E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A A.T. MEGA-Transect Fred Dieffenbach, Environmental Monitoring Coordinator Appalachian National Scenic Trail National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Northeast Temperate Network

5 Federal Agencies 14 states 6 National Parks 6 I & M Networks 8 National Forests 30 Trail Clubs 70+ State & Local Jurisdictions Land Base E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Timeline Natural Resource Challenge launched A.T. proposed for environmental monitoring by Dr. Hank Foster A.T. environmental monitoring initiative (SAMAB & ATC) Northeast Temperate Network Staff (NETN) hired Vital signs selected for A.T ATC strategic plan identifies environmental monitoring ATPO & USFS pilot forest health monitoring program A.T. environmental monitoring symposium A.T. Environmental Monitoring Coordinator hired Centennial Challenge grant received A.T. Mega-Transect director hired E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Status and trends Improve decision making Encourage collaboration Promote public understanding Early detection Promote data sharing Turn data into knowledge E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A MEGA-Transect Objectives

Status and trends Improve decision making Encourage collaboration Promote public understanding Early detection Promote data sharing Turn data into knowledge Define normal limits of variation Suggest remedial measures Frame research hypotheses E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A MEGA-Transect Objectives

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A 12 Baseline Inventories  Natural resource bibliography  Base cartographic data  Geology map  Soils map  Weather data  Air quality  Location of air quality monitoring stations  Water body location and classification  Water quality data  Vegetation map  Species list of vertebrates and vascular plants  Distribution and status of high priority species

I & M Networks Northeast Temperate Eastern Rivers & Mountains Mid-Atlantic National Capital Appalachian Highlands Cumberland Piedmont E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Inventory Status Natural resource bibliographyComplete Base cartographic dataComplete Geology mapPending Soils mapPending Weather dataComplete Air qualityComplete Location of air quality monitoring stationsComplete Water body location and classificationIn Progress Water quality dataIn Progress Vegetation mapIn Progress Species list of vertebrates and vascular plantsPartial Distribution and status of high priority speciesPartial

Level 1Level 2Level 3Vital SignPriority Air and Climate Air Quality Ozone 6 Wet and dry deposition Acid Deposition6 Visibility and particulate matter Visibility and Particulate Matter 2 Climate ChangePhenology 1 WaterWater QualityWater chemistry Water Chemistry2 Biological Integrity Invasive SpeciesInvasive/Exotic plants Invasive Plants4 Focal Species or Communities Forest vegetation Forest Vegetation3 Birds Breeding Birds3 Mountain Birds1 Terrestrial communities High Elevation Vegetation5 At-risk Biota T&E species and communities Rare Species1 Human use Visitor and Recreation Use Visitor usage Visitor Usage and Impact2 LandscapesLandscape DynamicsLandscape dynamics Landscape Dynamics5 Vital Signs

Technology Data Requirements Cost Collaboration Opportunities Volunteer Coordination Capacity Balance & Sustainability E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Results Citizen Scientists Academic Researchers Cooperators Contractors Agency & NGO Staff Monitoring Protocols Atmospheric Deposition Phenology Forest Vegetation High Elevation Vegetation Invasive Species Landscape Dynamics Migratory Breeding Birds Mountain Birds Ozone Rare Species Visibility Visitor Use Water Quality How

Collaboration / Benefits A.T. creates a thread that links widely scattered locations (parks, forests, etc.) Exchange data and protocols Minimize cost Explore regional scale problems E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Existing Projects ProjectCooperatorStatus Vegetation MappingUSGS / NatureServe2017 Water Resource InventoryUSGS2010 Rare Plant MonitoringSUNY - ESFDraft Acid Deposition EffectsUSGS / NPSPending WQ Protocol ReviewNETN / ATCOngoing Mountain BirdNETN / VCEOngoing PhenologyNPNOngoing

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Challenges Lack of funding Scale Compiling disparate datasets Coordination Analysis Finding commonalities not differences

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Next Steps Create Technical Steering Committee Develop vital sign monitoring plan Establish Board of Directors Acquire data Launch citizen science monitoring programs

NETN Organizational Structure E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Technical Steering Committee Board of Directors ATPO National I&M Program

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Northeast Temperate Network 54 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior