Project Types

Projects typically range from 1 to 3 years in duration and fall into one of three categories:

Technical Assistance Projects

One-year efforts for purposes of installation of instrumentation, training and quality assurance, scoping or limited synoptic water quality studies, or providing technical representation to the NPS requiring water quality expertise.

2023 Technical Assistance Projects

A Preliminary Gap Analysis of Gateway National Recreation Area Water-Quality Data to Inform Future Data Collection Efforts

Synoptic Projects

Two-year investigations of water quality to provide a timely assessment of aquatic conditions at selected locations and to evaluate the spatial relationships or contributions to those conditions, and/or to provide baseline data and information where little exists. The studies document status in water quality and may determine if management actions are achieving water quality objectives.

2023 Synoptic Projects

Restoration of the Sulphur Springs Geothermal Area, Valles Caldera National Preserve: Evaluation of surface water quality and geothermal resources before, during, and after restoration

High Resolution CO2 Measurements to Better Understand Visitor Impact on Cave Water Quality

Source and extent of mercury contamination in the South Slough of Redwood Creek to inform management action

A Nationwide Assessment of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on National Park Service Lands

Intensive Projects

Three-year investigations that entail in-depth study of park water quality. Designed to characterize known or suspected water quality problems, these projects also focus on understanding causes of contamination and the implications of water quality impairment to aquatic biota.

2023 Intensive Projects

Identification and Distribution of Toxigenic Benthic Cyanobacteria in Yosemite

Assessment of the Occurrence, Transport, and Fate of Wastewater Contaminants of Emerging Concern at Springs along the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

The Rusting of Arctic Rivers: Using orange streams to identify and assess degraded water quality caused by metal mobilization from permafrost soils