To fulfill its legal obligations under the clean air act, the NPS actively monitors visibility in national parks through the interagency monitoring of protected visual environments (improve)

The National Park Service awarded the University of California, Davis a $615,469.70 cooperative agreement on February 5, 2026, to improve air quality and visibility data collection, analysis, and communication in national parks under the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) program, in fulfillment of Clean Air Act obligations. The award runs through June 30, 2029, with work performed across the United States.

UC Davis will enhance data quality checks, develop new chemical and sampling methods, and conduct targeted technical studies as part of a phased approach to address emerging air quality concerns and support informed environmental management of park resources. The funding falls under the Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945), which supports university-based collaborative science addressing natural and cultural resource challenges through partnerships among federal, state, and local governments, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions.

The program serves state and local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, public and private nonprofit organizations, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and members of the general public.

The project will improve how air quality and visibility data are collected, analyzed, and communicated in national parks. Tasks include enhancing data quality checks, developing new chemical and sampling methods, and conducting targeted technical studies. The project is a phased approach to build on the previous years results to address emerging air quality concerns and support informed environmental management.beneficiaries include state and local governments, federally recognized indian tribal governments, public private nonprofit organizations, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and individuals (including members of the general public). For more information and guidance, refer to NPS financial assistance policy guidance document on usaspending.GOV award descriptions (project abstracts), or contact the NPS financial assistance policy office at financial assitance