Monitoring and Studying the Effects of Atmospheric Deposition and Other Water Quality Threats to Parks in the North Coast and Cascades Network
Project ID: P13AC01053
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: Central Washington University
Fiscal Year: 2013
Initial Funding: $13,320
Total Funding: $13,320
Project Type: Research
Project Disciplines: Biological
National Park: Mount Rainier National Park
Principal Investigator: Johansen, Anne
Agreement Technical Representative: Samora, Barbara
Abstract: The mountain parks of the North Coast and Cascades Network (NCCN) span a gradient of urban influence, and a west-east precipitation gradient. Because of these gradients, network parks and areas within may respond differently to certain stressors (e.g., atmospheric deposition of contaminants), while responding similarly to others (e.g., global climate change). This collaborative project with Central Washington University (CWU) involves continuation of long-term monitoring of precipitation chemistry in Mount Rainier National Park (MORA)), and the analysis of surface water samples, to better understand the relationship between natural processes and perturbations. By sampling on a continuous basis with consistent techniques, changes in atmospheric deposition and other threats to high elevation ecosystems can be tracked over time. This project involves CWU students and technical oversight from faculty, with opportunities to analyze lake, stream, and precipitation samples and to develop a professional technical report on the project results.
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