What We Do

When the howling started in predawn darkness, natural sound recordist Jacob Job signaled to his research assistant to stop. Wolves. Cold and crouched in snow in the remote backcountry of the park with microphones and recording gear to the ready, the Colorado State University (CSU) scientists waited and listened. Silence. Then … the stealthy sound of crunching footsteps approaching.

A new partnership began in October 2021 and supports science and stewardship activities that benefit both parks and their local communities. Over the next five years parks and their communities will collaborate to identify and address their scientific priorities. Projects in the first year will focus on water quality, marine biodiversity, and preservation of night skies.

The Inventory and Monitoring Division funded a project to study wetland habitats in Dinosaur National Monument, exploring their locations, conditions, and ecological roles. Data from this project will inform park management decisions and future updates to water rights.

The construction and successful operation of the Washington Aqueduct epitomizes the Army Corps of Engineers entry into the field of public works and reflects the military influence on civil life in antebellum America. The Washington Aqueduct, constructed over 150 years ago, still supplies the nation's capital with public water today.

St. Elizabeths Hospital, formerly known as the Government Hospital for the Insane, was the first federally-funded mental hospital in the country. In 1852, Congress established the Government Hospital for the Insane on 350-acres overlooking the Anacostia River in Southeast Washington. It would become an international model for psychiatric hospital design and a prominent center for mental health research during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

At Cuyahoga Valley National Park, an inventory of streams and their inhabitants is helping park managers understand and protect these vital waterways. The study revealed that most streams in the park are in good condition with minimal habitat damage. For the few streams facing challenges, conservation and restoration initiatives will help restore them to high ecological quality.

At Cuyahoga Valley National Park (NP), a rare plant inventory funded by the Inventory & Monitoring Division is helping park managers understand and protect the park’s hidden ecological gems. Researchers identified 98 rare plant species during this inventory.

Along coastlines, where the land meets the sea, is an area known as the intertidal zone -- the region between the lowest low tide and the highest high tide. How do relationships between organisms affect where different species are found, and how important are local environmental conditions in controlling the distributions of species? Drs. Jane Lubchenco and Bruce Menge, two marine ecologists, set out to answer these questions.

As a part of Big Thicket National Preserve's ongoing 50th anniversary celebration, the park is hosting a Science Symposium on May 18. Join us to hear from scientists conducting research in the Big Thicket.

As we reflect on 2024, we offer you a list of 24 interesting and exciting science and nature events from parks of the national park system. From awe-inspiring celestial events to celebrating anniversaries and conservation wins, 2024 was filled with amazing moments.