Publications
Together with the Integration and Application Network (IAN) the NCR Vital Signs project has produced a variety of publications. They synthesize scientific findings using effective science publications techniques. Most are available for download (PDF) by clicking on the PDF icon 
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acre adjacent agricultural assessment battlefield bisect boundaries boundary canal catoctin climate coastal creek deciduous deer degradation ecological ecosystems environmental exotic ferry flooding geology george habitat hardwood health hemlock integrated integrity invasive manassas meadow memorial monitoring monocacy northern nps ohio overabundant overpopulation park parkway patches performing physiographic piedmont pollution potomac preserved prince protects recreational reporting river scenic southwest streams threats war water quality watershed wetlands workshop
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Rock Creek Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment (Report) 
Produced by the NPS National Capital Region Network and the Integration & Application Network.
Rock Creek Park (ROCR) is a forest and wetland oasis in the heart of Washington, D.C. A National Park Service natural resource condition assessment (NPS NRCA) was conducted using two synthetic frameworks: 1) an ecological monitoring framework, and 2) a habitat monitoring framework. Data metrics and thresholds were determined and monitoring data applied. This report is the result of the assessment and can be used by park management who are faced with many ecological challenges as a consequence of its urban surroundings.
** print copies are available - if you would like a copy, please send your name and mailing address to hawkey@umces.edu. **
Watershed condition assessment for Rock Creek Park in the National Capital Region (Presentation)
National Parks Service: Water Resource Division - Aquatic Professionals meeting. Fort Collins, Colorado, Feb 2008
This 50 slide presentation presents preliminary results for an ecosystem assessment of the status of Rock Creek National Park. The park is a forested oasis in a rapidly developing urban landscape and hence has a multitude of pressures, however maintains a range of ecosystem services. The presentation provides a habitat framework as a potential mechanism to assess multiple and diverse landscapes.
Measuring the Health of our National Parks: Rock Creek Park (Newsletter)
May 2007
The Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program has subdivided the 270 National Park units with significant natural resources into 32 Networks. All of the parks within a Network share similar natural resource challenges. The purpose of these Networks is to conduct long-term resource monitoring. The National Capital Region Netwok (NCRN) consists of 11 parks within Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. These parks were established for their cultural and recreational value; however, they provide important natural oases in an increasingly urban context.
National Capital Region Network Regional Overview (Poster)
December 2006
This poster series outlines the work of the National Capital Region Network's (NCRN) Inventory and Monitoring Program. The program's role is to monitor the status and trends of the parks, their vital signs and development pressures. Park vital signs monitoring is designed to inform managers of the condition of water, air, plants and animals, and the various ecological, biological, and physical processes that act on those resources. These site-specific data will provide parks the information needed for ecologically sound management of the natural resources.
Antietam National Battlefield (Poster)
December 2006
Antietam National Battlefield is managed within the historical context of General Robert E. Lee's first invasion of the North during the Civil War. The 1,926 acre park is located in the heart of Maryland and is surrounded by rolling hills dotted with farm fields and pastures reminiscent of the day of battle. Patches of forest, open meadow, streams, and cropland are found within the park. It is the park managers' challenge to understand how all these natural elements work together to achieve the desired landscape along with managing for the highest quality of environmental protection.
Catoctin Mountain Park (Poster)
December 2006
Catoctin Mountain Park originated as a Recreation Demonstration Area in 1936 and is managed today for its recreational use and the conservation of its cultural and natural resources. The park encompasses 5,810 acres of mixed hardwood forest located in the mountains of the Catoctin Ridge in north-central Maryland. Two high-quality streams bisect the park and the unique three million year old geology forms a number of cliffs and scenic vistas. Management issues include the effects of white-tailed deer overpopulation, exotic invasive plants, gypsy moth, hemlock woolly adelgid, and dogwood anthracnose. Water quality degradation is also a concern as residential and agricultural activity increase along the park's boundary.
George Washington Memorial Parkway (Poster)
December 2006
George Washington Memorial Parkway was established to protect the scenic views along the Potomac River and its tributaries in the Washington, DC area. The park's 7,210 acres provide habitat for dozens of state-listed species of rare, threatened, or endangered plants and animals, many of which are associated with rare plant communities of the Potomac River Gorge. The Parkway is the most visited of the National Capital Region parks and the sixth most-visited unit in the National Park System, with over seven million recreational visits in 2004. This high human visitation results in management challenges. Development along and within the park's boundaries and the related introduction of invasive species threaten park resources.
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (Poster)
December 2006
The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park is the largest and longest park in the National Capital Region, stretching along the Potomac River for 184.5 miles from Washington, DC to Cumberland, MD. The park's 19,236 acres cut through four major physiographic provinces and include diverse wetlands, floodplain, and upland forests. Hundreds of historic structures are preserved as reminders of the Canal's role as a major transportation system during the Canal Era. Today, the Canal and tow path support a large variety of recreational opportunities, but also permit the rapid spread of exotic and weedy species.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (Poster)
December 2006
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park protects the historic town area and surrounding natural resources lands at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. Preserved structures and landscapes in the park tell of the historic role of the town and lands in the Civil War, African American history, manufacturing, and transportation and other historic events. The natural heritage of the park is equally rich, and over 70% of the park's 3,645 acres is covered with eastern deciduous forest. Changes in adjacent land use that may affect park resources (e.g., water quality, invasive species, deer population) are of primary concern to park management. Because of its unique location, flooding is also a major concern.
Manassas National Battlefield Park (Poster)
December 2006
Manassas National Battlefield Park was established to preserve the scene of two major Civil War battles. Much of the landscape retains its wartime character with a patchwork of open fields and woodlots scattered across gently rolling hills. The 5,073 acre park is located within the northern VA Piedmont, approximately 45 miles southwest of Washington, DC. Many surrounding lands are becoming residential and industrial developments. Major transportation corridors, including a busy road passing through and another running adjacent, impact the park resources. In addition, the overpopulation of white-tailed deer, the spread of exotic invasive species, and increased runoff are important natural issues for Manassas National Battlefield Park.