Programming supports a comprehensive network of cooperative study units to facilitate cooperative research, technical assistance, education, and training to inform science-based management of the…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the National Park Service (CFDA 15.945 - Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System) provides $125,000.00 to the University of Washington to conduct research focused on improving restoration outcomes in the Paradise Meadows area of Mount Rainier National Park. The key objectives are to work with park staff to define priority research questions related to meadow restoration, and then develop and implement high-impact research to enhance restoration methods and recommend best practices, particularly in the face of climate change and increased visitation. Additional research may also measure and characterize environmental conditions of degraded and intact meadows, and use stress tolerance traits to select species best suited for restoration. This 4.5-year project aims to deliver science-based guidance to inform management of the National Park System.

Programming supports a comprehensive network of cooperative study units to facilitate cooperative research, technical assistance, education, and training to inform science-based management of the national park system. The study units facilitate multi-disciplinary science and integrated information products across multiple geographic regions of the national park systemparadise meadows in mount rainier national park is a primary visitor destination but that has been degraded by off trail hiking. Restoration is required to resist the loss of ecosystem function. Current restoration methods need to be improved to meet the scale of the issue to include mitigating impacts in the face of climate change and increasing visitation. The goal of this agreement is to improve restoration outcomes through high priority applied research. We will work with park staff to define priority questions in meadow restoration and then to develop and implement high impact research to improve restoration and recommend methods for best restoration outcomes. Additional research proposals *if funded* will allow US to measure and characterize environmental characteristics of degraded and intact meadows and to use stress tolerance traits to select species best suited for restoration in a changing climate.beneficiaries include state and local governments, federally recognized indian tribal governments, public private nonprofit organizations, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and the general public).