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• NPCA at Work California's National Parks: Struggling for Clean Air It might come as a surprise that California’s crown jewel national parks — Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree and Yosemite — struggle with some of the dirtiest air of any parks in the nation.
• Park Congaree National Park Wild and primeval, Congaree National Park is home to the largest old-growth floodplain forest in North America, with large, majestic bald cypress, water tupelo, cedar and loblolly pine trees. The Congaree and Wateree Rivers can flood ten times per year, replenishing soil nutrients that sustain the forest habitat. The park offers hiking and canoe trails, primitive camping, and excellent opportunities to see barred owls and other wildlife.
• Press Release Parks Group Champions Bill to Establish National Park Site Dedicated to Latino History Sep 2020 The Blackwell School houses the collective memory of the segregated school experience that existed everywhere across the Texas borderlands.
• Press Release National Parks Group Partners with The Creative Action Network to Re-Imagine New Deal Arts Project, Reconnect Americans to Their National Parks Jan 2014 New "See America" campaign to kick off with gallery show at FDR Library in New York
• Press Release National Parks Group Files Lawsuit to Defend Mojave Desert Parks, Wildlife and Water Apr 2018 NPCA's lawsuit against the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) challenges policy changes by the agencies that threaten Mojave National Preserve, Mojave Trails National Monument, wildlife and fragile desert water resources.
• Press Release National Parks Group Applauds President Obama for Designating 396th National Park Site at Fort Monroe in Virginia Nov 2011 Obama's first Antiquities Act designation will help protect America's Heritage
• Press Release Celebrating Clean Water for National Parks and Park Visitors with Obama Administration's Final Clean Water Rule May 2015 The final Clean Water Rule will better protect our waters by stating more clearly which waters are protected under the Clean Water Act.
• Blog Post 11 of America’s Best National Park Beaches Jul 2018 Need some sun and surf in your travel plans? NPCA staff highlight top beach vacation spots at national parks around the country.
• Press Release National Parks Group Challenges Western Federal Oil and Gas Lease Sales Jan 2018 Oil, gas development could endanger six national park units in Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming.
• Press Release Parks Group Files Brief in Support of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Nov 2018 Through our amicus brief, we urge the courts to hold the government accountable for putting our public lands, including our national parks, in harm’s way.
• Press Release National Parks Group Supports Creation of America's First Tribal National Park in South Dakota Apr 2012 Statement by Senior Vice President for Policy, Ron Tipton
• Press Release National Parks Conservation Association Files Suit Against Park Service for Failure to Protect Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida Oct 2011 General Management Plan limits protection of Florida Panther habitat in Addition Lands
• Press Release Landmark Energy Plan Protects Arches, Canyonlands National Parks Jul 2016 Plan underscores economic importance of national parks, provides model for coexistence of energy development and park visitation
• Press Release Parks Group Calls on National Park Service to Reject Testing for Oil Beneath Big Cypress Jan 2016 Proposal Would Open Door to Drilling in Critical Endangered Species Habitat
• Press Release A Monumental National Public Lands Day Project at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Sep 2015 National Public Lands Day volunteers help trail maintenance at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve.
• Blog Post Is Responsible Travel Possible in a Stressed Park System? Mar 2021 | By Jennifer Errick A handful of parks around the country saw record-breaking visitation last year due in part to the pandemic, while others were shut down almost entirely. A few strategies can help visitors avoid crowds and be mindful of safety as we enter a second year of COVID restrictions.
• Press Release National Parks Group Honors South East Utah Superintendent with Stephen T. Mather Award Oct 2016 Award given to individuals who have shown steadfast leadership and persistent dedication to our national parks
• Blog Post Your Mileage May Vary: 9 Parks to Explore Without a Car Nov 2021 Spend time off the beaten path — literally. These 9 national park sites offer slower, quieter, human-paced alternatives to automobile-powered excursions.
• Blog Post FAQ: What the New Fee Increases Will Mean for Visitors and Parks Apr 2018 | By John Garder The Trump administration has backed off its original plan to impose steep entrance fee increases at 17 national parks during peak visiting season, opting for more moderate increases at all the park sites that collect fees. Here’s what the plan will cost visitors and where those fees will go.
• Blog Post What the Park System Needs for Its Birthday: Repairs Aug 2019 | By Emily Douce This Sunday is the 103rd birthday of the National Park Service, yet so many of the 400-plus national park sites in the agency’s care need critical maintenance and repairs. Legislation exists that would help fix this problem — Congress just needs to vote on it.
• Press Release National Parks Welcomed Record 331 Million Visitors in 2016 Mar 2017 Record-breaking visitation demonstrates love of parks, need for more park staff.
• Blog Post How Is the Partial Government Shutdown Affecting National Parks? Jan 2019 | By Emily Douce, John Garder The longest government shutdown in U.S. history furloughed hundreds of thousands of federal employees, including National Park Service personnel, and left many of America’s public lands ungated and largely unsupervised.
• Policy Update Testimony: S. 3172, Restore Our Parks Act Jul 2018 Statement of Kristen Brengel, NPCA Vice-President for Government, before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks on July 11, 2018.
• Press Release All Pueblo Council of Governors Receives National Conservation Award for Efforts Opposing Oil & Gas Development Near National Parks Jun 2019 The National Parks Conservation Association recognizes Pueblo group for protecting Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
• Press Release County Commission Approves Oil Refinery Next to Theodore Roosevelt National Park Jul 2016 Despite opposition from current and former national park superintendents, the Billings County Commission in North Dakota approved rezoning for an industrial scale oil refinery, to be built less than three miles from Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
• Magazine Article A National Park Is Born Spring 2020 | By Nicolas Brulliard White Sands National Monument becomes the country’s 62nd national park. What will change?
• Blog Post Visits to National Parks in 2015 Top 300 Million for the First Time Feb 2016 | By Jennifer Errick National parks saw their highest visitation ever in 2015, with more than 307 million recreational visits. This marks a nearly 5% increase from 2014.
• Blog Post National Parks Witnessed Record-Breaking Visitation in 2016 Feb 2017 | By Jennifer Errick The National Park Service releases new data showing more than 330 million visits during its centennial, up more than 7 percent from 2015
• Press Release Utah Air Quality Board Approves Regional Haze Plan, Paving the Way for More Air Pollution in National Parks and Local Communities Jun 2019 It is unacceptable that Utah is again failing to protect our parks, local economies and visitors, especially at a time when the state so desperately needs bold leadership to combat air pollution problems.
• Press Release BLM Continues to Threaten National Parks with Inappropriate Oil and Gas Development Mar 2018 "Once again, this administration has chosen to ignore concerns raised by the public when making decisions on our public lands" - Jerry Otero, Southwest Energy Program Manager for National Parks Conservation Association
• Press Release EPA Plan Paves the Way for Cleaner Air in Utah & Southwest National Parks Jun 2016 Park, clean air and health advocates celebrate EPA decision
• