The new year portends progress in the scientific management of park natural resources as a result of the passage in November 2001 of the largest of three fiscal-year budgets to date in support of the Natural Resource Challenge. Added to previous annual base increases of $14.3 million in FY 2000 and $15.2 million in FY 2001, the $20 million increase in FY 2002 provides for continued gains in resource inventories and monitoring, management of native and nonnative species (including threatened and endangered), control of invasive species, water resource protection and restoration, and learning centers. The new funding also emphasizes air quality monitoring and resource restoration and protection.

The National Park Service negotiates water rights settlement agreements for Rainbow Bridge National Monument and Golden Spike National Historic Site in Utah. The agreements protect water resources, including an unnamed spring and Rainbow Bridge Creek at Rainbow Bridge and water supplies for public facilities and steam locomotive demonstrations at Golden Spike.

The Geologic Resources Division hosts a three-day workshop to develop protocols for the conduct of disturbed lands inventories and assessments in national parks. The multidisciplinary team of NPS experts attending the workshop drafts a streamlined inventory and assessment process to promote consistency while providing flexibility to meet park-specific disturbed land restoration needs.