The Science (and Art) of a Successful Natural Resource Condition Assessment Project

1. The Science (and Art) of a Successful Natural Resource Condition Assessment Project Webinar 2 (of 2) to Introduce & Showcase National Park Service (NPS) Natural Resource Condition Assessments (NRCAs) Jeff Albright National Coordinator – NPS NRCAs August 30, 2012

2. NPS Natural Resource Condition Assessments (aka NR Condition Assessments or NRCAs) • Webinar 1 (August 23):Making the case • the “what and why” for NRCAs • guidance and products (intro) • linkage to other NPS programs • Webinar 2 (today):Making it work • guidance and products • highlights and good examples • keys to a successful outcome Both webinars will be recorded & posted to the NRCA web site

3. Today’s Presentations • NPS guidance & data sources, keys to success (Albright) • Highlights, perspectives, and examples from two experienced investigator teams: • University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science (presenter: Simon Costanzo) • Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, Geospatial Services (presenter: Shannon Amberg) • Q&A for all 3 presentations, group discussion

4. It is a dynamic time of change and uncertainty. Still, the basic questions haven’t changed. • What’s most important? • …what are the conditions? • …what are the condition influences? • …what are we doing, what are we planning to do? Similar questions have been raised before: 1) In the 1990’s to help justify NPS “Natural Resource Challenge” funding 2) at the 2003 GWS Meeting (“Integrating Science into Mgmt” session)

5. Natural Resource Condition Assessments (NRCAs) Evaluate current conditions for a subset of each park’s important natural resources. • Per guidance: • Use indicators and structured frameworks • Rely on existing data and expertise from varied sources • Identify or develop useful ‘reference’ conditions • Take a spatial approach to assessing conditions

6. How do we know it worked? Each NRCA results in a written report that: • Describes park setting, natural resources, and some existing resource management issues or concerns; • Provides credible reporting on current conditions (trend as possible) for the focal study resources/indicators; • Provides a more holistic interpretation or summary of overall condition findings by park areas and/or topics of management interest

7. Some NPS guidance and data sources • Air Quality Guidancesee “Condition Assessment” link at:http://nature.nps.gov/air/planning/index.cfm • Water Quality Data/Infosee multiple links at: • http://www.nature.nps.gov/water/waterquality/index.cfm • Coastal Watershed Condition Reports at NRCA page: • http://www.nature.nps.gov/water/nrca/coastalreports.cfm • Guidance/Examples for a “Landscape Condition Context” to be posted soon, at NRCA guidance page and I&M NPScape page: • http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/monitor/npscape/index.cfm • NPS Reports, Inventory & Other Data through the NPS Integrated Resource Management Applications (IRMA) portal at: • http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/datamgmt/IRMA.cfm

8. Keys to a successful NRCA project Not a comprehensive list, but a good start. • Good engagement (NPS PI Team) Investigators lead the study effort, NPS provides data, input, and review at critical points in the project timeline • Use a structured approach to assessment and reporting that conforms to national guidance, with study details tailored to address park setting and unique circumstances • Build credibility into the process and reporting products • by clearly documenting scoping discussions and decisions, data and methods used, critical data gaps, and level of confidence for resource/indicator level condition findings

9. Great Basin NPPhoto by Sarah Thomas NRCA website: http://nature.nps.gov/water/nrca/index.cfm