Series: Crystal Clear: A Call to Action

In 2016, the nation celebrates the centennial of the National Park Service (NPS) as the steward of special places that represent our natural and cultural heritage. Many national parks were founded on the beauty and value of water. Since the preservation of the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park in 1872, the National Park System has grown to include significant examples within majestic rivers, the Great Lakes, oceans and coasts, and other spectacular water resources.

• Anacostia Park

  Article 1: Crystal Clear: Anacostia Urban Waters Federal Partnership

  

  The Anacostia Urban Waters Partnership works with local stakeholder groups to understand their organizations and share how the federal agencies can support local goals and objectives. Read more

• Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve

  Article 2: Crystal Clear: Studying Mercury Deposition and Water Quality in Alaska

  

  While there are few local sources, mercury from coal burning in Asia is transported across the Pacific and onto the coast and into the interior of Alaska. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and the U.S. Geological Survey conducted a multi-year study to look at how much mercury is being deposited into the park and how it is being accumulated in the ecosystem of three adjacent drainage basins with different vegetation and wetland characteristics. Read more

• Assateague Island National Seashore

  Article 3: Crystal Clear: Restoring the Salt Marsh at Assateague Island

  

  Over 87 miles of ditches created during a 1930s-era effort to control mosquitoes have damaged the island’s salt marsh. The National Park Service is restoring the natural wetlands function of the salt marsh by filling the ditches with sand and replanting with native vegetation. Five hundred thirty acres are targeted for additional restoration adjacent to the only old-growth forest on the island, an area identified by the park as a priority zone for a proposed wilderness area. Read more

• Channel Islands National Park

  Article 4: Crystal Clear: Prisoners Harbor Coastal Wetland Restoration

  

  Non-native eucalyptus trees were introduced for horticultural and utilitarian purposes in the 1880s. When agricultural operations were abandoned, eucalyptus trees expanded and spread beyond their intended purpose. The park, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, recently restored this rare wetland by removing fill and reconnecting hydrology. Wildlife response to the restoration has been dramatic and immediate. Read more

• Rocky Mountain National Park

  Article 5: Crystal Clear: Occurrence, Sources, and Potential for Biodegradation of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Surface Water

  

  . A multi-year project was started to provide information to park managers about the ecological risks posed by endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) introduced to park waters primarily through air transport (deposition). Previous studies have demonstrated that EDC deposition, accumulation within fish and other animals, and endocrine disruption (hormonal changes) are significant in remote surface-water ecosystems of the park. Read more

• Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway

  Article 6: Crystal Clear: Occurrence and Effects of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in the St. Croix River

  

  The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 includes protection of the “outstandingly remarkable values” of the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers, which are included in the first eight designated wild and scenic rivers. The National Park Service (NPS) supports efforts to ensure these high-quality waters are not degraded by endocrine-disrupting or pharmaceutically active chemicals. Read more

• Yellowstone National Park

  Article 7: Crystal Clear: McLaren Tailings Restoration

  

  Soda Butte Creek downstream of the McLaren Tailings is listed by Montana as an impaired water body for contamination by toxic metals that exceed safe thresholds for aquatic life under the Clean Water Act. The tailings dam is located adjacent to Soda Butte Creek where high flows could erode and saturate the dam causing an unacceptable risk of dam failure. Read more

• Virgin Islands National Park

  Article 8: Crystal Clear: Nutrient Source Identification for Nearshore Reefs in Virgin Islands National Park

  

  Scientists have documented a decline in live coral at Virgin Islands National Park over the past few decades. This decrease has been from episodes of coral disease, intense storms, increased sea water temperatures, and damage from boats Read more

• Congaree National Park

  Article 9: Crystal Clear: Measuring the Occurrence, Sources, and Impacts of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Congaree National Park

  

  The primary objectives of the study are to (1) document the occurrence and distribution of EDC across a range of habitats, (2) document EDC impacts to local species, (3) document the potential for EDC reduction across a range of habitats by microcosm biodegradation experiments, and (4) identify possible methods to reduce EDCs at the source. Read more

• Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park

  Article 10: Crystal Clear: Evaluating Potential Water Quality Changes in Hawaii

  

  Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, on the west side of the island of Hawaii, was established in 1978 to preserve, interpret, and perpetuate traditional Native Hawaiian culture and activities. Vital to this mission are a variety of culturally and ecologically significant resources that are dependent on water. Read more

• Article 11: Crystal Clear: Installing Four Continuous Water Quality Monitors Near Delaware River Basin Marcellus Shale Development

  

