of the 

branch are to acquire broad-based support 

in ocean and coastal sciences and technologies, develop servicewide ocean policies 

and programs, and provide technical assistance and support to parks.

The NPS 2006 Ocean Park Stewardship 

Action Plan called for increasing the organizational and scientific emphasis to manage 11,200 miles (18,021 km) of coast and 

2,490,000 acres (1,007,703 ha) of ocean and 

Great Lakes waters across 22 states and four 

territories. OCRB provides organizational 

structure and focus for coordination within 

the NRSS and with parks, regional offices, 

the Submerged Resources Center, and other 

entities to meet servicewide goals for ocean 

and coastal resources stewardship.

The branch provides leadership in developing short- and long-term strategies for 

enhancing NPS scientific, technical, and organizational capacity for ocean and coastal 

resources stewardship. The branch works 

closely with the Geologic Resources, Biological Resources Management, and Environmental Quality divisions on critical park 

science and management needs. The branch 

also works closely with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, USGS, 

EPA, other federal and state agencies, universities, and private partners to further the 

goals of ocean and coastal stewardship.

During FY 2011 OCRB staff provided a 

variety of servicewide and park-specific 

technical assistance, coordinated multiple 

Coastal Watershed Assessment and Benthic 

Habitat Mapping Program projects in parks, 

and provided policy guidance and support 

to parks and regions. Significant accomplishments under the Ocean Park Stewardship Action Plan include participation on 

the Department of the Interior’s Senior 

Ocean Policy Team which contributed to 

the development of the Administration’s 

National Ocean Policy; publication of the 

jurisdiction handbook for ocean and coastal 

parks; and participation in the response to 

the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

Ocean and Coastal Resources Branch Highlights

Jeffrey Cross, Branch Chief
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 5

Estimating Shoreline Length and Water Area in Ocean, 

Coastal, and Great Lakes Parks

Thom Curdts, GIS and Remote Sensing Specialist

In 2010 the Ocean and Coastal Resources 

Branch began to address these inconsistencies. A clearly defined, well-documented, 

and repeatable methodology was developed 

to estimate cumulative shoreline length and 

water area in marine, estuarine, and Great 

Lakes park units using a geographic information system (GIS). Many shoreline data 

sets from a variety of sources were examined park-by-park to identify the ones that 

most accurately reflected the shoreline as 

depicted in recent aerial or satellite imagery. 

Shoreline data included several National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

(NOAA) data sets, USGS’s National Hydrography Dataset, and NPS boundary files. 

For most parks, reference imagery was obtained from the Esri, Inc., image service.

Due to the dynamic nature of park shorelines and boundaries and the timing and 

methods of data collection, there will never 

be a definitive, static set of statistics for NPS 

shoreline miles and water area. However, 

this project developed an updated shoreline 

data set for ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes 

units; documented the methods; and published the results in an NRSS report. The 

report and resulting geospatial data sets are 

available on the Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) Data Store. 

Statistics for shoreline length and water area 

will be updated periodically as NPS boundary and shoreline data sets are updated or 

improved and as resources permit.

WIDELY DIFFERING STATISTICS HAVE

been published for total shoreline length 

and water surface area in ocean and coastal 

parks. The low-end estimate of shoreline 

length, and perhaps the most frequently 

quoted figure, is 5,100 miles (8,206 km). 

Other estimates put the figure for National 

Park Service shoreline length over 15,000 

miles (24,135 km). Estimates for water surface area range from 2.4 to 3.2 million acres 

(.97 to 1.3 million ha). The discrepancies are 

due to multiple factors, including the scale, 

methodology, accuracy, and timeframe of 

the source data as well as the specific parks 

included in an analysis.

Report cover with photo of 

Drakes Bay, Point Reyes National 

Seashore (California). https://

irma.nps.gov/App/Reference/

Profile/2170770
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 6

A New Digital Shoreline for Alaska Coastal Parks

Joel Cusick, Cartographic Specialist, Alaska Regional Office

THE NEED FOR ACCURATE DATA AND 

its synthesis drives much of the work of 

the Water Resource Division. In FY 2011 

WRD funded a project that will provide 

much-needed shoreline information for five 

Alaska coastal parks. The digital shoreline 

project is replacing inaccurate and poorly 

documented digital coastlines in the National Hydrographic Dataset (NHD) with 

best available tidal-datum–based shorelines 

from the NOAA Office of Coast Survey. The 

pilot phase of the project began in FY 2010 

and included data acquisition and protocol 

development that defined data source preferences and metadata. The Alaska Regional 

Office worked with GeoSpatial Services 

of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota 

(SMUMN) through FY 2011 to place 95% 

of the approximately 2,000 kilometers 

(1,243 mi) of new shoreline data into NHD 

“edit-ready” status. The data can then be 

integrated into NHD final form. 

The NHD shorelines for some remote parks 

cannot be replaced until NOAA acquires 

newer and higher quality data. At this time, 

four of the five parks are in NHD editready status: Aniakchak NM&P, Lake Clark 

NP&P, Kenai Fjords NP, and Cape Krusenstern NM. Bering Land Bridge NP has 

approximately 20% of its shoreline in the 

final verification process. About 186 kilometers (116 mi) of estimated mean high water 

shoreline at Bering Land Bridge was digitized by a SMUMN staff photo interpreter. 

The digitizing effort was not anticipated, but 

due to recent imagery and small localized 

tidal ranges, the process was a valuable addition to the project. All NHD updates will 

meet Federal Geographic Data Committee 

metadata standards for feature level source 

citations and processes. The USGS will 

complete GeoEdit tools in early 2012, which 

will allow the new Alaska park shoreline 

data to be integrated into NHD.

The differences between old 

and new mapped shorelines are 

quite dramatic. For example, marine and marine-influenced vector data for Lake Clark National 

Park & Preserve increased in 

length by over 88% in areas of 

overlapping data sets. The project also discovered greater than 

100 meters (328 ft) differences 

between marine charted shorelines and GPS confirmed shorelines. The NHD shoreline (blue) 

is a USGS high water line based 

on 1950s data. The 1986 NOAA 

shoreline (red) was derived from 

field surveys. NPS/JOEL CUSICK
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 7

Benthic Habitat Mapping at Point Reyes National Seashore

Thom Curdts, GIS and Remote Sensing Specialist

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BENTHIC 

Habitat Mapping Project at Point Reyes 

National Seashore (California) were to 

compile available regional seafloor mapping 

data, interpret newly collected data, and 

construct benthic habitat and geologic maps 

of the seashore’s submerged lands. The 

habitat maps were constructed using the 

habitat classification scheme and mapping 

code used by the California State Mapping 

Program and used for benthic habitat maps 

of Golden Gate National Recreational Area. 

The classification scheme uses a coding system to distinguish benthic habitats based on 

surface geology.

Six map sheets (1:48,000) and one perspective view sheet of specific areas of interest 

were constructed for Point Reyes. They 

depict bathymetry, geology, and benthic 

habitats. Thirty-nine benthic habitat types 

covering 429 square kilometers (166 mi2) 

were defined from the interpreted data; 11 

are located in estuaries and 28 on the continental shelf. Of the habitat types mapped on 

the continental shelf, 80% are unconsolidated sediment (greens, yellow-greens, khakis, 

and light browns on the map below); 16% 

are hard substrate (deep pink and browns); 

and 4% are a mixture of hard and soft substrates (blues and violets). In the estuaries, 

99.7% of the habitat is soft, unconsolidated 

sediment and 0.3% is hard substrate.

The seashore’s submerged lands are a diverse and dynamic environment. The region 

is relatively unaffected by urban and industrial activity and inputs—with the exception 

of past and declining agricultural activities. 

The maps show two rock seafloor exposures on the continental shelf with textural 

complexity (rugosity) that provides suitable 

habitat for rockfish and lingcod. Granitic 

rocks are the predominant hard substrate 

along the southern margin of Point Reyes 

Headlands. These exposed rocks extend 

offshore of the eastern point of the headland where they are kept clean of sediments 

by strong bottom currents sweeping past 

the point into Drakes Bay. This area is also a 

promising location for rockfish and lingcod.

This work is the most comprehensive, deepwater benthic habitat interpretation to date 

of Point Reyes submerged lands and the 

continental shelf. The maps create a good 

foundation for future ecologic, geologic, 

and oceanographic studies.

Near right: Map sheet, Point 

Reyes National Seashore (California). H. GARY GREENE

Far right: 3-D Point Reyes bathymetry shows mobile sand 

bedforms and dunes that are 

swept by bottom currents 

around Point Reyes Headlands 

(Drakes Bay in the background). 

The bedrock outcrop on seafloor 

is an extension of the headlands. 

The striations on the seafloor 

are artifacts from the roll of the 

survey vessel. MOSS LANDING 

MARINE LABORATORIES CENTER 

FOR HABITAT STUDIES
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 8

Marine Recreational Fisheries of Fire Island 

National Seashore 

Karl Brookins, Marine Fisheries Scientist

shore fishery for bluefish, striped bass, and 

summer flounder in eastern Fire Island; and 

(3) inland vessel-based fisheries, including private and party boats. Anglers caught 

striped bass, summer flounder, bluefish, 

winter flounder, tautog, menhaden, scup, 

weakfish, black sea bass, herring, harlequin 

bass, and skates.

The frequency of recent MRIP sampling 

within the seashore is inadequate to monitor, assess, and manage Fire Island fisheries. Sampling at marinas adjacent to the 

seashore is also inadequate due to limited 

inland sampling and the inability to distinguish fishing inside the seashore boundary 

from fishing that takes place outside. 

The ASMFC identifies weakfish as depleted, 

winter flounder as overfished, and tautog as 

overfished with overfishing occurring. Bluefish, black sea bass, striped bass, and summer flounder are rebuilt to optimum harvest 

levels, although older age classes may not 

have had time to recover.

WRD analysis of MRIP data supports: (1) 

discussions with party, charter, rental, and 

private boat operators about documenting 

fishing location; (2) monitoring and managing angling use along ocean and inland 

shores; (3) listing weakfish, winter flounder, 

and tautog as recovering populations; and 

(4) developing a fishery management plan 

and regulations for striped bass, summer 

flounder, bluefish, menhaden, scup, black 

sea bass, herring, harlequin bass, and skate.

References

Conover, D. O., R. Cerrato, and W. Wise. 2005. Conservation and management of the living marine resources 

of Fire Island National Seashore. Technical Report NPS/

NER/NRTR—2005/023. National Park Service. 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

2011. Marine recreation informaton program. www.

countmyfish.noaa.gov/index.html

NUMEROUS SPECIES OF FISH HAVE 

been recorded in the waters around Fire 

Island National Seashore (New York), and 

sport fishing is a popular activity among 

seashore visitors. Fire Island finfish (true 

fish, unlike shellfish or jellyfish) include 

transients like striped bass, menhaden, eels, 

and weakfish, and fish that use Fire Island 

as nursery grounds and as adults, such as 

summer flounder (fluke), winter flounder, 

and tautog. The rich ecological value of Fire 

Island fish habitat likely exceeds its proportional contribution to coastline (Conover, 

Cerrato, and Wise 2005). 

Recreational finfish fisheries occurring 

around the seashore were determined using 2007–2009 angler interview data from 

NOAA’s Marine Recreational Information 

Program (MRIP) (NOAA 2011). Most interviews occurred at boat ramps near—but 

outside—the boundaries of the national 

seashore; interviews were conducted at one 

location within the seashore. Atlantic States 

Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) 

stock assessments were reviewed to determine the status of each species.

Three hook-and-line fisheries were identified: (1) ocean striped bass and bluefish 

shore fishery west of Fire Island; (2) bay 

Above: Aerial view of Watch Hill 

Marina from the bay side of Fire 

Island. 

Below: Boats docked at Sailors 

Haven Marina. Fire Island National Seashore (New York). NPS 

COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 9

A Database for Aquatic Invasive Species in Ocean, Coastal, 

and Great Lakes Parks 

Eva DiDonato, Marine Pollution Specialist 

Andrew Maguire, Chicago Botanic Garden

cies Program to develop an aquatic invasive 

species database and website. With the help 

of three interns from Chicago Botanic Garden, a database was developed that houses 

data on confirmed and potential aquatic 

invasive species for 84 ocean, coastal, and 

Great Lakes parks.

The database allows queries by park, species, or taxa; data on life histories, distribution, and threats can be downloaded from 

the website. The species in the database 

were determined from available data; updates to the list will occur with cooperation 

from individual parks and external agencies. 

The database will enhance communication 

among natural resource managers, park 

staff, and the public and contribute to effective management of invasive species.

The Great Lakes database profiles 331 species, and 654 species are profiled in the marine invasive species database. You can discover many additional facts about aquatic 

invasives in the databases through the NPS

Intranet website and through the public 

NPS website:

•	The Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) was 

the most widely distributed marine species; it was found in 38 parks.

•	World War II Valor in the Pacific National

Monument (Hawaii, Alaska, California) had 

the most documented invasive marine species: 218.

•	Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Indiana) had the most documented invasive 

species in the Great Lakes: 125.

•	Twenty-one aquatic species were documented in all five Great Lakes parks.

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

defines an invasive species as any species 

that is introduced or non-indigenous to an 

ecosystem, and whose presence does or is 

likely to cause economic or environmental 

harm or harm to human health (Executive 

Order 13112, 1999). The abundance of marine invasive species in ocean, coastal, and 

Great Lakes parks is poorly documented. 

The NPS has taken this first step of data 

compilation and website development to assess these invasive species. 

WRD partnered with the Biological Resources Management Division Invasive SpeA sea lamprey captured at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 

(Michigan). NPS COLLECTION

A boat propeller covered with 

Quagga mussels at Lake Mead 

National Recreation Area (Nevada, Arizona). NPS COLLECTION

For more information on aquatic 

invasive species in our marine 

and Great Lakes parks, please 

visit our website at www.

nature.nps.gov/water/

oceancoastal/index.cfm
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 10

NPS Responds to a Marine Invader

Cliff McCreedy, Marine Fisheries Scientist

National Monument in the Virgin Islands 

and Dry Tortugas and Everglades national 

parks in Florida.

WRD and the Southeast Region held a 

workshop in Miami in September 2011 to 

develop a lionfish response plan for parks in 

the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and southern states along the Atlantic Ocean. It was 

attended by resource managers, interpreters, and risk managers from NPS units, regional offices, and Washington D.C., as well 

as experts in lionfish biology and control. 

Although participants agreed that eradication is impossible, a plan emerged that park 

managers can use to develop local actions. 

Targeted actions include (1) evaluating 

and prioritizing areas for lionfish control 

and setting numeric targets for reducing 

populations; (2) reporting lionfish presence 

and using available tools and resources for 

removal; (3) monitoring lionfish and native species populations and using adaptive 

management approaches; (4) interpreting 

the lionfish invasion, communicating the 

impacts, and engaging the public in park 

stewardship and invasive species response; 

and (5) reducing and communicating risks, 

ensuring safety of visitors, park staff, and 

volunteers, and providing training in safe 

lionfish handling. 

DIVERS AND SNORKELERS VISITING 

coral reefs in national parks in south Florida 

and the Virgin Islands are likely to encounter a beautiful occupant with red stripes and 

long, quill-like fins. Despite its enchanting 

appearance, the lionfish (Pterois volitans) 

is a dangerous, uninvited guest. They are 

native to the western Pacific and probably 

entered our waters from an aquarium release in south Florida in the 1980s. The consequences are potentially severe, including 

impacts to park resources and values and 

threats to visitor safety and experience.

Lionfish are voracious predators on native 

fishes and invertebrates, and competitors 

with them for food. Lionfish threaten herbivorous fishes that maintain optimal conditions for coral recruitment and growth. 

These impacts will likely exacerbate the 

stresses of pollution, overfishing, and climate change, which undermine the ecological integrity of coral reefs. The venomous 

spines of the lionfish also pose a threat of 

injury and illness to visitors.

Efforts to monitor and control lionfish have 

increased as they expand their range in the 

Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Biscayne 

National Park (Florida) established a lionfish monitoring program in 2008; the first lionfish was sighted in 2009. Since then, over 

1,000 individuals have been removed by divers. Lionfish have been detected at Virgin 

Islands National Park and Buck Island Reef 

Above right: Snorklers at Buck 

Island Reef National Monument 

(Virgin Islands). NPS COLLECTION

Lionfish. USGS/DON DEMARIA

Read more from Lionfish Response Plan: A Systematic Approach to Managing Impacts 

from the Lionfish, an Invasive 

Species, in Units of the National 

Park System at www.nature.nps.

gov/publications/nrpm
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 11

Lewis River, Yellowstone National Park (Montana, Wyoming, 

Idaho). NPS/JOHN APEL

THE PLANNING AND EVALUATION 

Branch (PEB) provides technical assistance 

and program management for water resources planning, wetland protection and 

restoration, and fisheries management. In 

2011 the branch was renamed and reassigned programs as part of a larger reorganization of the Water Resources Division. 

Two of the restructuring goals were to 

strengthen water quality technical assistance 

and broaden the division’s planning function in order to provide directorate-wide 

leadership. To that end PEB was renamed 

the Planning and Information Branch (PIB), 

and acquired the Natural Resource Challenge, Natural Resource Condition Assessment, and Water Resources Information 

Management programs. PEB’s fisheries 

management, wetland protection, and restoration functions were reassigned to the 

Aquatic Systems Branch.

The WRD Planning Program focused on 

the integration of Resource Stewardship 

Strategy (RSS) into parks’ planning processes, assistance to the Climate Change 

Response Program, and the review of General Management Plans. The outcomes have 

resulted in consideration of climate change 

on park resources and quantifying goals for 

resource management.

The Wetlands Program provided extensive 

support on wetlands regulatory issues, 

wetland condition and functional assessments, and wetlands restoration to 57 parks 

throughout the system. Technical assistance 

for wetland restoration at Great Basin National Park and Riparian Condition Evaluations to support a Natural Resource Condition Assessment and RSS at Pecos National 

Historical Park are featured in the following 

pages of this report. The Wetlands Program 

also served as the servicewide expert in determining federal jurisdiction of “waters of 

the United States” and reviewing the Clean 

Water Cooperative Federalism Act.

In FY 2011 Fisheries Program staff assisted 

parks on issues such as fish community 

composition and health, impacts associated 

with hatchery operations and hatchery-produced fish, fishing regulations, lead fishing 

tackle, aquatic nuisance species prevention, 

and aquatic habitat degradation. Program 

staff also edited Proceedings of the Fourth 

Interagency Conference on Research in 

the Watershed; a Field Manual for the Use 

of Fintrol (Antimycin A) for Restoration 

of Native Fish Populations; and the Devils 

Hole Ecosystem Monitoring Plan. In addition, program staff represented NPS in a 

wide range of multi-interest groups such as 

the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, 

the National Fish Habitat Partnership 

(NFHP), and several regional fish habitat 

partnerships under NFHP.

As part of our Emeritus Program, retired 

PEB Chief Mark Flora has taken the lead in 

a partnership with Project WET, a non-governmental organization that provides water 

education for teachers and their students. 

Mark also provided technical assistance to 

the Kingdom of Jordan through the International Technical Assistance Program. 

Planning and Evaluation Branch Highlights

Patrick Mangan, Branch Chief
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 12

Gearing Up for the New Challenge: Climate Change

Don Weeks, Climate Change Resource Planner

WE ARE WATCHING A CHANGING 

climate unfold in front of our eyes; rising 

temperatures are influencing many aspects 

of Earth’s hydrologic systems, such as precipitation, snow, ice, and permafrost. Considering climate change in park planning is 

now required, and in response, WRD added 

a new climate change resource planner position in 2011. 

One of the FY 2011 projects supported by 

this new position was the development of 

the Foundation Document for Hot Springs 

National Park in Arkansas. The purpose of 

Hot Springs National Park is to protect its 

unique geothermal spring water and associated lands for a range of experiences and 

uses, making the hot springs a fundamental 

park resource. These geothermal springs are 

recharged by rainwater infiltrating through 

higher-elevation rock exposures of chert 

and novaculite. Any changes in the recharge/runoff ratio within the recharge area 

could affect the discharge and temperature 

of the hot springs (Kresse and Hays 2009). 

Discharge from the springs includes a small 

but important shallow component of coldwater recharge (Bell and Hays 2007). 

The climate change projected for the Hot 

Springs region could influence both discharge and temperature of the park’s hot 

springs. Based on climate models for the 

region, air temperature is projected to 

increase between 2.6°C and 4.4°C (4.7°F 

and 7.9°F) and precipitation is projected 

to decrease between 2% and 8% between 

1990 and 2100 (Gonzalez et al. 2010, IPCC 

2007, Mitchell and Jones 2005). Under this 

projected climate future, one would expect 

less shallow groundwater mixing resulting 

in less spring discharge with warmer temperatures. 

This projected climate future and the potential influences to Hot Springs National 

Park’s fundamental resources have been 

incorporated into the park’s Foundation 

Document. The basic understanding of 

potential climate futures can now be further developed in the more comprehensive 

planning efforts that tier off the Foundation 

Document, such as the Resource Stewardship Strategy (RSS). The NPS Park Planning 

and Special Studies Program, with support 

from Hot Springs National Park, is now 

funding a USGS watershed modeling effort 

for analysis of future scenarios of development within the Hot Springs recharge area, 

along with plausible climate futures.

References

Bell, R. W. and P. D. Hays. 2007. Influence of locally 

derived recharge on the water quality and temperature of springs in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas. 

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 

2007—5004.

Gonzalez, P., R. P. Neilson, J. M. Lenihan, and R. J. Drapek. 2010. Global patterns in the vulnerability of ecosystems to vegetation shifts due to climate change. Global 

Ecology and Biogeography 19:755–768.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 

2007. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. 

Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Kresse, T. M. and P. D. Hays. 2009. Geochemistry, comparative analysis, and physical and chemical characteristics of the thermal waters east of Hot Springs National 

Park, Arkansas, 2006–09. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2009—5263.

Mitchell, T. D. and P. D. Jones. 2005. An improved 

method of constructing a database of monthly climate 

observations and associated high-resolution grids. International Journal of Climatology 25:693–712.

Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas) geothermal area. NPS/

DON WEEKS
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 13

Bear Creek Campground Wetland Restoration 

Kevin F. Noon, Wetlands Specialist 

PARK MANAGERS AT GREAT BASIN

National Park (Nevada) are developing a 

plan, based on a solid understanding of 

the geology and hydrology of the area, to 

remove fill from Bear Creek Campground 

in order to re-establish pre-disturbance 

hydrologic conditions across a three-acre 

(1.2-ha) wetland area. Water Resources 

Division staff are working with park staff 

to determine the best course of action for 

removing a 1,215-foot (370-m) campground 

loop road, associated camping spaces, and a 

vault toilet.

WRD staff reviewed specific hydrologic 

conditions and discussed numerous treatment options around the entire length of 

the loop road. For example, park and WRD 

staff discussed the treatment of a ditch and 

culvert system that was put in place by the 

engineers that designed the campground 

road. Rather than maintain the function of a 

ditch, which essentially channels water and 

drains the hydric condition of the wetland, 

staff agreed to fill the ditch and recreate surface water, sheet-flow conditions. 

WRD also recommends removal of two culverts that direct the flow of channels under 

the main campground access road. These 

channels transmit infrequent flows from severe local storms or snow melt from an area 

just above the restoration site. The culverts 

direct these flows under the access road and 

into the emergent wetland in the restoration area. Instead of culverts, WRD recommends the road be re-graded and fitted with 

concrete pads or low-flow structures. 

Part of the restoration will include removing 

a deep-vault toilet. WRD staff believe that 

part of the vault is below the groundwater 

table during the spring wet season. Burying 

the vault in place will be the least disruptive and cheapest solution once it has been 

cleansed of contaminants. Using a jack 

hammer attachment on a back hoe, the top 

one-third of the vault walls will be broken 

off and placed inside the vault along with 

large boulders. Then the vault cavity can be 

backfilled up to the surface or finish grade 

with appropriate soil material. This process 

will weigh the vault down, eliminate any 

movement from groundwater pressure, and 

provide a gap above the vault walls to allow 

for an uninterrupted root zone for plant 

growth. The Bear Creek Campground restoration is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Above right: Plan view of the 

Bear Creek restoration area. 

NPS/K. NOON 

A campground parking space on 

the fill. Note the concrete pad 

and table also in the wetland 

with groundwater exposed in 

the firepit. Great Basin National 

Park (Nevada). NPS/K. NOON
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 14

Riparian Condition Evaluations Support Park Assessment 

and Planning Efforts

Joel Wagner, Wetlands Program Lead

Michael Martin, Hydrologist

PECOS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

(New Mexico) preserves 12,000 years of 

history including Pecos Pueblo and Spanish 

Mission ruins, the Santa Fe Trail, and the 

site of the Civil War Battle of Glorieta Pass. 

These cultural resources lie amidst piñon, 

juniper, and pine woodlands; the Pecos 

River; Glorieta Creek; and other natural resource features of the park.

In 2010 and 2011 the NPS and cooperators 

conducted a Natural Resource Condition 

Assessment (NRCA) for the park. An NRCA 

evaluates current conditions, critical data 

gaps, and threat and stressor influences on 

important park natural resources, including 

riparian areas. Although previous park studies mapped riparian vegetation communities 

and collected vegetation data suitable for 

evaluating change over time, they weren’t 

designed to evaluate riparian functional 

condition or ecological health. Therefore 

park managers asked WRD to conduct riparian condition assessments for the Pecos 

River and lower Glorieta Creek in support 

of the NRCA study. 

We used Bureau of Land Management 

“proper functioning condition” (PFC) procedures for our riparian assessments. All 

Pecos River reaches were determined to 

be in PFC (highest possible rating). However, the lower Glorieta Creek reach was 

rated “functional—at risk with a downward 

trend” due to a manufactured levee adjacent 

to the stream channel. The levee constrains 

the channel to an artificially narrow riparian corridor, which limits its potential size, 

structural complexity, and habitat value. In 

addition, floods have the potential to erode 

through the levee and deposit excessive sediment into adjacent, recently restored wetlands and downstream aquatic habitats. We 

published our findings in an NRSS report 

titled “Riparian Condition Assessments for 

the Pecos River and Lower Glorieta Creek, 

Pecos National Historical Park, NM” (NPS/

NRSS/WRD/NRR—2011/422). The report 

recommends removal of the levee to connect the restored wetland area to the stream 

corridor, allow the riparian system to reach 

its full ecological potential, and eliminate 

the threat of excessive sediment deposition 

in aquatic environments.

Using information from the NRCA and 

other sources, park managers are now developing a Resource Stewardship Strategy 

(RSS). An RSS is a planning process and 

document that serves as a planning link 

between the desired conditions identified 

in a park’s GMP and the actions needed to 

achieve them. The WRD riparian assessments provided essential resource condition 

information to help park managers develop 

a successful RSS.

Riparian areas along the Pecos 

River were rated as being in 

“proper functioning condition.” 

This photo from the southernmost assessment reach shows a 

large and topographically complex riparian zone with a diverse 

riparian/wetland vegetation 

community. NPS/MICHAEL MARTIN

A manufactured levee (center) 

separates recently restored riparian/wetland habitat (left) from 

Glorieta Creek (right, hidden by 

vegetation). The levee constrains 

natural biological and hydrologic 

processes in the riparian corridor and is a potential source of 

excess sediment deposition into 

nearby aquatic systems. Pecos 

National Historical Park (New 

Mexico). NPS/JOEL WAGNER
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 15

Monitoring an Endangered Tallgrass Prairie Fish 

Nic Medley, Fisheries Biologist

THE FEDERALLY ENDANGERED

Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka) is a small 

minnow that inhabits small, cool, headwater 

streams within the tallgrass prairie ecosystem of the American Midwest. The fish was 

once abundant and widely distributed, but 

development and agriculture have degraded 

stream habitat and caused the local extinction (extirpation) of many populations.

The Topeka shiner has been documented 

within the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve located in the Flint Hills Region of 

Kansas. Because the fish is endangered, 

the NPS is required to protect and recover 

this species. The preserve is owned almost 

entirely by The Nature Conservancy but 

administered cooperatively with the NPS. 

The purpose of Tallgrass Prairie is to preserve, protect, and interpret an example of 

a tallgrass prairie ecosystem and the cultural 

features that tell the story of human 

interaction with the prairie environment. 

Much of the preserve is managed as a 

working cattle ranch. Park managers seek a 

healthy balance between the seemingly contradictory goals of preserving the ranching 

heritage while preserving unimpaired the 

small streams within this unique ecosystem. 

Near right: An ungrazed stream 

within Tallgrass Prairie National 

Preserve. Far right: A grazed 

stream within Tallgrass Prairie 

National Preserve (Kansas). NPS/

NIC MEDLEY

NPS inventory and monitoring data suggest that the Topeka shiner population 

within the preserve has declined in the last 

decade. While the data suggests a possible 

change in the status of the fish, the monitoring program was not designed to provide 

accurate data on the status of a species so 

rare and difficult to detect or to understand 

cause and effect relationships between the 

species’ status and management activities. 

At this time, the true status of the Topeka 

shiner populations within Tallgrass Prairie is 

uncertain. Preserve managers need to better understand the population status and 

distribution of the fish so that management 

actions can be taken to protect the fish and 

its habitat.

WRD staff are working with the preserve to 

develop a monitoring plan. The objectives 

are to conduct detailed presence/absence 

surveys to document the spatial and temporal occupancy of sites within Tallgrass 

Prairie and to conduct population estimates. 

A better understanding of Topeka shiner 

populations will provide important data to 

test specific hypotheses regarding the fish’s 

status and its response to environmental 

change and management activities.
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 16

Restoration of Aimakapa Fishpond 

Kevin F. Noon, Wetlands Specialist 

John Wullschleger, Fisheries Program Leader

AIMAKAPA FISHPOND IN KALOKOHonokōhau National Historical Park 

(Hawaii) is a loko pu’uone, a large natural 

water body trapped behind sand dunes. 

Historically it was connected to the ocean 

by a stone-lined channel and used by native 

Hawaiians for aquaculture. In addition to its 

historic and cultural values, the 30-acre (12-

ha) pond provides mud flat foraging and 

upland nesting habitat for the endangered 

Hawaiian stilt (Himantopus mexicanus knudseni) and Hawaiian coot (Fulica alai). The 

contiguous complex supports the native 

sedges kaluha and makaloa (Bolboschoenus 

maritimus and Cyperus laevigatus) as well 

the Hawaiian o`pae ula (the shrimp Metabetaeus lohena ) and a damselfly (Megalagrion 

xanthomelas), which are candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act. 

The challenge facing Aimakapa Fishpond 

is the spread of two invasive plants, pickleweed (Batis maritime) and paspalum 

(Paspalum sp.). These invasives threaten the 

ecologically important mud flats, reducing the open water area of the pond to 15 

acres (6 ha). This has altered the abundance, 

composition, and diversity of soil microbe 

and animal communities, resulting in a shift 

from a detritus-based to an algae-based 

food web and reducing food for endemic 

fish and shorebirds. In addition, the shift 

from open tidal flat to vegetated marsh has 

resulted in physical conditions that limit the 

access of most foraging birds and fish species to food sources. 

Above: Hawaiian coot and 

Hawaiian stilt in Aimakapa 

Fishpond. Right: Aerial view of 

Aimakapa Fishpond, KalokoHonokōhau National Historical 

Park (Hawaii). NPS COLLECTION

The restoration of the Aimakapa Fishpond 

system is a priority for Kaloko-Honokōhau 

and WRD. Contractors from the University 

of California Davis Cooperative Ecosystem 

Studies Unit are developing a vegetation 

management plan that will guide eradication of the invasive plants and restore the 

mud flat wetlands. 

Since this effort began, WRD staff has recognized that tilapia, an invasive fish established in the pond, needs to be addressed as 

a component of restoration. One possibility 

is that removal of non-native vegetation 

could actually allow the tilapia population 

to expand. Thus, WRD High Priority funds 

are supporting a separate environmental assessment (EA) that will be developed by the 

USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center. 

This will include a literature review, field 

assessments, characterization of the fish 

community, and the evaluation of alternative eradication methods for tilapia. As time 

permits this effort may also consider nonnative fish in waters of nearby NPS units 

such as Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National 

Historical Park. 
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 17

A Partnership with Project WET to Enhance Water Education

Mark Flora, Emeritus Volunteer

IN A CALL TO ACTION, THE NPS 

identifies “Advancing the NPS Education 

Mission” as one of four priority actions to 

lead the bureau into its second century. In 

2011 WRD entered a partnership with the 

Project WET Foundation, an award-winning and internationally recognized water 

education program, to develop products 

that educate youth and other park visitors 

about aquatic resources and issues within 

the National Park System. 

The Discover the Waters of our National 

Parks partnership will use national and state 

curriculum standards in conjunction with 

park-specific resource information to create 

materials that tell the stories of a park’s water. Specially designed workshops will engage park staff, teachers, informal educators 

(including youth mentors), and other environmental education advocates for the purpose of teaching water resource concepts 

applicable to their home environments. 

Both partners will work cooperatively in 

the development and implementation of 

hands-on, science-based activities that serve 

to protect the resource, provide high-quality 

education, and appeal to multiple generations. Products will make use of diverse media (including publications, training, film, 

and internet) and will be available to the 

park’s local communities and classrooms 

across the country. 

The Discover the Waters of our National 

Parks partnership was announced at the 

Sustaining the Blue Planet–Global Water 

Education Conference in September 2011. 

This conference attracted over 200 participants interested in water-related environmental education from more than 40 

countries. The first phase of the partnership 

has been completed with a collaborative 

lesson included in Project WET Curriculum 

and Activity Guide 2.0, published in 2011. 

Currently, fundraising efforts are underway 

for the next phase—working with five pilot 

parks to create and implement site-specific 

education projects. The pilot parks will 

each represent one of five different aquatic 

environment categories: montane (top of 

mountain), Great Lakes, big river, coastal/

estuarine, and urban river. A selection of the 

five pilot parks and an alternative in each 

category will be made early in 2012. As the 

project develops, more parks will be included in this exciting collaborative endeavor.

Linda Drees, NRSS partnership manager, and Dennis 

Nelson, Project WET president, 

announced the partnership 

project at Sustaining the Blue 

Planet–Global Water Education 

Conference. PROJECT WET/HALE 

THOMAS-HILBURN
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 18

counterparts and share expertise in natural 

resource management disciplines including 

habitat fragmentation, altered fire regime, 

non-native invasive species management, 

and the implementation of effective inventory and monitoring techniques. 

The “Petra Park Managers Study Tour” in 

September provided mid-level managers 

from Petra Archaeological Park in Jordan 

with an opportunity to meet with their U.S. 

counterparts and observe and discuss management protocols used in the protection 

and preservation of cultural resources in the 

United States. Park managers from Jordan, 

including a cultural resource management 

specialist and park operations specialist, 

met and interacted with peers at Grand 

Canyon National Park (Arizona), Mesa 

Verde National Park (Colorado), and Pecos 

National Historical Park (New Mexico), as 

well as discussing topics of mutual interest 

with program managers with NPS Vanishing 

Treasures Program, NPS Western Archaeological and Conservation Center, and State 

of New Mexico Office of Cultural Affairs. In 

addition, broader topics related to protected area management were included relating to visitor use and services, concessions 

management, interpretation and environmental education, and developing effective 

partnerships in with local communities and 

interest groups.

