Production of Healthy Waterways journey e-book.

Chesapeake Bay has historically supported extensive bay grass (underwater grasses) meadows (>75,000 ha). However, water quality degradation from increased sediment and nutrient inputs has reduced the areal coverage and depth penetration of bay grasses, with one third of historical distributions remaining (21,648 ha; 1985-2004 mean). Chesapeake Bay underwater grasses are comprised of a variety of freshwater, brackish, and marine species.

Coastal Louisiana is home to the nation’s largest port complex in both tonnage and infrastructure, and produces or transports nearly one-third of the nation’s oil and gas supply. In addition, the coastal Louisiana ecosystem provides nationally-important fish and wildlife habitat that supports the nation’s second-largest commercial fishery and over $1 billion per year in recreational fishing and hunting revenues. All of these activities are supported in Louisiana because of the close proximity of its skilled workforce to the Gulf of Mexico.

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.

Resource managers and interpretive staff in the Pacific Island Network have partnered with IAN staff, students, educators, and cultural experts to develop an online module that explores our intricate connections to coral reefs and climate change. By synthesizing park science and integrating cultural knowledge, the module illustrates the coral ecosystems in the Pacific islands, the threats that climate change poses, and how changes to coral reefs may impact our daily lives. Input from local teachers and researchers ensures the accuracy and usability of these materials.

The National Oil Spill Commission, tasked by President Obama, to determine the root causes of the April 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, and to make recommendations on how to prevent such disasters in the future. Contracted by the Oil Spill Committee Action group, the staff at IAN worked closely with them to design and layout this important report. The goal was to assess by grade the progress made by the Administration, Congress, and the Oil Industry to implement recommendations made by the Commission.

The Northern Great Plains Network consists of 13 National Park Service park units from the Dakotas, Nebraska, and eastern Wyoming. The Inventory & Monitoring (I&M) Program provides guidance, funding, and technical assistance to complete a set of 12 baseline natural resource inventories for parks. These inventories serve as the baseline for establishing long-term ecological monitoring, known as "Vital Signs Monitoring." Conceptual diagrams are a useful tool for both synthesizing and communicating complex ecosystem processes and features, and illustrating the role of monitoring.

The National Park Service is carrying out assessments of the natural resource condition (NRCA) for nearly 300 of the National Parks throughout the country deemed to have significant natural resources.

As one of the largest Federal landholders in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, the Department of Defense's efforts towards the Chesapeake’s restoration and protection have exemplified the positive effects of interagency cooperation. This report provides a synthesis of the role the Department of Defense (DoD) has played in the Bay restoration effort. It outlines the specific commitments the DoD has made with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other Chesapeake Bay Program partners and identifies other DoD initiatives that support the Chesapeake Bay Program's efforts.