Monitoring

Knowing the condition of natural resources in national parks is fundamental to the National Park Service’s ability to manage park resources “unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Monitoring, in conjunction with natural resource inventories and research, provides the information needed for effective, science-based managerial decision-making and resource protection. Ecological monitoring establishes reference conditions for natural resources from which we can understand and identify change in complex ecosystems and determine whether observed changes in park resources are within historic levels of variability or may indicate unwanted influences. Understanding the dynamic nature of park ecosystems and the consequences of human activities is essential for management decision-making aimed to maintain, enhance, or restore the ecological integrity of park ecosystems and to avoid, minimize, or mitigate ecological threats to these systems.

The intent of the NPS Inventory and Monitoring Program is to track a subset of physical, chemical, and biological elements and processes of park ecosystems that are selected to represent the overall health or condition of park resources, known or hypothesized effects of stressors, or elements that have important human values or resource significance, known as “vital signs.” Go to the Vital Signs page for more information on the Mojave Network’s vital signs. This subset of resources and processes is part of the total suite of natural resources that park managers are directed to preserve. The information obtained through natural resource monitoring will have multiple applications for management decision-making, research, education, and promoting public understanding of park resources.

Three-Phase Approach

The development of network monitoring programs through the I&M program is done in three phases. This planning and design process ensures that monitoring will build upon existing information and understanding of park ecosystems and make maximum use of partnerships with other agencies and academia.

The Phase 1 Report describes the formation of the network Board of Directors and science/technical committees and the results of the work involved in summarizing existing data and understanding of the park ecosystems, defining monitoring goals and objectives, developing draft conceptual models, and other background work that should be done before the initial selection of vital signs.

The Phase 2 Report includes the results of scoping workshops and subsequent review to identify and initially prioritize potential vital signs for natural resource monitoring.

The Phase 3 Report (not yet available) involves more detailed design work needed to draft the full monitoring plan, including sampling design, sampling protocols, data management, data analysis and reporting, schedule, and budget. This may include a revision of priorities for vital signs monitoring to fit within budgets and to make efficient use of personnel once decisions on staffing and funding are made. The Mojave Network is currently developing the Phase 3 report, scheduled to be completed in December 2007.

Scheduled Timeline for Vital Signs Phases

Planning and Design Steps	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Information gathering and data cataloging	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	-
Inventories to support monitoring	-	X	X	X	X	X	-	-	-
Park scoping workshops	-	-	-	X	X	X	-	-	-
Conceptual modeling	-	-	-	-	X	X	X	-	-
Vital Sign prioritization and selection	-	-	-	-	X	X	-	-	-
Protocol development, monitoring design	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	X	-
Implement initial monitoring protocols	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Develop and implement remaining protocols	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Monitoring plan due dates	-	-	-	-	-	Phase 1 Sept. ‘05	Phase 2 Sept. ‘06	Phase 3 Dec. ‘07	Final Sept. ‘08