Thinking Globally, Sharing Locally 

Mark Flora, Emeritus Volunteer

IN 2011 THE WATER RESOURCES 

Division supported the International Technical Assistance Program in developing and 

leading two study tours that paired visiting 

park officials from the Kingdom of Jordan 

with National Park Service counterparts to 

share knowledge, ideas, and best management practices for the preservation of natural and cultural resources. 

The “Mediterranean Forest Management 

Study Tour” in May was developed as part 

of the USAID-funded Jordan Parks Project 

under the auspices of the U.S. Department 

of the Interior Office of International Affairs. The purpose of this study tour was to 

provide Jordanian NGOs whose responsibilities include managing protected Mediterranean forest habitats with an opportunity to observe and discuss management protocols used within similar Mediterranean 

ecosystem protected areas managed by the 

U.S. Department of the Interior. With input 

from the NPS Pacific West Regional Office, we decided to focus this tour on Santa 

Monica Mountains National Recreation 

Area and Pinnacles National Monument 

in California. Study tour participants had 

the opportunity to interact with their U.S. 

Above right: Vegetation Program Lead John Tizler reviewing 

park boundary and management zoning in Santa Monica 

Mountains National Recreation 

Area (California) with Loay Al 

Azzam (Dibeen Forest Reserve), 

Yaseen Ananbeh (RSCN Biological Inventories and Field Studies 

Program), and Sameh Al Khatatbeh (Ajloun Forest Reserve). NPS/

MARK FLORA

Near right: Tahani al-Salhi (Petra 

Archaeological Park) and Victor 

Ortiz (historic mason) discuss 

restoration and maintenance 

techniques used in the preservation of free-standing adobe 

structures at Pecos National 

Historical Park (Texas). NPS/MARK 

FLORA
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 19

FISCAL YEAR 2011 WAS ANOTHER 

eventful and successful year for the staff 

of the Water Operations Branch (WOB). 

Staff members contributed in many and 

varied ways to the management, protection, and restoration of the waters and 

related habitats of numerous National Park 

Service units. WOB has been a part of the 

Water Resources Division for over 20 years, 

providing technical assistance and funding 

project oversight in the areas of surface water and groundwater hydrology, water quality, contaminant transport, natural resource 

condition assessment, information management, erosion and sedimentation, floodplain management, hydraulic modeling, 

and fluvial and wetland restoration. This 

assistance has been provided at the park 

level as well as regional and WASO levels 

and includes servicewide programs such as 

the Natural Resource Condition Assessment 

(NRCA) Program, Vital Signs Water Quality Monitoring, and the USGS–NPS Water 

Quality Partnership. 

WOB staff contributed significantly to an 

exciting milestone achieved by the NPS in 

FY 2011—the start of the removal of two 

dams on the Elwha River on the Olympic 

Peninsula in Washington State. Also during 

FY 2011 WOB water quality staff, in conjunction with the Geologic Resources Division, provided critical reviews of a number 

of documents dealing with potential threats 

and impacts to parks from Marcellus Shale 

development. Other achievements for the 

water quality program for FY 2011 included 

working with Yellowstone National Park 

staff and Montana Department of Environmental Quality to coordinate various monitoring activities at the McLaren tailings site, 

providing Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore assistance in conducting a comprehensive review of the Baseline Environment 

Risk Assessment of the Bailly Generating 

Plant RCRA site, and playing an instrumental role in having a responsible party 

undertake active remediation of a Leaking 

Underground Storage Tank (LUST) site at 

Mesa Verde National Park. 

Other important branch projects included 

continuing NPSTORET development with 

increased functionality and a growing servicewide database. The NRCA Program 

funded project starts at 25 park units in FY 

2011 and provided technical support to a 

number of ongoing projects. The hydrology program carried a heavy technical assistance load in FY 2011 as is the norm and 

provided coordination and support on several funded projects including such issues as 

climate change, wells and public water supplies, wetlands restorations, and hydraulic 

modeling of park rivers. 

As of FY 2012 a new branch structure 

has been adopted by the WRD, and the 

WOB will no longer exist as an entity. Staff 

members from the former WOB and other 

WRD branches have been realigned into a 

new branch structure that conforms more 

closely to evolving agency needs. Parks, regions, and WASO offices can rest assured, 

however, that all former functions provided 

by the Water Operations Branch will continue to be effectively addressed by the new 

organizational structure. 

Kayaking on Jackson Lake, 

Grand Teton National Park 

(Wyoming). NPS COLLECTION

Water Operations Branch Highlights

Gary M. Smillie, Acting Branch Chief
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 20

Dam Removals on the Elwha River Began in FY 2011

Gary M. Smillie, Hydrologist

FOLLOWING NEARLY TWO DECADES 

of planning by NPS and other federal agencies, deconstruction of two dams on the Elwha River in Washington State—the Elwha 

and Glines Canyon Dams—began near the 

end of FY 2011. The larger of the two dams, 

Glines Canyon, and its reservoir, Lake 

Mills, are entirely within the boundaries 

of Olympic National Park. Elwha Dam impounds Lake Aldwell, downstream from the 

park, and is located about five miles (8 km) 

upstream from the sea. Removal of these 

dams is part of a project to restore an anadromous fishery and related ecosystem in 

Olympic National Park and to restore, to the 

extent possible, natural geomorphology and 

vegetation in the former lake beds. Once 

removed, the length of river and tributaries available to anadromous fish, those that 

spend most of their lives at sea but spawn 

in fresh water, will increase from about five 

miles (8 km) to about 80 miles (129 km).

The removal of these dams is a high-profile 

project in the National Park Service. These 

are the largest dams to date to be removed 

in North America, and the restoration effort 

will be the second-largest ever undertaken 

by the NPS (second only to the Everglades 

restoration). In attendance at the 17 September 2011 Ground Breaking Ceremony 

were Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, 

NPS Director Jon Jarvis, Washington State 

Governor Chris Gregoire, and a host of 

other national, local, and tribal dignitaries. 

Water Operations Branch staff have been 

involved with the Elwha Project since the 

early 1990s and have assisted in the development of sediment management aspects 

of the project. The contract to deconstruct 

the two dams was awarded to Barnard 

Construction of Bozeman, Montana, and 

is being administered by the Denver Service Center. The project is expected to take 

about three years and includes periods of 

dam removal “pauses” to lessen sediment 

impacts to the river downstream during 

critical fish life-stages. The structures are 

being incrementally removed from the top 

down. Initially, only turbidity impacts are 

anticipated downstream, but eventually 

coarse sediments eroded from the reservoir 

deltas will be released downstream. The 

release of coarse sediment is not anticipated 

until at least late 2012. 

Because of the scale of the project and its 

scientific opportunities, professional interest in the project is high and many agencies 

and other institutions are collaborating in 

various studies. “The restoration project 

is a testament to what can happen when 

diverse groups find a way to work together 

and achieve shared goals of restoration for a 

river, a people, an ecosystem, and a national 

park,” said Director Jarvis. 

Updates to the project can be found at 

www.nps.gov/olym, and dam removal progress and fluvial processes on the deltas can 

be observed in essentially real time at:

www.video-monitoring.com/construction/

olympic/js.htm

Elwha Dam from downstream 

with Lake Aldwell impounded 

in the background, taken from 

the webcam on 24 August 2011. 

Olympic National Park (Washington). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 21

“I may not see the abundance of fish come back in my 

lifetime, but I would like to see it come back for my 

grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, and the rest of 

my people, the following generations to come. It was a 

gift from our creator, it was our culture and heritage.

Beatrice Charles, Klallam tribal elder

Elwha Dam demolition on 30 September 2011, Olympic National Park (Washington). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 22

The Real Threats from Hydraulic Fracturing and 

Natural Gas Development

Pete Penoyer, Hydrogeologist

IN SUPPORT OF THE NORTHEAST 

Region parks, WRD staff conducted research on threats posed by deep underground hydraulic fracturing (fracking) from 

Marcellus Shale gas development. The 

primary concern was the threat of fracking 

chemicals contaminating potable aquifers 

and drinking water supplies. Research consisted of a review of literature; discussions 

with state regulators and industry representatives; and participation in several hydraulic fracturing symposiums, forums, conferences, and an EPA workshop on migration 

of hydraulic fracturing chemicals.

Among subject matter experts there appears 

to be a strong consensus that risk of chemical migration to drinking water supplies and 

potable aquifers when hydraulic fracturing 

is conducted deep underground is extremely remote. This is largely due to the absence 

of viable migration pathways, the isolated 

conditions and physical constraints under 

which deep hydraulic fracturing in lateral 

boreholes occurs, and the monitoring measures taken by industry to detect and limit 

the potential for fracking chemicals to extend beyond the Marcellus Shale formation. 

Surface chemical spills are also a concern, 

but these are largely localized and manageable in operations of this scale.

The problem that staff did discover in its 

analysis is the potential for stray gas migration via the annulus, the space between the 

borehole wall, and the casing, or production 

string, which carries the gas to the surface. 

This more common phenomenon can impact a drinking water supply through poor 

well design or when significant sections of 

the annulus are left open or uncemented. 

When a well is drilled, the borehole cuts 

through many rock layers to reach the targeted Marcellus Shale. If natural fractures in 

these shallow bedrock layers occur, the annular path coupled with migration through 

shallow fractures can allow non-target gas 

to reach the shallow aquifer thereby circumventing the intended protections of the 

surface casing (steel and cement) to isolate 

drinking water supplies. Risks include overpressurized gas in the annulus contributing 

to levels of methane in drinking water supplies sufficient to cause an explosive hazard. 

WRD staff concluded that stray gas migration from gas-bearing intervals above the 

target formation is a more significant longterm threat to drinking water supplies than 

the actual release of chemicals used in the 

fracking process. These chemicals are well 

isolated during the fracking and production 

phases of Marcellus Shale development. 

Instead, parks should focus on the consequence of stray gas migration as the most 

significant and potentially more widespread 

threat to drinking water supplies from natural gas development.

Hydraulic fracturing schematic 

of Marcellus Shale gas development illustrating stray gas 

migration pathways. NPS/PETE 

PENOYER
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 23

NPS Hydrographic and Impairment Statistics 

Dean Tucker, Information Management Program Leader 

Jia Ling, Impaired Waters Database Manager

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW 

many miles of streams or acres of lakes exist in a particular park or within the entire 

National Park System; or how many miles 

of streams or acres of lakes are considered 

“impaired” by states under the Clean Water 

Act? Using WRD’s recently updated Hydrographic and Impairments Statistics (HIS) 

database (www.nature.nps.gov/water/HIS) 

you can find the answers to these and other 

hydrographic questions. 

The HIS database unites data from three 

sources: (1) USGS’s high-resolution National Hydrography Dataset (NHD); (2) 

NPS Administrative Park Boundaries Dataset; and (3) the latest state Clean Water Act 

reports. The HIS database is dynamic. Calculated statistics will change as larger scale 

hydrography slowly replace the 1:24,000 

(1:63,360 for Alaska) scale hydrography that 

currently comprise the lion’s share of the 

NHD; park boundaries are revised by the 

Land Resources Division or new parks are 

added; and states report their impairment 

lists to the EPA biennially.

During FY 2012 the HIS will be enhanced 

to allow users to obtain lists of parks impaired by specific pollutants and to view 

impairments on a map.

The National Park System 

also contains approximately 

4,410,200 acres (1,784,807 ha) 

of lakes, reservoirs, and oceans 

(waterbodies) of which approximately 1,471,622 acres (595,582 

ha) are impaired. The most common waterbody impairments are 

mercury, PCBs, pesticides, and 

dioxins.

Table 2. Top 10 national park units arrayed for waterbody acreage and impaired waterbody 

acreage according to HIS 

 254,768 

237,969

168,802

 132,344 

89,707 

66,820 

65,547

63,667

58,221 

48,227

Glacier Bay 629,522

Everglades 588,013

Isle Royale 417,103

Katmai 327,017

Bering Land Bridge 221,662 

Biscayne 165,111

Lake Mead 161,965

Glen Canyon 157,318 

Lake Clark 143,861

Channel Islands 119,167

 Total Total

 Waterbody Waterbody

# Park Unit Acres Hectares 

1

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

 234,022 

166,847

34,134

 28,540

28,324

26,498

12,869

10,977 

6,707

6,605

Everglades 578,261

Isle Royale 412,273

Voyageurs 84,344

Padre Island 70,522

Lake Roosevelt 69,988

Dry Tortugas 65,476

Canaveral 31,798

Apostle Islands 27,125

Cape Lookout 16,574

Lake Meredith 16,321

 Impaired Impaired

 Waterbody Waterbody

# Park Unit Acres Hectares 

1

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Table 1. Top 10 national park units arrayed for waterway mileage and impaired waterway 

mileage according to HIS

 26,109 

22,148

20,872

 19,601 

16,251 

10,523 

9,868 

9,783 

9,332 

8,452

Gates of the Arctic 16,227

Wrangell–St. Elias 13,765

Death Valley 12,972

Noatak 12,182

Denali 10,100

Yellowstone 6,540

Mojave 6,133

Lake Clark 6,080

Katmai 5,800

Big Bend 5,253

 Total Total

 Waterway Waterway

# Park Unit Miles Kilometers 

1

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

 2,801 

1,788

1,097

 650

486

479 

441

433

367 

296

Everglades 1,741

Great Smoky Mnts. 1,111

Capitol Reef 682

C & O Canal 404

Zion 302

Rocky Mountain 298 

Big Cypress 274

Timucuan 269

Cuyahoga Valley 228

Rio Grande 184

 Impaired Impaired

 Waterway Waterway

# Park Unit Miles Kilometers 

1

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

According to the latest statistics, the National Park System 

contains approximately 168,250 

miles (270,714 km) of perennial, 

intermittent, and ephemeral 

streams/rivers and canals (waterways). Of these miles, approximately 7,940 miles (12,775 

km) are considered impaired by 

states under section 303(d) of 

the Clean Water Act. The most 

common waterway impairments 

are mercury, impaired biota, salinity, PCBs, and metals. 
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 24

Restoration of Quitobaquito Pond

Larry Martin, Hydrologist

THE POND AT QUITOBAQUITO 

Springs in Organ Pipe Cactus National 

Monument (Arizona) is a refuge for the 

Rio Sonoyta pupfish (Cyprinodon eremus) 

and Sonoyta mud turtle (Kinosternon sonoriense longifemorale). Water flows into 

the pond from several local springs. In the 

mid-1990s, park staff noticed that the pond 

was not being maintained at its full level. 

Beginning in 2005, and through 2006–2009, 

the surface elevation of Quitobaquito Pond 

fell to extremely low levels, unprecedented 

since it was dredged and deepened in 1962. 

Normally averaging about 25 to 40 inches 

(64 to 102 cm) deep and about 27,000 ft2 

(2,508 m2) in surface area, by 2008 the pond 

averaged 1.5 inches (4 cm) deep and 40% of 

its normal surface area. This loss of surface 

area and total water volume presented imminent threats to the Rio Sonoyta pupfish 

and the Sonoyta mud turtle. At first, the loss 

of water was attributed to drought conditions causing a decrease of flow from the 

springs. Investigations at the site eventually 

identified excessive leakage from the pond 

as the primary cause of water level decline.

Actions taken during 2007–2010 to mitigate 

Right: Quitobaquito Pond near 

its lowest point on 26 July 2008 

(above) and at minus 5 pond 

level on 13 December 2010 (below). Organ Pipe Cactus National 

Monument (Arizona). NPS COLLECTION

Pond data from 1991–2011. NPS/

LARRY MARTIN

the threats to Quitobaquito Pond included 

(1) evacuating pupfish and mud turtles to 

temporary holding facilities; (2) calculating 

a water budget for the system; (3) trucking 

over 83,000 gallons of water to the pond in 

mid-summer 2008; (4) clearing vegetation 

from strategic areas including the manual 

removal of bulrush; (5) making physical repairs to the pond’s infrastructure including 

relining the bottom, rehabilitating the berm, 

and repairing the channel; and (7) ensuring 

regulatory compliance.

It appears that these actions have stopped 

the leak. The pond is currently holding at 

about the “minus 5 inches” level or higher, 

which is the highest stable level since 2005 

or earlier. The pond was essentially dead 

and gone in midsummer 2008 and 2009. We 

regained 24 inches (61 cm) of water depth 

(so far), which is 85% or more of the maximum pond volume. 

Quitobaquito Pond is 70 meters (230 ft) 

north of the U.S.–Mexico border, and about 

two hundred meters (656 ft) north of Mexico Highway 2. The Quitobaquito area has 

been closed to the public for seven years, 

and all NPS work parties must be accompanied by NPS law enforcement. Work at the 

site entails considerable logistical challenges 

and employee security issues.
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 25

Hydraulic Modeling of the Stehekin River

Michael Martin, Hydrologist 

Katherine Converse, Hydrology SCEP

Jon Riedle, Geologist, North Cascades National Park Complex

IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL SEVERE 

flood events over the past 15 years, North 

Cascades National Park Complex (Washington) is developing the Stehekin River 

Corridor Implementation Plan. The plan is 

intended to protect natural riparian values, 

facilitate park operations, and foster cooperation between the park and local residents 

along the river. In support of the plan, WRD 

and park staff completed a multi-phase 

data compilation exercise to create a hydraulic model and analyze a variety of flows 

along the Stehekin River. The topographic 

information was derived from two different ground surveys and a digital elevation 

model (DEM) based on LIDAR data. Merging these three data sets presented several 

challenges as the two ground surveys used 

different datums and the DEM required 

post-processing of the raw LIDAR data 

to achieve desired accuracy. We projected 

these three data sets into a common datum 

and then extracted 56 individual channel 

and floodplain cross sections to complete 

a HEC-RAS model representing over 3,000 

feet (914 m) of the Stehekin River.

The overall purpose of the modeling exercise is to evaluate how the 100-year floodplain may have changed over the last few 

decades as a result of several substantial 

flow events and geomorphic evolution of 

the channel. Additionally, park staff is interested in using output from the model to 

understand how hydraulic parameters such 

as velocity and stream power affect the sediment dynamics of the river, especially the 

large woody debris that forms extensive logjams and may cause dramatic shifts in channel morphology. Answers to these questions 

are expected in FY 2012, while continued 

application of this model to other hydrologic questions will be ongoing.

Above right: View of the Stehekin River along a prominent meander bend. Note the presence 

of large woody debris on the 

overbank area. North Cascades 

National Park Complex (Washington). NPS/MICHAEL MARTIN

Output from HEC-RAS model 

showing a representative channel and floodplain cross section 

for the Stehekin River with the 

modeled 100-year flow water 

surface and the calculated velocity profile. NPS/MICHAEL MARTIN
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 26

Obed Wild and Scenic River in 

Tennessee. NPS COLLECTION

THE WATER RIGHTS BRANCH (WRB)

completed a period of transition in FY 

2011, and I was honored to be selected as 

the fourth branch chief in our 25-year history. I look forward to leading a very talented 

group of professionals that are well suited to 

continue our tradition of using sound science and creative solutions to protect water 

resources in national parks.

WRB manages the servicewide program to 

secure and protect NPS water and water 

rights through all available mechanisms. 

Challenges such as water allocation shortages, energy development, and climate change 

continue to make our work interesting and 

complex. WRB is becoming more involved 

in other processes (environmental assessments, federal agency permitting, Wild and 

Scenic River management, and state rule 

development) to protect flows and groundwater levels, particularly in the Midwest and 

Eastern United States.

During 2011 WRB continued to represent 

the NPS as a cooperator on the BLM Solar 

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement; the BLM Draft EIS for the Southern 

Nevada Water Authority’s pipeline rightof-way in Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine 

counties; and Indian water right negotiation 

teams for the Blackfeet Nation, the Navajo 

Nation-Hopi Tribe, the Hualapai Tribe, the 

Havasupai Tribe, and the Yavapai-Apache 

Nation. These efforts required closely working with parks, other NRSS divisions, the 

directorate, and the Department of the 

Interior to develop and recommend park 

protection strategies. The branch also continued to provide leadership of the NPS 

Wild and Scenic Rivers Program, including 

providing technical and policy guidance to 

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway, the 

directorate, and the department regarding 

the controversial Stillwater Bridge crossing. In addition, WRB staff helped facilitate 

three Outstandingly Remarkable Value 

workshops and continued to provide technical support in conducting water resource 

project evaluations. 

WRB continued to develop high-quality science products including the completion of 

16 gauge station folders (Death Valley NP, 

Grand Teton NP, and Montezuma Castle 

NM); the Upper Great Salt Lake Desert 

Groundwater System Model (Great Basin 

NP); vegetation monitoring of reservoir 

releases on the Gunnison River (Black 

Canyon of the Gunnison NP); gain/loss investigation on the Niobrara and Rio Grande 

Rivers (Niobrara NSR and Big Bend NP); 

and a numerical groundwater model to 

simulate effects of groundwater withdrawals 

near Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park. WRB staff describe some of our 

efforts to protect water in Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Dinosaur National 

Monument, Grand Teton National Park, 

Point Reyes National Seashore, White Sands 

National Monument, and Wind Cave National Park in the following articles.

WRB wants to thank dedicated park and 

regional staff for supporting our efforts in 

2011, and we encourage you to call on WRB 

whenever water resources or water rights 

are at risk.

Water Rights Branch Highlights

Bill Hansen, Branch Chief
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 27

Arbuckle Simpson Hydrologic Study Completed

Jennifer Back, Hydrologist

THE LANDS THAT ENCOMPASS THE 

Historic Travertine District in Chickasaw 

National Recreation Area in south-central 

Oklahoma were set aside in 1902 to protect 

the flow of springs and streams. Since that 

time, many of the smallest springs have been 

lost. The two largest remaining springs, Antelope and Buffalo springs, obtain their discharge from the Arbuckle Simpson aquifer. 

In 2003 efforts to construct a pipeline to 

convey water from the Arbuckle Simpson aquifer to communities 50 miles (80 

km) away near Oklahoma City generated 

concern from local citizens. The project 

proposed to withdraw as much as 80,000 

acre-feet (98.6 million m3) of water per 

year, more than fifteen times the reported 

average annual use at that time. Local citizens—neighbors of Chickasaw—responded 

by creating a local aquifer protection group 

and successfully lobbying for the passage of 

new state legislation. This precedent-setting 

legislation was the first in Oklahoma to recognize the connection between groundwater and surface water. 

Senate Bill 288 imposed a moratorium on 

the issuance of groundwater permits for 

use outside the counties that overlay the 

aquifer until such time as a hydrologic 

study was completed. The goal of the mandated hydrologic study was to determine a 

maximum annual yield for the aquifer that 

would not reduce the flow of water from 

springs or streams, including springs in the 

recreation area. The Water Rights Branch 

has represented Chickasaw throughout the 

multi-year hydrologic study by attending 

numerous stakeholder meetings, participating on technical advisory panels, and providing formal comments at public meetings. 

Results from the recently completed study 

indicate that the amount of water allocated 

in temporary permits prior to the legislation was not sustainable and the amount 

available for appropriation is much less than 

originally thought. 

The final determination of maximum annual yield will have important implications 

for Chickasaw managers and their efforts to 

protect remaining spring flows. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board is expected to 

issue management recommendations and a 

determination of maximum annual yield in 

2012. WRB will continue to work on behalf 

of the recreation area to support a determination of maximum annual yield that maintains the springs at Chickasaw.

Antelope Spring, Chickasaw 

National Recreation Area (Oklahoma). NPS/JENNIFER BACK
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 28

THE WINTER OF 2010/2011 BROUGHT

near-record snowpack to southwest Wyoming and northwest Colorado, producing 

the largest flood events in recent history on 

the Green and Yampa rivers in Dinosaur 

National Monument (Colorado, Utah). 

On 9 June 2011 the Yampa River peaked at 

27,400 cubic feet per second (cfs, 776 m3/s), 

more than twice the average annual peak 

and second only to the 18 May 1984 record 

flood of 32,300 cfs (915 m3/s). Flows on 

the Yampa remained above 15,000 cfs (425 

m3/s) for more than 50 days (compared to 

only 35 days in 1984). Similarly, the Green 

River—although controlled upstream by 

Flaming Gorge Dam—experienced its 

fourth-highest peak flow in over 100 years. 

These near-record high flows lasting for 

weeks or even months are rare hydrologic 

events and have unmatched potential to 

(1) scour the stream channel and adjacent 

banks, (2) transport and deposit sediments, 

(3) remove trees and/or create surfaces for 

establishment of new trees, and (4) create 

new secondary channels or back channels 

and fill others. In late 2011 scientists and 

staff from the USGS, Utah State University, 

and the NPS (Dinosaur National Monument, Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory and Monitoring Network, and WRD) 

joined forces to document post-flood 

channel topography and riparian vegetation 

conditions along the combined 105-mile 

(169 km) river corridor. On-the-ground 

topographic surveys and vegetation sampling, coupled with airborne remote sensing 

that used both downward-looking Light 

Detection And Ranging (LIDAR) and multispectral image technology, were used to 

capture and define local channel conditions 

and vegetative cover along the banks and 

floodplains.

This 2011 data set will define “baseline” 

conditions for long-term monitoring 

against which future channel and vegetation 

change/response will be gauged. This data 

set will also allow immediate comparison to 

pre-flood LIDAR and multispectral imagery 

acquired in 2008 and 2010 and channel topographies and vegetation conditions captured in earlier sampling trips.

Long-term monitoring will allow park managers to document resource response to, 

and recovery from, these rare disturbance 

events, better inform reservoir management 

decisions, and illustrate the role of natural 

flows in maintaining the unique resources 

of Dinosaur National Monument. 

2011 Flood Flows on the Green and Yampa Rivers

Mark Wondzell, Hydrologist

Yampa River, 2010, in Dinosaur 

National Monument (Colorado, 

Utah). NPS/BILL HANSEN
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 29

The Feasibility of Restoring Streamflow to the 

Lower Gros Ventre River

Gwen Gerber, Hydrologist

THE GROS VENTRE RIVER (GVR) IS A 

major tributary of the Snake River and 

forms part of the southern boundary of 

Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming). 

Park resource managers are concerned that 

water diversions are potentially impacting 

natural resources along the lower GVR. 

Historically, the lower GVR has been seasonally dry from just downstream of the 

Highway 89/191 bridge to the Spring Gulch 

Road bridge, a short distance upstream 

from where the GVR enters the Snake. 

Grand Teton National Park requested assistance from WRD to determine the feasibility of restoring and/or maintaining perennial 

flow in this seasonally dry reach. In 2006 

WRD initiated a study to evaluate water 

rights, inventory and measure diversions, 

conduct a seepage run, and develop a water 

budget for the lower GVR. 

Twenty-four ditches existed along the lower 

GVR dating back to the 1890s. Only eight 

ditches conveyed water during the 2006 to 

2009 study period due to ditch consolidation, non-use, source changes, or changes in 

points of diversion. Direct flow and supplemental water rights for these ditches total 

approximately 221 cubic feet per second 

(cfs, 6.3 m3/s); 44% are owned by the United 

States and 56% are privately owned. A total 

of 147 discharge measurements were collected on these ditches with 54% exceeding 

total adjudicated direct and supplemental 

water rights and 28% exceeding direct, surplus, excess, and supplemental water rights. 

WRD conducted a seepage run on 22 October 2008 to measure natural gains and 

losses. Natural gains of 43 cfs (1.2 m3/s) occurred between the upstream park boundary and Kelly, Wyoming, and 42 cfs (1.2 

m3/s) occurred between the Spring Gulch 

Road bridge and the Snake River confluence. Natural losses of 120 cfs (3.4 m3/s) occurred between Kelly and the Spring Gulch 

Road bridge. 

An initial water budget, considering diversions and natural gains and losses, indicates 

that flows of about 220 cfs (6.2 m3/s) are 

required at Kelly to meet total direct flow 

water rights and maintain perennial flow in 

the seasonally dry reach (364 cfs [10.3 m3/s] 

for direct flow, surplus, excess, and supplemental). Based on these findings it appears 

that opportunities exist to manage water use 

on the lower GVR to restore perennial flows 

and protect valuable park resources. 

Discharge measurement on the 

lower Gros Ventre River, Grand 

Teton National Park (Wyoming). 

NPS/GWEN GERBER
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 30

Returning Water Rights to Nature at Point Reyes 

National Seashore

Eric Lord, Water Rights Specialist

THE ENABLING LEGISLATION OF 

Point Reyes National Seashore (California) 

in 1962 authorized the park unit to continue to acquire land as it became available, 

and as funding allowed, within described 

boundaries. The acquired lands often came 

with state appropriative water rights. Some 

of these rights are licensed for consumptive 

uses—including dairy operations, irrigation, livestock, and domestic purposes—on 

historic ranches that operate within park 

boundaries. As a general policy, park managers do not continue such consumptive 

uses since doing so may be contrary to park 

purposes. In accordance with state law, an 

existing right can be changed from a consumptive use to an instream use to enhance 

flow for the benefit of fish and wildlife.

In 2000 the National Park Service acquired 

the Waldo Giacomini Ranch at the south 

end of Tomales Bay. What was once a large 

tidal marsh complex had been degraded, 

and the hydrological and ecological function was reduced. Park staff and partners 

are now engaged in a multi-year and multifaceted wetlands restoration project. 

In 2010, as an essential part of the restoration project, the Water Rights Branch 

(WRB) filed petitions to amend four water 

rights licenses held by Point Reyes National 

Seashore from consumptive use to instream 

use. In total, approximately 2.5 cubic feet 

per second (.07 m3/s) of water flow were 

returned to three streams—Olema, Lagunitas, and Fish Hatchery creeks—within 

and adjacent to the former ranch property. 

This change was the first of its kind accomplished by WRB in California. A number of 

national park units in California face similar state law-based water rights situations. 

WRB hopes to build on this success to 

change such water rights into a form more 

beneficial to the fish, wildlife, and natural 

ecosystems in the parks. 

Above: Lagunitas Creek point of 

diversion. Below: Olema Creek 

point of diversion. Point Reyes 

National Seashore (California).

NPS/ERIC LORD
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 31

IN THE HEART OF THE TULAROSA

Basin of south-central New Mexico sits the 

world’s largest gypsum dunefield covering 

275 square miles (712 km2) of the Chihuahuan Desert. White Sands National Monument was established in 1933 to preserve 

and protect the most impressive portion 

of the dunefield along with the plant and 

animal species that have developed special 

adaptations to live in the gypsum dune 

environment, including the evolution of a 

white coloration that provides camouflage 

in the dunes. The dunes are underlain by a 

shallow water table which is essential to the 

functioning and maintenance of the dunefield and its associated ecosystem. 

The Tularosa Basin is also home to Holloman Air Force Base, the city of Alamogordo, and the village of Tularosa, located on 

the east side of the basin at the foot of the 

Sacramento Mountains. Municipalities and 

the military rely on surface water from the 

Sacramento Mountains and groundwater 

pumped from shallow aquifers located 

along the east side of the basin. As the basin’s population has grown, groundwater 

development in the Alamogordo–Tularosa 

area has increased to the extent that the 

state engineer declared the basin a “mined 

Groundwater Studies Help Protect Largest Gypsum 

Dunefield in the World

James Harte, Hydrologist

USGS Central Region Research 

Drilling Project crew completes 

a deep groundwater monitoring 

well at White Sands National 

Monument (New Mexico). NPS/

JAMES HARTE

basin” and established the Alamogordo–

Tularosa Administrative Area with limits on 

allowable aquifer water level decline.

White Sands, 15 miles (24 km) west of Alamogordo, is concerned that declining 

groundwater levels in the Alamogordo area 

could lower the shallow water table beneath 

the dunefield, destabilizing the dunes and 

associated ecosystem. WRD hydrologists 

helped park managers develop a scope of 

work and facilitated a cooperative agreement between the monument and the New 

Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology to investigate the source of water in the 

shallow aquifer underlying the dunefield.

Over the next two years ongoing studies will 

investigate whether the source of shallow 

groundwater is local precipitation, upwelling of deep groundwater, shallow groundwater flow from the east side of the Tularosa 

basin, or some combination. Results will 

give monument managers a better understanding of how a declining water table on 

the east side of the Tularosa Basin might 

affect shallow groundwater levels at White 

Sands and assist them in making management decisions that protect and preserve 

the largest gypsum dunefield in the world.
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 32

Preliminary Results of Microbial Organism Study 

at Calcite Lake

Jeff Hughes, Hydrologist

THE WATER RIGHTS BRANCH IS 

working with Wind Cave National Park 

(South Dakota) to address proposed 

groundwater development concerns. As 

part of a continuing effort to determine the 

role that groundwater plays in cave evolution within Wind Cave National Park, a 

study was conducted to identify microbial 

life forms found in groundwater in the 

Wind Cave area. It is thought that microbes 

initiate many of the formations found within the cave. This information will be used as 

part of NPS efforts to describe groundwater 

flow-dependent processes in Wind Cave.

Dr. Hazel Barton, associate professor of biology at the University of Akron, collected 

water samples to be filtered for microbial 

analysis from several wells and springs within and in the vicinity of the park. Samples 

were also collected from Calcite Lake, an 

underground lake found approximately 

500 feet (152 m) below the ground surface, 

formed where the groundwater table intersects the cave. The lake is located within the 

Pahasapa (or Madison) geologic formation, 

a limestone aquifer that is increasingly being 

considered for groundwater development.

Collecting water samples at Calcite Lake 

was challenging; accessing the lake required 

a strenuous, several-hour trip that included 

carrying all the sampling equipment. This 

included a pump and specially designed 

filtration system that was small enough to fit 

through several narrow cave passages, able 

to operate for hours on battery power, and 

powerful enough to filter approximately 200 

liters (53 gal) of water through a 0.22-micron membrane without clogging. 

Preliminary results present unique discoveries. Microbial cell counts for Calcite Lake 

groundwater suggest this water contains 

one of the lowest cell concentrations ever 

recorded on earth (on the order of 1.47 to 

3.48x103 cells/mL [5.56 to 13.2x106 cells/

gal]). Also, the DNA extracted from these 

samples may document previously undiscovered genus, species, and possibly phyla. 

Overall study results suggest that microbial 

interaction with the rocks is an ongoing and 

important process in the creation of Wind 

Cave’s world renowned cave formations.

Juan Giarrizzo prepares the 

pump and filter to collect a 

sample for microbial analysis in 

Calcite Lake, Wind Cave National 

Park (South Dakota). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 33

email groups. ¤ Provided ongoing support 

for a collaborative project with NatureServe, the National Interagency Fire Center, 

and the NPS Biological Resource Management Division to develop and pilot a set 

of landscape-scale interpretive products 

(resource condition narratives and maps) 

for use in NRCA projects. ¤ Worked with 

the Geologic Resources Division staff in 

advising Northeast Region development on 

the possible collateral effects of Marcellus 

Shale gas development and participated in 

bi-weekly conference calls. ¤ Participated in 

Climate Change Response Program meetings related to floodplain management and 

was project coordinator for Climate Change 

funded project. ¤ Reviewed Floodplain 

Statements of Findings for projects at many 

parks. ¤ Uploaded data from many parks to 

STORET. ¤

SERVICEWIDE

Represented the NPS on the BLM Solar Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact 

Statement. ¤ Represented the NPS on the 

Navajo Nation-Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, 

Havasupai Tribe, and Yavapai-Apache Nation Indian Federal Water Rights Negotiation and Assessment Teams. ¤ Served as the 

co-lead for the NPS Wild and Scenic Rivers 

(WSR) Program and member of the NPS 

WSR Steering Committee and Interagency 

WSR Coordinating Council. ¤ Represented 

NRSS on NPS Dive Control Board. ¤ Updated the website for Vital Signs Water 

Quality Data Management and Archiving 

at www.nature.nps.gov/water/vitalsigns/

vitalsignsmgt.cfm. ¤ Set up WRD’s WetNet 

mailing list as a true self-maintaining listserve rather than a series of Lotus Notes 

Dwarf arctic char captured during a feeding ecology study, 

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve. NPS/DAN YOUNG

The work of these field professionals and 

the day-to-day support that WRD staff 

provide to park units are described in the 

Technical Assistance Highlights. Technical 

assistance is the bread and butter of WRD 

operations. In the following pages, you can 

read a few selections that represent our 

work in the field. To find a comprehensive 

list of our technical assistance for FY 2011, 

please see Appendix B. You can also find a 

list of WRD staff and aquatic field professionals in Appendix D.

