The recipient will work to advance wetland mapping in alaska s national parks

Saint Marys University of Minnesota received a $100,000 cooperative agreement from the National Park Service (NPS) under the Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945), awarded September 30, 2025, with a completion date of April 30, 2030. The recipient will advance wetland mapping capabilities across Alaska's national parks by upgrading existing wetland maps from 5-acre to 1-acre resolution using advanced geospatial technologies. Primary deliverables include remapping outdated wetlands and areas experiencing significant ecological changes, conducting field verification of surveyed sites to ensure data accuracy, and developing flow-corrected elevation products for hydrological modeling as Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data becomes available.

The project directly addresses critical data gaps within the National Park System, enhancing ecological knowledge and supporting evidence-based resource management strategies. By providing higher-resolution, current wetland datasets and reinforcing data integrity through field verification protocols, the university will enable the NPS to maintain reliable, actionable information for managing Alaska's complex wetland ecosystems and water resources.

By addressing significant data gaps, this work will enhance ecological knowledge and inform effective resource management strategies. The upgraded wetland maps will increase resolution from 5 acres to 1 acre, utilizing advanced geospatial technologies to provide a more accurate depiction of alaska s complex wetland ecosystems. Project work includes remapping outdated wetlands and areas that have undergone significant changes, ensuring that the NPS maintains the most current and reliable data. Field verification of surveyed sites will reinforce data accuracy and enhance the overall integrity of these datasets. As lidar data becomes available, the project will also develop flow-corrected elevation products essential for hydrological modeling.