Technical Guidance on Specific Topics by Discipline

Staff from the Natural Resource Program Center are developing protocols and technical guidance on specific topics to assist park networks in developing their monitoring program. The following materials are available, and will be updated and improved as new information becomes available:

Air Quality

• Download Guidance on Air Quality and Air Quality Related Values Vital Signs Monitoring


• Air Atlas - The Air Atlas is a GIS system that identifies air quality monitoring stations and air pollutant data for individual parks. It has been available for inventory purposes for some time, and continues to be improved on a regular basis. Because air quality monitoring is not done at all parks, the data is spatially interpolated. A lookup table that summarizes the estimated pollutant levels at all I&M parks is also available.

Air Quality Monitoring Website

• Ozone Monitoring Protocol


• Wet Deposition Monitoring Protocol


• Ozone Injury Assessment Handbook

Geologic Resource Monitoring

• Download Guidance on Geologic Monitoring for Vital Signs

Water Quality, Contaminants, and Aquatic Biology Vital Signs Monitoring

The Water Resources Division of NPS has developed a series of guidance documents to support the water quality and aquatic resource monitoring component of the Vital Signs Long-term Aquatic Monitoring Program. The latest WRD Guidance for Designing and Conducting Water Qality Monitoring is available on the WRD website, and includes the following key documents:

• Part A: Identification of priority impaired and pristine waters for the water quality vital signs monitoring component


• Part B: Planning Process Steps. Issues to consider and then to document in a detailed study plan that includes a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) and monitoring protocols (Standard Operating Procedures)


• Part B lite (Just the Basics) Review Checklist for Protocols and SOPs


• Part C: Draft guidance of WRD required and other field parameter measurements, general monitoring methods, and some design considerations in preparation of a detailed study plan


• Part D: Draft guidance on laboratory analytes/measurements and their consideration in preparation of a detailed study plan (Table of Contents / Possible Measured Parameters List only)


• Part E: Draft guidance on data reporting and archiving in STORET.


• Recommendations for Core Water Quality Monitoring Parameters: Final report from the freshwater workgroup subcommittee, August 15, 2002 (Final).


• Recommendations for Core Water Quality (Vital Signs) Monitoring Parameters for Marine and Coastal National Parks: Final Report from the marine/estuary workgroup subcommittee, August 7, 2003 (Final).


• Vital Signs Water Quality Data Management and Archiving

Biological Resources - Invasive Species

• Invasive Species Monitoring Website


• Guidance from 2002 Workshop on Inventory and Monitoring of Invasive Species in the NPS

Remote Sensing (including landscape dynamics)

• Landscape-scale and Remote Sensing Resources for Monitoring Programs