FUNDING FROM THE NATURAL 

Resource Challenge once again helped support 15 field-based aquatic resource professional positions in FY 2011. The aquatic 

resource professional positions were developed to provide the National Park Service 

with both an extention and an expansion 

of the functions and capabilities provided 

by the Water Resources Division and the 

handful of water and aquatic resource professional positions base-funded in parks and 

regions. 

Technical Assistance Highlights 

WRD Staff and Aquatic Field Professionals
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 34

ALASKA

ANCHORAGE

ALASKA

0 100

0 100 200 Miles

200 Kilometers North

Sitka National Historic Site Provided guidance regarding protection of instream flows 

and the validity of non-NPS water rights on 

the Indian River. ¤

Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve 

and Gates of the Arctic National Park & 

Preserve Provided input on objectives for 

resource condition assessment. ¤ Provided 

input on Gates of the Arctic General Management Plan. ¤

Arctic Network Continued investigating 

the mechanisms of lake drainage in Kobuk 

Valley and helped develop a vulnerability 

model for lake drainage. Maintained contract with ABR Inc. ¤ Continued development of interactive geodatabase for observing large scale lake drying and thermokarst 

events in network parks. ¤

Southwest Alaska Network Planned 

and facilitated collection of bathymetry 

data for Upper and Lower Twin Lakes, Upper and Lower Tazimina Lakes, and Lachbuna Lake. ¤ 

ALASKA REGION

Alaska Region Collaborated with USFS, 

FSWCD, and USFWS on Elodea nuttallii infestation on Chena Slough, Fairbanks; 

acquired aerial photography for Elodea infestation along Chena Slough; Elodea steering committee member. ¤

Katmai National Park & Preserve 

Participated on the NPS Resource Management Team regarding the Pebble Mine, a 

proposed copper and gold mine in southwest Alaska; attended meetings, reviewed 

study plans, and commented on fisheries 

resource issues. ¤ 

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve 

Provided project oversight, completed data 

analysis, and wrote an annual report for a 

monitoring project estimating the number 

of sockeye salmon returning to Lake Clark. 

¤ Worked cooperatively with the Alaska 

Department of Fish and Game to coordinate logistics, hiring, and implementation 

of a sockeye salmon escapement project in 

the Kuskokwim River drainage in southwest Alaska. ¤ Coordinated logistics and 

sampling for a study assessing the feeding 

ecology of Arctic char in Lower Tazimina 

Lake. ¤ 

Top: NPS volunteer Helen Keeling holding a lake trout captured 

for contaminants analysis, Lake 

Clark National Park & Preserve 

(Alaska). NPS/DAN YOUNG

Bottom: USGS employee Charlie 

Couvillion measuring discharge 

in the Chulitna River drainage, 

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve (Alaska). NPS/DAN YOUNG

National Park Service Alaska Region: 54.65 million acres (gross area), 23 units*

* Regional acreage and unit totals from “Listing of Acreage as of 12/31/2011,” NPS Land Resources Division
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 35

NPS Hydrologist Jalyn Cummings 

identifies mussel species in Village Creek for mussel survey, 

Big Thicket National Preserve 

(Texas). NPS COLLECTION

AMERICAN SAMOA GUAM PUERTO RICO VIRGIN ISLANDS

United States Territories United States Territories

MAINE

VERMONT

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

DELAWARE MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NORTH

CAROLINA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

MISSISSIPPI

LOUISIANA

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

NEBRASKA

SOUTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

MONTANA

WASHINGTON

OREGON

CALIFORNIA

NEVADA

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

UTAH

IDAHO

WYOMING

COLORADO

ARKANSAS

ALABAMA

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

OHIO

INDIANA ILLINOIS

MICHIGAN

WISCONSIN

IOWA

MISSOURI

MINNESOTA

MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND CONNECTICUT

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

HAWAII 

DENVER

INTERMOUNTAIN

0 100

0 100 200 Miles

200 Kilometers North

National Park Service Intermountain Region: 10.20 million acres (gross area), 82 units

the Outstandingly Remarkable Values workshop for the Rio Grande River. ¤ 

Big Thicket National Preserve (Texas) 

Provided hydrologic oversight for the Chevron pipe removal project at the preserve, requiring multiple site visits and coordination 

of multiple stakeholders. ¤ 

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National 

Park (Colorado) Participated in the design/

implementation of a long-term monitoring 

program to document changes in riparian 

vegetation as a function of upstream reservoir releases. ¤ 

Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah) Conducted analyses of radius of groundwater 

travel time to the water-supply wells in the 

East Creek wellfield. ¤

Chiricahua National Monument (Arizona) Coordinated planning and installation 

of an ALERT precipitation gauge in the upper Bonita and Rhyolite Creeks watershed 

area with state and county early flood warning programs and park resource staff. ¤

INTERMOUNTAIN REGION

Intermountain Region Served as NPS 

Hydrologist on Intermountain Regional 

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) 

Team for Horseshoe 2 fire in Coronado 

National Forest and Chiricahua National 

Monument. ¤ Served as chair of the Biology Committee/Management Committee 

representative of the Upper Colorado River 

Endangered Fish Recovery Program from 

January 2011 to December 2011. ¤ 

Arches National Park (Utah) Prepared 

Scope of Work for “A Hydrologic Evaluation of Waters of the Entrada and Navajo 

Aquifers in the Courthouse Wash Area, 

Arches National Park, Grand County, 

Utah.” ¤

Bandelier National Park (New Mexico) 

Provided advice on best ways to prepare for 

flooding after very large fires occurred this 

year; planned trip to park in autumn to get 

a better idea of conditions and will help in 

future planning-related activities. ¤

Big Bend National Park/Rio Grande 

Wild & Scenic River (Texas) Participated 

in gain/loss study to quantify groundwater 

contributions via spring flows to the mainstem of the Rio Grande River. ¤ Faciliated 
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 36

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument 

(Arizona) Assessed causes of pictograph 

deterioration at Wild Horse Tanks site, 

identified measures to reduce water-related 

impacts to the pictographs. Submitted trip 

report with management recommendations 

to park resource staff; the recommendations 

were subsequently acted on by the park. ¤ 

Tonto National Monument (Arizona) 

Provided technical support to ongoing 

study of soil moisture dynamics and 

groundwater percolation at the unique 

Hidden Ridge woodland site. ¤ 

Tuzigoot National Monument (Arizona) 

Provided technical review and comments 

on the Environmental Assessment for the 

Tavasci Marsh Management and Habitat 

Enhancement Plan. ¤

Northern Colorado Plateau Network 

Conducted a training for Arches and Northern Colorado Plateau Network staff regarding detailed survey methods and riparian 

monitoring techniques. ¤

Fort Bowie National Historic Site (Arizona) Developed scope of work and shepherded contracting documents for Southwest Conservation Corps crew to implement erosion control treatments in upper 

Apache Spring watershed; worked with park 

staff to develop treatment plans and purchase supplies for project. ¤ 

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona) 

Removed nonnative fish from Bright Angel 

Creek by electrofishing, and operated and 

maintained fish weir to block upstream 

movement and remove nonnative trout; the 

project is funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and NPS and conducted in cooperation 

with the University of Missouri and Grand 

Canyon Trust. This multi-agency group is 

working together to restore the native fish 

community in Bright Angel Creek with help 

from many volunteers. ¤ 

Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado) 

Initiated wetlands restoration project to rehabilitate an abandoned sewage lagoon. ¤ 

Montezuma Castle National Monument 

(Arizona) Monitored USGS investigation to 

determine source and flowpaths of groundwater in Montezuma Well. ¤ 

Jeanette Haegele (USGS) checks 

a minnow trap in Iceberg Canyon, Glen Canyon National 

Recreation Area (Arizona, Utah). 

NPS/MELISSA TRAMMELL
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 37

National Park Service Midwest Region: 1.83 million acres (gross area), 56 units

AMERICAN SAMOA GUAM PUERTO RICO VIRGIN ISLANDS

United States Territories United States Territories

MAINE

VERMONT

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

DELAWARE MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NORTH

CAROLINA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

MISSISSIPPI

LOUISIANA

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

NEBRASKA

SOUTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

MONTANA

WASHINGTON

OREGON

CALIFORNIA

NEVADA

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

UTAH

IDAHO

WYOMING

COLORADO

ARKANSAS

ALABAMA

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

OHIO

INDIANA ILLINOIS

MICHIGAN

WISCONSIN

IOWA

MISSOURI

MINNESOTA

MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND CONNECTICUT

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

HAWAII 

OMAHA

MIDWEST

0 100

0 100 200 Miles

200 Kilometers North

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Indiana) Provided baseline water quality 

data inventory and analysis report data and 

advised on its use and interpretation. ¤ Provided review of the Baseline Environmental 

Risk Assessment (BERA) for the Bailly Generating Plant RCRA site. ¤

Isle Royale National Park (Michigan) Provided technical and logistical assistance to 

university cooperators conducting the Isle 

Royale/Acadia nitrogen critical loads project. ¤ Worked with staff to finalize revised 

northern pike regulations for inland lakes of 

Isle Royale. ¤ 

Knife River Indian Villages National 

Historic Site (North Dakota) Investigated 

extent and implications of river erosion at 

Knife River, developed and implemented an 

erosion monitoring plan for park staff, and 

made recommendations to park management on watershed management solutions. 

¤ Reviewed and commented on technical 

memo regarding streambank erosion. ¤

MIDWEST REGION

Midwest Region Developed a successful 

proposal to the NPS Air Resources Division 

to investigate nitrogen deposition histories 

for Great Lakes Network lakes, using archived sediment core material; prepared 

related agreement documents. ¤ Worked 

with NPS staff, Minnesota Department 

of Natural Resources staff, and Michigan 

Technological University to coordinate data 

analysis and reporting aspects of the multipark spiny water flea project. ¤

Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio) 

Reviewed the results of additional sampling 

requested by WRD staff to ensure that appropriate due diligence was performed prior 

to land acquisition by NPS where potential 

existed for historic dumping of hazardous 

wastes. Further sampling recommendations were made after completing reviews 

of Phase I and Phase II site pre-acquisition 

assessment reports, and these results were 

favorable toward continuing the acquisition 

process. ¤

Grand Portage National Monument 

(Minnesota) Conducted simple hydraulic 

modeling assessment of proposed road 

crossing and provided advice on low-water 

crossing design. ¤

Swimmers in the sunset light at 

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Indiana). NPS/CHRISTOPHER 

LIGHT
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 38

Research. ¤ Obtained bathymetry and historical aerial imagery and created GIS data 

of historic shorelines in support of dock 

relocation analysis on North and South 

Manitou Islands. ¤

Theodore Roosevelt National Park 

(North Dakota) Initiated a USGS study to 

determine drought stress on cottonwood 

trees on the Little Missouri River. ¤ 

Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota) 

Helped plan for collection and mercury 

analysis of additional native crayfish and invasive rusty crayfish from a recently invaded 

Voyageurs site. ¤

Niobrara National Scenic River (Nebraska, South Dakota) Provided advice to 

support hydrologic, economic, and fish and 

wildlife studies to support state-based instream flows on the Niobrara River. ¤ 

Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Missouri) Investigated potential impacts from 

a proposed large-scale dairy within the recharge area of Big Spring. ¤ 

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 

(Michigan) Coordinated field sampling for 

native mussel and fish host investigations. 

Purchased fisheries field equipment for 

park’s use on project. ¤ 

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway 

(Minnesota, Wisconsin) Provided field 

and analytical assistance for USGS zebra 

mussel effects study and climate change effects studies. ¤

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 

(Michigan) Published “Links between 

type E botulism outbreaks, lake levels, and 

surface water temperatures in Lake Michigan, 1963–2008” in Journal of Great Lakes 

Citizen scientist at Beaver Marsh, 

Cuyahoga Valley National Park 

(Ohio). NPS/MEG PLONA
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 39

AMERICAN SAMOA GUAM PUERTO RICO VIRGIN ISLANDS

United States Territories United States Territories

MAINE

VERMONT

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

DELAWARE MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NORTH

CAROLINA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

MISSISSIPPI

LOUISIANA

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

NEBRASKA

SOUTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

MONTANA

WASHINGTON

OREGON

CALIFORNIA

NEVADA

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

UTAH

IDAHO

WYOMING

COLORADO

ARKANSAS

ALABAMA

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

OHIO

INDIANA ILLINOIS

MICHIGAN

WISCONSIN

IOWA

MISSOURI

MINNESOTA

MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND CONNECTICUT

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

HAWAII 

WASHINGTON, D.C.

NATIONAL 

CAPITAL

0 100

0 100 200 Miles

200 Kilometers North

National Park Service National Capital Region: 77,505 acres (gross area), 34 units

troubleshooting data and coding issues, 

and retrieving data from the STORET Data 

Warehouse. ¤

Rock Creek Park (District of Columbia) 

Provided hyrologic and hydraulic support 

related to the recent compliance and erosion problems associated with a road-widening project in the park. ¤

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

National Capital Region The hiring process for an NCR–NER shared Aquatic Ecologist position was completed with the new 

employee entering on duty on 9 October 

2011. Equipment and computers were purchased to establish the aquatic ecology program. Each region will contribute $25,000 

or more to the position, augmenting the 

WRD base by $80,000. ¤ Provided support 

and advice in the use of NPSTORET, 

Rock Creek Park (Washington, 

DC) NPS/DWIGHT MADISON
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 40

Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts) Provided review of municipal water 

supply projects at Wellfleet and Eastham. 

¤ Funded Woods Hole Oceanographic 

Institution to investigate the dynamics of 

anthropogenic nutrient discharges and 

harmful algal blooms, and to produce tools 

to assist park managers in developing policy 

and management for nutrient control and 

remediation. ¤

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation 

Area (New Jersey, Pennsylvania) Developed proposal with Delaware Water Gap 

and State University of New York College 

of Environmental Science and Forestry as 

a CESU partner to evaluate historic flows 

along the river pre-forest harvesting, predam construction, and modern day. ¤

NORTHEAST REGION

Northeast Region Provided input to Federal Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan guide. Evaluated list and provided 

compliance contacts for National Parks 

within the watershed.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail 

(Maine to Georgia) Organized first year 

progress review of the Appalachian Trail Atmospheric Deposition Study; this study includes more than ten independent researchers with various affiliations and examines 

effects and potential for recovery of air, soil, 

water, and vegetation along the entire AT. 

The study serves as an example for using 

the trail as a MEGA-transect to evaluate environmental change across a sensitive corridor that includes most of the eastern states. 

Collected water and soil samples to support 

this research. ¤

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (Massachusetts) Evaluated wetland condition and potential for restoration 

with NER team; assisted with development 

of trip report to describe findings. ¤ 

AMERICAN SAMOA GUAM PUERTO RICO VIRGIN ISLANDS

United States Territories United States Territories

MAINE

VERMONT

NEW HAMPSHIRE

DELAWARE MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NORTH

CAROLINA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

MISSISSIPPI

LOUISIANA

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

NEBRASKA

SOUTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

MONTANA

WASHINGTON

OREGON

CALIFORNIA

NEVADA

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

UTAH

IDAHO

WYOMING

COLORADO

ARKANSAS

ALABAMA

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

OHIO

INDIANA ILLINOIS

MICHIGAN

WISCONSIN

IOWA

MISSOURI

MINNESOTA

MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND CONNECTICUT

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

HAWAII 

NEW JERSEY

PHILADELPHIA

NORTHEAST

0 100

0 100 200 Miles

200 Kilometers North

National Park Service Northeast Region: 950,178 acres (gross area), 78 units

A volunteer citizen scientist releases a tagged horseshoe crab 

into Great South Bay, Fire Island 

National Seashore (New York). 

NPS/PATRICIA RAFFERTY
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 41

Student Conservation Association volunteers assist with nekton sampling adjacent to the 

Sailors Haven Marina, Fire Island 

National Seashore (New York). 

NPS/PATRICIA RAFFERTY

bor Education Center on a Youth-in-Parks 

application and mentored one YIP participant in July and August 2011. ¤

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site 

(New York) Assisted University of Rhode 

Island CESU cooperator in presenting a 

horseshoe crab interpretive program. ¤ 

Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site 

(Massachusetts) Funded project to monitor E. coli in the Saugus River. ¤

Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

Provided review and comments on the 

Shenandoah Watershed Study Monitoring 

Protocol Narrative and SOPs. ¤ Provided 

support to the University of Virginia and the 

USGS on water quality and fisheries-related 

databases for the park. ¤

Valley Forge National Historical Park 

(Pennsylvania) Provided written comments 

on water resource stewardship strategies 

for planning. ¤ Provided written review of 

Natural Resource Condition Assessment. ¤

Gateway National Recreation Area (New 

Jersey, New York) Implemented ecological monitoring to evaluate restoration of 69 

acres (28 ha) of salt marsh at Elders Point 

East and West, Jamaica Bay. Monitoring 

parameters include nekton, vegetation, and 

avian species composition and abundance; 

above- and below-ground primary production; and macrobenthic infauna and epifauna. As a result, received Coastal America 

Spirit Award for exceptional partnering to 

protect and conserve coastal ecosystems; 

this award recognized efforts of the multiagency partnership that worked cooperatively. ¤

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site 

(Pennsylvania) Provided written and verbal 

reviews of Corps of Engineers hydrologic 

and hydraulic models designed to evaluate alternatives to reduce flooding of park 

buildings. ¤ 

National Parks of New York Harbor 

(New Jersey, New York) Contributed technical knowledge on ecosystem ecology and 

restoration via participation in the National 

Parks of New York Harbor: A Strategy to 

Become America’s Premier Urban National 

Park Planning Charette. ¤ Worked cooperatively with National Parks of New York Har-
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 42

AMERICAN SAMOA GUAM PUERTO RICO VIRGIN ISLANDS

United States Territories United States Territories

MAINE

VERMONT

NEW HAMPSHIRE

DELAWARE MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NORTH

CAROLINA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

MISSISSIPPI

LOUISIANA

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

NEBRASKA

SOUTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

MONTANA

WASHINGTON

OREGON

CALIFORNIA

NEVADA

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

UTAH

IDAHO

WYOMING

COLORADO

ARKANSAS

ALABAMA

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

OHIO

INDIANA ILLINOIS

MICHIGAN

WISCONSIN

IOWA

MISSOURI

MINNESOTA

MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND CONNECTICUT

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

HAWAII 

NEW JERSEY

OAKLAND

PACIFIC WEST

PACIFIC WEST

0 100

0 100 200 Miles

200 Kilometers North

National Park Service Pacific West Region: 12.83 million acres (gross area), 56 units

Death Valley National Park (California) 

Participated in Amargosa Desert Managers Group meetings, an interagency work 

group established to discuss water resource 

concerns in the Amargosa Desert basin—

including Devils Hole, a detached unit of 

Death Valley National Park. ¤

Devils Postpile National Monument (California) Conducted field reconnaissance of 

Devils Postpile and Mammoth Mountain 

area to evaluate water resources, the hydrogeologic setting, and evidence of groundwater–surface water interactions. ¤ Provided 

comments for the draft Natural Resource 

Condition Assessment. ¤ 

Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument (Arizona) Provided technical oversight on the implementation of a phased 

reconnaissance-level study conducted by 

the USGS to evaluate the water source of 

Tassi Spring and Pakoon Spring. ¤

PACIFIC WEST REGION

Pacific West Region Provided technical assistance for Natural Resource Managers in 

PWR for reviewing and improving proposals seeking funding for ecological restoration and monitoring projects. ¤ Served as 

NPS liaison to National Ocean Policy planning team for water quality and coastal land 

management practices. ¤ With interagency 

government team, facilitated by USFS Hydrologist, co-authored recommendations to 

California State Water Plan Update regarding protection of wet meadow habitats. ¤ 

Channel Islands National Park (California) Co-led project to design Prisoners 

Harbor Coastal Lagoon Restoration Project to restore degraded wetland on Santa 

Cruz Island; project to benefit migratory 

birds and archeological resources. In FY 

2011 completed needed permits, drafted 

monitoring plan, completed contracting for 

earthmoving and plant grow-out, and completed proposals seeking additional funding; 

project to be completed FY 2012. 

Salt Creek and boardwalk in 

Death Valley National Park (California). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 43

Mount Rainier National Park (Washington) Provided technical assistance on engineered logjam placement locations for the 

Carbon River and interim barb installation 

near entrance; engineered logjams provide 

permanent, superior erosion protection, 

while minimizing impacts to fish habitat. ¤

National Park of American Samoa 

(American Samoa) Advised superintendent, PWR, and DOI on proposed expansion of Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary and overlay of national park marine 

area. ¤

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National 

Parks (California) Assisted with developing a scope of work to assess potential impacts of private septic systems in the Mineral King area. ¤

Great Basin National Park (Nevada)

Assisted WRD, Great Basin National Park, 

and Lake Mead National Recreation Area in 

developing cooperating agency comments 

to the administrative draft EIS and the draft 

EIS for the Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine 

counties groundwater development pipeline 

project. ¤ Assisted the WRD in implementing an interagency supported field program near Great Basin to characterize the 

potential for impacts to surface water and 

groundwater resources in and around the 

park from proposed groundwater development in Snake Valley, Nevada. ¤ 

Minidoka National Historic Site (Idaho) 

Provided assessment of potential impact 

of a nearby Concentrated Animal Feeding 

Operation and assisted park in developing a 

groundwater monitoring plan. ¤

Mojave National Preserve (California) 

Formulated and submitted scoping comments outlining NPS concerns with potential impacts to Mojave National Preserve’s 

groundwater resources associated with the 

resurrected Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery, and Storage Project. Assisted 

park with development of a management 

plan for springs and guzzlers. ¤ 

Engineered logjam construction 

to stop stream bank erosion 

threatening the Carbon River Entrance Station at Mount Rainier 

National Park (Washington). NPS/

BEN WRIGHT
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 44

ated potential mitigation alternatives. ¤

Cane River Creole National Historical 

Park (Louisiana) Reviewed and provided 

comments on the Draft Construction Plans 

for Emergency Stabilization/Erosion Control on the Bank of Cane River Lake. ¤ Reviewed and provided comments on Draft 

Wetlands Statement of Findings (WSOF). ¤

Cape Lookout National Seashore (North 

Carolina) Provided GIS and remote sensing support (assembled imagery, provided 

maps, change analysis, etc.) to park staff 

and Hurricane Irene Incident Management 

Team. ¤

Congaree National Park (South Carolina) Reviewed and provided comments for 

Ramsar Convention designation as a wetland of international significance. ¤

Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida) Reviewed and provided comments on Garden 

Key Cultural Landscape Report. ¤

SOUTHEAST REGION

Southeast Region Continued to develop 

a sediment budget for restoration in the 

northern Gulf of Mexico Coast. Participated in administering the annual Servicewide Combined Call including projects that 

resulted in protection and/or restoration of 

wetland habitat. ¤ 

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Participated 

in DWH Oil Spill NRDA activities. ¤ Cochaired Submerged Aquatic Vegetation 

Technical Working Group (TWG). ¤ Served 

as NPS lead on Shoreline TWG; trustee 

co-lead for Beach Subgroup; hosted TWG 

meetings at Jean Lafitte National Historical 

Park and Preserve. ¤

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (Kentucky, Tennessee) Assisted park in evaluating potential impacts 

to aquatic resources associated with the Roberta Landfill. ¤ Drafted formal determination document regarding potential impacts 

of Roberta Landfill to the park, and negotiAMERICAN SAMOA GUAM PUERTO RICO VIRGIN ISLANDS

United States Territories United States Territories

MAINE

VERMONT

NEW HAMPSHIRE

NEW JERSEY

DELAWARE MARYLAND

VIRGINIA

NORTH

CAROLINA

SOUTH

CAROLINA

KENTUCKY

TENNESSEE

MISSISSIPPI

LOUISIANA

TEXAS

OKLAHOMA

KANSAS

NEBRASKA

SOUTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA

MONTANA

WASHINGTON

OREGON

CALIFORNIA

NEVADA

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

UTAH

IDAHO

WYOMING

COLORADO

ARKANSAS

ALABAMA

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

OHIO

INDIANA ILLINOIS

MICHIGAN

WISCONSIN

IOWA

MISSOURI

MINNESOTA

MASSACHUSETTS RHODE ISLAND CONNECTICUT

NEW YORK

PENNSYLVANIA

WEST

VIRGINIA

HAWAII 

ATLANTA

SOUTHEAST

SOUTHEAST

0 100

0 100 200 Miles

200 Kilometers North

National Park Service Southeast Region: 3.85 million acres (gross area), 68 units

Weston Lake at Congaree National Park (South Carolina). NPS/

THERESA THOM
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 45

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and 

Preserve (Louisiana) Assisted staff in obtaining funding for canal restoration project; 

visited and reviewed the ongoing project as 

well as data indicating that hydrology is improving and reverting to a natural regime. ¤

Obed Wild and Scenic River (Tennessee)

Assisted park in evaluating instream impacts 

of the proposed Lake Tansi Water Harvesting project. ¤ Worked with park to determine potential impacts of pesticides to control the hemlock woolly adelgid invasion. ¤

Fort Pulaski National Monument (Georgia) Reviewed and provided comments on 

the Cockspur Island Cultural Landscape 

Report. ¤ Reviewed Savannah River Dredging EA for potential impacts to Fort Pulaski 

for Corps of Engineers. ¤ 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 

(North Carolina, Tennessee) Provided hydrogeological assessment for a new well at 

Cades Cove. ¤ 

Gulf Islands National Seashore (Florida, 

Mississippi) Assisted DOI representatives in evaluating potential restoration 

alternatives associated with the Deepwater 

Horizon Incident. ¤ Served as a Resource 

Advisor overseeing night cleanup of oil 

deposited on beaches. ¤ Reviewed and provided comments on NRCS Gulf of Mexico 

Initiative which will impact Gulf Islands. 

¤ Funded Dauphin Marine Laboratory to 

measure the impacts of oil on seagrass beds 

at Gulf Islands. ¤

Northern gannet rescued for 

cleaning, West Ship Island, 

Gulf Islands National Seashore 

(Florida, Mississippi). NPS/KRISTEN 

MAXWELL
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 46

Miners Beach, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (Michigan). NPS/DAN JOHNSON

A second-century National Park Service will manage parks as 

cornerstones in protecting broader natural and cultural landscapes. Threats unforeseen a century ago have emerged beyond 

park boundaries and demand solutions that are large in scope 

and require collaboration with partners. We will be recognized as 

a world leader in integrated resource stewardship and sustainability of our facilities and operations using the latest technology.

A Call to Action
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 47

Park Index

A

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National 

 Historical Park B.26

Acadia National Park A.17, B.15

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument B.12

Alagnak National Wild River A.7

Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve 

 6, A.7, A.16

Antietam National Battlefield B.16

Apostle Islands National Lakeshore 23, B.12

Appalachian National Scenic Trail 40, B.15

Appomattox Court House National 

 Historical Park B.16

Arches National Park 2, 35, B.5

Assateague Island National Seashore B.6

B

Badlands National Park B.4, B.6

Bandelier National Monument 35, A.7, B.6

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site B.6

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve 6, 

 23, A.16

Big Bend National Park 23, 26, 35, A.3, A.7,

 B.6

Big Cypress National Preserve A.9

Big Hole National Battlefield B.1, B.6

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area 

 A.7, B.1, B.6

Big South Fork National River and Recre-

 ation Area 44, B.26

Big Thicket National Preserve 35, B.6

Biscayne National Park 10, 23

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National 

 Park 26, 35, A.7, B.6

Blue Ridge Parkway 2, B.16, B.26

Booker T. Washington National Monument 

 A.8

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation 

 Area 40, B.16

Bryce Canyon National Park 35, B.6

Buck Island Reef National Monument 10, 

 B.27

Buffalo National River 51, A.1, B.12

C

Cabrillo National Monument B.20

Canaveral National Seashore 23, B.27

Cane River Creole National Historical Park 

 44, B.4, B.27

Canyonlands National Park B.7

Cape Cod National Seashore 40, A.14, A.15, 

 A.16, B.16

Cape Hatteras National Seashore ii, A.9, 

 B.1, B.4, B.27

Cape Krusenstern National Monument 6

Cape Lookout National Seashore 23, 44, 

 A.9, B.27

Capitol Reef National Park 23, B.7

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site 

 A.9, B.27

Catoctin Mountain Park A.8

Channel Islands National Park 1, 4, 23, 40, 

 A.3, B.20

Chattahoochee River National Recreation 

 Area A.9, A.13, B.27

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National 

 Historical Park 23, A.8, B.4

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National 

 Military Park B.27

Chickasaw National Recreation Area 26, 

 27, B.4, B.7

Chiricahua National Monument 35, B.5, 

 B.7, B.10

Colonial National Historical Park B.16

Colorado National Monument B.7

Congaree National Park 44, A.9, B.4, B.27

Coronado National Memorial B.7, B.10

Crater Lake National Park A.8, B.20

Cumberland Island National Seashore A.9

Curecanti National Recreation Area A.7, 

 B.7

Cuyahoga Valley National Park 23, 37, 38, 

 A.17, B.12

D

Death Valley National Park 11, 23, 26, 40, 

 A.2, B.4, B.20

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation 

 Area 1, 40, A.13, A.17, B.17

Denali National Park & Preserve 23, A.3, 

 B.4

Devils Postpile National Monument 40, 

 B.20, B.21

Devils Tower National Monument B.7

Dinosaur National Monument 2, 26, 28, 

 A.3, A.10, B.7 

Dry Tortugas National Park 10, 23, 44, A.6

 B.27
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 48

E

Eleanor Roosevelt National Historic Site 

 B.19

Everglades National Park 10, 23, A.9, 

 B.4, B.27

F

Fire Island National Seashore 8, 40, A.13, 

 B.17

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument 

 B.17

Fort Bowie National Historic Site 36, B.7, 

 B.10

Fort Davis National Historic Site B.8

Fort Donelson National Battlefield B.28

Fort Necessity National Battlefield B.18

Fort Pulaski National Monument 45, B.28

Fort Union National Monument B.8

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National 

 Military Park A.8

G

Gates of the Arctic National Park & 

 Preserve 23, 34

Gateway National Recreation Area 40, B.17, 

 B.18

George Washington Carver National 

 Monument B.12

Gettysburg National Military Park B.18

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument 

 B.8

Glacier National Park 50, B.1, B.8

Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve 23, 

 A.16

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area 2, 

 23, 36, B.8

Golden Gate National Recreation Area 7, 

 A.3, B.21

Grand Canyon National Park 18, 33, 36, 

 A.11, B.5, B.8

Grand Canyon–Parashant National 

 Monument 40, A.8, B.20

Grand Portage National Monument 37, 

 A.8, B.12

Grand Teton National Park 19, 26, 29, A.3, 

 A.5, B.8

Grant–Kohrs National Historic Site B.9

Great Basin National Park 11, 13, 26, 43, 

 A.2, A.3, B.21, B.25

Great Sand Dunes National Park & 

 Preserve B.9

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 23, 

 45, B.28

Guadalupe Mountains National Park A.7, 

 B.9

Gulf Islands National Seashore 45, B.28

H

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park A.8

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site 

 40, B.18

Horseshoe Bend National Military Park A.9

Hot Springs National Park 12, A.17, B.12

Hovenweep National Monument B.9

I

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore 9, 19, 

 37, A.15, B.13

Isle Royale National Park 23, 37, A.13, A.17

J

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and 

 Preserve 45, B.28

Joshua Tree National Park A.8, B.22

K

Kalaupapa National Historical Park A.15, 

 B.22

Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical 

 Park 16, 26, A.3, A.10, A.15, B.22

Katmai National Park & Preserve 23, 34, 

 A.7, A.16, B.4

Kenai Fjords National Park 6, A.16

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield 

 A.9

Kings Mountain National Military Park 

 B.28 

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical 

 Park A.16, B.4

Knife River Indian Villages National 

 Historical Park 37, B.13

Kobuk Valley National Park 3, B.4, B.5

L

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve 6, 23, 

 34, A.13, A.16, B.4, B.5

Lake Mead National Recreation Area 9, 23, 

 A.2, A.3, A.8, A.13, B.4, B.22, B.23, B.25

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area 23

Lassen Volcanic National Park A.8, B.19

Lava Beds National Monument A.8
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 49

Little Bighorn Battlefield National 

 Monument A.7, B.1, B.9

Little River Canyon National Preserve B.28

Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic 

 River B.7

M

Mammoth Cave National Park B.4, B.28

Manzanar National Historic Site A.8

Marsh–Billings–Rockefeller National 

 Historical Park B.18

Mesa Verde National Park 18, 19, 36, B.9

Minidoka National Historic Site 43, B.23

Mississippi National River and Recreation

 Area A.8, B.13

Missouri National Recreational River 1,

 B.13

Mojave National Preserve 23, 43, A.8, A.13, 

 B.23

Montezuma Castle National Monument 26, 

 36, B.9

Moores Creek National Battlefield A.9

Morristown National Historical Park B.18

Mount Rainier National Park 43, A.8, A.13, 

 B.4, B.23, B.24

N

Natchez Trace Parkway B.4, B.28, B.29

National Park of American Samoa 43, B.24

National Parks of New York Harbor 40, 

 B.18

Natural Bridges National Monument B.9

Nez Perce National Historical Park A.11

Niobrara National Scenic River 26, 38, B.14

Noatak National Preserve 23

North Cascades National Park Complex 

 cover, 23, 24, A.8, B.4, B.24

O

Obed Wild and Scenic River 26, 45, B.29

Ocmulgee National Monument A.9

Olympic National Park 1, 19, 20, 21, B.24

Oregon Caves National Monument B.24

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument 24, 

 36, B.10

Overmountain Victory National Historic 

 Trail B.4

Ozark National Scenic Riverways iv, 38, 

 A.2, B.14

P

Padre Island National Seashore 23, A.7

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical 

 Park A.7

Pecos National Historical Park 11, 14, 18, 

 B.10

Petersburg National Battlefield A.8, B.18

Petroglyph National Monument A.7

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 9, 38, 

 46, A.17, B.12, B.14

Pinnacles National Monument 18, B.24

Pipe Spring National Monument B.3, B.10

Point Reyes National Seashore 5, 7, 26, 30, 

 A.13, B.24, B.25

Pu’uhonau Hōnaunau National Historical 

 Park 16 

R

Redwood National and State Parks A.16

Richmond National Battlefield Park B.18

Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River 23, 26, 35, 

 B.6

Rock Creek Park 39, B.15

Rocky Mountain National Park 23, A.17, 

 B.10

S

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site 40, 

 B.19

Saguaro National Park B.10

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway 26, 

 38, A.8, A.13, B.14

Salem Maritime National Historic Site B.19

Salt River Bay National Historical Park & 

 Ecological Preserve B.29

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic 

 Site A.7

San Juan Island National Historical Park 

 B.24, B.25

Santa Monica Mountains National 

 Recreation Area 18, B.25

Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site 

 40, A.10, B.19

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 

 43, B.25

Shenandoah National Park 40, B.19

Shiloh National Military Park B.29

Sitka National Historical Park 4, 34, A.16, 

 B.5

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 

 38, A.17, B.12, B.14

Southeast Arizona Parks B.10
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 50

T

Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve 15

Theodore Roosevelt National Park 38, A.3, 

 B.1, B.15

Timucuan Ecological and Historic National

 Preserve 23, A.9, B.2

Tonto National Monument 36, B.10

Tuzigoot National Monument 36, B.10

U

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational

 River B.17, B.19

V

Valley Forge National Historical Park 40, 

 B.19

Vanderbuilt Mansion National Historic Site 

 B.19

Virgin Islands Coral Reef National 

 Monument A.15, B.29

Virgin Islands National Park 10, A.15, B.29

Voyageurs National Park 23, 38, A.17, B.15

W

Washita Battlefield National Historic Site 

 A.7

Wekiva Partnership Wild and Scenic River 

 B.29

White Sands National Monument 26, 31, 

 A.2, A.3, A.4, B.10

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield B.15

Wind Cave National Monument 26, 32, A.3,

 B.1, B.15 

World War II Valor in the Pacific National 

 Monument 9

Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve 

 23, A.7, A.12, A.16, B.5

Y

Yellowstone National Park 11, 19, 23, B.1, 

 B.4, B.11

Yosemite National Park A.8, A.10, A.11, B.4, 

 B.25

Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve 

 34, A.12, A.13, B.5

Z

Zion National Park 23, A.7

Canoe on Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park (Montana). 

