Freshwater Resources Management

Roles and Resposibilities

Aquatic resources management in the NPS is a responsibility shared among staffs of the parks, regional offices, and the Washington Office Natural Resources Directorate.

The Director of the National Park Service establishes and approves servicewide water resources policies and standards. The Director is ultimately responsible for establishing water resources programs that conserve natural resources unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations and for ensuring that such programs are in compliance with directives, policies, and laws.

The Associate Director, Natural Resources Stewardship and Science (ADNRSS), has functional authority, through the Natural Resources Program Center, for:

• developing policies and standards for the Director’s approval,
• developing programs and servicewide initiatives involving aquatic resource policy, planning, resource management, and research,
• providing policy oversight of NPS water resources programs, including evaluating the results of field performance in complying with directives, policies, and laws,
• providing oversight of natural resource funding that has been allocated to address aquatic resource issues.

The Natural Resources Program Center, primarily through the professional staff assigned to the Water Resources Division:

• formulates water resource policy recommendations,
• provides planning assistance and regulatory review,
• provides technical support in the identification, evaluation, and mitigation of existing and potential threats to park water quantity, water quality, aquatic resources and habitat,
• secures and protects NPS water rights and water resources,
• assists in floodplain and flood hazard analysis and delineation,
• provides guidance in the protection of aquatic and riparian habitats and in erosion and sediment control,
• maintains an updated water rights docket system for the National Park Service,
• locates and tests surface and groundwater sources for potable water needs,
• develops hydrologic methods and conducts watershed monitoring and research,
• develops and implements hydrologic and related physical and biological projects and studies in support of water resource needs,
• provides guidance and training in water resource management to regional and park personnel, and
• formulates and forwards policy recommendations and develops programs relating to NPS fisheries management and aquatic biota.

The regional director, through the regional water resource coordinator and support office natural resource staff :

• maintains current information pertaining to the status of water resources, water rights, and water resource issues affecting parks within the region,
• manages the regional water resources program, including coordinating water resource funding requests, technical assistance requests, and project prioritization for water resources projects that require Washington Office or regional support,
• participates in and, if necessary, coordinates the development of water resource management plans and the water resource component of natural resource management plans, and
• coordinates with the regional environmental compliance officer to ensure that water resources have been adequately addressed in required environmental compliance activities and document review.

The superintendent is responsible for water resources management within the park. The superintendent through the park natural resource management staff:

• identifies internal and external activities that may affect the park's aquatic resources or water rights,
• includes aquatic resources information and assessments in all appropriate resources management and planning activities,
• develops management alternatives and a preferred course of action in response to water resource issues,
• implements required or necessary inventory and monitoring activities, and water resources projects (as funded) identified in the park's natural resource management plan,
• coordinates park operational plans and activities with water quality management planning and implementation efforts of state and area-wide water quality management agencies to ensure that park facilities, operations, and activities are in compliance with applicable federal and state water pollution and water resources planning requirements,
• complies with all state laws and procedures regarding state-created water rights for the use of water on NPS lands, and
• cooperates with federal and state agencies in area-wide water management activities that may affect a park's water resources.