Assessment of natural resource conditions for Boston Harbor Islands National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore, and Saugus Ironworks National Historic Site

Principal Investigators:

• Peter D. Vaux, Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental & Watershed Research
• Sarah J. Nelson, Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental & Watershed Research
• Catherine Schmitt, Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Environmental & Watershed Research
• Mary-Jane James-Pirri, Graduate School of Oceanography
  University of Rhode Island

  INTRODUCTION

  Following NPS guidance, this project will:

1. Compile and assess multi-sourced data relevant to three Massachusetts units of the National Park Service: Cape Cod National Seashore, Boston Harbor Islands National Park and Saugus Ironworks National Historic Site.
2. Summarize this information to draw conclusions about the type and extent of natural resources within the units, the ecological conditions of these resources, degree of influencing factors, amount and effect of resource use, and major threats or stressors.
3. Prepare a report of findings for each park unit that summarizes
   1. the condition/ecological status of marine, estuarine, freshwater and terrestrial resources,
   2. existing and emerging threats or stressors,
   3. important information gaps about critical natural resource health issues, and
   4. recommendations for future studies that address these key information needs.