NPS/DAVID RESTIVO
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.1

Appendix A

Summary of Water Resources Division Funding

Table A.1. Water Resources Program FY 2011

FY 2010 Allocation $12,472,000

Classified Pay Increase 148,000

Net FY 2010 Increase/Decrease 1,250,000

Total Available in FY 2010 13,870,000

FY 2011 Allocation 13,870,000

Classified Pay Increase 0

Net FY 2011 Increase/Decrease -63,000

Total Available in FY 2011 13,807,000

Change from FY 2010 $-63,000 

Table A.2. Water Resources Program funding by categories FY 2011

Water Resource Projects $1,166,130

Water Resource Protection (table A.3) 658,630

Ocean and Coastal Resources (tables A.9 and A.10) 285,000

Legacy High Priority (table A.4) 222,500

 

Water Quality Vital Signs Monitoring (table A.5) 2,737,900

Natural Resource Condition Assessment (NRCA) Projects 2,335,700 

Natural Resource Condition Assessments (table A.6) 2,015,700

NRCA High Priority Water Resource (table A.7) 320,000

Water Resource Protection—Aquatic Resource Professionals (table A.8) 1,327,400

Ocean and Coastal Resources (tables A.9 and A.10) 965,000

Water Resource Technical Assistance (Appendix B) 5,274,870

Total $13,807,000

Trumpeter swans on Boxley Mill 

Pond at Buffalo National River 

(Arkansas). NPS/DALE

DOMBROWSKI
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.2

Water Resource Protection

Program Summary

THE NATURAL RESOURCE CHALLENGE

resulted in an increase of $823,000 per 

year for water resource protection projects 

beginning in FY 2001. Project funds in FY 

2011 were used to collect, process, and 

analyze streamflow and water level data; 

monitor post-flooding impacts on sediment 

and riparian resources; determine environmental flow needs; determine aquifer 

characteristics; investigate the importance 

of fresh and brackish water on coral reef 

ecosystems; and develop engineering data 

to support a water right application. Results 

were used to develop water resource protection strategies that were secured through 

settlement discussions; state or federal regulatory processes (e.g., NEPA, 404 permitting 

actions, reservoir operations); administrative hearings (e.g., water right protests), and/

or state and federal court proceedings (e.g., 

basin-wide adjudications). 

In 2011 the NPS continued to work closely 

with other federal agencies—including the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau 

of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

and the U.S. Geological Survey—to provide 

funding and expertise to support water 

resource investigations that are useful for 

resolving multi-agency issues in complex 

water allocation decisions. The NPS also 

partnered with state and private entities 

to increase the effectiveness of its water 

resource protection funding to improve 

the likelihood of reaching settlements that 

protect NPS water resources values while 

allowing for future water development and 

economic growth. For example, hydrologic 

data collected by the NPS for Lake Mead 

National Recreation Area (Nevada, Arizona); Death Valley National Park (California, 

Nevada); and Great Basin National Park 

(Nevada) are shared with the Nevada State 

Engineer, Nevada water providers, and private developers to develop a better understanding about regional aquifer systems and 

potential ground water availability in southern Nevada. In addition, data collected at 

White Sands National Monument (New 

Mexico) will be shared with military bases 

and the municipalities of Alamogordo and 

Tularosa to better understand the potential 

impacts of groundwater development on 

the sand dunes. 

Results of these investigations must be presented in various legal forums to secure and 

protect water rights and water-dependent 

resources. Therefore, a portion of the water 

resource protection funds supported an 

attorney from the Office of the Solicitor to 

provide advice and to represent the NPS in 

legal proceedings.

Researchers in a spring at Ozark 

National Scenic Riverways (Missouri). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.3

Table A.3. Water Resource Protection Project funding FY 2011

Park Region Project Title FY 2011 Funding

BIBE IMR Hydrologic Data Collection for Rio Grande River $20,000

BIBE IMR Determination of Outstandingly Remarkable Values 28,000

DINO IMR Hydrologic Data Collection for Green and 93,120

 Yampa Rivers

GRTE IMR Engineering Services for Water RIghts Change 2,500 

 Applications on Spread Creek

WHSA IMR Hydrologic Data Collection for Tularosa Aquifer 75,000

WICA IMR Lab Analysis for Cave Evolution Study 15,000

DEVA PWR Hydrologic Data Analysis for Devils Hole 30,800

GRBA PWR Investigation of Hydrogeology and Hydrologic 46,600

 Data Collection

KAHO PWR Investigation of Hydrology and Water 78,800

 Dependent Values

LAKE PWR Hydrologic Data Collection on Virgin River 5,400

Servicewide Support to the Office of the Solicitor to Protect/ 192,750

 Secure NPS Water Resources

Servicewide Support to the U.S. Geological Survey to 23,760

 Process Hydrologic Data

Servicewide Technical Support and Assistance for All Projects 46,900

Total $658,630

Table A.4. Legacy High Priority Project funding FY 2011

Park Region Project Title FY 2011 Funding

THRO IMR Flow Diversion, Drought Stress, and Cottonwood $13,700 

 Sex Ratios

WICA IMR Black Hills Groundwater Flow Model 15,000

CHIS PWR Prisoners Harbor Supplemental Plant Propagation 40,000

GOGA PWR Install Water Level Recorders 9,950

Servicewide Cooperative Fisheries Program 14,250

Servicewide Water Quality Partnership Investigations 79,600

Servicewide Dive Safety Program 50,000

Total $222,500

Exploring Wonder Lake in Denali 

National Park (Alaska). NPS/KENT 

MILLER
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.4

Water Quality Vital Signs Monitoring Program

Program Summary

THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS

committed to a servicewide and DOI strategic goal to significantly reduce the miles 

of streams and rivers and acres of lakes 

and marine areas that do not meet water 

quality standards. As part of this goal, the 

NPS is also committed to protecting water 

quality in parks from future impairment, 

including waters classified as Outstanding National Resource Waters (ONRW) or 

state-equivalent listed waters. Additionally, 

the NPS is committed to working with state 

Clean Water Act programs, as well as taking 

appropriate management actions to support 

the restoration of impaired water bodies in 

parks to an unimpaired condition. Currently about 195 park units have one or more 

water bodies that do not meet state water 

quality standards for one or more pollutants 

on approximately 7,300 miles (11,746 km) 

of rivers and streams and 1,467,000 acres 

(593,695 ha) of lakes, reservoirs, estuaries, 

and marine areas. Planning and design of 

the program continues to be implemented 

in full integration with the NPS Park Vital 

Signs Monitoring Program. This is because 

water quality is a key vital sign in determining overall aquatic ecosystem health. 

In addition, by fully integrating the design 

of these programs, considerable cost efficiencies have been and will continue to 

be realized in staffing, planning and design, 

administration, implementation, data management, and reporting. 

Full program funding was allocated to all 

32 Park Vital Signs Networks in FY 2011 

(table A.5). In addition, funds supported the 

development of an NPS servicewide water 

quality data management program within 

the EPA STORET Data Warehouse. While 

not shown in table A.5, WRD reallocated 10 

work-months involving five division staff to 

support program administration and the development of program technical guidance, 

technical protocols, detailed study plan and 

Quality Control/Quality Assurance Plan 

guidance, and database management.

Vital Signs Monitoring Networks In FY 

2011, thirty-two Park Vital Signs Monitoring 

Networks fully committed their water quality funding to compilation of background 

information, analysis of issues and threats, 

performance of detailed program planning, 

and support of synoptic-level field assessments. Five networks initiated field-level 

monitoring. Network planning approaches 

included personnel hiring, in-house allocation of staff, university cooperative agreements, and USGS Interagency Agreements. 

In addition, equipment acquisitions were 

made. All 32 networks accomplished one or 

more of the following activities:

(1) historic data compilations and analyses;

(2) information on state-listed impaired waters and park “outstanding” waters;

(3) documentation of significant water quality stressors/threats;

(4) synoptic inventory studies in support of 

detailed statistical design;

(5) database management and GIS support 

 programs;

(6) development of water quality monitoring protocols; and

(7) field monitoring.

Servicewide Data Management The Water 

Resources Division continued to support 

network water quality monitoring programs 

by providing national program administration and reporting, establishing baseline 

inventories and analyses of available water 

quality data, supporting digitization of legacy data from analog reports and other archival materials, maintaining a servicewide 

water quality database in the EPA STORET 

Data Warehouse, and enhancing the transfer of physical, chemical, and biological data 

from the networks into STORET. Two water 

quality research associates and a student

David Bustos, a resource staffer

at White Sands National Monument (New Mexico), installs 

a water level sensor at Lake 

Lucero as part of an ongoing 

hydrology study. No water was 

recorded at the lake in summer 

2011. NPS/COLLEEN FILIPPONE
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.5

worked to support the database development, management, and reporting activities through cooperative agreements with 

Colorado State University. The servicewide 

STORET database has served as the starting point for most network water quality 

data compilation and analysis efforts and 

also WRD’s Baseline Water Quality Data 

Inventory and Analysis Reports. In addition 

to data from states and other entities, this 

archive now hosts approximately 5.9 million 

results for 5,114 different physical, chemical, or biological characteristics from 48,592 

monitoring locations in support of 1,189 

different projects conducted in or near 263 

units of the National Park System. 

Much effort went into enhancing 

NPSTORET, a series of Microsoft Accessbased templates for entering, managing, 

reporting, and analyzing water quality data 

(projects, stations, metadata, and results) in 

a STORET-compatible format. NPSTORET 

also includes import routines to allow users 

to import their own data or stations as well 

as data and stations from the three major 

national water quality databases. Additional 

capabilities added to NPSTORET v.1.83 this 

year included (1) new graphics options on 

the Reports & Statistics template including scatterplots, frequency bar, frequency 

line, and catch-per-unit effort graphs; (2) 

enhancements to water quality standards 

including screening by filtered fractions, the 

ability to enter a maximum hardness value 

for hardness-dependent criteria, and export 

of the computations used in a standards 

analysis; (3) improved form resizing/scaling 

depending on a user’s screen resolution; 

(4) user-customizable logos for forms and 

reports; (5) new characteristics, permitted 

values, activity types, lab remark codes, and 

statistic types; and (6) functionality in both 

32 and 64-bit Access 2010 and Windows 7. 

Many other minor bells and whistles were 

added at the request of users.

WRD staff continued to help facilitate 

stewardship of the National Hydrography 

Dataset (NHD) in sub-basins containing 

NPS lands. Staff also continued to enhance 

the Hydrographic and Impairment Statistics Database which contains hydrographic 

statistics and Clean Water Act 303(d)-listed 

water resource impairment data for all parks 

based on the NHD. The Intranet website 

for distributing this information was moved 

to the Internet, underwent servicewide 

review and comment, and was significantly 

enhanced.

Continuously monitored water resource 

data was a significant focus area in 2011. 

WRD installed a servicewide five-concurrent-user network license for Aquarius 

Workstation v.2.6 and the Aquarius Database and initiated the development of a 

schema for documenting and storing water 

quality and quantity data collected continuously or near-continuously (i.e. hourly or 

every 15 minutes). This system was subsequently upgraded to the new Aquarius v.3.0 

and Aquarius Server. Learning materials 

were prepared to assist NPS staff on how to 

access and use the system. Work continues 

on melding Aquarius with a metabase to 

document sensors, instruments, service, 

and calibrations.

A replacement database—EarthSoft’s EQuIS system—for WRD’s distributed EPA 

STORET Database was procured. During 

2012 the 5.9 million discrete NPS water 

quality monitoring results will be migrated 

from distributed STORET to EQuIS, and 

data flows will be established into EQuIS 

from NPSTORET and a to-be-specified 

electronic data deliverable format to allow 

parks and networks to readily upload their 

data to EQuIS and have it transferred to the 

EPA’s STORET Data Warehouse.

Hiker on the Apex Trail, Teewinot, at Grand Teton National Park 

(Wyoming). NPS/K. FINCH
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.6

Table A.5. Allocation of Water Quality Park Vital Signs Monitoring funding FY 2011

 Number of FY 2011

Network Region Affected Park Units Funding 

Arctic Alaska 5 $144,100

Central Alaska Alaska 5 94,200 

Southeast Alaska Alaska 3 40,400

Southwest Alaska Alaska 5 133,600

Chihuahuan Intermountain 6 70,200

Greater Yellowstone Intermountain 3 68,200

Northern Colorado Plateau Intermountain 16 103,700

Rocky Mountain Intermountain 6 58,600

Sonoran Desert Intermountain 11 61,500

Southern Colorado Plateau Intermountain 19 119,100

Southern Plains Intermountain 10 27,900

Great Lakes Midwest 9 118,200

Heartland Midwest 15 78,800

Northern Great Plains Midwest 13 77,900

National Capital National Capital 11 68,200

Eastern Rivers and Mountains Northeast 9 60,600

Mid–Atlantic Northeast 11 42,300

Northeast Coastal and Barrier Northeast 8 86,500

Northeast Temperate Northeast 10 57,700

Klamath Pacific West 6 73,000

Mediterranean Coast Pacific West 3 73,000

Mojave Desert Pacific West 6 76,900

North Coast and Cascades Pacific West 7 78,800

Pacific Islands Pacific West 9 145,100

San Francisco Bay Pacific West 6 67,200

Sierra Nevada Pacific West 3 60,600

Upper Columbian Basin Pacific West 8 48,000

Appalachian Highlands Southeast 4 67,200

Cumberland–Piedmont Southeast 14 56,700

Gulf Coast Southeast 8 85,500

South Florida–Caribbean Southeast 6 141,300

Southeast Coast Southeast 17 116,300 

Total FY 2011 Network Seven NPS Regions 272 $2,601,300

Monitoring

Servicewide Data Management 136,600

Grand Total $2,737,900

Inside the Lens Room of Loggerhead Key Lighthouse, Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida). NPS/

KIMBERLY ROPP
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.7

NATURAL RESOURCE CONDITION

Assessments (NRCAs) evaluate and report 

on current conditions, critical data gaps, 

and selected threat and stressor influences 

for a subset of important park natural resources. These are multi-disciplinary studies 

that rely on existing data and expertise from 

a variety of NPS and non-NPS sources. 

Focal study resources and indicators are 

selected on a park-by-park basis through 

Natural Resource Condition Assessments

Program Summary

consideration of park resources and enabling legislation (what are this park’s most 

important natural resources?) and currently 

available data and expertise (what can be 

evaluated at this time?). Science-based information delivered in NRCAs is designed 

to help park managers in their ongoing efforts to take an integrated and strategic approach to resource planning and decision 

making.

Table A.6. NPS units with NRCA projects in FY 2011 and the organizations performing the assessments

 Agency, Cooperator/Partner, 

Region Park State or Contractor FY 2011 Funding

AKR KATM AK Pacific Northwest CESU/ $101,000

ANIA AK Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

ALAG AK

Multiple Parks Regional Office project support 60,300

IMR BAND NM U.S. Geological Survey Fort Collins 167,000

BLCA CO Science Center; Colorado Plateau 

CURE CO CESU/Museum of Northern Arizona;

PETR NM NPS Northern and Southern Colorado

ZION UT Plateau Networks

BIBE TX Pacific Northwest CESU/Saint Mary’s 115,000

GUMO TX University of Minnesota

BICA MT, WY Pacific Northwest CESU/Saint Mary’s 38,700

 University of Minnesota; NPS Greater

Yellowstone Inventory & Monitoring

Network

LIBI MT Rocky Mountain CESU/Utah State 60,056

SAND CO University; University of Colorado;

WABA OK Colorado State University; NPS Southern

 Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network;

NPS Rocky Mountain Inventory &

Monitoring Network

PAIS TX Pacific Northwest CESU/Saint Mary’s 15,000

PAAL TX University of Minnesota

Multiple Parks Regional Office Geographic 67,544

 Information Systems (GIS) and

other project support

Aquatic ecologist Amy Larsen 

prepares to deploy a YSI, Inc., 

multiparameter probe at a small 

lake in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve (Alaska). NPS/

HEIDI KRISTENSON

During 2011 NRCAs were completed and published for 19 park 

units, and new projects were initiated for an additional 25 park 

units. Additional program information and completed reports 

can be found at www.nature.

nps.gov/water/nrca/index.cfm
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.8

Table A.6 continued

 Agency, Cooperator/Partner, 

Region Park State or Contractor FY 2011 Funding

MWR GRPO MN Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU/ $302,000

MISS MN University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point

SACN MN, WI 

NCR CATO MD Chesapeake Watershed CESU/University 74,000

CHOH MD, WV, DC of Maryland; NPS National Capital 

 Inventory & Monitoring Network

Multiple Parks Regional Office project support 6,700

NER BOWA VA Chesapeake Watershed CESU/ 84,962

PETE VA University of Richmond

FRSP VA Chesapeake Watershed CESU/ 56,136

 Pennsylvania State University

Multiple Parks Regional Office project support 100,902

PWR CRLA OR Pacific Northwest CESU/Southern 25,000

LAVO CA Oregon University

LABE CA 

DEVA CA, NV California CESU/University of 275,000

JOTR CA California–Davis

LAKE NV, AZ

MANZ CA

MOJA CA

PARA AZ

HAVO HI Fung Associates 42,250

MORA WA U.S. Geological Survey Forest and 75,000

NOCA WA Rangeland Ecosystem Center

YOSE CA Yosemite National Park 20,000

Multiple Parks Regional Office project support 6,450

Parks Climate Challenge participants snorkel on Ross Lake 

to conduct a fish survey, North 

Cascades National Park Complex 

(Washington). NORTH CASCADES 

INSTITUTE/BENJ DRUMMOND
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.9

Table A.6 continued

 Agency, Cooperator/Partner, 

Region Park State or Contractor FY 2011 Funding

SER BICY FL NPS South Florida/Caribbean Network $26,678

EVER FL 

CAHA NC Piedmont–South Atlantic Coast CESU/ 92,122

CALO NC North Carolina State University

CHAT GA

CONG SC

CUIS GA

HOBE AL

KEMO GA

MOCR NC

OCMU GA

TIMU FL

CARL NC Southern Appalachian CESU/ 123,000

 University of Western Carolina

Multiple Parks Regional Office project support 80,900

Total $2,015,700

Loop Road reflections at Big Cypress National Preserve (Florida). 

NPS/KIMBERLY ROPP
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.10

NRCA High Priority Project Funding

Project Summary

Evaluation of Yampa River Flow and 

Sediment Regimes to Assist Protection of 

River-Dependent Resource Attributes, 

Dinosaur National Monument (Colorado, Utah) 

High Priority Project Funding $35,000

The Yampa River is under ever-increasing 

threats of water development to support 

extraction of nearby oil and gas resources 

and potential transbasin export to satisfy 

municipal and industrial needs in eastern 

Colorado. As a result, Dinosaur is interested 

in (1) identifying minimum streamflows that 

maintain existing water-related resources, 

conditions, and processes; and (2) developing technical information to predict and 

quantify the response of these resources 

and processes to altered streamflows. 

Under separate agreements, Dinosaur and 

WRD funded scientists from the USGS 

(2011, $45,000); Utah State University 

(2011, $45,000); and Colorado State University (2012, $45,000 anticipated) to identify 

instream flow needs to support and maintain existing conditions of sediment transport and channel form, riparian plants, and 

endangered fish. These efforts are ongoing 

and in various stages of completion. This 

project will synthesize the results of these 

separate efforts into a single integrated flow 

prescription for the Yampa River through 

Dinosaur, to be delivered in 2014. Primary 

work to date has included literature reviews, 

site visits, and discussions with other principal investigators.

Table A.7. NRCA High Priority Water Resource Project funding FY 2011

Region Park State Project Title FY 2011 Funding

 

IMR DINO CO, UT Evaluation of Yampa River Flow $35,000

 and Sediment Regimes to Assist

Protection of River-Dependent

Resource Attributes

NER SAIR MA Saugus River E. coli Monitoring 22,700

 

PWR KAHO HI Development of an Environmental 63,000

 Assessment and Eradication Plan to

 Remove Tilapia from Ponds and Wetlands

at National Parks on Island of Hawaii:

KAHO and other Sites of Concern

NEPE ID Hydrological Analysis and Pilot 26,200

 Restoration Project for Weippe 

Prairie

YOSE CA Wawona Meadow Wetland 53,000

 Restoration Storm Repair Request

Servicewide Multiple Parks EarthSoft Environmental Quality 96,650

 Information System Acquisition

 Other Projects General project support 23,450

Total $320,000

The Green River from Harpers 

Corner Trail in Dinosaur National 

Monument (Colorado, Utah). NPS 

COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.11

Hydrological Analysis and Pilot Restoration Project for Weippe Prairie, Nez 

Perce National Historical Park (Idaho)

High Priority Project Funding $26,200

NEPE Funding $15,000

Extensive ditching at Weippe Prairie has 

drained habitat for camas lily (Camassia 

quamash), a species that is a key cultural 

resource and an important ecological component of the unit’s wetland communities. 

It was during the camas harvest in 1805 that 

members of the Lewis and Clark expedition first encountered the Nez Perce people 

at Weippe Prairie. The Nez Perce provided 

the expedition party with camas bulbs and 

other food to eat at a time when game was 

very scarce and food had become a serious 

problem. Today, camas populations are well 

below their historic numbers at many locations, and hydrologic modification (drainage) is known to be a significant factor in 

this decline. This project was designed to 

(1) install a hydrologic monitoring network 

to characterize existing hydrology, including effects of ditches; (2) study relationships 

between camas populations and hydrologic 

regimes in unaltered “reference” sites and 

in sites affected by drainage; and (3) implement and evaluate a pilot restoration (ditch 

plugging) project and recommend larger 

scale restoration as appropriate. 

During the summer of 2011, several key 

projects steps were implemented. Detailed 

topographic data was collected for the 

southern portion of the unit, including 

reference sites and a drained site being considered for the pilot restoration. These data 

will be merged with LIDAR data available 

for the entire unit to produce a topographic 

map. A network of shallow observation 

wells, piezometers, and staff gauges was 

installed in the pilot study area and in other 

parts of Weippe Prairie. All were surveyed 

to a common datum to support analysis of 

drainage effects and study of plant community–water table–topography relationships. 

“Existing condition” hydrologic data will 

be collected and analyzed during summer 

2012, and a pilot restoration (ditch plugging) is planned for autumn 2012. Post-restoration data will be collected and analyzed 

in 2013, and a final report will be prepared 

by December 2013. 

Repair of Storm Damage, Wawona 

Meadow Restoration Project, Yosemite 

National Park (California)

High Priority Project Funding $53,000

In late winter/early spring 2011, the Wawona area in Yosemite National Park experienced a substantial rain event that began to 

compromise a recently completed wetland 

meadow restoration project. The restoration project entailed filling a ditch that had 

formed in a wet meadow and lowered the 

local water table. The ditch had been filled 

to grade and the water table responded as 

expected, rising in elevation to near surface 

levels. However, native vegetation had not 

yet become established and the characteristic root mat was not in place to provide 

soil stability. During the rain event, some of 

the fill eroded out of the recently restored 

ditch, and there was great concern that 

the process would continue and all of the 

restoration work would be compromised. 

Consequently, a proposal for funding to facilitate structural repairs using “soft” treatments such as coir (coconut fiber) logs and 

mats was submitted and approved. WRD 

provided funding and repair work was completed in FY 2011.

Young humpback chub leave 

the bucket and begin to explore 

their new home in Shinumo 

Creek, Grand Canyon National 

Park (Arizona). NPS/MELISSA 

TRAMMELL
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.12

EarthSoft Environmental Quality Information System Acquisition

High Priority Project Funding $96,650

In 2011 WRD acquired a new database 

system—EarthSoft’s Environmental Quality Information System (EQuIS)—to replace 

the STORET database system distributed 

by the EPA. WRD has used STORET to 

archive physical, chemical, and biological 

water quality data from projects conducted 

by parks, Vital Signs Monitoring Networks, 

contractors, and cooperators of the EPA’s 

STORET Data Warehouse (www.epa.gov/

storet/) over the last decade. EPA support 

for the distributed STORET system ceased 

in 2009 when EPA adopted the Water Quality Exchange (WQX) format as the sole 

method for uploading data to the STORET 

Data Warehouse. EQuIS will provide the 

same basic functionality (data consistency, 

aggregation, and transfer to STORET) as 

EPA-distributed STORET but will also provide many new features including the WQX 

schema; the ability to transmit data automatically to the EPA’s national STORET 

Data Warehouse on a weekly basis; support 

for groundwater and geotechnical data; automated data quality assurance/control; and 

integration with a diverse array of GIS, statistical, graphical, and analytical software.

EQuIS has been installed on an NRSS 

server. Work will be ongoing during 2012, 

in concert with EarthSoft, to migrate the 

significant NPS STORET database to EQuIS; to define, adapt, or adopt a new electronic data deliverable specification that 

is compatible with EQuIS; and to develop 

a standard operating procedure for parks, 

networks, and other users to upload data to 

the system and use its significant processing 

capabilities.

Paul Atkinson, Yukon–Charley 

IT specialist, deploys a Wildlife 

Acoustics sound monitor next to 

a lake in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve (Alaska). 

The device monitors bird and 

wood frog activity as part of the 

Central Alaska Network’s lake 

monitoring effort. NPS/HEIDI KRISTENSON
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.13

Table A.8. Water Resource Protection—Aquatic Resource Professionals staffing

Region Duty Station Discipline Geographic Focus Area

AKR YUCH Aquatic Ecologist Central and Northwest Alaska Network Parks

AKR LACL FIsheries Biologist Southwest and Southeast Alaska 

 Network Parks 

IMR Utah State FIsheries Biologist Upper Colorado River Basin Parks

Coord Office

IMR/ Sonoran Groundwater Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma Parks

MWR Desert Hydrologist

Network

MWR SACN Aquatic Ecologist Great Lakes Network Parks

MWR ISRO Fisheries Biologist Great Lakes Network Parks

NER/ Center for Aquatic Ecologist National Capital Region and Virginia Parks

NCR Urban Ecology 

NER DEWA Hydrologist Eastern Rivers and Mountains/Northeast

 Coastal and Barrier Network Parks

NER FIIS Marine Ecologist Northeast Temperate/Northeast Coastal and

 Barrier Network Parks

PWR PORE Aquatic Ecologist San Francisco Bay/Sierra Nevada/Klamath/

 Mediterranean Coast Network Parks

PWR MORA Geomorphologist North Coast and Cascades/Klamath

 Network Parks

PWR LAKE Groundwater Mojave Desert Network Parks

 Hydrologist

SER CHAT FIsheries Biologist Southeast Coast/Gulf Coast/Appalachin 

 Highlands/Cumberland–Piedmont

 Network Parks

SER CHAT Wetlands Ecologist Southeast Coast/Gulf Coast/Appalachin 

 Highlands/Cumberland–Piedmont

 Network Parks

Lake Tuendae at Zzyzx Desert 

Studies Center, Mojave National 

Preserve (California). NPS/ANNE 

MAASBERG
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.14

Race Point at Cape Cod National 

Seashore, Providence, Massachusetts. NPS COLLECTION

Ocean and Coastal Resources Program

Program Summary

year and generate $6 billion in economic 

benefits to local communities. Managers 

of ocean and coastal parks are confronted 

with multiple threats to natural and cultural 

resources from inside and outside of their 

park boundaries. Resource managers need 

better information about the condition of 

submerged resources for making decisions, 

working with other agencies, and communicating with the public. 

THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM 

contains over 80 ocean, coastal, and Great 

Lakes parks across 22 states and four territories. The parks conserve over 11,000 miles 

(17,700 km) of coast and 2.5 million acres 

(1 million ha) of ocean, coastal, and Great 

Lakes waters, including coral reefs, kelp 

forests, glaciers, estuaries, beaches, wetlands, historic forts, and shipwrecks. They 

attract over 86 million recreation visits each 

Table A.9. Ocean and Coastal Resources Program budget summary

Total Available in FY 2010 $1,250,000

Net FY 2010 Decrease 0

Adjustments 0 

Total Available in FY 2011 $1,250,000

Change from FY 2010 0

Servicewide Comprehensive Call and other Projects 285,000

Field-based Technical Specialists 400,000

NRSS-based Technical Specialists 367,500

Natural Resource Stewardship and Science overhead (10%) 125,000

NPS Dive Program 50,000

Program Administration 22,500

Total Available in FY 2011 1,250,000

Table A.10. Ocean and Coastal Resources Program funding by categories

tions to better understand and manage submerged resources. Technical specialists have 

been hired in the Southeast, Pacific West, 

and Alaska Regions, and project funds were 

distributed through the competitive Servicewide Comprehensive Call. Projects were 

selected based on their ability to strengthen 

the science-based foundation for managing 

and conserving ocean and coastal resources 

and to help park managers better understand the human role in these ecosystems. 

Created in 2007, the Ocean and Coastal 

Resources Program was funded for the first 

time in FY 2010. The program adopted 

strategies from the 2006 Ocean Park Stewardship Action Plan and regional strategic 

plans for ocean and coastal park stewardship. The program focuses on increasing 

NPS organizational and technical capacity 

to address ocean and coastal issues and 

working through partnerships with state 

and federal agencies and local organiza-
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.15

Parks Affected Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park and Kalaupapa National 

Historical Park (Hawaii)

Project Description Recent investigations 

at Kaloko-Honokōhau demonstrated that 

large volumes of nutrient-laden freshwater 

are discharged to marine coastal areas via 

groundwater which increases the potential 

for nuisance algal growth that adversely 

affects coral reefs. Herbivory may control 

some of the increased algal growth, but 

large herbivores have been greatly reduced 

by intensive fishing. This project examines 

the response of algae to nutrient inputs, 

the effects of herbivores on algal growth, 

the influence of herbivore abundance and 

biomass on algal and coral composition, 

and the potential for managing herbivores 

to reduce algal biomass and improve coral 

reef health. The project compares impacts 

at Kaloko-Honokōhau, an increasingly urbanized park, and Kalaupapa, a relatively 

remote park with a large herbivore biomass 

and intact trophic structure.

Significance This partnership among 

Kaloko-Honokōhau, Kalaupapa, University 

of Hawaii, and Scripps Institute of Oceanography examines the potential impact 

of increasing coastal development on the 

health of coral reef ecosystems. 

Investigations of the Links Between Toxic 

Red Tides, Hydrodynamics, and Groundwater Nutrient Fluxes at Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts)

Funding $92,000 (FY10: $301,000)

PMIS Number N/A

Parks Affected Cape Cod National Seashore 

(Massachusetts)

Ocean and Coastal Resources Program

Project Summaries

Ecological Links between Virgin Islands 

Coral Reef National Monument and 

Virgin Islands National Park (Virgin Islands): Management to Halt the Crisis of 

Low Reef Fish Population

Funding $37,000 

PMIS Number 118794

Parks Affected Virgin Islands Coral Reef 

National Monument and Virgin Islands National Park (Virgin Islands)

Project Description The links between 

these two Caribbean NPS units and among 

various habitats in both units are being 

investigated by studying the movements 

of fish species in different trophic groups. 

Information on fish movement into and out 

of the park units will identify resources and 

movement pathways over various temporal 

and spatial scales. Fish will be tagged with 

sonic tags and their movements monitored 

by submerged acoustic receivers. The data 

will be used to develop ecosystem management strategies.

Significance The marine resources within 

Virgin Islands Coral Reef are poorly documented and the degree of connectivity 

to Virgin Islands and adjacent waters is 

unknown. Reef populations surrounding 

Virgin Islands Coral Reef are depleted and 

coral reefs have been lost in part due to reduced abundance of herbivorous fish that 

keep algae from smothering the reefs.

Managing Marine Ecosystem Responses 

to Increasing Nutrients 

Funding $83,000 (FY10: $84,000; FY12: 

$83,000)

PMIS Number 146912

Lake Michigan in winter at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore 

(Indiana). NPS/E. HERTEL
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.16

Project Description Harmful algal blooms, 

commonly known as red tides, cause devastating impacts to local economies, public 

health, and ecosystems. The most serious 

and widespread manifestation is paralytic 

shellfish poisoning (PSP), a syndrome 

caused by human ingestion of shellfish that 

accumulate toxins from dinoflagellates. 

Cape Cod has had annual episodes of red 

tides since the 1970s. The characteristics of 

the PSP at Cape Cod have changed over the 

last two decades, in some cases resulting in 

shellfishing closures (and loss of jobs) for 

several months. This project is investigating the dynamics of anthropogenic nutrient 

discharges and harmful algal blooms and 

will produce tools to assist park managers in 

developing management policies for nutrient control and remediation.

Significance This partnership among NPS, 

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 

and USGS will increase public knowledge 

of the need to protect and restore habitats 

for migratory birds, horseshoe crabs, seagrasses, shellfish, fish, and crustaceans.

