Cooperative Agreement P25AC00543

15.945: COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMS OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM CESU NETWORKPROGRAMMING 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 SYSTEM.THE PROJECT AIMS TO MONITOR WATER QUALITY AND SEAGRASS AT CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE BY COLLECTING AND ANALYZING DATA DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE CENTER FOR COASTAL STUDIES WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO GATHER WATER QUALITY AND SEAGRASS DATA, AS WELL AS MANAGE AND ANALYZE ADDITIONAL DATA FROM NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PARTNERS AT OTHER SITES. THE FINAL DATA PRODUCTS WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE NPS DATASTORE, HELPING TO IDENTIFY ISSUES SUCH AS POOR WATER QUALITY AND HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS, WHICH CAN POSE HEALTH RISKS TO VISITORS AND THE ENVIRONMENT.BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STUDENTS GAINING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SPECIES, AND THE PUBLIC ACCESSING STUDY FINDINGS.