This project will restore habitat and the protect wildlife in areas that were severely impacted by winter storms in acadia national park

The National Park Service (NPS) National Office awarded $337,319 to the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park on September 4, 2025, under the Natural Resource Stewardship program (CFDA 15.944) to restore habitat and protect wildlife in areas of Acadia National Park severely impacted by winter storms. The project will assess the effectiveness of restoration actions through scientific data collection and monitoring, with findings made available to the public. The initiative will complement broader rehabilitation efforts for damaged roads and trails while enhancing visitor experiences throughout the park, with project completion anticipated by December 31, 2029.

This cooperative agreement supports the NPS mission to evaluate and improve ecosystem health within the National Park System through collaborative partnerships. The Schoodic Institute, a non-profit organization with a longstanding partnership with the NPS, will deliver habitat restoration services, wildlife protection measures, environmental monitoring protocols, and technical reports documenting restoration outcomes. The project represents a typical investment under the Natural Resource Stewardship program, which prioritizes ecosystem resilience, species protection, and data-driven stewardship of protected natural resources across the National Park System.

IT will also assess the effectiveness of restoration actions and will make the resulting data available to the public. This work will complement broader rehabilitation of roads and trails that were damaged and will improve the quality of visitor experiences in the park.