Science in the Parks
San Francisco Bay Area Network
This page provides links to the various natural resource management and science programs of the National Parks in the San Francisco Bay Area. A monthly update highlights ongoing activities.
Long-Term Monitoring
The Inventory and Monitoring Program tracks a suite of high priority ecological indicators related to air and climate, water, ecosystems, and biological integrity. The status and trends of many of these vital signs have been summarized in executive briefings.
Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center
The Pacific Coast Science and Learning Center coordinates many research projects that cross park boundaries, including the Coastal Biophysical Inventory, Seafloor Habitat Mapping, Marine Protected Area Monitoring, and more. The center also creates summaries about these projects.
Park Nature and Science
To learn more about natural resources specific to individual park units, visit the Nature & Science pages for each park:
Golden Gate National Recreation Area Nature & Science
Inventory & Monitoring is working with park managers to track trends and changes in the park's natural resources. Golden Gate has a plethora of natural features and ecosystems as well as exciting animals and plants one may see while visiting the parks.
John Muir National Historic Site Nature & Science
John Muir National Historic Site preserves the Victorian home of the noted author and preservationist. Surrounded by almost 9 acres of fruit orchards and 326 acres of oak woodland, the site today is just a small piece of the original 2,600 acre ranch.
Muir Woods National Monument Nature & Science
The incredible diversity of flora and fauna at Muir Woods can be daunting some times, elusive at other times. Plants adapt to low light levels on the forest floor, while whole plant and animal communities bustle in the canopy above our heads.
Pinnacles National Monument Nature & Science
Pinnacles is a refuge for species representative of the central California coast not only because of its many ecological niches, but also because of its long-term protected status. Established in 1908, the monument encompasses about 26,000 acres in the Central Coast Range.
Point Reyes National Seashore Nature & Science
As wildland habitat is lost elsewhere in California, the relevance of the Point Reyes Peninsula increases as a protected area with a notable rich biological diversity.
Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
The Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit helps arrange collaborations between federal agencies and university partners on research projects that address natural and cultural resource management issues at multiple scales and in an ecosystem context.
Research Permit and Reporting System
The National Park Service provides a centralized website for potential investigators to apply for permission to conduct natural resource or social science field work within units of the National Park System. The investigators make available annual accomplishment reports and research summaries.