NPS GP CESU: Study of Fox and Palmer Creeks on Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

This announcement is to provide public notice of the NPS’s intention to award a single source justified agreement with Kansas State University who is a member of the Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. The objective is to obtain the understanding of the creeks, both in the natural and spring settings and how they respond to human-induced changes by 1) Consolidated existing data and physical habitat data; 2) Collect baseline data on 10 stream reaches; 3) Analyze historic and new data to define stream type and condition; and 4) Report on stream, condition and suggested management actions.  The data will provide preserve managers information on existing conditions that are important for water quality and fish habitat as well as baseline information to measure changes in geomorphic condition over time.  Survey data and a final report will be submitted to the preserve and shared with other stream researchers.  The public purpose is to engage recipients (including youth) and partners in shared environmental stewardship by allowing students to gain hands-on experience in natural resource research.  The purpose also is to create and promote research that will be disseminated to the scientific community and preserve partners.