Compilation of an Accurate and Contemporary Digital Shoreline for Alaska 

Coastal Parks

Funding $21,000 (FY10: $40,000)

PMIS Number 156683

Parks Affected Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Cape Krusenstern National 

Monument, Glacier Bay National Park & 

Preserve, Katmai National Park & Preserve, 

Kenai Fjords National Park, Klondike Goldrush National Historical Park, Lake Clark 

National Park & Preserve, Sitka National 

Historical Park, and Wrangell–St. Elias National Park & Preserve (Alaska)

Project Description Coastal parks in Alaska 

lack an accurate, consistent, and standardized digital marine shoreline referenced to 

a known local tidal stage or a vertical tidal 

datum referenced to Mean High Water 

(MHW). Park boundaries in Alaska are 

generally based on MHW or Mean Lower 

Low Water (MLLW). The National Hydrographic Dataset (NHD) lacks a consistent 

tidal datum reference, but it is the recognized source for hydrographic data and 

contains features for Alaska parks derived 

from 1950s USGS topographical shoreline 

data sets (prior to the 1964 earthquake and 

isostatic rebound). This project uses the 

best available federal shoreline delineations 

of MHW or HWL and will integrate them 

into the NHD. 

Significance The project will produce a 

shoreline data set for 10 Alaska coastal 

parks of immediate use to resource managers, collaborators, and the public.

Legal and Regulatory Assistance on 

Ocean and Coastal Issues Faced by the 

National Park System

Funding $52,000

PMIS Number N/A

Parks Affected Eighty-four ocean and coastal parks in 22 states and four territories.

Project Description An important component of increasing NPS technical capacity 

is the description and analysis of NPS jurisdiction, authorities, and remedies. The 

number of ocean and coastal legal and 

regulatory issues warranting research and 

analysis outpaces the in-house capability of 

the ocean and coastal resources program. A 

contract was awarded to conduct research 

and develop a reference (guidance) manual 

on recreational and commercial fishing in 

ocean and coastal parks. 

Significance The fishing reference manual 

will be used by parks and other NPS offices 

to increase awareness of authorities available to manage recreational and commercial 

fishing within park boundaries.

Barefoot on the beach at Redwood National and State Parks 

(California). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix A National Park Service A.17

USGS–NPS Water Quality Partnership Program

New Projects for FY 2012

Table A.11. NPS–USGS Water Quality Partnership Project allocation FY 2012

Region Park State Project Title FY 2012 Allocation

 

IMR ROMO CO Occurrence, Sources, and Potential $100,530

 for Biodegration of Endocrine Disrupting

Chemicals in Rocky Mountain NP

MWR CUVA OH Development of a Model for Predicting 50,000

 Recreational Water Quality of the Cuyahoga

 River in Cuyahoga Valley based on Real-Time

 Turbidity and State Data

HOSP AR Assessment of Water Quality Trends 48,220

 in the Hot Springs of Hot Springs NP

ISRO MI Determination of Algal Toxin 50,000

SLBE MI Concentration in Surface Water at

PIRO MI ISRO, SLBE, and PIRO

SACN MI, WI Climate in Lake St. Croix–Saint Croix 99,170

 National Scenic Riverway

VOYA MN Assessment of Changes in Trophic State 50,000

 in Voyageurs NP Lakes after Implementation

of a Revised Water Level Management Plan

NER ACAD ME Assessment of the Use of Buffered 100,000

 Zero-Valent Iron Amendments for 

Reduction of Mercury Methylation in 

Wetland Sediments at Acadia NP

 

DEWA PA, NJ Install Four Continuous Water Quality 49,920

 Monitors near Delaware River Basin 

Marcellus Shale Development 

Total $547,840

IN 1998 THE NPS AND USGS INITIATED 

the Water Quality Partnership Program 

with support from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Action Plan. 

In 2011 eight projects were selected for 

funding beginning in 2012. To date, 163 

partnership projects have been initiated in 

110 parks. 

The program supports a range of scientific 

activities focused on providing park resource managers with data and information 

necessary to make scientifically defensible 

management and policy decisions. These 

activities range in scope from basic and 

technical assistance to fixed-station monitoring to intensive/synoptic projects.

Sandhill cranes at Great Sand 

Dunes National Park & Preserve 

(Colorado). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.1

Appendix B

Technical Assistance

SERVICEWIDE

Represented the NPS on the BLM Solar Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact 

Statement. ¤ Represented the NPS on the 

Navajo Nation-Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, 

Havasupai Tribe, and Yavapai-Apache Nation Indian Federal Water Rights Negotiation and Assessment Teams. ¤ Co-taught 

a water-related session for University of 

Denver’s Earth Science Program. ¤ Completed 16 station folders for WRB gauges 

to support water rights efforts in Arizona, 

Nevada, and Oklahoma. ¤ Converted all 

water rights dockets to PDF format and 

uploaded to IRMA for public accessibility. ¤ 

Served as the co-lead for the NPS Wild and 

Scenic Rivers (WSR) Program and member 

of the NPS WSR Steering Committee and 

Interagency WSR Coordinating Council. ¤ 

Evaluated water right applications to determine impacts of diversions on park rights 

in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, 

Utah, and Wyoming. ¤ Submitted annual 

reports for Big Hole NB, Bighorn Canyon 

NRA, Glacier NP, Little Bighorn Battlefield 

NM, and Yellowstone NP as required by the 

Montana–United States, NPS Water Rights 

Compact. ¤ Served as NRSS Project Coordinator for climate change response projects 

at Theodore Roosevelt and Wind Cave NPs. 

¤ Represented NRSS on NPS Dive Control 

Board. ¤ Worked with DOI Senior Ocean 

Policy Team and the NPS regions and parks 

on the implementation of the new National 

Ocean Policy (EO 13547). ¤ Represented 

NPS on the Federal Geospatial Data Committee and Coastal Spatial Data Subcommittee to develop the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) as 

a national habitat classification for oceans, 

coasts, and estuaries. ¤ Developed an aquatic invasive species database for Marine and 

Great Lakes parks and hosted a servicewide 

Webinar to demonstrate database functionality. ¤ Developed servicewide Comprehensive Call ocean and coastal resources 

program funding guidance and approved 

and funded projects at $141,000. ¤ Working with the Lands Resources Division and 

NRSS GIS, developed shoreline maps for 

84 ocean and coastal parks. ¤ Worked with 

USFWS and NOAA National Estuarine Reserves and National Marine Sanctuary staffs 

to implement the interagency Seamless 

Network Agreement. ¤ Worked with Russ 

Wilson, superintendent at CALO on detail 

to WASO, to develop a framework for Directors Order on ocean and coastal parks. ¤ 

Worked with GRD and the Lands Resources Division to develop solicitor opinions to 

deal with park boundary issues for 10 ocean 

and coastal parks. ¤ Continued development of NPSTORET—a series of Microsoft 

Access templates/forms for entering and 

documenting the results of water quality 

monitoring projects in compliance with the 

National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s guidelines in a format compatible with 

uploading to modern STORET using the 

STORET Import Module or Water Quality Exchange (WQX) format. NPSTORET 

v.1.82 was released adding new functionality and fixing reported bugs. ¤ Updated the 

website for Vital Signs Water Quality Data 

Management and Archiving at www.nature.

nps.gov/water/vitalsigns/vitalsignsmgt.cfm. 

¤ Set up a shared/network installation of 

Aquatic Informatics’ Aquarius Workstation 

and Aquarius Database for parks, networks, 

and WRD staff to process, analyze, and 

report on their continuous water resource 

(both quantity and quality) data. ¤ Coordinated servicewide review and comment on 

a draft continuous water resource database 

schema to be implemented in Aquarius. ¤

Moonrise over Cape Hatteras National Seashore (North Carolina). 

NPS/JIM EVANS
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.2

Maintained the WRD’s STORET infrastructure, a data entry workstation version 

of distributed STORET containing NPS 

production data. ¤ Provided additions and 

suggestions to EPA regarding characteristics 

and other aspects of the WQX schema. ¤ 

Notified other organizations when problems were encountered with their data in 

the STORET/WQX Data Warehouse and 

alerted the EPA to issues with the STORET/

WQX Data Warehouse retrieval tools. ¤ 

Produced quarterly Capital Planning and 

Investment Control reports and the Office of Management and Budget’s Exhibit 

300-1 documenting WRD’s STORET investment. ¤ Prepared a proposal to acquire 

EarthSoft’s EQuIS (Environmental Quality 

Information System) software as a replacement for the NPS-distributed STORET 

database that was subsequently approved. ¤ 

Prepared contracting materials to shepherd 

the acquisition of EarthSoft’s EQuIS system 

(EQuIS Professional, Enterprise, EDP, and 

other components) through purchasing. ¤ 

Maintained a Sharepoint site on the topic of 

Water Resources Data Management (http://

nrpcsharepoint/wrd/data/default.aspx) with 

a subsite of Continuous Data Management 

(http://nrpcsharepoint/wrd/data/continuous/default.aspx). ¤ Represented WRD 

during NRSS Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) meetings and 

provided assistance to the IRMA Steering 

Committee relative to reporting bugs and 

contributing suggestions for future releases, 

including coordinating WRD’s review of 

the water resources mock-up page. ¤ Represented WRD during NRSS Information 

Technology Technical Advisory Group (ITTAG) meetings. ¤ Handled the Water Operations Branch ADP function, including ordering new computers and other hardware. 

¤ Provided consultation to the NPS Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Program 

on riverine databases. ¤ Updated webpages 

(http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/inventory/

waterquality/index.cfm and http://science.

nature.nps.gov/im/inventory/water/index.

cfm) for the Inventory and Monitoring Division to explain the water quality and water 

resources inventories. ¤ Prepared the 2010 

Annual Administrative Reports and Workplans for the water quality and water resources inventories. ¤ Attended EarthSoft’s 

EQuIS Users Group Meeting in Denver 

during April. ¤ Maintained NPSEDD v.1.10, 

the NPS Electronic Data Deliverable specification used by parks and networks for 

contributing water quality data for inclusion 

in STORET. ¤ Upgraded NPSCol2Row—a 

data formatting utility used to restructure 

data files in preparation for STORET or 

other applications—to v.2.2, extending its 

capabilities and ensuring it works in Access 

2007. The tool is available on the NPS Vital 

Signs Water Quality Data Management and 

Archiving website and EPA’s STORET Tools 

website (www.epa.gov/storet/otherapps.

html) for anyone to download. ¤ Coordinated the upgrade to Terrain Navigator 

Pro v.8.71 and troubleshot issues for NRSS 

users. ¤ Continued to oversee the development and enhancement of the Hydrographic and Impairment Statistics (HIS) database 

built on a framework of the National Hydrography Dataset and state 303(d) Clean 

Water Act listings. Coordinated park review 

of the database and migration of the HIS 

database to the internet at www.nature.nps.

gov/water/his/. ¤ Maintained and enhanced 

the software used to quality-assure, compile, and calculate hydrographic statistics in 

the HIS database. ¤ Provided revisions to 

the Inventory and Monitoring fact sheets 

and web pages for the baseline water quality 

and water body location and classification 

inventories. ¤ Responded to public water 

resource inquiries generated by NPS website. ¤ Assisted in the GIS processing and 

protocol development for the watershed 

delineation effort in NPScape. ¤ Provided 

review and comment on the Marine Invasive Species Database front-end. ¤ Provided 

review, comments, and hydrographic data 

to the joint Water Resources and Inventory 

and Monitoring divisions’ Natural Resource 

Preservation Project Draft Solar Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement GIS 

proposal. ¤ Provided NPS water “fun facts” 

for Project WET presentation at the Global 

Water Conference in Bozeman, MT. ¤

St. Johns Bluff, Timucuan Ecological and Historic National 

Preserve (Florida). NPS/SHAUNA 

RAY ALLEN
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.3

Provided advice and examples to the Inventory and Monitoring Division on how to 

acquire STORET and NWIS data via web 

services for use in NPScape analysis of 

contributing areas. ¤ Set up WRD’s WetNet mailing lists as a true self-maintaining 

listserve rather than a series of Lotus Notes 

email groups. ¤ Coordinated and moderated a water resources inventory and monitoring session at The 2011 George Wright 

Society Conference on Parks, Protected 

Areas, and Cultural Sites in New Orleans, 

LA. ¤ Co-chaired a George Wright Society 

meeting session (in collaboration with NPS 

cultural resources) on the topic of cultural 

and natural resource condition assessments 

in NPS units. ¤ Coordinated WRD’s review 

and response to the USGS’s business case 

for an enhanced National Elevation Data 

Program. ¤ Provided ongoing support for 

a collaborative project with NatureServe, 

the National Interagency Fire Center, and 

the NPS Biological Resource Management Division to develop and pilot a set 

of landscape-scale interpretive products 

(resource condition narratives and maps) 

for use in NRCA projects. ¤ Coordinated 

with regional NRCA leads (and term hires 

in NER, SER, and IMR) on aspects of 

overall program and project management 

to ensure consistency with national guidance; developed updated materials for the 

NRCA program website. ¤ Ensured that 

GPRA goals for reporting water information (1a4a, 1a4b, and 1a4c) were taken into 

consideration, addressed, and given proper 

weight by networks during the monitoring 

plan and water/aquatic protocol (narrative) 

document review process and that WRD’s 

Designated Use and Impairment website 

(303d listing) had been consulted and compared with other sources (e.g. state) that 

the network may have also accessed for a 

listing of impaired water bodies. ¤ Shared 

new information from water quality instrument vendors and other general monitoring 

information with networks to keep staff 

appraised of new technical developments 

that could enhance their monitoring efforts. 

¤ Coordinated with multiple users about 

their activities in the NRPC water quality 

lab (WRD, BRMD, ROMN) and kept the 

lab supplied and maintained. ¤ Participated 

as a reviewer and regular conference-call 

participant in the National Water Quality 

Monitoring Council Methods Board Sensor 

Workgroup in efforts to advance and foster 

a broader understanding and consistency 

of water quality sensor use across the water 

quality monitoring community. ¤ Worked 

with the Geologic Resources Division staff 

in advising Northeast Region development 

on the possible collateral effects of Marcellus Shale gas development and participated 

in bi-weekly conference calls. ¤ Continued 

to stay informed of water quality instrument advances including new sensors for 

continuous monitors, telemetry system, and 

other new technological developments and 

their evaluation through communication 

with vendors, attendance at locally offered 

field training seminars, and discussions with 

USGS research staff and others. ¤ Assisted 

NPS staff in the evaluation, cost comparison 

analysis, and procurement of water quality 

sondes, data analysis software, and monitoring equipment. ¤ Provided and tracked 

loans of equipment (sondes, flow meters) 

to various networks as needed/requested 

to assist in their water component of Vital 

Signs Monitoring. ¤ Monitored various realtime water quality monitoring sites posted 

on NWIS that are supported through NPS 

project funding, and stayed informed about 

monitoring issues through USGS list-serve 

email communications. ¤ Participated in 

Climate Change Response Program meetings related to floodplain management and 

was project coordinator for Climate Change 

funded project. ¤ Served as coordinator for 

NRPC reviews of submissions to the Development Advisory Board. ¤ Member of 

the Restoration Technical Advisory Group. 

¤ Member of the WASO Rivers and Dams 

workgroup. ¤

Gathering storm at Pipe Spring 

National Monument (Arizona). 

NPS/ERIC SKOPEC
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.4

Reviewed Floodplain Statements of Findings for projects at many parks including 

Lake Mead NRA (Cottonwood Cove and 

Katherine Landing DCP/SOF); Overmountain Victory NHT (Headquarters/Visitor 

Center); Cape Hatteras NS (Off-Road Vehicle Use Plan); Yellowstone NP (Exotic Fish 

Eradication); Mammoth Cave NP (Green 

River Ferry Crossing); Badlands NP (South 

Unit General Management Plan/SOF); 

Chickasaw NRA (Visitor Center Facilities 

at Vendome Well area); Mount Rainier 

NP (Carbon River Access Management 

Plan); Natchez Trace Parkway (Multi-use 

Trail Segment 3P16); Congaree NP (Canoe 

Landing SOF); Ross Lake NRA (General 

Management Plan SOF); Chesapeake and 

Ohio Canal NHP (Restoration of Canal 

Operations at Williamsport); Everglades 

NP (Tamiami Trail and Gulf Coast Visitor 

Center); Death Valley NP (Lower Wildrose 

Road EA/SOF); Yosemite NP (Tenaya Lake 

Area Plan and Tuolumne River Plan EIS); 

and Cane River Creole NHP (Bank Erosion 

Control). ¤

ALASKA REGION

Alaska Region Maintained partnerships 

with University of Alaska Fairbanks faculty 

to investigate shallow lake dynamics in interior Alaska. Faculty collaborators include 

Dr. Mark Lindberg and Dr. Dave Verbyla. 

¤ Southwest Research Institute reviewed 

three NSF proposals for Dr. Cynthia Dinwiddie and provided letters of support. 

¤ Collaborate with USFS, FSWCD, and 

USFWS on Elodea nuttallii infestation on 

Chena Slough, Fairbanks; acquired aerial 

photography for Elodea infestation along 

Chena Slough; Elodea steering committee 

member. ¤ Planning committee for Fourth 

Interagency Conference on Research in 

the Watersheds. ¤ Funded development of 

digital shorelines for eight ocean and coastal 

parks in Alaska. ¤ 

Denali National Park Published final Natural Resource Condition Assessment. ¤

Katmai National Park & Preserve 

Participated on the NPS Resource Management Team regarding the Pebble Mine, a 

proposed copper and gold mine in southwest Alaska; attended meetings, reviewed 

study plans, and commented on fisheries 

resource issues. ¤ Provided technical review 

and comments for the Southwest Alaska 

Salmon Habitat Partnership monitoring 

strategic plan. ¤ Reviewed HEC-RAS model 

and other available data for possible use in a 

bridge scour analyses. ¤

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical 

Park Published final Natural Resource Condition Assessment. ¤

Lake Clark National Park & Preserve 

Drafted proposal and received funding 

for a project exploring changes in lake 

trout growth rates relative to changes in 

the aquatic and terrestrial environment. ¤ 

Drafted proposal, received funding, and 

implemented a radiotelemetry study on 

the migration of sockeye salmon through 

the Newhalen River watershed. ¤ Assisted 

with logistics and sampling of water quality 

monitoring in the Chulitna River watershed 

adjacent to the proposed Pebble Mine. ¤ 

Continued to provide technical assistance 

related to potential impacts to ground and 

surface waters from the proposed Pebble 

Project copper-gold-molybdenum mine adjacent to the park. Coordinated with USGS 

Alaska Water Science Center on their baseline sampling of the Chulitna watershed. 

¤ Drafted proposal, received funding, and 

implemented a coho salmon escapement 

project on the Lake Clark coast. ¤ Provided 

project oversight, completed data analysis, 

and wrote an annual report for a monitoring 

project estimating the number of sockeye 

salmon returning to Lake Clark. ¤ Worked 

cooperatively with the Alaska Department 

of Fish and Game to coordinate logistics, 

hiring, and implementation of a sockeye 

salmon escapement project in the Kuskokwim River drainage in southwest Alaska. ¤ 

Coordinated logistics and sampling for a 

study assessing the feeding ecology of Arctic 

char in Lower Tazimina Lake. ¤

Western Arctic caribou crosses 

the Kobuk River, Kobuk Valley National Park (Alaska). NPS/

GAVIN EMMONS
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.5

Sitka National Historic Site Provided guidance regarding protection of instream flows 

and the validity of non-NPS water rights on 

the Indian River. ¤

Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve 

and Gates of the Arctic National Park 

& Preserve Provided input on objectives 

for resource condition assessment. ¤ Provided input on Gates of the Arctic General 

Management Plan. ¤ Member of the unit 

compliance team. ¤ Member of the aviation working group. ¤ Assisted with Natural 

Resource Condition Assessment for YUCH 

and DENA. ¤

Arctic Network Served on network technical advisory committees. ¤ Continued investigating the mechanisms of lake drainage in 

Kobuk Valley and helped develop a vulnerability model for lake drainage. Maintained 

contract with ABR Inc. ¤ Implemented the 

synoptic sampling portion of the shallow 

lake monitoring plan in 70 lakes. ¤ Maintained continuous-data-logger arrays in two 

lakes. ¤ Continued cooperative agreement 

to track changes in lake surface area in Kobuk Valley National Preserve. ¤ Continued 

development of interactive geodatabase for 

observing large scale lake drying and thermokarst events in network parks. ¤

Central Alaska Network Served on network technical advisory committees. ¤ 

Maintained water quality monitoring 

sondes in six lakes in network parks. ¤ 

Implemented the synoptic sampling portion 

of the shallow lake monitoring plan in 100 

lakes in Wrangell–St. Elias NP&P. ¤

Southwest Alaska Network Reviewed 

monitoring protocols and annual reports, 

and provided technical assistance with 

various fish and water resource projects. 

¤ Planned and facilitated collection of bathymetry data for Upper and Lower Twin 

Lakes, Upper and Lower Tazimina Lakes, 

and Lachbuna Lake. ¤ Coordinated collection of resident fish species from five 

different lakes for contaminants analyses. ¤ 

Provided review and consultation on a draft 

schema for NPS continuous water resources 

data management using Aquarius Workstation and the Aquarius Database. ¤ Provided 

review and comment on the “Southwest 

Alaska Freshwater Flow System Monitoring” Protocol Narrative and SOPs. ¤

INTERMOUNTAIN REGION

Intermountain Region Served as NPS 

Hydrologist on Intermountain Regional 

Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) 

Team for Horseshoe 2 fire in Coronado 

National Forest and Chiricahua National 

Monument. ¤ Participated on the USGS/

NPS Water Quality grant review panel. ¤ 

Served as chair of the Biology Committee of 

the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish 

Recovery Program from January 2011 to 

December 2011. ¤ Served as Management 

Committee representative to the Upper 

Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery 

Program from January 2011 to December 

2011. ¤ Served as Program Secretary for 

the Desert Fishes Council. ¤ Provided NPS 

update on conservation actions, discussed 

annual reports and provided guidance on 

future efforts for the Three-Species Conservation Agreement and Strategy ¤ Presented 

paper at the Desert Fishes Council annual 

meeting in Moab, Utah, on Grand Canyon 

National Park Shinumo Creek Humpback 

Chub Translocation. ¤ Supported the Intermountain Region Office Deputy FMO with 

review of a firefighter chemical exposure 

draft LLR report investigating a chemical 

exposure incident at a wildland fire. ¤

Arches National Park (Utah) Prepared 

Scope of Work for “A Hydrologic Evaluation of Waters of the Entrada and Navajo 

Aquifers in the Courthouse Wash Area, 

Arches National Park, Grand County, 

Utah.” ¤ Prepared and submitted five water right protests. ¤ Provided presentation 

regarding the proposed water rights settlement to Grand County Council, Utah State 

Engineer, and the Arches superintendent. ¤ 

Planes on Hardenburg Bay, Lake 

Clark National Park & Preserve 

(Alaska). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.6

Provided oversight/consultation to collect 

spring discharge data. ¤ Provided continuing advice related to several problematic 

stream crossings near the Wolfe Ranch area 

of the park. ¤

Badlands National Park (South Dakota)

Consulted with park staff regarding completion of floodplain Statement of Findings. ¤

Bandelier National Park (New Mexico) 

Provided advice on best ways to prepare for 

flooding after very large fires occurred this 

year; planned trip to park in autumn to get 

a better idea of conditions and will help in 

future planning-related activities. ¤

Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site 

(Colorado) Evaluated applications in Water 

Division 2 to determine impacts of diversions on water rights. ¤

Big Bend National Park/Rio Grande Wild 

& Scenic River (Texas) Consulted with 

park on groundwater monitoring instrumentation and deployment options; provided park with sensor deployment cable. ¤ 

Assisted park staff and WRB in monitoring 

groundwater inflow to the Rio Grande Wild 

& Scenic River. ¤ Participated in gain/loss 

study to quantify ground water contributions via spring flows to the mainstem of 

the Rio Grande River. ¤ Participated in 

discussions with Rio Grande Science Team 

to frame instream flow needs and flow requests from the Rio Conchos (in Mexico) 

to Rio Grande River. ¤ Reviewed the annual 

report for the Reconnaissance of Water 

Chemistry and Spring Flow from a Transborder Aquifer along the Rio Grande River. 

¤ Faciliated the Outstandingly Remarkable 

Values workshop for the Rio Grande River. 

¤ Consulted with park staff and performed 

quick analysis of survey information related 

to the proposed construction of a new, unstaffed visitor contact station/border crossing at Boquillas. ¤

Bighorn Canyon National Recreation 

Area (Montana, Wyoming) Submitted 

annual report as required by the Montana – 

United States, NPS Water Rights Compact. 

¤ Served as NRSS Project Coordinator for 

arid land springs restoration project. ¤ Responded to SOL inquiry regarding federal 

facilities located within navigable streams. 

¤ Responded to enquiry by Senator Baucus 

about lake level management. ¤

Big Hole National Battlefield (Montana)

Reviewed applications and filed objections 

as necessary to protect park water rights. ¤ 

Evaluated settlement proposals and coordinated with park, SOL, and other federal 

agencies to resolve NPS objections to adjudication claims. ¤ Submitted annual report 

as required by the Montana–United States, 

NPS Water Rights Compact. ¤

Big Thicket National Preserve (Texas)

Participated in Big Thicket Mussel Survey 

on Neches River in cooperation with the 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife; identified species types 

and number of mussel kills from low water 

levels. ¤ Provided hydrologic oversight for 

the Chevron pipe removal project at the 

preserve, requiring multiple site visits and 

coordination of multiple stakeholders. ¤ 

Uploaded water quality and benthic macroinvertebrate data to STORET from a series 

of studies conducted from 1976–1981 by 

Lamar University. ¤

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National 

Park (Colorado) Assisted with data collection and initial development of a hydraulic 

model to support long-term vegetation 

monitoring. ¤ Participated in the design/

implementation of a long-term monitoring 

program to document changes in riparian vegetation as a function of upstream 

reservoir releases. ¤ Evaluated applications 

in Water Division 4 to determine effects of 

diversions on water rights. ¤ Provided guidance on the effects and operations of Aspinall Unit on park resources and the decreed 

water right for the Gunnison River. ¤

Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah) Conducted analyses of radius of groundwater 

travel time to the water-supply wells in the 

East Creek wellfield. ¤

Desert oasis in Big Bend National 

Park (Texas). NPS/JIM GRAMANN
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.7

Canyonlands and Arches National Parks 

(Utah) Continued to monitor DOE news 

releases and communicate with park staff 

concerning the Moab site groundwater remediation, tailings removal and repository 

build-out activities, and recent concerns 

with Colorado River flooding adjacent to 

pile due to the high snowpack and corresponding spring runoff. Approximately 4.7 

million total tons of tailings removal was 

reached (as of October 2011) despite reductions to a single train per day and reverting 

back to a five-day work week after Recovery Act funding was expended; additional 

extraction wells near the source captured 

higher concentrations of ammonia and 

uranium to increase plume remediation efficiencies (~180 million gallons site groundwater pumped and treated to date). ¤

Capitol Reef National Park (Utah) Completed water right change application. ¤

Chickasaw National Recreation Area 

(Oklahoma) Assisted in water quality sampling and identified hydrologic issues related to Clean Water Act’s Total Maximum 

Daily Load (303d) process at Chickasaw. 

¤ Represented CHIC and NPS on the Meridian Technical Review Panel. ¤ Prepared 

oral and written testimony and exhibits for 

a public conference on a mine application. 

¤ Prepared comments on the Oklahoma 

Comprehensive Water Plan. ¤ Compiled 

and evaluated hydrologic data collected by 

the park and nearby mine. ¤ Prepared standard procedures for transducer operation in 

monitoring wells. ¤

Chiricahua National Monument (Arizona) Coordinated planning and installation 

of an ALERT precipitation gauge in the upper Bonita and Rhyolite Creeks watershed 

area with state and county early flood warning programs and park resource staff. ¤

Colorado National Monument (Colorado) Evaluated applications in Water Division 5 to determine effects of diversions on 

water rights. ¤ Prepared report summarizing 

water rights. ¤

Coronado National Memorial (Arizona) 

Conducted monitoring of groundwater level 

to study the adequacy of a new water supply 

well to meet park requirements. Completed 

the hydrogeologic analysis and submitted a 

report with recommendations to park staff. 

¤ Conducted groundwater monitoring at 

several locations in the park, processed and 

reported data to park staff. ¤

Curecanti National Recreation Area (Colorado) Assisted with design and planning 

for construction of a new well at East Elk 

Creek. ¤ Evaluated applications in Water 

Division 4 to determine impacts of diversions on water rights. ¤

Devils Tower National Monument (Wyoming) Conducted analyses of groundwater 

level monitoring data. ¤ Consulted with 

park staff regarding completion of floodplain Statement of Findings. ¤

Dinosaur National Monument (Colorado, Utah) Evaluated applications in Water 

Division 6 to determine impacts of diversions on water rights. ¤ Provided leadership 

in the development of strategies for instream flow protection for the Yampa River. 

¤ Provided leadership in the development 

and implementation of monitoring studies 

to evaluate near-record high flows on the 

Green and Yampa Rivers. ¤

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (Colorado) Assisted park staff with 

evaluation and planning for testing of Sawmill Trail Well. ¤ Evaluated applications in 

Water Division 1 to determine impacts of 

diversions on water rights. ¤ Obtained Ruling of Due Diligence for proposed water use 

from the Sawmill Trail Well. ¤

Fort Bowie National Historic Site (Arizona) Shepherded NPS new source public 

water supply permit application between 

contracting officer, contractor, and Arizona 

Department of Environmental Quality; permit was awarded August 2011. ¤ 

The Castle and Sulpher Creek, 

Capitol Reef National Park 

(Utah). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.8

Conducted site review and developed 

water resource sections for proposed Willow Gulch mine road Environmental Assessment. ¤ Developed scope of work and 

shepherded contracting documents for 

Southwest Conservation Corps crew to 

implement erosion control treatments in 

upper Apache Spring watershed; worked 

with park staff to develop treatment plans 

and purchase supplies for project. ¤ 

Fort Davis National Historic Site (Texas) 

Consulted with park staff and region regarding appropriate use of hydrologic models in assessing post-fire treatments. ¤

Fort Union National Monument (New 

Mexico) Provided an assessment of the 

potential for natural gas exploration and 

hydrofracking to impact park resources. ¤ 

Published final Natural Resource Condition 

Assessment. ¤

Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument 

(New Mexico) Selected locations and installed crest stage gauges on the West Fork 

Gila River and in Cliff Dwellers Canyon; 

continued support of the West Fork Gila 

River stream gauge at the pedestrian bridge 

in the park. ¤ 

Glacier National Park (Montana) Conducted a hydrogeological assessment for a 

new well for the Two Medicine water-supply system; provided advice during the construction and testing of a new well for the 

Fish Creek Campground; conducted a hydrogeological assessment for the Avalanche 

Creek Campground water-supply system. 

¤ Developed objection policy for applications hydrologically connected to park 

streams under the Montana Compact. ¤ 

Reviewed applications and filed objections 

as necessary to protect park water rights. ¤ 

Submitted annual report as required by the 

Montana–United States, NPS Water Rights 

Compact. ¤

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area 

(Arizona, Utah) Surveyed springs in Iceberg Canyon for presence of nonnative fish 

and native amphibians to determine feasibility and efficacy of treating ponded area in 

preparation for stocking native endangered 

bonytail; Glen Canyon is partnering with 

USGS and USFWS to implement project. 

¤ Provided assistance to the NPS Land Resources Division to improve the GIS representation of the park boundary. ¤

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona) 

Removed nonnative fish from Bright Angel 

Creek by electrofishing, and operated and 

maintained fish weir to block upstream 

movement and remove nonnative trout; the 

project is funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and NPS and conducted in cooperation 

with the University of Missouri and Grand 

Canyon Trust. This multi-agency group is 

working together to restore the native fish 

community in Bright Angel Creek, with 

help from many volunteers. ¤ Translocated 

endangered humpback chub into Shinumo 

and Havasu creeks; assisted with planning, 

collection, transportation, and monitoring 

of humpback chub and fish community in 

Shinumo and Havasu creeks. ¤ Reviewed 

the DEIS for proposed mineral withdrawal 

near Grand Canyon National Park; provided comments to DOI staff. ¤

Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)

Provided evaluation of well construction 

and testing at Signal Mountain. ¤ Began investigation of potential impacts of 

groundwater pumping on streamflow in 

Pilgrim Creek. ¤ Completed water rights 

amendment to change point of diversion 

associated with removal of a low head dam 

on Spread Creek. ¤ Developed protocols for 

review of water right activities on the Gros 

Ventre River. ¤ Prepared summary of Upper 

Snake River gauging stations and discharge 

data. ¤ Coordinated the quantification of instream flow rights with the USFWS, USFS, 

BOR, and State of Wyoming for the newly 

designated Snake Headwaters Wild and 

Scenic River. ¤ Participated in site visits to 

boat launch facilities on Snake River. Wrote 

geomorphic interpretation in combined report done by group. ¤

A commercial raft trip on the 

Colorado River, Grand Canyon 

National Park (Arizona). NPS/

MICHAEL QUINN
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.9

Grant–Kohrs National Historic Site 

(Montana) Provided guidance to park on 

the operation of the Westside Ditch Parshall 

flume and Clark Fork River pump. ¤ Provided guidance and equipment to conduct 

discharge measurements. ¤ 

Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve (Colorado) Made three presentations 

to the May 2011 NRAG meeting, Colorado 

State University, and the San Luis Valley Geology and Hydrology Workshop. ¤ Provided 

oversight for data collection, compilation, 

and quarterly report preparation for 10 

monitoring wells. ¤ Reviewed the Energy 

Zones proposed for Colorado in the BLM 

Solar Energy PEIS. ¤

Guadalupe Mountains National Park 

(Texas) Assembled and shipped new 

deployment cables for installation of 

groundwater sensors; processed groundwater data collected by park staff, updated 

spreadsheets, and sent results to park and 

Chihuahuan Desert Network program staff. 

¤ Provided assessment of potential impact 

of discharge of brine from a desalination 

plant to the Salt Flats adjacent to the park. ¤ 

Continued preparation of a comprehensive 

assessment of water rights. ¤

Hovenweep National Monument (Colorado, Utah) Submitted annual water use 

report to Colorado. ¤

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument (Montana) Submitted annual report 

as required by the Montana–United States, 

NPS Water Rights Compact. ¤ Reviewed 

Basin 43O Claims and submitted objections 

as necessary. ¤ Advised on flood hazard for 

proposed new visitor center. ¤

Mesa Verde National Park (Colorado) 

Initiated wetlands restoration project to 

rehabilitate an abandoned sewage lagoon. 

¤ Evaluated applications in Water Division 

7 to determine impacts of diversions on 

water rights. ¤ Advised park staff on the 

monitoring of the Far View Terrace gasoline 

groundwater plume and its cleanup under 

the Colorado Division of Oil and Public 

Safety spill remediation reimbursement program. Reviewed and provided comments 

to state regulatory agencies on Corrective 

Action Plan (CAP) modifications and semiannual monitoring documents produced 

by LUST Program Responsible Party contractor. Past meetings of WRD staff with 

state Dept. of Labor and Employment (oil 

section) staff and representatives of ARAMARK and contractor (Arcadis) have now 

resulted in a more aggressive and active 

cleanup approach and further CAP modifications by enhancing plume bioremediation 

through sulfate addition. This approach is 

currently being implemented. ¤ Continued 

to work with park staff, Denver Service 

Center contracting office, and PRP contractor (Arcadis) in determining effects (if any) 

of water pipeline installation “frac outs” 

on plume monitoring wells and best ways 

to evaluate any impacts over the course of 

implementation of the enhanced bioremediation CAP Mod. ¤

Montezuma Castle National Monument 

(Arizona) Designed, purchased, programmed, and installed a satellite telemetry 

system at the Beaver Creek stream gauge 

at the park; coordinated with NOAA and 

NWS to activate satellite services and web 

posting of the data stream from this station. 

