Federal Partner: National Park Service

Integrating Geospatial Capacity with Management and Operations in NPS Interior Region 1

Project Description: The goals of this project are to develop core geospatial functionality
and content for NPS Interior Region 1 (IR1) parks and programs to support park operations & management, federal geospatial mandates, and contributions to Servicewide datasets for wide, public access.

The project aims to develop authoritative geospatial data for the National Parks of IR1, along with web tools for creating and managing this data, and related applications to enhance park operations, management, resource protection, and interpretation. Additionally, it seeks to enable contributions from NPS IR1 to Servicewide datasets, which will aggregate into comprehensive geospatial datasets accessible across the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI), ultimately benefiting public use. The initiative will also provide guidance and technical support to NPS IR1 staff to ensure effective collaboration in achieving these objectives.

Lead Principal Investigator: Yeqiao Wang, University of Rhode Island

Partner Institution: University of Rhode Island

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: David Gadsby

Start Year: 2024

End Year: 2025

Initial Funding Amount: $114,802.81

Federal Grant Number: P24AC02126

IRA Coastal Marsh Resilience and Adaptation

Project Description: To plan for inevitable future changes to coastal marshes and guided
by the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) and other planning frameworks, park managers need to draw upon the best available scientific information in order to identify potential interventions for marshes themselves as well as likely impacts to other natural and cultural resources and infrastructure as a result of marsh and coastal system changes, and how to prepare for and possibly mitigate those impacts. This project will provide
guidance to park managers to make informed, science-based, decisions regarding marsh conservation, restoration and migration planning with input from federal, state and local agencies, Tribal Nations, universities, non-government organizations, community partners and other collaborators (hereafter referred to as Collaborators), using available data, tools and other information for nine Northeast National Park Service (NPS) units. Existing science products and foundational climate and monitoring data will be synthesized and applied in the process, along with inputs from Collaborators and qualitative judgements captured through workshops. The synthesis, including options for pro-active adaptation planning and management, along with planning and implementation insights, will be shared across the project team and with the broader community and public.

The overarching purpose of this project is to inform planning and
decision-making at nine NPS units to assist with the prioritization, implementation and evaluation of salt marsh management actions. For each of the nine units, engagement, interactions and information sharing will be conducted to: 1) identify coastal marsh areas and their key ecological and socio-economic benefits, 2) assess vulnerabilities of coastal
marshes and other natural and cultural resources and infrastructure given climate change projections and develop potential options for pro-active management and planning to minimize and/or mitigate potential impacts, 3) summarize other ongoing projects associated with the broader Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Northeast marsh resilience project and, where possible, evaluate ongoing restoration efforts to incorporate results and lessons learned into guidance for future efforts, and 4) broadly communicate and
develop a variety of outreach materials for this project as it progresses.

To reach a broad audience for the nine units, from Virginia to Maine, the project team will employ a multi-faceted approach to manager and Collaborator engagement, and provide continuous interactions to build strong and sustained relationships. Three sub-regional workshops will be held near the beginning and end of the four-year performance period, to bring together managers and Collaborators to share insights, strengths, costs, benefits, and challenges of planned or implemented marsh RAD and other approaches and support NPS managers in developing unit-level plans and actions and encouraging more landscape-level salt-marsh conservation planning. The Recipient will provide wide- reaching, regular communications and information sharing through a combination of email, video conferences, webinars, social media, cloud sharing and a project website, and a comprehensive final report will provide a synthesis of all information gathered and present science-based options to support managers in developing park-level approaches for achieving both region-wide and individual unit goals, share related research and
workshops, highlight new insights, discuss lessons learned and develop informed guidance for future projects.

Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. John Walsh, University of Rhode Island

Partner Institution: University of Rhode Island

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Brian Mitchell

Start Year: 2024

End Year: 2028

Initial Funding Amount: $323,943.34

Federal Grant Number: P24AC02112

Amendments

  • Amendment Number: 01, Year: 2024, Amount: $349,876.58

Assessing Salt Marsh Migration Areas for Northeast Coastal National Parks

Project Description: Salt marshes throughout the Northeast are getting wetter or tending toward submergence. The loss of salt marshes can negatively affect the important socio-ecological functions provided by these marsh ecosystems (e.g., soil carbon sequestration, storm surge and flood buffering, and habitat for at-risk fish and wildlife species). One strategy for protecting salt marsh resources is to facilitate the natural process of landward marsh migration in response to sea level rise (SLR). High-resolution migration modeling, with consideration of anthropogenic constraints or validation of such models using field survey data, is lacking for national parks in the northeast, and existing migration models are of limited value for developing strategies to plan for natural marsh migration and/or facilitate marsh migration within northeastern parks. The proposed research would analyze salt marsh migration potential at the highest resolution possible at nine coastal
NPS parks. Fieldwork will be conducted to develop data for model validation at selected parks, and results of the work will inform climate change-related planning and management while also providing the basis for facilitated migration planning

Salt marshes and adjacent coastal landscapes are high visibility NPS resources, which receive high visitor use and have engaged interest from many partners and stakeholders. Materials produced as part of marsh migration study will improve the knowledge of the condition and projected changes to these important public resources to increase public understanding and enjoyment and indirectly promote scientifically sound management and spatial planning decisions within park boundaries.

This project would involve three primary tasks including: modeling
marsh migration, evaluating anthropogenic constraints to marsh migration, and
evaluating the results of the marsh migration models. Salt marsh migration will be modeled with the Sea Level Affecting Marsh Migration (SLAMM) tool using the best available data for each park, and for sea level rise scenarios to be determined during the study. Areas adjacent to existing salt marshes will be evaluated for anthropogenic constraints to marsh migration based on land use and land cover, infrastructure, park management zoning, and parcel ownership (e.g. public vs. private). Results of the anthropogenic constraint assessment will be combined with the potential expansion areas based on the modeling results to provide more realistic assessments of the potential for salt marsh migration. Available field-surveyed elevation data for the marshes within the parks, along with new field surveys conducted for a subset of parks, will be used to evaluate the accuracy of the DEMs and ground slope in marsh and upland settings and determine the effectiveness of our DEM “cleaning” method. SLAMM models will be run with the best refined DEM and slope products, and Monte Carlo simulations will be run to provide a level of confidence for the migration models.

GIS datasets and mapping of potential marsh migration areas in and around the parks along with an assessment of anthropogenic and management constraints as provided by this study will provide important insights into the likely pathways along which salt marshes will migrate naturally. This information is critical in planning for changes to the landscape related to sea level rise, and essential data for selecting potential routes to facilitate migration and conserve the socio-ecological services these marshes provide as sea level rise and we lose existing marsh area

Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. Jason Parent, University of Rhode Island

Partner Institution: University of Rhode Island

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Brian Mitchell

Start Year: 2024

End Year: 2027

Initial Funding Amount: $299,999.99

Federal Grant Number: P24AC02109

Supporting NPS Efforts to Improve Operational Resiliency of Coastal Parks

Project Description: The goals of the project are to advise NPS staff and contractors on conceptual climate change adaptation planning for vulnerable sites and resources that can be set to engage with park stakeholders and Tribal governments, inform agency decision makers, and fulfill compliance requirements prior to damage caused by a major storm event; and provide support on development of a process to allow or facilitate a proactive shift into alternative management strategies that may include such actions as changing use and/or access to certain resources, new or expanded models for shared stewardship of sites, and divestment or discontinuance of active management and repair of resources.

The expected objectives and outcomes are to 1) share lessons learned
with NPS staff, contractors and external researchers on experience from task agreement P18AC01352 to plan for the resilience and adaptation of facilities, including historic structures and visitor use amenities via a webinar presentation and discussion; 2) advise on development of a classification rubric on wise investment decisions for public facilities and pilot park applications and 3) advise on perspectives gained from the established
integrated (across natural resources, cultural resources and facilities) coastal climate change vulnerability assessment method developed by URI and NPS.

Lead Principal Investigator: , University of Rhode Island

Partner Institution: University of Rhode Island

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Brian Mitchell

Start Year: 2024

End Year: 2027

Initial Funding Amount: $45,035.13

Federal Grant Number: P24AC01904

Assess Spread of Beech Leaf Disease and Subsequent Changes in Forest Composition at MORR

Project Description: This project involved monitoring the beech forests at Morristown National Historical Park to assess the progression of beech leaf disease, canopy loss, and changes in forest composition, including the impact of invasive plants and the regeneration of native species. Additionally, management recommendations will be developed to mitigate the adverse affects of declining beech forests. The initiative also aims to provide Rutgers students with hands-on experience in scientific data collection and analysis.

Lead Principal Investigator: Jean Epiphan, Rutgers University

Partner Institution: Rutgers University

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Bob Mason

Start Year: 2024

End Year: 2027

Initial Funding Amount: $24,000.00

Federal Grant Number: P24AC01829

Assess Amphibian Road Mortality and Develop Management Response in Acadia National Park

Project Description: The goal of this project is to understand amphibian road crossing and morality in Acadia National Park.This project will inform scientists, the public, and park managers about risks to amphibians and potential measures to reduce mortality of amphibians where they currently cross roads.

This project will coordinate a citizen-science volunteer initiative to conduct nighttime road surveys for amphibian activity, with surveys occurring from early spring until late fall of two consecutive years. Combining the survey data with GIS layers, weather data, and traffic data, the project will create a park-wide map of vulnerability and identify opportunities to reduce amphibian morality.

Roadway morality poses a substantial threat to the survival of amphibian populations, particularly in rural landscapes bisected by roadways such as in Acadia National Park. Acadia hosts at least 12 species of salamanders and frogs, which are a critical part of the local ecosystem and part values, and several of these species have faced local declines in recent decades. This project will generate a set of resources which can be used to reduce morality of amphibians on roadways within Acadia.

Lead Principal Investigator: Dr. Noah Charney, University of Maine

Partner Institution: University of Maine

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Abe Miller-Rushing

Start Year: 2024

End Year: 2027

Initial Funding Amount: $24,793.00

Federal Grant Number: P24AC01109

Identifying factors preventing recovery of eelgrass from large declines in Cape Cod Bay of Cape Cod National Seashore to inform management actions

Project Description: This project will involve close collaboration among CCS researchers and NPS scientists and managers at Cape Cod National Seashore (CACO) and the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network (NCBN). The collaborative scientific analysis will enhance our understanding of seagrass resources throughout Cape Cod National Seashore and provide up-to-date scientific insights to inform coastal resource management decisions across the region.

The Recipient will collect and analyze new and existing data in
support of assessing seagrass resources in and around Cape Cod National Seashore. The results will be provided by Recipient to NPS. Through scientific collaboration among various project partners, including the Recipient and NPS, the seagrass and ancillary data will be integrated to assess the condition and integrity of Cape Cod National Seashore seagrass resources, and to understand and evaluate opportunities for seagrass restoration.

Lead Principal Investigator: Cathrine Macort, Center for Coastal Studies

Partner Institution: Center for Coastal Studies

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Sophia Fox

Start Year: 2024

End Year: 2025

Initial Funding Amount: $192,617.00

Federal Grant Number: P24AC00906

Postdoctoral Fellowship for Jessica Scott

Project Description: The project aims to enhance public programming and community engagement for the Springfield Armory by providing research, technical assistance, and educational resources to the National Park Service (NPS). Key activities include gauging community interest to foster public support for Armory activities, developing ideas for utilizing historic archival resources in programming, and exploring potential grant funding opportunities. The initiative will also involve outreach through a compliant survey to gather feedback from Springfield residents about their desires for exhibits and programs. Additionally, an Indigenous history track will be developed in curation, programming, or archives. The project will support the Armory staff in creating original programming focused on Armory workers and their families, as well as collaborate with interpretive and cultural resources staff to plan and promote events that connect Armory stories to the community. This includes recruiting performers, scholars, and re-enactors, while ensuring effective marketing and social media outreach to maximize public participation.

