Provide Support for Midwest National Parks to Prepare for Natural Hazards and Infrastructure Management

Climate and weather hazards are increasingly affecting National Parks Service infrastructure, natural and cultural resources, and visitor use. In the Midwest, parks are experiencing high exposure to increases in precipitation and temperature, with some parks expected to see up to a 39.2% increase in 100-year stormflow by 2070. With these anticipated changes, it will be critical to understand the vulnerability of park infrastructure to guide decision-making for climate adaptation, especially as these future climate risks will affect recreational access and public safety within the National Parks.
 
The goal of this project is to provide information, analysis, and technical assistance to park managers to identify climate hazards, evaluate risk, and reduce future vulnerability.  The first stage of this project will focus on many infrastructure assets, highlighting future climate hazards or critical conditions. Based on the planning scope and goals, park managers may use these analysis results to determine high priority assets for replacement or decommissioning. The second stage of this project will conduct quantitative assessments of the risk of culvert infrastructure to future flooding. Together, this two-stage project will expand current understanding of climate hazards exposure in the National Parks and provide critical estimates to parks facilities and resource managers.