¤ Provided guidance to operate, maintain, 

and manage data for gauges on Beaver and 

Wet Beaver creeks. ¤ Quantified instream 

flow water rights and prepared draft reports 

to support instream flow applications for 

Beaver and Wet Beaver creeks. ¤ Monitored 

USGS investigation to determine source and 

flowpaths of groundwater in Montezuma 

Well. ¤ Provided cartographic support to 

the Water Rights Branch in mapping and 

calculating river mile points along Wet Beaver Creek. ¤

Natural Bridges National Monument 

(Utah) Natural Bridges water rights agreement signed in Salt Lake City, UT. ¤

View of LIttle Bighorn River from 

Last Stand Hill, Little Bighorn 

Battlefield National Monument 

(Montana). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.10

Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument 

(Arizona) Assessed causes of pictograph 

deterioration at Wild Horse Tanks site, 

identified measures to reduce water-related 

impacts to the pictographs. Submitted trip 

report with management recommendations 

to park resource staff; the recommendations 

were subsequently acted on by the park. ¤ 

Pecos National Historical Park (New 

Mexico) Prepared water right applications 

for submission to New Mexico Office of the 

State Engineer. ¤

Pipe Spring National Monument (Arizona) Provided technical assistance for ongoing studies of geology and hydrogeology 

and causes of springflow reduction. ¤

Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado) Assisted in planning and constructing 

new wells at Moraine Park. ¤ Assisted in 

reviewing and preparing water rights dockets. ¤ Evaluated applications in Water Division 1 as required to determine impacts of 

diversions on water rights. ¤ Imported the 

continuous multi-sonde water quality monitoring data collected for the Grand Ditch 

into Aquarius to serve as a springboard 

for additional analysis. ¤ Participated in a 

Rocky Mountain NP Resource Assessment 

Workshop to help the park plan near-term 

workload plans and priorities based on 

information from their recent NRCA and 

other sources of scientific data and expertise. ¤ Continued to support park (Grand 

Ditch EIS) and network (ROMN) water 

quality monitoring efforts through installation of water quality monitoring equipment 

at two sites on the Colorado River. This 

baseline data will be used in the park’s alternatives assessment in selecting a restoration 

response. The water quality data from one 

of the sites is also being used by the ROMN 

to continue a network sentinel monitoring 

site that WRD assisted in establishing the 

previous year. ¤ Travelled to park and hiked 

area of study by CSU; the work consisted of 

mapping and dating of debris flows in the 

Grand Ditch area. ¤ Provided advice and 

design information for the construction of 

a fence over the Colorado River; the fence 

needs to prevent animal entry but at the 

same time not become a screen for debris 

floating down river. ¤

Saguaro National Park (Arizona) Provided a groundwater monitoring sensor 

and deployment assembly to the park for 

installation in the Rincon Creek drainage. Identified and provided hardware and 

installation for initiation of monitoring at 

the Madrona Pack Base Well in Chiminea 

Creek. Data from these two wells will be 

used in the analysis of hydrological relationships between shallow and deep aquifers in 

the Rincon Creek watershed. ¤ 

Southeast Arizona Parks Contributed 

hydrology and water quality sections and 

supervised agreement execution for the 

Chiricahua NM, Coronado NM, and Fort 

Bowie NHS Natural Resource Condition 

Assessment. ¤ 

Tonto National Monument (Arizona)

Provided technical support to ongoing study of soil moisture dynamics and 

groundwater percolation at the unique Hidden Ridge woodland site. ¤ 

Tuzigoot National Monument (Arizona)

Provided technical review and comments 

on the Environmental Assessment for the 

Tavasci Marsh Management and Habitat 

Enhancement Plan. ¤

White Sands National Monument (New 

Mexico) Provided technical assistance in 

the planning and installation of instrumentation for monitoring water levels at Lake 

Lucero. ¤ Provided technical assistance 

in evaluating hydrogeology and water resources of the park. ¤ Reviewed the Energy 

Zones proposed for New Mexico in the 

BLM Solar Energy PEIS. ¤ Prepared Scopes 

of Work for Tularosa Basin water rights inventory, the construction of two groundwater monitoring wells, and a hydrogeologic 

investigation of the Jarilla Fault. ¤

The gypsum sand of White 

Sands National Monument (New 

Mexico). NPS/JAMES HARTE
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.11

Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, 

Montana, Idaho) Reviewed applications 

and filed objections as necessary to protect 

park water rights. ¤ Attended Yellowstone 

Groundwater Area–Technical Oversite 

Committee Meetings. ¤ Submitted annual 

reports as required by the Montana–United 

States, NPS Water Rights Compact. ¤ Reviewed abstracts for water right claims in 

Idaho. ¤ Modified NPSTORET to better 

accommodate and report fisheries data and 

provided troubleshooting for network connectivity issues. ¤ Generated time-series 

plots of 15-minute turbidity and precipitation data for Mammoth Crystal Springs near 

Sylvan Pass. ¤ Consulted with park staff in 

the closure of monitoring sites on Sylvan 

Pass and the award of a final USGS contract 

to dismantle monitoring sites and produce 

a final report of impacts from gravel mining 

operations on Sylvan Pass. ¤ Coordinated 

with park staff and MT DEQ on various 

monitoring activities at the McLaren Tailings site during repository build-out and the 

initiation of tailings removal; consulted with 

state on the installation of new monitoring 

wells to ensure and confirm that groundwater fluctuations posed no potential impacts 

to tailings in the revised repository design 

calling for increased repository capacity 

and deeper tailings placement. ¤ Worked 

with park and network staff to complete 

interagency agreements and obtain a continuation of funding of the park gauge on 

Soda Butte Creek operated by the USGS 

Montana Science Center; this ensured 

monitoring of turbidity, specific conductance, and event sampling (ISCO, Inc.) during the McLaren tailings removal and site 

remediation. FY 2011 was a transition year 

from baseline monitoring of key water quality parameters (e.g. specific conductance 

and turbidity) to one of monitoring during 

actual remediation (initial tailings removal 

conducted by state) and any loading from 

the McLaren Tailings site that may occur 

should a rainfall/runoff event elevate metals 

in Soda Butte Creek that would be measureable at the park boundary. ¤ Participated in 

the continued monitoring of USFS cleanup 

of the New World Mining district; reviewed 

document for USFS of reclamation activities 

and surface water and groundwater monitoring plans designed to achieve restoration 

goals as discussed in the Final Water Quality 

Compliance Report for New World (January 2010). ¤

Northern Colorado Plateau Network

Conducted a training for Arches and Northern Colorado Plateau Network staff regarding detailed survey methods and riparian 

monitoring techniques. ¤ Provided advice 

and recommendations on the use of special 

characters and bulk loading station visit pictures in NPSTORET. ¤

Rocky Mountain Network Provided 

support in installing and configuring 

NPSTORET. ¤

Southern Colorado Plateau Network 

Provided support and recommendations 

on mapping the network’s water quality 

data collection to the NPSTORET schema, 

importing USGS National Water Quality 

Laboratory data, and entering state water 

quality standards and criteria. ¤

MIDWEST REGION

Midwest Region Performed GPRA duties 

for two land health goals. ¤ Prepared briefing document related to nutrient management issues in the Upper Mississippi River 

Basin for use by MWR Director at the 2011 

MNRG meeting. ¤ Coordinated project 

plans, oversaw project activities, and helped 

develop contracts, agreements, and purchasing documents for many Great Lakes 

Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Nearshore 

Health projects, totaling more than $2M 

and affecting all six Great Lakes parks. ¤ 

Helped coordinate GLRI project “Comprehensive Marine Assessments: Benthic Habitat Mapping”, particularly during summer 

2011 mapping activities at SLBE. ¤ 

Visitor at Artist Point overlooking the Grand Canyon of the 

Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park (Montana, Wyoming, 

Idaho). NPS/JIM GRAMANN
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.12

Secured investigator, prepared agreement 

documents, and made plans for data analysis related to GLRI project “Comprehensive 

Marine Assessments: Nearshore Ecological 

Survey.” ¤ Reviewed work plans, contracts, 

and draft products related to several GLRI 

projects including “Implement Recommendations from Watershed Condition Assessments: Develop Spill Response Plans” 

and “Implement Recommendations from 

Watershed Condition Assessments: Inventory and Ecological Survey of Coastal Rock 

Pools.” ¤ Revised agreement document and 

assisted with field sampling and analytical 

work related to GLRI projects “Research 

Nearshore Lake Michigan Changes: Paleolimnological Study” and “Research Nearshore Lake Michigan Changes: Intensive 

Food Web Study.” ¤ Assisted with developing purchase materials for the GLRI project “Research Nearshore Lake Michigan 

Changes: Purchase Nearshore Monitoring 

Buoy.” ¤ Developed a successful proposal 

to the NPS Air Resources Division to investigate nitrogen deposition histories for 

Great Lakes Network lakes, using archived 

sediment core material; prepared related 

agreement documents. ¤ Served as one 

of two NPS points of contact for the Gulf 

Hypoxia Task Force Coordinating Committee, and provided NPS information for 

the Annual Reports and Operating Plans. ¤ 

Worked with NPS staff, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources staff, and Michigan Technological University to coordinate 

data analysis and reporting aspects of the 

multi-park spiny water flea project. ¤ Supervised term Hydrographic Surveyor that was 

hired for Great Lakes Restoration Initiative 

(GLRI) project to map benthic habitat and 

restoration project sites. ¤ Worked with 

parks APIS, GRPO, ISRO, PIRO, and SLBE 

to further develop projects for Coastal and 

Fluvial Restoration as part of Great Lake 

Restoration Initiative. ¤ Represented Midwest Region for Ocean and Coastal Stewardship program. ¤ Participated in classroom and underwater training to renew 

NPS scuba certification. ¤ Represented NPS 

at Great Lakes Fishery Commission Lake 

Superior Technical Committee meetings. 

¤ Initiated coordination with WRD staff 

and USFWS Sea Lamprey Control office to 

develop plans for native lamprey surveys 

as part of GLRI project in 2012. ¤ Worked 

with the EPA to collect data in six Great 

Lakes parks using National Coastal Assessment protocols (funded by Great Lakes 

Restoration Initiative). ¤

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument 

(Nebraska) Conducted analyses of groundwater monitoring data. ¤ 

Buffalo National River (Arkansas) Coordinated with the USGS and state stewards 

to update the National Hydrography Dataset within the park. ¤

Cuyahoga Valley National Park (Ohio) 

Reviewed the results of additional sampling 

requested by WRD staff to ensure that appropriate due diligence was performed prior 

to land acquisition by NPS where potential 

existed for historic dumping of hazardous 

wastes. Further sampling recommendations were made after completing reviews 

of Phase I and Phase II site pre-acquisition 

assessment reports, and these results were 

favorable toward continuing the acquisition 

process. ¤

George Washington Carver National 

Monument (Missouri) Re-uploaded 

phosphorus, nitrogen, and coliform data to 

STORET collected by the Newton County 

Health Department from 2005–2007 to 

more accurately portray the results. ¤ Published final Natural Resource Condition Assessment. ¤

Grand Portage National Monument 

(Minnesota) Conducted simple hydraulic 

modeling assessment of proposed road 

crossing and provided advice on low-water 

crossing design. ¤

Hot Springs National Park (Arkansas) 

Served as technical expert in Foundations 

Report workshop, consulted on hydrology 

related issues. ¤

Statue of Carver as a boy, 

George Washington Carver National Monument. NPS/CHRISTOPHER LIGHT
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.13

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (Indiana) Worked with staff to facilitate a re-do 

of the Natural Resource Condition Assessment, using funding from Great Lakes 

Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Project 90; 

provided review comments for draft full report. ¤ Participated in conference calls and 

reviewed key background documents for 

the Indiana Dunes Shoreline Management 

Plan (e.g., shoreline change analysis and 

ecological condition analysis) and provided 

detailed comments on two draft versions 

of the related EIS. ¤ Reviewed and provided comments on USGS technical report 

prepared for Indiana Dunes. ¤ Provided 

baseline water quality data inventory and 

analysis report data and advised on its use 

and interpretation. ¤ Reviewed Remedial 

Investigation documents and worked closely with park staff to provide technical assistance and guidance to management in their 

dealings with EPA and Responsible Parties. 

Reviewed and provided comments on the 

site Human Health Risk Assessment and the 

site Ecological Risk Assessment to ensure 

that the Pines CERCLA Remedial Investigation would provide credible data that 

could better be used to evaluate threats and 

protect park resources. ¤ Provided a Clean 

Water Act review as it applied to reissue of 

a NPDES permit to a local steel mill discharging to a park stream, and advised the 

park on any technical grounds or basis for 

challenging the permit renewal under state 

statutes. ¤ Provided review of the Baseline 

Environmental Risk Assessment (BERA) for 

the Bailly Generating Plant RCRA site. ¤

Isle Royale National Park (Michigan) Provided technical and logistical assistance to 

university cooperators conducting the Isle 

Royale/Acadia nitrogen critical loads project. ¤ Facilitated the collection of additional 

sediment cores from two Isle Royale lakes. 

¤ Provided technical input related to the 

selection of ballast water treatment systems 

for the Ranger III. ¤ Participated in conference calls and assisted superintendent with 

various ballast water issues. ¤ Worked with 

staff to finalize revised northern pike regulations for inland lakes of Isle Royale. ¤ 

Provided opinion and management recommendations regarding response to a potential outbreak of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (a fish disease). ¤ Worked with USFWS 

and Isle Royale to develop benthic mapping 

plan for Isle Royale. ¤ Provided comments 

on document created by superintendent addressed to Michigan Senate Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Committee regarding a 

bill to amend the state’s Natural Resources 

and Environmental Protection Act. ¤ 

Knife River Indian Villages National 

Historic Site (North Dakota) Investigated 

extent and implications of river erosion at 

Knife River, developed and implemented an 

erosion monitoring plan for park staff, and 

made recommendations to park management on watershed management solutions. 

¤ Reviewed and commented on technical 

memo regarding streambank erosion. ¤

Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (Minnesota) Continued drafting final report on spatial, seasonal, and 

long-term water quality trends in and near 

MISS. ¤ Contacted Dr. Robert Hirsch of 

USGS and plan to use his newly developed 

trend analysis methods on the MISS data 

set; incorporated some aspects of this approach into recent presentations for MISS. 

¤ Co-presented “Mississippi National River 

and Recreation Area water quality: Assessing past and monitoring future changes” at 

the 2011 George Wright Society Conference 

on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural 

Sites. ¤ Co-presented “The Mississippi River: Water quality trends over 30 years” at the 

2011 Mississippi River Forum. ¤ Participated in conference calls about management 

recommendations for controlling Asian carp 

migrations into MISS and SACN. ¤

Missouri National Recreational River 

(Nebraska, South Dakota) Faciliated the 

Outstandingly Remarkable Values workshop 

for the Missouri River. ¤ Provided advice 

to park staff about monitoring constructed 

sand bars in Missouri River; participated in 

conference call with other agencies. ¤

Knife River just above the village where Sacagewea lived in 

1803, Knife River Indian Villages 

National Historic Site (North Dakota). NPS/CHRISTOPHER LIGHT
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.14

Niobrara National Scenic River (Nebraska, South Dakota) Provided advice to support hydrologic, economic, and fish and 

wildlife studies to support state-based instream flows on the Niobrara River. ¤ Facilitated the Outstandingly Remarkable Values 

workshop for the Niobrara River. ¤

Ozark National Scenic Riverways (Missouri) Investigated potential impacts from 

a proposed large-scale dairy within the 

recharge area of Big Spring. ¤ Uploaded 

results from the park’s long-term water 

quality monitoring program through 2010 

from NPSTORET to STORET. ¤ Uploaded 

water quality data to STORET through 2010 

from the park’s ongoing monitoring of 21 

springs. ¤ Uploaded water quality data to 

STORET through 2010 from the park’s 

ongoing monitoring of 18 tributaries of the 

Jacks Fork and Current Rivers. ¤ Uploaded 

water quality data to STORET collected by 

park staff at four locations from 2003–2009 

to assess bacteriological impacts associated 

with weekend river recreational use. ¤

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore 

(Michigan) Provided detailed comments 

on draft and final reports for the lakeshore 

vernal pools project, including the biological survey aspects funded by GLRI Project 

90. ¤ Coordinated field sampling for native 

mussel and fish host investigations. Purchased fisheries field equipment for park’s 

use on project. ¤ Coordinated with USFWS 

on placement of additional passive integrated transponder (PIT) antenna at Miner’s 

Creek for brook trout monitoring; assisted 

USFWS with PIT maintenance. ¤

Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway 

(Minnesota, Wisconsin) Provided field 

and analytical assistance for USGS zebra 

mussel effects study and climate change effects studies. ¤ Provided technical assistance 

related to nuisance algal issues near the Apple River mouth. ¤ Participated in St. Croix 

Basin Water Resources Planning Team activities, particularly those of the Monitoring 

and Assessment Subcommittee. ¤ Provided 

Wild and Scenic River program guidance 

regarding the St. Croix River Crossing Project. ¤ Presented “The other nutrient: Nitrogen in Lake St. Croix water and biota” at the 

October 2010 St. Croix Research Rendezvous. ¤ Provided comments to park regarding implementation of large wood cover 

project proposed by state of Wisconsin. ¤ 

Began investigation of potential impact of a 

proposed gravel mining operation adjacent 

to the park. ¤

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore 

(Michigan) Helped plan, conduct, and 

coordinate a large suite of multi-agency 

studies in SLBE’s Lake Michigan waters 

through GLRI Project 9. ¤ Provided technical assistance related to year three of the 

NRPP–NRM botulism project. ¤ Published 

“Links between type E botulism outbreaks, 

lake levels, and surface water temperatures 

in Lake Michigan, 1963–2008” in Journal 

of Great Lakes Research. ¤ Prepared a 

fact sheet addressing GLRI Project 91 activities entitled “Lake Michigan ecosystem 

research: 2010 field studies at Sleeping 

Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.” ¤ Copresented “Are we losing our Great Lakes?” 

at the St. Croix Watershed Research Station 

spring 2011 Friends Event. ¤ Contributed 

to two presentations (“Investigating botulism mechanisms in the Lake Michigan 

nearshore: Food web structure and oxygen 

dynamics” and “Botulism type E toxin 

in northern Lake Michigan”) at the 2011 

meeting of the International Association for 

Great Lakes Research. ¤ Contributed to an 

interagency presentation (“Botulism type 

E toxin in northern Lake Michigan”) at the 

2011 State of Lake Michigan Conference. ¤ 

Worked with regional aquatic ecologist to 

assist park with botulism investigations. ¤ 

Represented NPS at Glen Lake–Crystal River Technical Committee meetings. ¤ Provided guidance regarding the Glen Lake Dam 

structure and gauge installation. ¤ Obtained 

bathymetry and historical aerial imagery 

and created GIS data of historic shorelines 

in support of dock relocation analysis on 

North and South Manitou Islands. ¤ 

Lake Michigan overlook in winter at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (Michigan). NPS/

KERRY KELLY
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.15

Evaluated and reported on the results of 

nitrate sampling of park springs in conjunction with a CSU Research Associate after 

conducting field sampling in August 2010; 

results indicated that nitrate concentrations 

were insufficiently elevated in this sampling 

event to link to the operation of a nearby 

pig farm’s disposal activities. This WRD 

support alleviated the park’s immediate 

concerns with nutrient degradation of 

their Aral Spring resource. ¤ 

Theodore Roosevelt National Park 

(North Dakota) Served as NRSS Project 

Coordinator for Climate Change Response 

project. ¤ Initiated a USGS study to determine drought stress on cottonwood trees on 

the Little Missouri River. ¤ Collected survey 

data on the Little Missouri River. ¤ Coordinated with the USGS and state stewards to 

update the National Hydrography Dataset 

in two sub-basins covering the park. ¤

Voyageurs National Park (Minnesota) 

Helped plan for collection and mercury 

analysis of additional native crayfish and invasive rusty crayfish from a recently invaded 

Voyageurs site. ¤

Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield (Missouri) Re-uploaded to STORET miscellaneous benthic macroinvertebrate data 

collected by park employees as part of a 

discontinued monitoring program from 

1992–1993 in order to correct issues in a 

previous upload. ¤

Wind Cave National Park (South Dakota) 

Reviewed and commented on draft microbiology report. ¤ Reviewed and summarized 

discharge measurements collected at Beaver 

Creek Springs. ¤ Served as NRSS project 

coordinator for climate change response 

project. ¤

Great Lakes Network Uploaded all water 

quality data through 2010 from NPSTORET 

to STORET for eight network parks. ¤

NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION

National Capital Region The hiring process for an NCR–NER shared Aquatic Ecologist position was completed with the new 

employee entering on duty on 9 October 

2011. Equipment and computers were purchased to establish the aquatic ecology program. Each region will contribute $25,000 

or more to the position, augmenting the 

WRD base by $80,000. ¤ Provided support and advice in the use of NPSTORET, 

troubleshooting data and coding issues, 

and retrieving data from the STORET Data 

Warehouse. ¤

Rock Creek Park (District of Columbia) 

Provided hyrologic and hydraulic support 

to National Capitol Region related to the 

recent compliance and erosion problems 

associated with a road-widening project in 

the park. ¤

NORTHEAST REGION

Northeast Region Provided input to Federal Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan guide. Evaluated list and 

provided compliance contacts for National 

Parks within the watershed. Identified training program for National Park staff that will 

be implemented to assist with Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) compliance in 

November 2011. ¤ Completed three-month 

work detail as Acting Regional Chief, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. ¤ 

Acadia National Park (Maine) Assisted 

with development and submission of a 

proposal to develop a hydrologic/hydraulic 

model for culvert development and wetlands protection at Great Meadows/Sieur 

du Mont. ¤ Completed additional analyses of long-term lake water and air quality monitoring data with assistance of the 

NCBN Quantitative Ecologist. Worked with 

University of Maine at Orono scientists to 

examine link between declining water clarity in lakes and changes in sulfur and 

Purple and yellow prairie coneflowers in bloom at Theodore 

Roosevelt National Park (North 

Dakota). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.16

dissolved organic carbon. Presented resulting information at The 2011 George Wright 

Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites and the International 

Northeast Air Quality Committee meetings. 

¤ Reviewed NPS-funded research presented 

by University of Maine as a Masters thesis 

entitled Effects of Increasing Atmospheric 

Nitrogen and Dissolved Organic Matter 

on Phytoplankton in Boreal Lakes with 

Differing Nutrient Limitation Patterns, by 

Carmen Daggett. ¤ Provided written review 

and consultation for water quality report 

(2006–2009). ¤ Assisted park with developing specifications for large scale project to 

be conducted by USGS. ¤

Antietam National Battlefield (Maryland) 

Published final Natural Resource Condition 

Assessment. ¤

Appalachian National Scenic Trail 

(Maine to Georgia) Organized first year 

progress review of the Appalachian Trail Atmospheric Deposition Study; this study includes more than ten independent researchers with various affiliations and examines 

effects and potential for recovery of air, soil, 

water, and vegetation along the entire AT. 

The study serves as an example for using 

the Trail as a MEGA-transect to evaluate environmental change across a sensitive corridor that includes most of the eastern states. 

Collected water and soil samples to support 

this research. ¤

Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (Virginia) Provided a written 

review of the Natural Resource Condition 

Assessment. ¤

Assateague Island National Seashore 

(Maryland, Virginia) Assisted in developing groundwater monitoring protocol. 

¤ Partnered with Assateague Island National Seashore and the state of Maryland 

to develop a benthic habitat map. ¤ Uploaded water quality data to STORET from 

2003–2006 pilot tests of the Northeast 

Coastal and Barrier Network’s protocol for 

monitoring estuarine nutrient enrichment. ¤ 

Published final Natural Resource Condition 

Assessment. ¤

Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina, 

Virginia) Advised and assisted park in the 

evaluation of Responsible Party contractor 

proposed site characterization and mitigation actions related to the Roanoke Valley 

Resource Authority’s landfill discharges 

to surface waters and groundwater plume 

under the park. Consulted and coordinated 

with park staff on monitoring results from 

the placement of monitoring well pairs 

on the parkway and the construction of 

a remedial water treatment system to address surface water impacts from landfill 

discharges to surface water. ¤ Reviewed and 

provided comments on the Peaks of Otter 

Cultural Landscape Report. ¤ Reviewed 

and provided comments on the Humpback 

Rocks Cultural Landscape Report. ¤ Reviewed and provided comments for General 

Management Plan. ¤

Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area (Massachusetts) Evaluated wetland condition and potential for restoration 

with NER team; assisted with trip report to 

describe findings. ¤ Developed SOPs for intertidal use and protection. ¤

Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts) Provided review of municipal water 

supply projects at Wellfleet and Eastham. 

¤ Provided continuing technical assistance 

for the Herring River restoration project; 

provided analyses and review of hydrologic 

monitoring data. ¤ Funded Woods Hole 

Oceanographic Institution to investigate 

the dynamics of anthropogenic nutrient 

discharges and harmful algal blooms, and 

to produce tools to assist park managers in 

developing policy and management for nutrient control and remediation. ¤

Colonial National Historic Park (Virginia) Contributed technical knowledge on 

ecosystem ecology and shoreline management via site visit as well as review and comment on COLO Draft York River Shoreline 

Environmental Assessment. ¤ 

Band of horses in a salt marsh at 

Assateague Island National Seashore (Maryland, Virginia). NPS 

COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.17

Uploaded water quality data to STORET 

from 2003–2006 pilot tests of the Northeast 

Coastal and Barrier Network’s protocol for 

monitoring estuarine nutrient enrichment. ¤

Delaware River (Upper Delaware National Scenic and Recreational River, 

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation 

Area, Lower Delaware National Wild and 

Scenic River) (New Jersey, New York, 

Pennsylvania) Represented NPS at the 

Subcommittee for Ecological Flows meeting to evaluate aquatic resource needs for 

the river. Provided written review of PA/

NY recommendations for flows to support 

aquatic life (primarily non-native trout). 

Lobbied for inclusion of native populations dependent on water resources of the 

Delaware River. ¤ Organized discussion 

of aquatic biota management at The 2011 

George Wright Society Conference on 

Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites; 

decided to identify Wild and Scenic River 

values to focus NPS energy on the most 

important resources in the basin. Identified 

opportunity to use Denver Service Center 

expertise for establishing Outstandingly Remarkable Values along the Delaware River 

and within discrete park units; this effort 

will begin spring 2012. ¤ Developed proposal with DEWA and State University of New 

York College of Environmental Science 

and Forestry as a CESU partner to evaluate historic flows along the river pre-forest 

harvesting, pre-dam construction, and 

modern day. ¤ Provided review and written 

comment on proposed shale gas production regulations and environmental impact 

assessments for the Deleware River Basin 

Commission, NY, and PA. ¤ Participated 

in a federal implementation team (DBFIT) 

to provide a forum for federal stakeholders 

within the Delaware Basin to discuss management issues and present results in a unified manner through the federal representative; initiation of a USGS cumulative impact 

assessment of shale gas development also 

resulted from this workshop. ¤ Coordinated 

NPS WaterSMART initiative comments 

from park units along the Delaware River; 

flow needs, water quality, and establishment 

of the basin water budget were identified as 

focal study issues. ¤ Worked with DEWA, 

UPDE, and USGS to develop a funded 

proposal to train NPS staff in placement 

and operation of water quality recorders; 

these units have been deployed to establish 

baseline water quality and assess changes 

associated with basin development. ¤ Provided written comment for determination 

of direct and adverse effect on Wild and 

Scenic River system due to proposed stream 

alteration at Callicoon Creek. ¤

Fire Island National Seashore (New York)

Assisted with preparation of a proposal to 

examine presence of endocrine-disrupting 

compounds in park groundwater associated 

with Fire Island septic systems. Identified 

and coordinated alternate funding from 

park, region, and USGS sources to begin 

study with a pilot project. ¤ Trained and 

coordinated 18 citizen scientists who volunteered 175 hours to complete 40 horseshoe 

crab spawning surveys and to tag 37 horseshoe crabs for the NRPP-funded project 

“Assessment of Spawning Horseshoe Crabs 

within Mid-Atlantic Coastal NPS Units.” ¤ 

Conducted monthly nekton sampling (April 

–October) and biannual benthic sampling 

for NRPP-funded demonstration project 

for the restoration of bayside sediment 

transport at Sailors Haven. ¤ Developed 

and conducted interpretive program “Sampling Like a Scientist” for Junior Ranger 

Day program. ¤ Developed information 

on recreational fishery issues to include in 

the General Management Plan process. ¤ 

Uploaded water quality data to STORET 

from 2003–2006 pilot tests of the Northeast 

Coastal and Barrier Network’s protocol for 

monitoring estuarine nutrient enrichment. 

¤ Uploaded water quality data from seven 

environmental studies conducted during 

1999–2002 to document baseline characteristics in potential offshore sand source or 

“borrow” areas from a U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers database to STORET. ¤ Uploaded 

benthic macroinvertebrate data to STORET 

collected in 1998 by the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers to determine impacts of beach 

nourishment. ¤

Bald eagle chick in a nest overlooking the Delaware River, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (New York, Pennsylvania) NPS/SCOTT VAN ARSDALE
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.18

Fort Necessity National Battlefield (Pennsylvania) Assisted with evaluation of potential impacts from shale gas assessments 

prescribed for privately owned subsurface 

resources at request of park staff. ¤

Gateway National Recreation Area (New 

Jersey, New York) Implemented ecological monitoring to evaluate restoration of 69 

acres of salt marsh at Elders Point East and 

West, Jamaica Bay. Monitoring parameters 

include nekton, vegetation, and avian species composition and abundance; aboveand below-ground primary production; 

and macrobenthic infauna and epifauna. 

¤ Conducted baseline monitoring of nekton and vegetation communities at Yellow 

Bar, Rulers Bar, and Black Wall marshes, 

Jamaica Bay. Restoration of 80 acres of salt 

marsh will be completed at these marshes 

in FY 2012. ¤ Implemented National Fish 

and Wildlife Foundation funded project to 

determine if nitrogen loading has altered 

marsh function and sediment accretion 

in Jamaica Bay. ¤ Contributed technical 

knowledge on ecosystem ecology and restoration as a member of the multi-agency 

Planning and Development Team to develop 

salt marsh restoration design plans for Yellow Bar, Rulers Bar, and Black Wall marsh 

islands, Jamaica Bay. ¤ Received Coastal 

America Spirit Award for exceptional partnering to protect and conserve coastal ecosystems; this award recognized efforts of the 

multi-agency partnership that worked cooperatively to restore 69 acres (28 ha) of salt 

marsh at Elders Point East and Elders Point 

West, Jamaica Bay Unit. ¤ Authored “Building partnerships to restore an urban marsh 

ecosystem at Gateway National Recreation 

Area” for publication in Park Science. ¤ Presented “Jamaica Bay Marsh Island Loss and 

Restoration” for Herbert Johnson Lecture 

Series, Brooklyn, NY. ¤ Uploaded water 

quality data to STORET from 2003–2006 

pilot tests of the Northeast Coastal and 

Barrier Network’s protocol for monitoring 

estuarine nutrient enrichment. ¤

Gettysburg National Military Park (Pennsylvania) Coordinated with the USGS and 

state stewards to update the National Hydrography Dataset within the park. ¤ 

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site 

(Pennsylvania) Provided written and verbal 

reviews of Corps of Engineers hydrologic 

and hydraulic models designed to evaluate alternatives to reduce flooding of park 

buildings. ¤ Provided review of engineering study being conducted by the Corps 

of creek that runs through park; creek has 

been manipulated and has a small bridge 

crossing which complicates the analysis. ¤ 

Marsh–Billings–Rockefeller National Historical Park (Vermont) Analyzed discharge 

records under development for The Pogue; 

provided comment identifying discrepancies with flow data. ¤ 

Morristown National Historical Park 

(New Jersey) Provided written review of 

headwater flow and water quality report. ¤

National Parks of New York Harbor 

(New Jersey, New York) Contributed technical knowledge on ecosystem ecology and 

restoration via participation in the National 

Parks of New York Harbor: A Strategy to 

Become America’s Premier Urban National 

Park Planning Charette. ¤ Worked cooperatively with National Parks of New York Harbor Education Center on a Youth-in-Park 

application and mentored one YIP participant in July and August 2011. ¤

Petersburg National Battlefield (Virginia)

Produced trip report describing process for 

evaluating flow changes within park streams 

potentially impacted by development adjacent to park lands. ¤

Richmond National Battlefield Park 

(Virginia) Provided verbal and written assistance with production of a proposal to 

evaluate stream impairment due to E. coli

levels. Proposal submitted to USGS/NPS 

funding source. ¤ 

Rainbow over Jamaica Bay, Gateway National Recreation Area 

(New York, New Jersey). NPS/

JOHN LINCOLN HALLOWELL
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.19

Provided written review of park (2001–

2011) water quality report. ¤ Provided written review of Natural Resource Condition 

Assessment. ¤ Assessment of slope stability 

at Drewry’s Bluff. ¤

Roosevelt–Vanderbilt National Historic 

Sites (New York) Reviewed Natural Resource Condition Assessment. ¤

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site 

(New York) Assisted University of Rhode 

Island CESU cooperator in presenting a 

horseshoe crab interpretive program. ¤ 

Salem Maritime National Historic Site 

(Massachusetts) Continued to work with 

the park and NRSS Environmental Quality 

Specialist on Derby Wharf Work Plan. ¤ 

Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site 

(Massachusetts) Funded project to monitor E. coli in the Saugus River. ¤

Shenandoah National Park (Virginia)

Provided review and comments on the 

Shenandoah Watershed Study Monitoring 

Protocol Narrative and SOPs. ¤ Provided 

support to the University of Virginia and the 

USGS on water quality and fisheries-related 

databases for the park. ¤

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational 

River (New York, Pennsylvania) Continued to monitor shale gas plays throughout 

the country and in particular the effects 

that their development may have on park 

lands in the northeast where the activity 

in the expansive Marcellus Shale gas play 

surrounding UPDE is increasing. Coordinated with GRD staff to support parks in 

the region in the review and comment on 

multiple versions and revisions to proposed 

regulations of the Delaware River Basin 

Commission and New York State Department of Environmental Protection (Draft & 

Final Revised New York State Supplemental 

Generic Environmental Impact Statement) 

governing gas development. Advised NPS 

staff on the new threats posed to parks from 

the greater infrastructure, water resource 

demands, and waste disposal issues unique 

to shale gas plays and the challenges parks 

will face from this new type of energy development near park boundaries and within 

their shared watersheds. Participated in 

EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Experts Workshop on Fate and Transport of fracking 

fluids, attended a Marcellus Shale Water 

Management conference and a University of 

Wyoming Forum addressing water demands 

and related resource risks posed by hydraulic fracturing. ¤ Contacted several state oil 

and gas commission representatives/regulatory bodies, BLM officials, industry representatives, and others to determine status 

of oil and gas well design measures taken in 

controlling stray gas migration and if standard well designs are adequate in controlling stray gas migration potential impacts to 

drinking water supplies. ¤ 

Valley Forge National Historical Park 

(Pennsylvania) Provided written comment 

on water resource stewardship strategies 

for planning. ¤ Provided written review of 

Natural Resource Condition Assessment. ¤

Mid–Atlantic Network Provided assistance 

and recommendations on the use of analytical groups in NPSTORET. ¤

PACIFIC WEST REGION

Pacific West Region Provided technical assistance for Natural Resource Managers in 

PWR for reviewing and improving proposals seeking funding for ecological restoration and monitoring projects. ¤ With Lassen 

Volcanic Ecologist and Planner, drafted 

PWR Resource Stewardship Strategy Lessons Learned document. ¤ Co-taught a 

Bureau of Land Management class entitled 

Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations to increase the quality of government 

vegetation restoration and monitoring projects in the PWR. ¤ Served as NPS liaison to 

National Ocean Policy planning team for 

water quality and coastal land management 

practices. ¤ 

Eel Creek seen from the Sagamore Hill footbridge, Sagamore 

Hill National Historic Site (New 

York). NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.20

With interagency government team, facilitated by USFS Regional Hydrologist, co-authored recommendations to California State 

Water Plan Update regarding protection of 

wet meadow habitats. ¤ With interdisciplinary NPS team, co-drafted cave monitoring 

framework for the national Inventory and 

Monitoring Program. ¤ Prepared and filed 

Reports of Licensee and Statements of Water Diversion and Use for triennial filings for 

Death Valley NP, Mojave NPres, Whiskeytown NRA, Redwoods NP, Pinnacles NM, 

Lassen Volcanic NP, and Sequoia and Kings 

Canyon NPs. ¤

Cabrillo National Monument (California) 

Uploaded to STORET relevant fish tissue 

data collected during 1990, 1993, and 2000 

by the California State Water Resources 

Control Board’s Toxic Substances Monitoring Program. ¤ Uploaded to STORET bacteriological data collected during 2001–2006 

from thirteen beaches near the park by the 

San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation–Blue Water Task Force. ¤

Channel Islands National Park (California) Co-led project to design Prisoners 

Harbor Coastal Lagoon Restoration Project to restore degraded wetland on Santa 

Cruz Island; project to benefit migratory 

birds and archeological resources. In FY 

2011 completed needed permits, drafted 

monitoring plan, completed contracting for earthmoving and plant grow-out, 

completed proposals seeking additional 

funding; project to be completed FY 2012. 