The project involves developing a survey for local Springfield residents to gather insights about their relationships with the Springfield Armory, followed by obtaining necessary approvals and distributing the survey to collect results. Collaborating closely with the park Archivist, we will explore the Armory’s collections, including oral histories and records from the Northeast. Additionally, we will plan and promote a weekend of activities aimed at celebrating Armory workers, recruiting participants and designing thematic programs that engage both workers and their families.

Lead Principal Investigator: Alene Denson, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Partner Institution: University of Massachusetts Amherst

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Amy Glowacki

Start Year: 2024

End Year: 2025

Initial Funding Amount: $24,000.00

Federal Grant Number: P24AC00862

Interactive Online Map for National Park Service Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem

Project Description: In 2020, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory (UMCES-AL) as host institution of the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CW CESU) developed a new Projects Database to track and administer all projects routed through the CW CESU (view active projects from database). In subsequent years, UMCES-AL and the CW CESU Research Coordinator were able to improve the accuracy of the database by referencing historical files and adding projects missing from the database or by updating projects with digital copies of the agreements or adding previously unrecorded modifications. This Projects Database could be of further benefit to managers and other stakeholders if the information from the database could be viewed spatially across the landscape on a map, allowing land managers across the National Park Service (NPS), as well as from other Federal agencies, to view and track activities in various locations within their own management units or within the region. We plan to leverage the information already available from the Projects Database to develop an interactive map that displays project locations. Users would be able to view additional information about each project by clicking on a project’s icon on the map. The project information displayed on the map would be filterable with conditions like year, discipline (natural, cultural, or social), NPS region/park, partner institution, principal investigator,
etc.

UMCES-AL will develop an interactive online map hosted on the CW CESU website
that queries the Projects Database and displays NPS project information dynamically across the landscape. It will also incorporate the ability to filter and color code the information by facets described above. Because geographic coordinates have not been recorded for CESU projects, the first phase will require review of NPS projects funded since January 2020 and any new projects initiated during the project term to derive geographic
coordinates for each project location and incorporate that information into the database along with any other filterable information not already recorded in the database (National Park, state). Following augmentation of the data, UMCES-AL will use R-Shiny and Leaflet to develop an embeddable map with dashboard. After this stage, UMCES-AL will solicit feedback from NPS stakeholders to improve the map. When it is ready to be deployed, it
will be embedded on the CW CESU website, which would be the final deliverable for the agreement.

Lead Principal Investigator: Katie Kline, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

Partner Institution: University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Danny Filer

Start Year: 2024

End Year: 2026

Initial Funding Amount: $20,108.00

Federal Grant Number: P24AC00740

Inventory Bats to Inform Building and Tree Management in Minute Man National Historical Park

Project Description: Roosting sites are important features of summer habitat for most bat species in New England. Bats can roost in groups or solitary. Groups of bats are often maternity colonies for raising young. Solitary roosting can be during the day or for short resting periods during night-time foraging. Males are more likely to be found solitary roosting. Tree snags and loose bark are the common roost types, yet tri-colored bats tend to roost within clusters of dead leaves. Bats may also use man-made structures such as building (both attics and basements), with little brown bats and big brown bats regularly occurring in buildings.

MIMA resource managers need information on the presence of bats at the park to inform the mitigation and timing of potential building removal (17 structures), hazard tree removal near park trails and required regulatory consultations. Understanding which species are likely to be present in these areas would allow more tailored project timing and appropriate mitigation according to the life histories of these species. There is need to determine how frequently and when bats are using these specific habitat features within the park.

The goal of this project will be to assess bat species presence within Minute Man National Historical Park and enhance understanding of how bats are using specific habitat features within the park. The park needs presence/absence information for bats for the areas noted above: sites of future
building demolitions (17 anticipated) and major trails and adjacent public areas subject to hazard tree management (approximately 5 linear miles). While bat surveys have not been conducted in the park, spatial data on wetlands, vegetation, buildings and trails can be provided.

Lead Principal Investigator: Tracy Rittenhouse, University of Connecticut

Partner Institution: University of Connecticut

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Federal Agency Technical Contact: Lisa Nelson

Start Year: 2024

End Year: 2026

Initial Funding Amount: $51,931.12

Federal Grant Number: P24AC00645