  National Park Service Delaware River parks collaborated with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Science Centers in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey on a USGS/NPS Water Quality Partnership technical assistance proposal to install four continuous water quality monitors near Delaware River Basin Marcellus Shale development. This project was selected for funding in 2012. Read more

• Grand Canyon National Park

  Article 12: Crystal Clear: Implementing High-Flow Protocol for Nourishment of Beaches

  

  On November 18, 2012, the Department of the Interior began increasing the release of water in the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam for a high-flow experimental release (HFE) of approximately 42,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) for 24 hours. The goal of the high-flow experiment was to move sand a cumulated in the river channel and redeposit it to rebuild eroded sandbars and beaches in Grand Canyon National Park. Read more

• Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

  Article 13: Crystal Clear: Evaluating Water and Sediment Contamination and Accumulation in Biota

  

  During 2004 a total of 20 sampling sites were established at various locations such as marinas, inflow areas, and selected high-use sites. Preliminary results indicated that between 2004 and 2006 contaminants increased. These results provided baseline information for long-term monitoring and to document change over time. Read more

• Appalachian National Scenic Trail

  Article 14: Crystal Clear: Appalachian Trail MEGA-Transect Atmospheric Deposition Effects Study

  

  The Appalachian National Scenic Trail is a 2,184 mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally rich lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Much of the trail follows ridge tops, and these high elevation and ridge-top ecosystems are very sensitive to acidic deposition. Potential consequences of increased acidification include forest die-back and streams that are no longer able to support certain sensitive fish species. Read more

• Monocacy National Battlefield

  Article 15: Crystal Clear: Establishing Native Vegetation in Riparian Buffers on the Thomas Farm

  

  Park managers have shifted their restoration strategy to focus on replanting native vegetation. Replanting native shrubs and other low-growing plants along the stream banks will filter nutrients and sediments while shading and cooling surface waters. Since most of these streams did not have forested riparian zones at the time of the battle, replanting forest buffers—an effective method of water protection—would conflict with the historic scene. Read more

• Article 16: Crystal Clear: Assessing Coastal Water Quality in the Great Lakes with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

  

  In 2010 the NPS, in partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), evaluated Great Lakes water quality with national assessment criteria and compared water quality inside and outside park boundaries. Read more

• Chesapeake Bay

  Article 17: Crystal Clear: Chesapeake Bay Sentinel Site Cooperation

  

  The Chesapeake Bay region is currently experiencing some of the highest relative sea level rise rates reported within the United States. The Sentinel Site Cooperatives were initiated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to leverage existing information and data collection projects to address impacts of climate change of local, regional, and national significance. Read more

• Article 18: Crystal Clear: Algal Toxins in Surface Water at Great Lakes National Parks

  

  The National Park Service (NPS) and US Geological Survey (USGS) are evaluating algal toxins to help avoid negative health impacts for humans and aquatic life. Read more

• National Park of American Samoa

  Article 19: Crystal Clear: Assessment of Potential Contaminants from a Dump to an Adjacent Coral Reef Lagoon on the Island of Ofu

  

  The dump for the village of Ofu is adjacent to this world-class coral reef. The dump has been in operation since 1985 and contains trash buried in unlined pits with porous soils that may allow chemical leaks to the reef. These chemicals may be harmful to the coral reef and human health. Before now, there has never been a study to determine whether pollutants are moving from the landfill to the lagoon. Read more

• Lake Clark National Park & Preserve

  Article 20: Crystal Clear: Baseline Water Quality Data for the Chulitna River

  

  The lower 158 square miles of the river basin are within Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. In the upper 391 square miles of the basin, there are nearly 1,700 mining claims. Read more

• Article 21: Crystal Clear: Baseline Groundwater Quality in National Park Units Within the Marcellus and Utica Shale Gas Plays

  

  Approximately 35 National Park Service (NPS) units overlie or are in the vicinity of the Marcellus and Utica shale plays. Groundwater from a subset of these park units was sampled through an agreement between the NPS and the U.S. Geological Survey in order to establish pre-development (baseline) water quality conditions. This information will help the NPS evaaluate current water quality conditions and identify change that may occur over time. Read more

• Biscayne National Park

  Article 22: Crystal Clear: Baseline Aquatic Contamination and Endocrine Status in Resident Fish Populations of Biscayne National Park and Adjacent Coastal Wetlands

  

  A component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is rehydration of the coastal wetlands adjacent to Biscayne National Park. Before the planned rehydration of the wetlands begins, park managers need to understand the threats to the park’s resources from existing organic wastewater contaminant (OWC) levels in order to differentiate them from potential impacts from OWCs introduced by the rehydration. Read more