US EPA

3123038 

Technical Report 

Assessment of natural resource conditions in and adjacent to Acadia National Park, Maine 

Vaux, PD; Nelson, SJ; Rajakarune, N; Mittelhauser, G; Bell, K; Kopp, BS; Peckenham, J; Longsworth, G 

2008 

U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service 

Fort Collins, Colorado 

Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/WRD/NRR-2008/069 

278 

English 

https://www.nature.nps.gov/water/nrca/assets/docs/acad_nrca.pdf
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This report is an assessment of condition of the natural resources of Acadia National Park (ACAD) and an evaluation of the threats and stressors that act on these resources. A variety of threats to habitat and biological integrity are management concerns at ACAD. Consequently, improved understanding of the state of knowledge regarding the condition of the Park’s natural resources and the threats acting on these resources is needed to guide data collection and broader natural resource assessment efforts. As development continues to expand adjacent to the park boundaries and as visitor use increases, park managers are continually challenged to address a spectrum of issues such as water quality degradation, introduction of exotic species, air pollution, habitat fragmentation, recreational use, and others. These may all have dramatic impacts on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem function and integrity, and habitat quantity and quality. This Assessment focuses on three broad resource groups: Uplands, Freshwaters (lakes, streams, wetlands, groundwater), and Marine/Coastal areas. It is based entirely on compilations, syntheses and new analyses of pre-existing data, and an in-depth review of the scientific literature associated with ACAD. No new field data were collected for the study. The Assessment is intended to assist Park managers and external researchers by (i) providing a synthesis of information about natural resources at ACAD, (ii) describing the suite of threats known or thought to be affecting these resources, (iii) analyzing information from a series of metrics and other descriptors of resource condition, and (iv) evaluating information richness and identifying key information gaps.