Shenandoah National Park is a natural oasis in the densely populated Mid−Atlantic region. Thus, the park is an important refuge for both wildlife and people, but its location in the midst of urban, suburban, and agricultural development exposes it to threats including air pollution, water degradation, land use change, and alteration of biological communities. In order to understand and minimize these threats, park staff gather data about natural resource conditions and trends as part of the National Park Service's Mid−Atlantic Inventory and Monitoring Network.