National Capital Region Network Regional Issues

Development pressures result in shared issues for NCRN management

All 11 parks of the National Capital Region Network (NCRN) have shared resources. Nearly all parks lie within the Potomac River watershed, which is experiencing some of the most rapid population growth and urban development in the country. The parks act as important refugia in conserving remnants of the rich natural heritage disappearing from the urbanized landscape. Vital Signs monitoring will facilitate the use of good science and data to make better decisions for managing parks confronted with the following shared issues.

The parks of the NCRN protect nationally and regionally important water , forest and grassland , wildlife , historic , and recreational resources. Development adjacent to park boundaries can have a significant impact on these resources by promoting exotic species invasions and the overabundance of native and pest species . On a regional scale, changes in land use intensity can influence spatio-temporal patterns in temperature , disease outbreaks , and air pollution . Regional changes in urban development or agriculture also can alter water quality and quantity through the addition of impervious surfaces , the loss of forest and grassland areas , and the release of chemical and biological pollutants . In addition, major transportation and utility corridors bisect many of the parks and can interrupt the natural flow of water, air, and biota. Priority Vital Signs have been selected to identify and understand changes in the valuable natural resources of the NCRN relative to these pressures.

Road corridors run around and through NCRN parks (MANA).

NCRN parks provide a respite for large urban populations (WOTR).

A high water event can lead to flooding and bank erosion (GWMP).