North Coast and Cascades Network

Inventory and Monitoring Program

The Inventory and Monitoring Program is a major component of the National Park Service’s strategy to improve park management through greater reliance on scientific information. 

Vitial Signs Monitoring Plan`
[4.5mb PDF File]

The North Coast and Cascades Network is composed of seven park units including three, large, predominantly natural areas (Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and North Cascades National Park Service Complex) and four, smaller, predominantly historic areas (Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, San Juan Island National Historical Park , Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve, and Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. Olympic National Park is a World Heritage Site and a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve.

The goals of Inventory and Monitoring networks are:

• inventory the natural resources and park ecosystems under National Park Service stewardship to determine their nature and status;
• monitor park ecosystems to better understand their dynamic nature and condition, and to provide reference points for comparisons with other, altered environments;
• establish natural resource inventory and monitoring as a standard practice throughout the National Park system;
• integrate natural resource inventory and monitoring information into National Park Service planning, management, and decision making;
• share accomplishments and information with others and form partnerships for reaching common goals and objectives. >> read more about our network