¤ Completed final project design drawings 

and participated in excavation for restoration of Prisoners Harbor coastal wetland. ¤ 

Completed initial geodetic monumentation 

work; located and occupied several historic 

benchmarks with survey-grade GPS to 

establish precise locations for tidal benchmarks that will facilitate sea level monitoring. ¤ Uploaded to STORET the 1998 data 

from the multi-agency Southern California 

Coastal Bight Project collected near the 

park. ¤

Crater Lake National Park (Oregon)

Completed draft 2008 Seepage Investigation 

Report for Annie Creek. ¤ 

Death Valley National Park (California) 

Participated in Amargosa Desert Managers Group meetings, an interagency work 

group established to discuss water resource 

concerns in the Amargosa Desert basin—

including Devils Hole, a detached unit of 

Death Valley National Park. ¤ Reviewed applications and filed objections as necessary 

to protect park water rights. ¤ Compiled 

and archived data from nine groundwater 

stations in the Furnace Creek Wash area. ¤ 

Researched historic Water Master reports 

and updated historic pumping records for 

Ash Meadows. ¤ Compared pumping records and water level observations to USGS 

regional groundwater flow model simulations. ¤ Participated in biannual Amargosa 

Coordination Meetings and coordinated 

with federal agencies within the Amargosa 

Desert on solar energy development projects, land disposal issues, and the BLM Las 

Vegas proposed revision to the RMP. ¤ Prepared agreement for University of Colorado 

to develop an earthquake catalog for Devils 

Hole. 

Devils Postpile National Monument 

(California) NPS Natural Resource Specialist for the joint NPS/USFS General 

Management Plan team. Team developed 

management alternatives to protect natural 

and cultural resources while providing appropriate visitor experiences. Completed 

floodplain analysis for developed areas and 

campgrounds in the planning area. Completed “Affected Environment” chapter of 

EIS in FY 2011. Draft GMP (tentatively) to 

be released for public review in FY 2012. 

¤ NPS Natural Resource Specialist advisor 

for the park: assisted park with monitoring invasive plant species in high-value 

wet meadow habitats, reviewed the draft 

Natural Resource Condition Assessment, 

represented the park to the Sierra Nevada 

Network, and initiated work on a Status of 

Knowledge inventory of Natural Resource 

scholarly information. ¤ 

A salt pool at Badwater, Death 

Valley National Park (California, 

Nevada). NPS/ALAN VAN VALKENBURG
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.21

Conducted literature search regarding hydrogeologic studies in and adjacent to the 

park. ¤ Conducted field reconnaissance of 

DEPO and Mammoth Mountain area to 

evaluate water resources, the hydrogeologic 

setting, and evidence of groundwater–surface water interactions. ¤ Provided comments for the draft DEPO Natural Resource 

Condition Assessment. ¤ Conducted floodplain analyses in support of on-going General Management Plan. ¤

Golden Gate National Recreation Area 

(California) Prepared discharge estimates 

for Denniston and Saint Vicente creeks at 

Golden Gate. ¤ 

Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument (Arizona) Provided technical oversight on the implementation of a phased 

reconnaissance-level study conducted by 

the USGS to evaluate the water source of 

Tassi Spring and Pakoon Spring. ¤

Great Basin National Park (Nevada) Assisted WRD, Great Basin National Park, 

and Lake Mead National Recreation Area in 

developing cooperating agency comments 

to the administrative draft EIS and the draft 

EIS for the Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine 

counties groundwater development pipeline project. ¤ Assisted the WRD in implementing an interagency-supported field 

program near Great Basin to characterize 

the potential for impacts to surface water 

and groundwater resources in and around 

the park from proposed groundwater development in Snake Valley, Nevada. ¤ Represented NPS interests on an interagency, 

hydrologic technical review panel for the 

stipulated agreement to monitor, manage, 

and mitigate potential impacts from groundwater withdrawals in Spring Valley, Nevada. 

¤ Reviewed applications and filed objections as necessary to protect park water 

rights. ¤ Continued agreement to continuously monitor discharge at Lehman Creek. 

¤ Managed ongoing project by USGS and 

the University of Nevada, Reno, to evaluate 

basin-fill aquifers in Snake Valley, including drilling, sampling, and aquifer testing of 

two wells southeast of the park, one in the 

basin-fill aquifer and one in the carbonaterock aquifer. ¤ Managed and participated in 

eight presentations at the annual conference 

of the Nevada Water Resources Association 

and at public meetings in Ely and Baker, 

NV. ¤ Completed and submitted a statement 

of purpose, need, and proposed action for 

hydrogeologic research within GRBA, including the completion of an Environmental Assessment. ¤ NPS hydrology technical 

representative on the Spring Valley Stipulated Agreement for withdrawal of NPS protests to Southern Nevada Water Authority 

(SNWA) water-rights applications. ¤ Coordinated with SNWA and USGS/UNR on the 

drilling and installation of two new monitoring wells, and water quality sampling 

from 35 to 40 selected streams, springs, and 

wells. ¤ Coordinated with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to implement a comprehensive 

monitoring network. ¤ Completed a USGS 

project that published the Snake Valley 

numerical groundwater flow model to simulate proposed groundwater withdrawals in 

accordance with pending water rights applications. ¤ Completed a USGS project that 

published the results of AMT geophysical 

surveys in Snake Valley to evaluate rangefront faults and their role in connectivity of 

aquifers. ¤ Conducted a dye-tracing study 

to evaluate groundwater flow paths and 

connectivity of aquifers in the vicinity of 

the Baker Creek cave system within and adjacent to the park. ¤ Reviewed regional numerical groundwater flow model of eastern 

Nevada and western Utah to evaluate the 

threat of proposed groundwater development. ¤ Evaluated groundwater models and 

administrative drafts of the Clark, Lincoln, 

and White Pine counties Groundwater 

Development EIS and coordinated with 

the BLM to resolve NPS concerns; briefed 

the DOI on NPS concerns. ¤ Compared 

results of the EIS groundwater model with 

the recently completed Snake Valley USGS 

groundwater model. ¤

June in the high country of Great 

Basin National Park (Nevada). 

NPS/BRYAN PETRTYL
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.22

Joshua Tree National Park (California) 

Collaborated with park and WRD and PWR 

personnel to formulate NPS comments to 

a draft EIS, outlining NPS concerns with 

potential impacts to the park’s groundwater resources and other natural resources 

associated with a proposed groundwaterpumped storage electrical generation project adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park. 

¤ Assisted WRD and park personnel in 

developing public scoping comments for 

draft EISes outlining concerns with potential impacts to the park’s groundwater resources and other natural resources related 

to several fast-track solar energy projects 

surrounding Joshua Tree National Park. ¤ 

Reviewed the Energy Zones proposed for 

California in the BLM Solar Energy PEIS. ¤ 

Evaluated water uses for DOI’s high priority solar energy projects proposed near the 

park, and coordinated water issues with 

directorate, park, region, and NRSS external energy program manager. ¤ Provided 

continuing support of flood study at Black 

Rock Campground. ¤

Kaloko–Honokōhau National Historical Park (Hawaii) Prepared contract for 

expert services to coordinate water protection strategies with county and state offices. 

¤ Prepared oral and written testimony for 

Land Use Commission Docket A10-788, 

Forest City Hawaii Kona, LLC, and Hawaii Housing Finance and Development 

Corporation. ¤ Reviewed methods used by 

Hawaii to determine sustainable yield for 

the Keauhou Aquifer System and recalculated the yield of selected aquifer systems 

using new USGS values for groundwater 

recharge. ¤ Assisted superintendent in 

briefing the PWR directorate on plans to request state administrative action to protect 

groundwater discharge and coastal leakage 

in KAHO. ¤ Developed communications 

plan and talking points for superintendent 

to aid in discussions with stakeholders 

regarding a potential water management 

area designation. ¤ Assisted superintendent 

in briefing state and county officials and 

other stakeholders regarding NPS efforts to 

protect groundwater discharge for cultural 

and natural resources. ¤ Prepared oral and 

written testimony for superintendent and 

attended the public hearing on the Hawaii 

County Water Use and Development Plan 

Update. ¤ Represented NPS at the Workshop on Groundwater Availability in the 

Keauhou Aquifer System sponsored by the 

USGS and the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management. ¤ Analyzed water quality and water level monitoring data 

collected by The Shores at Kohanaiki, the 

USGS, and the NPS. ¤ Provided comments 

on the Kaloko Makai Draft EIS regarding 

potential groundwater impacts in the park 

from proposed development. ¤ Collected 

and summarized cultural use and extraction 

of native marine species data for use in legal 

or administrative proceedings. ¤

Kaloko–Honokōhau and Kalaupapa National Historical Parks (Hawaii) Funded a 

project to examine the response of algae to 

nutrient inputs, the effects of herbivores on 

algal growth and coral composition, and the 

potential to manage herbivores to reduce algal biomass and improve coral reef health. ¤

Lake Mead National Recreation Area 

(Nevada, Arizona) Supplied technical and 

management oversight on a USGS study 

being conducted to characterize the source 

of springs in the Black Canyon area below 

Lake Mead and evaluate their potential susceptibility to regional groundwater development impacts. ¤ Implemented groundwater 

monitoring and management provisions of 

negotiated settlements with the Southern 

Nevada Water Authority and Vidler Water 

Company on NPS protests to water rights 

applications in Tule Desert Basin and Coyote Spring Valley. ¤ Assisted WRD in recommending NPS protests to several water 

rights applications filed by development 

entities in the vicinity of Lake Mead NRA. 

¤ Provided technical oversight on USGS 

agreement to operate and maintain stream 

gauges at Rogers and Blue Point springs in 

Lake Mead NRA and the Virgin River near 

Overton, NV. ¤ 

Young monk seals on the beach 

at Kalaupapa National Historical 

Park (Hawaii). NPS/BRYAN HARRY
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.23

Monitored progress on implementation of 

a Hydrologic Monitoring and Mitigation 

Program developed as part of the Virgin 

River Habitat Conservation and Recovery 

Program to evaluate future groundwater 

development impacts on surface water and 

groundwater resources in the Lower Virgin 

River Basin. ¤ Provided technical oversight 

for Lake Mead NRA management regarding an interagency-supported effort to drill 

and install a groundwater monitoring well 

within the park to monitor groundwater levels in the regional carbonate-rock aquifer. ¤ 

Reviewed applications and filed objections 

as necessary to protect park water rights. ¤ 

Continued continuous monitoring of discharge on the Virgin River near Overton. 

¤ Managed project to develop a numerical 

groundwater flow model of an area in and 

adjacent to the park. ¤ Reviewed the Energy 

Zones proposed for Nevada in the BLM 

Solar Energy PEIS. ¤ Evaluated groundwater models and administrative drafts of the 

Clark, Lincoln, and White Pine Counties 

Groundwater Development EIS and coordinated with the BLM to resolve NPS concerns. Briefed the DOI on NPS concerns. ¤ 

Coordinated with USGS and state stewards 

to update the National Hydrography Dataset in three sub-basins covering the park. ¤

Minidoka National Historic Site (Idaho) 

Provided assessment of potential impact 

of a nearby Concentrated Animal Feeding 

Operation and assisted park in developing a 

groundwater monitoring plan. ¤

Mojave National Preserve (California) 

Formulated and submitted scoping comments outlining NPS concerns with potential impacts to Mojave National Preserve’s 

groundwater resources associated with the 

resurrected Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery, and Storage Project. Assisted 

park with development of a management 

plan for springs and guzzlers. ¤ Maintained 

communications with park staff regarding the Mountain Pass Mine groundwater 

plume while permits were obtained from 

BLM for additional delineation in Wheaton 

Wash; the groundwater plume’s mapped 

extent indicates its presence immediately 

up gradient from park boundary, and the 

results from drilling and sampling of two 

additional wells that MolyCorp must drill 

should determine fate and extent of the 

high-TDS groundwater plume. This current 

activity on BLM lands is under direction of 

the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board and should determine if park 

groundwater is likely impacted or if more 

drilling and sampling will be required.

Mount Rainier National Park (Washington) Due to a surfeit of sediment, the park’s 

rivers are aggrading—that is, river channels 

are filling in with sediment. This means that 

for the same size storms, the flood potential 

is ever-increasing. Additionally, the number 

of destructive debris flows appears to be 

rising as a result of global climate change. 

Some experts (e.g., Gordon Grant, Oregon 

State University) consider Mount Rainier to 

be the best example in the United States of 

catastrophic impacts from climate change. ¤ 

Completed the pilot Nisqually Glacier stagnant ice survey where we measured ice velocities on the lower Nisqually Glacier and 

found over 50% of the glacier is effectively 

stagnant (non-moving). In the past there 

was a strong empiric association of stagnant 

ice and destructive summer glacier outburst 

floods, or jökulhaups; jökulhaups usually 

turn into highly erosive and destructive 

debris flows as they course down glaciersourced rivers. They can produce flood 

peaks greatly in excess of floods from precipitation events. ¤ Identified and mitigated 

current flood and debris flow hazards. ¤ 

Provided technical assistance on engineered 

logjam placement locations for the Carbon 

River, and interim barb installation near 

entrance; engineered logjams provide permanent, superior erosion protection, while 

minimizing impacts to fish habitat. ¤

Arrowweed Spring in Mojave 

National Preserve (California). 

NPS COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.24

Initiated a collaborative project with University of Colorado to identify discrete 

sediment waves from past debris flows in 

Tahoma Creek and track their movement 

thorough time in order to predict future 

hazards to the Tahoma Creek bridge and 

the Westside road. Techniques employed 

include multiple aerial LIDAR sets, state-ofthe-art terrestrial LIDAR, and field surveys. 

¤ Started a collaborative project with the 

University of Oregon to extend the known 

debris flow history for hazard planning; 

in Kautz Creek watershed, researchers 

identified and dated previously unknown 

debris flow events using techniques such as 

lichenometry, dendrochronology, and carbon-14 analyses. ¤

National Park of American Samoa 

(American Samoa) Advised superintendent, PWR, and DOI on proposed expansion of Fagatele Bay National Marine Sanctuary and overlay of national park marine 

area. ¤

North Cascades National Park Complex 

(Washington) Combined two sources of 

survey data with a LIDAR model to produce 

topographic cross sections of the Stehekin 

River for later use in HEC-RAS. ¤ Consulted with park staff regarding completion of 

floodplain Statement of Findings. ¤ Coordinated with the USGS and state stewards to 

update the National Hydrography Dataset 

in four sub-basins covering the park. ¤

Olympic National Park (Washington) 

Completed a flood protection study and 

report for the Elwha River Ranger Station, detailing emergency response plans 

to preserve historic resources threatened 

by dam removal related aggradation flooding threats. ¤ In preparation for the Elwha 

Dam removals, had numerous site visits 

and meetings with Olympic National Park, 

Water Resources Division, and the Bureau 

of Recreation in preparation for the removal 

of two dams, which started in FY 2011. 

This is a major and continuing project. ¤ 

Provided continuing assistance related to 

the Elwha River Restoration Project; participated in Sediment Management Team 

meetings; wrote PD and was on selection 

panel for project on-site geomorphologist; 

traveled to the park two times during the 

year—first trip was made to inspect conditions on the deltas to see if they were as 

ready as possible for the start of the project; 

second trip was made with other members 

of the sediment management team to participate in project commencement activities. ¤ Provided site assessments for several 

water-supply systems in the park, including 

a hydrogeologic assessment of the potential 

for developing a groundwater source at Kalaloch. ¤ 

Oregon Caves National Monument (Oregon) Consulted with park regarding request 

to produce a hydrologic budget for climate 

change assessment. ¤

Pinnacles National Monument (California) Provided technical assistance for 

wetlands protection and compliance for 

Sandy Creek Bridge reconstruction project; 

wetland delineation completed FY 2011. 

¤ Completed feasibility and scope assessment of potential pond reconstruction site. 

¤ Completed stream stability assessment 

at two sites within the park. ¤ Compiled 

available water wells records for park. ¤ 

Reviewed and commented on hydrology related sections of draft General Management 

Plan. ¤ Re-uploaded water quality data to 

STORET from Moore’s 1997–2004 study to 

characterize and quantify stream dynamics, habitat value and vulnerability, and the 

presence and movement of pollutants in the 

Chalone Creek watershed to better represent replicate/duplicate samples. ¤ Finalized 

long term monitoring plan to track integrity 

of wetlands and riparian habitats. ¤

Point Reyes National Seashore (California) Completed wetland delineation to 

assist with planning in the Drake’s Estero 

watershed. ¤ Completed internal review 

and re-draft of sections of the park General 

Management Plan, including Introduction, 

Management Alternatives, Affected Environment chapters. ¤ 

Laundress quarters with the 

Olympic Mountains and Strait of 

Juan de Fuca in the background, 

San Juan Island National Historical Park (Washington). NPS/MIKE 

VOURI
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.25

Provided technical assistance for review of 

draft Coastal Watershed Assessment. ¤ Partnered with USGS and Moss Landing Marine Laboratories to develop benthic habitat 

and geologic maps. ¤

San Juan Island National Historical Park 

(Washington) Partnered with USGS and 

the University of Washington to develop 

benthic habitat maps. ¤ Purchased a new 

Hach-Hydrolab water quality sonde for 

WRD in conjunction with funds supplied 

from SAJH to offset a sonde previously supplied by WRD; SAJH elected to retain the 

loaned WRD sonde for future work after 

conducting monitoring research at the park 

over the last two years and was prepared to 

compensate WRD for its previous investment in that instrument. ¤

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (California) Uploaded water quality data to STORET from studies 

conducted in 1977, 1985, and 1990 by the 

Southern California Coastal Water Research 

Project. ¤ Uploaded 1994 and 1998 data to 

STORET from the multi-agency Southern 

California Coastal Bight Project collected 

near the park. ¤

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National 

Parks (California) Assisted with developing a scope of work to assess potential impacts of private septic systems in the Mineral King area. ¤

Yosemite National Park (California) Conducted field assessment regarding restoration of a disturbed site along the Merced 

River. ¤ Provided on-site advice for treating 

runoff damage of a recent restoration site. ¤

Klamath Network Provided review and 

comment on the “Integrated Aquatic Community and Water Quality Monitoring of 

Wadeable Streams in the Klamath Network” 

Protocol Narrative and SOPs. ¤

Mojave Desert Network Partnered with 

WRD to monitor and evaluate potential 

water resource impacts to network parks 

from proposed solar energy development 

in the region. Efforts included implementing a tracking system for solar projects of 

concern; reviewing solar energy plans of development to assess potential project water 

demands; and assisting WRD in formulating 

NPS response documents to BLM for the 

solar PEIS. ¤ Assisted personnel from the 

Mojave Desert Network I&M Program by 

reviewing a draft spring protocol document 

outlining methodologies that will aid in the 

assessment, conservation, and restoration 

of water resources associated with regionally and locally derived springs in network 

parks. ¤ Attended the Nevada Water Resources Association annual conference to 

track new and existing water resource projects, studies, and concerns throughout Nevada. ¤ Attended the Devils Hole Workshop 

to track new and existing water resource 

concerns and studies in the Amargosa Desert basin. ¤ Provided comments on MOJN 

Spring Monitoring Protocols. ¤ Participated 

in the Water Resources Working Group 

with MOJN and park staff to facilitate coordination. ¤ Provided review and comment 

on the “Surface Water Dynamics and Water 

Quality in Streams and Lakes of the Mojave Desert Network (GRBA and LAKE)” 

Protocol Narrative and SOPs. ¤ Provided 

review and comment on the “Surface Water 

Dynamics and Water Quality of Carbonate 

and Valley-Fill Aquifer Springs of the Mojave Desert Network” Protocol Narrative 

and SOPs. ¤

North Coasts and Cascades Network 

Continued technical assistance and policy 

guidance to the Federal Lands Highway 

Division, presented to FLHD staff how climate change (and changing design consideration for park roads) needs to be accounted 

for in flood repair. Continued to make the 

case that replacing damaged infrastructure 

“in-kind” is not technically nor fiscally justifiable. ¤ Provided review and comment on 

the network’s “Water Quality Monitoring” 

Protocol Narrative and SOPs. ¤

Fin Dome and Arrowhead Lake 

in Kings Canyon National Park 

(California). NPS/GAVIN EMMONS
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.26

Pacific Island Network Uploaded all water 

quality data through 2010 from NPSTORET 

to STORET for eight network parks. ¤

San Francisco Bay Area Network Planned 

for implementation of monitoring protocol 

in FY 2012. ¤ Provided technical assistance 

for program management (budget formulation) and designing Plant Community 

Change monitoring protocol. ¤

Sierra Nevada Network Provided review 

and guidance on incorporating Aquarius 

time series processing in Protocol and SOP 

documents. ¤

SOUTHEAST REGION

Southeast Region Acted as Regional Goal 

Contact for FY 2007–2011 and FY 2008–

2012 NPS Strategic Plan Goal 1a1H—Land 

Health–Acres in Condition. ¤ Represented 

the NPS at the Gulf of Mexico Alliance 

meetings and participated as a member on 

the Habitat Conservation and Restoration 

Team. ¤ Continued to develop a sediment 

budget for restoration in the northern Gulf 

of Mexico coast. Participated in administering the annual Servicewide Combined Call 

including projects that resulted in protection and/or restoration of wetland habitat. 

¤ Presented poster on sea level rise impacts 

to coastal National Park units at The George 

Wright Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites in New 

Orleans, LA. ¤ Served 50% year-long work 

detail to Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration 

Task Force in preparation of Gulf of Mexico Restoration Plan: led writing team for 

Community Resiliency sections, served on 

Habitat Restoration and Storm Buffers work 

groups, and served as team lead for Community Resiliency writing for science support document, “Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem 

Science Assessment and Needs.” ¤ Planned 

and facilitated Southeast Natural Resource 

Leadership Council meeting in Charleston, 

SC. ¤ Facilitated quarterly river calls with 

NPS units dealing with aquatic resource 

management issues. ¤ Completed DOI Motor Boat Operator Certification Training. ¤ 

With SERO, planned and convened multidisciplinary workshop on lionfish invasion 

and completed draft servicewide invasive 

species response plan for peer review. ¤ 

Continued to work with Florida parks, the 

EPA, and the state of Florida on estuarine 

water quality standards.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Participated 

in DWH Oil Spill NRDA activities. ¤ Cochaired Submerged Aquatic Vegetation 

Technical Working Group (TWG). ¤ Served 

as NPS lead on Shoreline TWG; trustee 

co-lead for Beach Subgroup; hosted TWG 

meetings at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. ¤ Served on Injury 

Impact TWG in indentifying all response injuries across all TWGs. ¤ Coordinated with 

USFWS and WASO to prepare Injury Assessment plans, literature searches, and data 

collection with the assistance of contractors. 

¤ Participated in Trustee Council–TWG 

NRDA meeting in Austin, TX. ¤

Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National 

Historical Park (Kentucky) Published final 

Natural Resource Condition Assessment. ¤

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (Kentucky, Tennessee) 

Reviewed and provided comments on Oil 

and Gas EIS. ¤ Assisted park in evaluating 

potential impacts to aquatic resources associated with the Roberta Landfill. ¤ Drafted 

formal determination document regarding 

potential impacts of Roberta Landfill to the 

park, and negotiated potential mitigation 

alternatives. ¤ Began initial consultation on 

Huntsville Water Supply project evaluating 

the effects of water withdrawals on park 

habitats. ¤

Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina, 

Virginia) See Northeast Region

Yahoo Falls, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area 

(Tennessee, Kentucky). NPS/STEVEN SEVEN
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.27

Buck Island Reef National Monument 

(Virgin Islands) Partnered with NOAA to 

develop a benthic habitat map. ¤

Canaveral National Seashore (Florida) 

Worked with staff to submit projects for 

funding related to fisheries management. ¤ 

Participated in hydrologic modeling training for a newly developed hydrodynamic 

model of the Mosquito Lagoon. ¤ Reviewed 

Assessment Report—An Assessment of 

Coastal Water Resources and Watershed 

Conditions in and Adjacent to Canaveral 

National Seashore. ¤

Cane River Creole National Historical 

Park (Louisiana) Reviewed and provided 

comments on the Draft Construction Plans 

for Emergency Stabilization/Erosion Control on the Bank of Cane River Lake. ¤ Reviewed and provided comments on Draft 

Wetlands Statement of Findings (WSOF). ¤

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (North 

Carolina) Reviewed and provided comments on the Draft Foundation Statement. ¤

Cape Lookout National Seashore (North 

Carolina) Provided GIS and remote sensing support (assembled imagery, provided 

maps, change analysis, etc.) to park staff 

and Hurricane Irene Incident Management 

Team. ¤

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic 

Site (North Carolina) Provided comments 

for the Draft Visitor Center review. ¤ Collaborated with SERO Fisheries Biologist 

and Threatened and Endangered Species 

Specialist on wetlands concerns with ponds 

near the home. ¤ Reviewed and provided 

comments for Amphitheater Relocation 

Design. ¤ Assisted park staff in determining 

appropriate management actions for aquatic 

resources (e.g., Front Lake, Side Lake). This 

resulted in a Water Resources Issues and 

Overview Report which will be developed 

in FY 2012. ¤

Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (Georgia) Reviewed and provided comments on the on-going planning 

for the Willeo Road Multi-Use Trail project 

which will cross Chattahoochee wetlands. 

Visited area wetlands sites with natural 

resources staff. ¤ Reviewed and provided 

comments on Resource Stewardship Strategy. ¤ Reviewed and provided comments on 

Rogers Bridge Replacement EA. ¤ Coordinated with park staff on implementation of 

shoal bass assessment. ¤ Worked with WRD 

and park staff to evaluate park authorities 

relating to shoreline development. This effort led to a workshop slated for FY 2012 to 

describe the values for which the park was 

established. ¤ Assisted park with determination of authority to permit water withdrawals on the Chatahoochee River. ¤ 

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National 

Military Park (Georgia, Tennessee)

Reviewed and provided comments on Draft 

Storm Drainage reconstruction. ¤ Reviewed 

and provided comments on Craven House 

Cultural Landscape Report. ¤ Reviewed 

and provided comments on Moccasin Bend 

WSOF. ¤

Congaree National Park (South Carolina) Reviewed and provided comments for 

Ramsar Convention designation as a wetland of international significance. ¤

Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida) Reviewed and provided comments on Garden 

Key Cultural Landscape Report. ¤

Everglades National Park (Florida)

Reviewed and provided comments on the 

Everglades Draft Water Plan. ¤ Reviewed 

and provided comments on the Everglades 

General Management Plan ¤ Reviewed and 

provided comments on the Gulf Coast Visitor Center Design Plans ¤ Reviewed and 

provided comments on the Shark Valley 

Visitor Center Plan. ¤

Purple gallinule at Shark Valley, 

Everglades National Park (Florida). NPS/ERIN HUGGINS
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.28

Fort Donelson National Battlefield (Tennessee, Kentucky) Reviewed and provided 

comments for Cemetery Carriage House 

Structural Report. ¤ Reviewed and provided 

comments on Draft Foundation Statement. 

¤ Reviewed and provided comments on 

Cultural Landscape Report. ¤

Fort Pulaski National Monument (Georgia) Reviewed and provided comments on 

the Cockspur Island Cultural Landscape 

Report. ¤ Reviewed and provided comments on the Fort Pulaski General Management Plan and EIS. ¤ Reviewed Savannah 

River Dredging EA for potential impacts to 

Fort Pulaski for Corps of Engineers. ¤

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 

(North Carolina, Tennessee) Provided hydrogeological assessment for a new well at 

Cades Cove. ¤ Uploaded water quality data 

collected during 2010 by park staff and the 

University of Tennessee from NPSTORET 

to STORET. ¤ Uploaded water quality data 

to STORET from a 2008–2009 University of 

Tennessee project that collected data from 

16 locations in the park to examine the 

influence of basin characteristics on acidification response. ¤ Uploaded water quality 

data to STORET from an EPA-funded University of Tennessee project that collected 

data from six throughfall and stream sites in 

the park during 2006–2010 to examine the 

effects of acidification on caged native 

brook trout. ¤ Uploaded water quality data 

to STORET collected from four streams 

during 2003–2005 to assess the potential 

impacts of the Greenbrier Road widening 

project. ¤ Uploaded water quality data to 

STORET collected from two locations on 

Straight Fork during 2004–2007 to determine water quality impacts from the 2006 

Straight Fork bridge replacement project. ¤

Gulf Islands National Seashore (Florida, 

Mississippi) Reviewed and provided comments for Perdido Key Pass dredging EA. ¤ 

Reviewed and provided comments for the 

General Management Plan. ¤ Reviewed and 

provided comments for the Mississippi District Road Replacement plans. ¤ Reviewed 

and provided comments for the MsCIP Barrier Island EIS. ¤ Reviewed and provided 

comments for the Deepwater Horizon SAV 

Restoration EA. ¤ Worked with other SERO 

and WASO staff to prepare a science-based 

position paper outlining the basis for Stage 

III Beach Subsurface oil cleaning at Gulf 

Islands. Prepared drafts of the decision 

document which was added as an appendix 

to the Stage III Cleaning Framework Document, coordinating with the superintendent 

and resource staff. ¤ Co-authored white 

paper on the implications of beach clean-up 

activities on natural resources. ¤ Assisted 

DOI representatives in evaluating potential 

restoration alternatives associated with the 

Deepwater Horizon Incident. ¤ Served as a 

Resource Advisor overseeing night cleanup 

of oil deposited on beaches. ¤ Reviewed 

and provided comments on NRCS Gulf of 

Mexico Initiative which will impact Gulf 

Islands. ¤ Funded Dauphin Marine Laboratory to measure the impacts of oil on seagrass beds at GUIS. ¤

Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and 

Preserve (Louisiana) Assisted staff with 

development of emergency restoration 

proposal for the DWH Oil Spill. ¤ Assisted 

staff in obtaining funding for canal restoration project; visited and reviewed the ongoing project as well as data indicating that 

hydrology is improving and reverting to a 

natural regime. ¤

Kings Mountain National Military Park 

(South Carolina) Conducted stream geomorphology/stability assessment. ¤

Little River Canyon National Preserve 

(Alabama) Published final Natural Resource Condition Assessment. ¤

Mammoth Cave National Park (Kentucky) Reviewed and provided comments 

on draft FONSI for Green River Ferry 

Crossing. ¤

Alligators at Cypress Swamp, 

Natchez Trace Parkway (Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee). NPS 

COLLECTION
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix B National Park Service B.29

Natchez Trace Parkway (Mississippi, 

Alabama, Tennessee) Provided comments 

and recommendations on the Natchez 

Trace Multi-Use Trail Segment Wetland and 

Floodplain SOF which proposed to construct additional trails along the parkway 

and will impact several acres of wetlands 

and floodplain habitat. ¤ Visited and examined Bogue Chitto wetland mitigation site 

with Natchez Trace staff and contractors. 

¤ Reviewed plans for wetland mitigation 

and Statement of Work. ¤ Reviewed and 

provided comments on Draft Biological Assessment. ¤ Uploaded water quality data to 

STORET from the 2007–2009 Level I Water 

Quality Inventory conducted by the Gulf 

Coast Network. ¤

Obed Wild and Scenic River (Tennessee)

Assisted park in evaluating instream impacts 

of the proposed Lake Tansi Water Harvesting project. ¤ Drafted Section 7 determination in partnership with park staff for the 

Corps of Engineers. ¤ Worked with park to 

determine potential impacts of pesticide use 

to control the hemlock woolly adelgid invasion. ¤ Attended the annual meeting of the 

Cumberland Habitat Conservation Plan Science Advisory Committee. ¤ Provided comments for the proposed water monitoring 

agreement with the city of Crossville. ¤

Salt River Bay National Historical Park 

& Ecological Preserve (St. Croix, Virgin 

Islands) Partnered with NOAA to develop a 

benthic habitat map. ¤

Shiloh National Military Park (Tennessee, Mississippi) Reviewed and commented on Collection Management Plan. ¤

Virgin Islands National Park (Virgin Islands) Reviewed and provided comments 

on Draft General Management Plan. ¤ Reviewed and provided comments on Little 

Cruz Bay pier replacement. ¤ Provided 

baseline water quality data inventory and 

analysis report data and advised on discrepancies in data content between legacy 

STORET and the STORET/WQX Data 

Warehouse. ¤

Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin 

Islands Coral Reef National Monument 

(Virgin Islands) Funded a project to identify links between VICR and VIIS and among 

various habitat types by studying the movements of fish species. ¤

Wekiva Partnership Wild and Scenic 

River (Florida) Served as agency lead for 

Wekiva River consultation under Section 

7(a) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Leveraged technical support for visual assessment from MWRO. Helped plan and lead 

a bridge-design charette with Florida DOT, 

Federal Highways, and others. Coordinated 

correspondence with project proponent. 

