Upper Columbia Basin Network

Inventory and Monitoring Program

The Inventory and Monitoring Program is a major component of the National Park Service's strategy to preserve park natural resources "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

The Upper Columbia Basin Network is one of 32 "Vital Signs" Networks developed to help complete the National Inventory and Monitoring Program's objectives. The Upper Columbia Basin Network is composed of nine units managed by the National Park Service located in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. These units include: Big Hole National Battlefield (BIHO), City of Rocks National Reserve (CIRO), Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve (CRMO), Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument (HAFO), John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (JODA), Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (LARO), Minidoka Internment National Monument (MIIN), Nez Perce National Historical Park (NEPE), and Whitman Mission National Historic Site (WHMI).

The Goals of the I&M Program Are:

• Inventory the natural resources 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 that transcends traditional program, activity, and funding boundaries.
• Integrate natural resource inventory and monitoring information into National Park Service planning, management, and decision making.
• Share National Park Service accomplishments and information with other natural resource organizations and form partnerships for attaining common goals and objectives.