Assisted in drafting, reviewing, and finalizing EA for the Wekiva WSR Comprehensive 

River Management. ¤

Appalachian Highlands Network Provided review and recommendations on 

mapping characteristics and how to import 

network spreadsheets into NPSTORET. ¤

Cumberland–Piedmont Network Uploaded all water quality data through 2010 

from NPSTORET to STORET for fourteen 

network parks. ¤

Gulf Coast Network Uploaded all water 

quality data through 2010 from NPSTORET 

to STORET for eight network parks. ¤

Southeast Coast Network Assisted with 

the import of nutrient and sediment data 

into NPSTORET. ¤

Green turtle with baitfish, Virgin 

Islands National Park (Virgin Islands). NPS/CAROLINE ROGERS
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix C National Park Service C.1

Appendix C

Publications, Posters, Presentations, and Webinars

PUBLICATIONS

Adema, G., D. Vana-Miller, and D. Weeks. 

2011. Resource Stewardship Strategy Pilot 

Review. Natural Resource Report NPS/

NRSS/NRR—2011/412. National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. Denver. 35 pp.

Asch, T. H. and D. Sweetkind. 2011. Case 

history—audiomagnetotelluric characterization of range-front faults, Snake Range, 

Nevada. Geophysics 76, no. 1: B1–B7.

Back, J. T. 2011. Geochemical Investigation 

of the Madison Aquifer, Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota. Natural Resource 

Technical Report NPS/NRPC/WRD/

NRTR—2011/416. National Park Service, 

Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. 

Fort Collins. 50 pp.

Back, J. T. and B. Noble. 2010. Executive 

Summary in Regards to an Application by 

Arbuckle Aggregates, LLC for an Oklahoma 

Non-Coal Mining Permit. Testimony read 

into the record by CHIC Superintendent at 

the Oklahoma Department of Mines Informal Public Conference, December 2, 2010. 

National Park Service, Water Resources Division, Fort Collins. 2 pp. 

Back, J. T. 2010. Final Report on the Application by Arbuckle Aggregates, LLC for 

an Oklahoma Non-Coal Mining Permit. 

Submitted as Exhibit to the Oklahoma Department of Mines at the Informal Public 

Conference, December 2, 2010. National 

Park Service, Water Resources Division, 

Fort Collins. 11 pp. 

Brookins, K. and J. Cross. 2011. Use of 

Marine Recreational Fishery Information 

in Planning and Management at Fire Island 

National Seashore. National Park Service, 

Natural Resource Stewardship and Science. 

Chafey, J. F. 2011. Groundwater records 

for Water Year 2007 for Station No. 

343022096565701, Chickasaw National 

Recreation Area–West Observation Well. 

National Park Service, Water Resources Division, Fort Collins.

Chafey, J. F. 2011. Groundwater records 

for Water Year 2008 for Station No. 

343022096565701, Chickasaw National 

Recreation Area–West Observation Well. 

National Park Service, Water Resources Division, Fort Collins.

Chafey, J. F. 2011. Groundwater records 

for Water Year 2009 for Station No. 

343022096565701, Chickasaw National 

Recreation Area–West Observation Well. 

National Park Service, Water Resources Division, Fort Collins.

Chafey, J. F. 2011. Streamflow records 

for Water Year 1990 for Station No. 

363031116501501, Nevares Springs near 

Cow Creek. National Park Service, Water 

Resources Division, Fort Collins.

Chafey, J. F. 2011. Streamflow records 

for Water Year 1991 for Station No. 

363031116501501, Nevares Springs near 

Cow Creek. National Park Service, Water 

Resources Division, Fort Collins.

Cross, J. N. 2011. Seafloor mapping in the 

National Park System. Ranger 27, no. 2:11.
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix C National Park Service C.2

Cutillo, P. A., and J. D. Bredehoeft. 2011. Estimating aquifer properties from the water 

level response to Earth tides. Ground Water 

49, no. 4:600-610.

Cutillo, P. A. 2010. Review of Sustainable 

Yield Determination for the Keauhou Aquifer System–Island of Hawaii, November 

9, 2010. National Park Service, Water Resources Division, Fort Collins. 14 pp.

Cutillo, P. A. 2011. Recalculated sustainable 

yield for the Keauhou and Waimea Aquifer 

Systems–Island of Hawaii, August 17, 2011. 

National Park Service, Water Resources Division, Fort Collins. 5 pp.

Cutillo, P. A. 2011. Review of Kaloko Makai 

Draft Environmental Impact Statement, 

September 16, 2011. National Park Service, 

Water Resources Division, Fort Collins. 

8 pp.

Gable, C. A. 2011. Discharge record 

for Water Year 2003 for Station No. 

362629116495601, Travertine Springs in 

Furnace Creek Wash. National Park Service, 

Water Resources Division, Fort Collins.

Gable, C. A. 2011. Discharge record 

for Water Year 2007 for Station No. 

362727116501401, Texas Springs in Furnace 

Creek Wash. National Park Service, Water 

Resources Division, Fort Collins.

Gable, C. A. 2011. Discharge record 

for Water Year 2008 for Station No. 

362727116501401, Texas Springs in Furnace 

Creek Wash. National Park Service, Water 

Resources Division, Fort Collins.

Gable, C. A. 2011. Groundwater record for Water Year 2007 for Station No. 

362532116172701, Devils Hole. National 

Park Service, Water Resources Division, 

Fort Collins.

Gerber, G. 2011. Streamflow records for 

water years 2006 through 2009 for Station 

No. 363031116501501, Nevares Spring near 

Cow Creek, Death Valley National Park. 

National Park Service, Water Resources Division, Fort Collins.

Halford, K. J., and R. Plume. 2011. Potential 

effects of groundwater pumping on water 

levels, phreatophytes, and spring discharges 

in Spring and Snake valleys, White Pine 

County, Nevada, and adjacent areas in 

Nevada and Utah. U.S. Geological Survey 

Scientific Investigations Report 2011—5032. 

52 pp. plus Appendices A through H, including supporting MODFLOW files.

Harte, J. J. 2010. Water Right Protects Great 

Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. 

Park Science 27, no. 2 (Fall): 26–27.

Hughes, J. C. 2011. Preliminary analysis in 

regard to application for beneficial water 

use permit no. 30049990-76I for Camp 

Winnakee, LLC. 4 pp.

Hughes, J. C. 2011. Preliminary analysis in 

regard to application for beneficial water 

use permit no. 30050285-76LJ for Andrew 

Hollensteiner. 4 pp.

Hughes, J. C. 2011. Preliminary analysis in 

regard to application for beneficial water 

use permit no. 30050668-76LJ for James F. 

Hollensteiner. 4 pp.

Hughes, J. C. and M. Hall. 2011. Glacier National Park—Water Rights Branch objection 

policy review and estimation of water consumptively used in the North and Middle 

forks, Flathead River, based on applications 

for beneficial use permits from January 1, 

1994, through February 11, 2011. DRAFT 

report. 9 pp.

Hughes, J. C., and M. Ohms. 2011. NPS 

water systems monitoring at Wind Cave National Park, summary of monitoring efforts. 

4 pp.
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix C National Park Service C.3

Johnson, R. H., E. DeWitt, L. Wirt, L. R. 

Arnold, and J. D. Horton. 2011. Water and 

rock geochemistry, geologic cross sections, 

geochemical modeling, and groundwater 

flow modeling for identifying the source of 

groundwater to Montezuma Well, a natural 

spring in central Arizona. U.S. Geological 

Survey Open-File Report 2011—1063. 

62 pp.

Long, A. J. and J. Valder. 2011. Multivariate 

analyses with end-member mixing to characterize groundwater flow: Wind Cave and 

associated aquifers. Journal of Hydrology 

409:315–327.

McCreedy, C. 2011. NPS divers galvanize 

efforts to conserve ocean parks. Ranger

27, no. 2:13–14.

National Park Service. 2011. Outstandingly 

remarkable values, Missouri National Recreation River, Nebraska and South Dakota. 

National Park Service. 27 pp.

National Park Service. 2011. Outstandingly 

remarkable values, Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River, Texas. National Park Service. 

27 pp.

Page, W. R., D. Scheirer, V. Langenheim, and 

M. Berger. 2011. Revised geologic cross sections of parts of the Colorado, White River, 

and Death Valley regional groundwater 

flow systems, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

2006—1040. Revised June 2011. 25 pp, plus 

one oversized plate.

Thoma, D. P., R. J. Irwin, and P. E. Penoyer. 

2011. Documenting measurement sensitivity and bias of field-measured parameters 

in water quality monitoring programs.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 

published online (DOI: 10.1007/s10661-

011-2347-5):1–12.

Weeks, D., P. Malone, and L. Welling. 2011. 

Climate Change Scenario Planning: A tool 

for managing parks into uncertain futures. 

Park Science 28, no. 1 (Spring): 26–33.

POSTERS

Asch, T. H. and D. Sweetkind. 2011. Geophysical characterization of range-front 

faults, Snake Valley, Nevada. U.S. Geological 

Survey, Geologic Discipline, Denver, CO. 

Nevada Water Resources Association Annual Conference. Reno, NV.

Cantor, J. 2011. A Bathymetric View of Water Resources in our National Parks. The 

2011 George Wright Society Conference on 

Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites. 

New Orleans, LA.

Curdts, T. 2011. Cumulative Shoreline 

Length and Marine Area in Ocean, Coastal, 

and Great Lakes Parks. The 2011 George 

Wright Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites. New Orleans, LA.

Curdts, T. 2011. Seabed classification Maps 

for Golden Gate National Recreation Area: 

Example of a Successful Partnership in 

Marine Benthic Mapping. The 2011 George 

Wright Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites. New Orleans, LA.

Curdts, T. 2011. Shallow-water Benthic 

Habitat Maps for St. John, US Virgin Islands: Example of a Successful Partnership 

in Marine Benthic Mapping. The 2011 

George Wright Society Conference on 

Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites. 

New Orleans, LA.

Curdts, T. and J. Cross. 2011. Mapping Submerged Resources in Ocean, Coastal, and 

Great Lakes Parks. The 2011 George Wright 

Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites. New Orleans, LA.

Sweetkind, D. S. 2010. Geology and groundwater flow, southern Snake and Hamlin 

valleys, Nevada. U.S. Geological Survey, 

Geologic Discipline, Denver, CO. Snake 

Valley SNPLMA hydrology project. Public 

Progress Meetings. Ely and Baker, NV.
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix C National Park Service C.4

Sweetkind, D. S., R. W. Plume, and T. H. 

Asch. 2011. Geologic and geophysical characterization of basin-fill deposits, southern Snake and Hamlin valleys, Nevada. 

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Geologic 

Discipline, Denver, CO, and USGS Water 

Resources Discipline, Carson City, NV. Nevada Water Resources Association Annual 

Conference. Reno, NV.

PRESENTATIONS

Asch, T. H. and D. Sweetkind. 2011. Geophysical characterization of range-front 

faults, Snake Valley, Nevada. U.S. Geological 

Survey, Geologic Discipline, Denver, CO. 

Written abstract (one page) and poster (one 

oversized sheet) presented at Nevada Water 

Resources Association annual conference. 

Reno, NV.

Brookins, K. 2011. Marine recreational angler finfish catch records from the National 

Parks. NRSS All-hands Meeting. Fort Collins, CO.

Cross, J. 2010. NPS Ocean and Coastal Resources. Ranger Rendezvous. Bend, OR. 

Cross, J. 2010. NRSS Resource Stewardship 

and Science Directorate. Ranger Rendezvous. Bend, OR.

Cross, J. 2011. Carrying capacity and management of river recreation in Grand Canyon National Park. 1st U.S.–Chile Bilateral 

Workshop on Management of Land and 

Marine Protected Areas. Valparaiso, Chile. 

Cross, J. 2011. Management of natural and 

cultural resources along the Colorado River 

in Grand Canyon National Park. 1st U.S.-

Chile Bilateral Workshop on Management 

of Land and Marine Protected Areas. Valparaiso, Chile. 

Cutillo, P. A. 2010. An inconvenient park: 

urban development and resource protection 

at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical 

Park. Colorado State University. Fort Collins, CO.

Cutillo, P. A. 2011. Will Hawaii’s sustainable 

yield protect traditional Native Hawaiian 

practices in Kaloko-Honokōhau National 

Historical Park? The 2011 George Wright 

Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites. New Orleans, LA.

Cutillo, P. A. 2011. The water-level response 

to natural stresses—signal or noise? University of Colorado. Boulder, CO.

DiDonato, E. 2011. Raising the bar for 

water quality in coastal parks. The 2011 

George Wright Society Conference on 

Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites. 

New Orleans, LA.

Halford, K. J. 2011. Effects of groundwater development—not that uncertain. U.S. 

Geological Survey, Nevada Water Science 

Center, Carson City, NV. Nevada Water 

Resources Association Annual Conference. 

Reno, NV. 

Hatch, C. E., D. Prudic, T. Jackson, K. 

Dotson, and S. Tyler. 2011. Surface watergroundwater interactions in a Great Basin 

mountain-front stream: Example from 

Snake Creek, Great Basin National Park. 

University of Nevada, Reno, Department of 

Geological Sciences and Engineering. Nevada Water Resources Association Annual 

Conference. Reno, NV.

Hatch, C. E., D. Prudic, S. Tyler, T. Jackson, 

and K. Dotson. 2011. Looking at streambed 

seepage in Great Basin, Nevada, streams: 

What multiple methods tell us about surface 

water–groundwater interactions. University 

of Nevada, Reno, Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering. Geological 

Society of American Annual Meeting. Minneapolis, MN.

Justet, L., J. Paces, and L. Beard. 2011. Determining the nature of groundwater flow 

in Black Canyon, below Hoover Dam, Lake 

Mead National Recreation Area. U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Discipline, 

Henderson, NV. Nevada Water Resources 

Association Annual Conference. Reno, NV.
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix C National Park Service C.5

McCreedy C. 2011. Marine stewardship in 

ocean parks: Perception is reality. Coastal 

Zone 2011. Chicago, IL. 

McCreedy C. 2011. Stress management for 

ecological and visitor impacts from climate 

change in ocean parks. Concurrent session chair. The 2011 George Wright Society 

Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and 

Cultural Sites. New Orleans, LA.

Prudic, D. E. 2010. Proposed action for 

work within Great Basin National Park. 

University of Nevada, Reno. Snake Valley 

SNPLMA hydrology project. Public Progress Meetings. Ely and Baker, NV.

Prudic, D. E., C. Hatch, D. Sweetkind, T. 

Jackson, K. Dotson, K. Halford, and R. 

Plume. 2010. Understanding the connection 

between water resources in Great Basin National Park and aquifers in southern Snake 

Valley–Snake Creek drainage. University of 

Nevada, Reno, and U.S. Geological Survey. 

Snake Valley SNPLMA hydrology project. 

Public Progress Meetings. Ely and Baker, 

NV.

Prudic, D. E., D. Sweetkind, C. Hatch, and 

R. Plume. 2011. Evaluating connection of 

aquifers to springs and streams, Great Basin 

National Park and vicinity, Nevada. University of Nevada, Reno, and U.S. Geological 

Survey. Snake Valley SNPLMA hydrology 

project. Public Progress Meetings. Ely and 

Baker, NV.

Van Liew, W. P. 2010. Groundwater study in 

Snake Valley, progress overview: National 

Park Service. Snake Valley SNPLMA hydrology project. Public Progress Meetings. 

Ely and Baker, NV.

Weeks, D. P. 2011. The National Park Service’s use of scenario planning. Concurrent 

session: Climate Change Scenario Planning: 

Different Perspectives on Preparing for an 

Uncertain Future. The 2011 George Wright 

Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites. New Orleans, LA.

WEBINARS

Eva DiDonato of the Ocean and Coastal 

Resources Branch began producing webinars (web-based presentations) in 2009 to 

address priority topics of our ocean, coastal 

and Great Lakes parks. The webinars are 

posted at http://www1.nrintra.nps.gov/wrd/

oceans/webinars.cfm

Bagstad K., Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow, Research Economist, USGS. 2011. 

Ecosystem services in decision making for 

public lands: Applications and tools for 

BLM and beyond. 

Cross, J. 2010. Submerged Resources Inventory, Pacific Ocean Educators Team. 

Curdts, T. 2011. Water strider or ocean liner? How do you estimate shoreline length? 

Or did you mean coastline? 

Curdts, T. 2011. GIS Activities in the Ocean 

and Coastal Resource Branch, Parks GIS 

Group. 

Lepore R., Attorney, DOI Office of the 

Solicitor; and J. Brunner, NPS Policy and 

Regulatory Specialist, Geologic Resources 

Division. 2011. Recreational and commercial fishing jurisdiction. 

Lepore, R., Attorney, DOI Office of the 

Solicitor; J. Brunner, NPS Policy and Regulatory Specialist, Geologic Resources Division; and J. Eshleman, Coastal Engineer, 

Geologic Resources Division. 2011. Coastal 

sediment jurisdiction & design toolbox. 

Prudhomme, C. and B. Thompson, Interns, 

Chicago Botanic Gardens. 2011. What We 

Know about Marine Invasive Species in our 

Parks. 
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix D National Park Service D.1

Appendix D

2011 Staff

OFFICE OF THE DIVISION CHIEF

Bill Jackson Division Chief, PhD in Hydrology. Specialty areas include sedimentation 

processes, fluvial geomorphology, and river 

assessment, restoration, and management.

Sharon Kliwinski Water Resources Washington Liaison, BS in Environmental and 

Pollution Sciences. Specialty areas include 

environmental legislation and regulations, 

natural resource policy issues, and mining 

laws, policies, and programs.

Debi Cox Program Analyst, EEO Counselor, BA in Anthropology. Specialty areas 

include coordination of interagency and cooperative agreements and project funding. 

Kris Parker Lead Administrative Assistant, 

EEO Counselor, AA in History. Specialty 

areas include conference and meeting planning and coordination, PMIS, and report 

coordination and editing.

Carol Liester Purchasing Assistant. Specialty areas include procurement, property 

management, and GSA vehicles.

Laura Pascavis Archivist, Web Developer, 

MA in Archival Science, MA in Historical 

Archeology.

Glenn Patterson Colorado State University 

Research Associate serving as advisor to the 

NPS Water Resources Division for USGS 

Water Activities. Specialty areas include hydrology, water quality, sedimentation, and 

program coordination.

OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCES 

BRANCH

Jeffrey Cross Branch Chief, PhD in Marine 

Fisheries, MS and BS in Zoology. Speciality 

areas include marine and freshwater ecology, fisheries biology, and natural resource 

management.

Karl Brookins Marine Fisheries Scientist, 

PhD in Fishery Science, MS in Oceanography, BS in Marine Biology. Specialty areas 

include marine fishery and estuarine science.

Eva DiDonato Marine Pollution Ecologist, 

MS and BS in Biology. Speciality areas include water quality and marine and estuarine ecology.

Cliff McCreedy Marine Management Specialist, BA in Political Science with career 

emphasis on regulatory and ocean policy. 

Specialty areas include marine resource 

management and planning, marine protected areas, coral reefs, coastal watershed 

assessment, and interagency marine partnerships.

Thom Curdts GIS and Remote Sensing 

Specialist, MS in Forest Sciences (GIS/RS 

program). Specialty areas include GIS analysis, natural resource mapping, image analysis, and data management.

Jeremy Cantor Colorado State University 

GIS Technician, MS in Natural Resources 

Stewardship–Spatial Information Systems, 

BA in Geography. 
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix D National Park Service D.2

PLANNING AND EVALUATION 

BRANCH

Jeff Albright Acting Branch Chief, NRCA 

Program Coordinator, MS in Watershed 

Management. Speciality areas include hydrology data collection and data management protocols, watershed assessments, and 

integration of science and policy in resource 

protection/restoration programs.

Kevin Noon Wetland Specialist, PhD in 

Wetland Ecology. Specialty areas include 

wetland evaluation, management, restoration, and regulatory issues.

Joel Wagner Wetlands Program Team Leader, MS in Environmental Science (Water Resources). Specialty areas include wetlands 

science, hydrology, restoration, and regulatory issues. 

John Wullschleger Fisheries Program Team 

Leader, MS in Fish and Wildlife Science. 

Specialty areas include freshwater invertebrates, marine intertidal biota, fluvial ecology, and stream habitat restoration. 

Carl Nicolas (Nic) Medley Fisheries Biologist, MS in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. 

Specialty areas include freshwater fisheries, 

aquatic ecology, ecotoxicology, and geomorphology.

Jeff Wagner Fisheries Biologist (SCEP), BS 

in Aquatic Biology with a minor in Fisheries 

Biology. Specialty areas include native fish 

restoration and stream habitat restoration.

David Vana-Miller Water Resources Planning Program Team Leader, MS in Marine 

Biology. Specialty areas include water 

resources planning, aquatic and marine 

resources management, water quality, and 

measures of biotic integrity.

Don Weeks Hydrologist, MS in Geology 

(Hydrogeology). Speciality areas include 

water resources management planning, 

groundwater monitoring, and wetland management.

Lael Wagner Administrative Assistant.

WATER OPERATIONS BRANCH

Gary Rosenlieb Branch Chief, Water Quality Program Team Leader, MS in Water 

Resources. Specialty areas include water 

quality (chemistry and microbiology), 

groundwater quality, and hazardous materials management.

Gary Smillie Hydrology Program Team 

Leader, Hydrologist/Hydraulic Engineer, 

MS in Civil Engineering. Specialty areas include flood frequency analysis, open channel hydraulics, floodplain management, and 

sediment transport.

Dean Tucker Information Management 

Program Leader, Natural Resource Specialist, PhD in Forestry. Specialty areas include 

data management and reporting, hydrographic analysis, computer graphics, and 

water resources applications in GIS.

Larry Martin Hydrogeologist, MS in Hydrology. Specialty areas include groundwater management, groundwater modeling, 

surface water/groundwater interactions, water supply development, and source water 

protection.

Pete Penoyer Hydrogeologist, Associate in 

Hazardous Materials, MS in Geology, Professional Degree in Hydrogeology. Specialty 

areas include groundwater analysis, groundwater contamination, site assessments under CERCLA, and water quality monitoring.

Rick Inglis Hydrologist, BS in Watershed 

Science. Specialty areas include field hydrologic data collection and analysis, watershed 

condition and riparian zone assessment and 

management, and stream restoration.

Michael Martin Hydrologist, MS in Watershed Science, BS in Environmental Geology. 

Specialty areas include open channel flow, 

geomorphology, flood analysis, wetlands hydrology, geochemistry, and water quality.
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix D National Park Service D.3

Roy Irwin Senior Contaminants Specialist, 

PhD in Biology. Specialty areas include environmental contaminants, ecological/biological aspects of water quality, monitoring 

study design and development, measurement uncertainty, and QA/QC issues.

Mike Matz Colorado State University Research Associate, Water Quality Database 

Manager, MS in Civil Engineering. Specialty 

areas include water quality planning and 

management, inventory and monitoring, 

and data analysis.

Paula Galloway Colorado State University 

Research Associate, NPSTORET Database 

Project, PhD in Chemical Engineering.

Caroline Goughis Colorado State University Research Associate, STORET Database 

Project, MS in Marine Sciences.

Jia Ling Impaired Waters Database Manager, BS in Wildlife Biology, MS Candidate 

in Forest Science. Specialty area is GIS.

WATER RIGHTS BRANCH

Bill Hansen Branch Chief, MS in Hydrology. Specialty areas include water rights 

policy and protection, surface water hydrology, and Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Dan McGlothlin Supervisory Hydrologist, Monitoring and Enforcement Program 

Leader, BS in Watershed Hydrology. Specialty areas include water rights establishment and protection and water resources 

policy.

Jennifer Back Hydrologist, MS in Watershed Science. Specialty areas include surface water and groundwater interactions 

and stable isotopes.

Paul Christensen Hydrologist, MS in Geology. Specialty areas include hydrogeology, 

water resources, and water rights.

Paula Cutillo Hydrologist, PhD in Hydrogeology. Specialty areas include subsurface 

hydrodynamics and hydrogeologic modeling.

Chris Gable Hydrologist, BS in Watershed 

Science. Specialty areas include surface water hydrology, field methods, instrumentation, and data analysis.

Gwen Gerber Hydrologist, MS in Geology. 

Specialty areas include hydrogeology and 

surface water data collection.

James Harte Hydrologist, BS in Forestry/

Watershed Sciences. Specialty areas include 

surface water hydrology, sediment transport, and watershed management.

Jeff Hughes Hydrologist, MS in Watershed 

Sciences. Specialty areas include water 

rights and surface water hydrology.

Eric Lord Water Rights Specialist, JD, MS 

in Forestry, BS in Mineral Land Management. Specialty areas include water rights 

policy, validation, and investigation.

Bill Van Liew Hydrologist, MS in Groundwater Engineering/Environmental Hydrogeology. Specialty areas include groundwater 

hydrology and groundwater/surface water 

interactions.

Mark Wondzell Hydrologist, MS in Agricultural Engineering. Specialty areas include 

water rights, surface water hydrology, and 

riparian ecology.

Joseph Chafey Hydrologic Technician, BS 

in Natural Resource Management with a 

minor in Watershed Science. Specialty areas 

include groundwater and surface water data 

processing.

Kathryn Converse SCEP Hydrologist, BS 

in Earth Sciences, MS Candidate in Anthropology, International Development. Specialty areas include groundwater and surface 

water data collection and processing.
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix D National Park Service D.4

Sharla Stevenson SCEP Hydrologist, PhD 

Candidate in Watershed Science. Specialty 

areas include hydrologic modeling and geographic information systems.

Maria Brandt Colorado State University 

Student Assistant, BS Candidate with double major in Forestry and Natural Resources 

Management.

Alyssa Fenzel Colorado State University 

Student Assistant, BS Candidate in Environmental Health.

Mallory Hall Colorado State University 

Student Assistant, BS Candidate in Geology 

with a minor in Watershed Sciences.

Flora Romero Colorado State University 

Administrative Assistant, AA in Business. 

Specialty area is water rights quantification 

and protection projects.

AQUATIC PROFESSIONALS FIELD 

STAFF

Jalyn Cummings Intermountain Region 

Hydrologist, MS in Watershed Management. Specialty areas include water quality, 

geomorphology, and watershed management.

Marie Denn Pacific West Region Aquatic 

Ecologist, MS in Environmental Science 

and Management, BS in Zoology. Specialty 

areas include wetland and riparian area restoration, management, and monitoring.

Jeff Duncan Southeast Region Fisheries 

Biologist.

Alan Ellsworth Northeast Region Hydrologist, MS in Watershed Science. Specialty 

areas include watershed impacts, atmospheric deposition, general hydrology, snow 

hydrology, water quality, and water science 

and policy.

Colleen Filippone Intermountain Region 

Hydrologist, MS in Hydrology and Water 

Resources. Specialty areas include groundwater, unsaturated zone hydrology, and 

water quality.

Mark A. Ford Southeast Region Wetland 

Ecologist, PhD in Wetland Ecology. Specialty areas include wetland evaluation, 

plant ecology, restoration, disturbance, and 

regulatory issues.

Jay Glase Midwest Region Fisheries Biologist.

Brenda Moraska Lafrancois Midwest 

Region Aquatic Ecologist, PhD in Ecology 

(Fishery and Wildlife Biology). Specialty 

areas include water quality, invasive species, 

Great Lakes coastal resources, and effects of 

atmospheric deposition.

Amy Larsen Alaska Region Aquatic Ecologist, PhD in Botany. Specialty areas include 

wetland ecology, high latitude hydrology, 

permafrost, wetland vegetation, and lake 

ecosystem dynamics.

Gary Karst Pacific West Region Groundwater Hydrologist.

Paul Kennard Pacific West Region Geomorphologist, MS in Geophysics (glaciology). Licensed Engineering Geologist and 

Hydrogeologist. Specialty areas include 

analyses of hillslope and fluvial geomorphology, including glaciology, debris flows, 

and flood protection.

Patricia Rafferty Northeast Region Marine 

Ecologist.

Melissa Trammell Intermountain Region 

Fisheries Biologist.

Dan Young Alaska Region Fisheries Biologist, MS in Fisheries Science. Speciality 

areas include salmonid ecology, freshwater 

fish biology, salmon enumeration, and radio 

telemetry.
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix E National Park Service E.1

Appendix E

Acronyms and Abbreviations

PARK ACRONYMS

ACAD Acadia National Park

ALAG Alagnak National Wild River

ANIA Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve

APIS Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

ASIS Assateague Island National Seashore

BAND Bandelier National Park

BIBE Big Bend National Park

BICA Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

BICY Big Cypress National Preserve

BLCA Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

BOWA Booker T. Washington National Monument

CAHA Cape Hatteras National Seashore

CALO Cape Lookout National Seashore

CARL Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site

CATO Catoctin Mountain Park

CHAT Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

CHIC Chickasaw National Recreation Area

CHIS Channel Islands National Park

CHOH Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park

COLO Colonial National Historical Park

CONG Congaree National Park

CRLA Crater Lake National Park

CUIS Cumberland Island National Seashore

CURE Curecanti National Recreation Area

CUVA Cuyahoga Valley National Park

DEVA Death Valley National Park

DEWA Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

DINO Dinosaur National Monument

EVER Everglades National Park

FIIS Fire Island National Seashore

FRSP Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park

GOGA Golden Gate National Recreation Area

GRBA Great Basin National Park

GRPO Grand Portage National Monument

GRTE Grand Teton National Park

GUMO Guadalupe Mountains National Park

HAVO Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

HOBE Horseshoe Bend National Military Park
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix E National Park Service E.2

HOSP Hot Springs National Park

ISRO Isle Royale National Park

JOTR Joshua Tree National Park

KAHO Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

KATM Katmai National Park & Preserve

KEMO Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield

LABE Lava Beds National Monument

LACL Lake Clark National Park & Preserve

LAKE Lake Mead National Recreation Area

LAVO Lassen Volcanic National Park

LIBI Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

MANZ Manzanar National Historic Site

MISS Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

MOCR Moores Creek National Battlefield

MOJA Mojave National Preserve

MORA Mount Rainier National Park

NEPE Nez Perce National Historical Park

NOCA North Cascades National Park Complex

OCMU Ocmulgee National Monument

PAAL Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park

PAIS Padre Island National Seashore

PARA Grand Canyon–Parashant National Monument

PETE Petersburg National Battlefield

PETR Petroglyph National Monument

PIRO Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

PORE Point Reyes National Seashore

ROMO Rocky Mountain National Park

SACN Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway

SAIR Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

SAJH San Juan Island National Historical Park

SAND Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

SLBE Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

THRO Theodore Roosevelt National Park

TIMU Timucuan Ecological and Historic National Preserve

UPDE Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River

VICR Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument

VIIS Virgin Islands National Park

VOYA Voyageurs National Park

WABA Washita Battlefield National Historic Site

WHSA White Sands National Monument

WICA Wind Cave National Monument

YOSE Yosemite National Park

YUCH Yukon–Charley Rivers National Preserve

ZION Zion National Park
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix E National Park Service E.3

ABBREVIATIONS

ADP Automated Data Processing

ALERT Automated Local Elevation in Real Time

AKR Alaska Region

AMT Audio–Frequency Magneto–Telluric

ASMFC Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

AT Appalachin Trail

BAER Burned Area Emergency Response

BERA Baseline Environmental Risk Assessment

BLM Bureau of Land Management

BOR Bureau of Reclamation

BRMD Biological Resource Management Division

CAP Corrective Action Plan

CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

CESU Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units

CMECS Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard

CSU Colorado State University

DBFIT Delaware Basin Federal Implementation Team

DCP Development Concept Plan

DEIS Draft Environmental Impact Statement

DEM Digital Elevation Model

DOE Department of Energy

DOI Department of the Interior

DOT Department of Transportation

DWH Deepwater Horizon

EA Environmental Assessment

EDP EQuIS Data Processor

EIS Environmental Impact Statement

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

EQuIS Environmental Quality Information System

FMO Fire Management Officer

FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact

FSWCD Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District

GIS Geographic Information System

GPRA Government Performance and Results Act

GRD Geological Resources Division

GRLI Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

GVR Gros Ventre River

HEC-RAS Hydrologic Engineering Centers River Analysis System

HIS Hydrographic and Impairments Statistics

HWL High Water Level

I&M Inventory and Monitoring

IMR Intermountain Region

IRMA Integrated Resource Management Applications
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix E National Park Service E.4

IT-TAG Information Technology Technical Advisory Group

LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging

LLR Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation

LUST Leaking Underground Storage Tank

MHW Mean High Water

MLLW Mean Lower Low Water

MNRG Midwest Natural Resources Group

MOJN Mojave Desert Network

MRIP Marine Recreational Information Program

MsCIP Mississippi Coastal Improvement Program

MT DEQ Montana Department of Environmental Quality

MWR Midwest Region

MWRO Midwest Regional Office

NCBN Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network

NCR National Capital Region

NEPA National Environmental Protection Act

NER Northeast Region

NFHP National Fish Habitat Partnership

NHD National Hydrographic Dataset

NHP National Historical Park

NHS National Historic Site

NM National Monument

NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NP National Park

NP&P National Park and Preserve

NPDES National Pollution Discharge Elimination System

NPres National Preserve

NPS National Park Service

NPSEDD National Park Service Electronic Data Deliverable

NPSTORET National Park Storage and Retrieval

NRA National Recreation Area

NRAG Natural Resources Assessment Group

NRCA Natural Resource Condition Assessment

NRCS Natural Resources Conservation Service

NRDA Natural Resource Damage Assessment

NRM Natural Resource Management

NRPC Natural Resource Program Center

NRPP Natural Resource Preservation Program

NRSS Natural Resource Stewardship and Science

NS National Seashore

NSF National Science Foundation

NWIS National Water Information System

NWS National Weather Service

OCRB Ocean and Coastal Resources Branch

ONRW Outstanding National Resource Waters
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments: Appendix E National Park Service E.5

PCB Polychlorinated Biphenyl

PEB Planning and Evaluation Branch

PEIS Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

PFC Proper Functioning Condition

PIB Planning and Information Branch

PIT Passive Integrated Transponder

PMIS Project Management Information System

PRP Potential Responsible Party

PSP Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning

PWR Pacific West Region

RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

RMP Resource Management Plan 

ROMN Rocky Mountain Network

RSS Resource Stewardship Strategy

SER Southeast Region

SERO Southeast Regional Office

SMUMN Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

SNWA Southern Nevada Water Authority

SOF Statement of Finding

SOL Office of the Solicitor

STORET STOrage and RETrieval

TDS Total Dissolved Solids

TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load

TWG Technical Working Group

UNR University of Nevada, Reno

USAID U.S. Agency for International Development

USFWS U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

USFS U.S. Forest Service

USGS U.S. Geological Survey

WASO Washington Support Office

WOB Water Operations Branch

WRB Water Rights Branch

WRD Water Resources Division

WSOF Wetlands Statement of Finding

WSR Wild and Scenic River

WXQ Water Quality Exchange

YIP Youth-in-Parks

YSI Yellow Springs Instruments
Water Resources Division Summary of FY 2011 Accomplishments National Park Service 51

Foggy Daybreak at Ponca 

Access, Buffalo National River 

(Arkansas). NPS/DALE DOMBROWSKI 

Water Resources Division 

SUMMARY OF FISCAL YEAR 2011 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

National Park Service

Director Jonathan B. Jarvis 

Natural Resource Stewardship and Science

Associate Director Bert Frost

Deputy Associate Director for 

Budget and Policy Beth Johnson 

Deputy Associate Director for 

Operations and Program Support George Dickison

Published electronically at www.nature.nps.gov/water/wrdpub.cfm

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources 

and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The National Park Service cooperates with 

partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and 

outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.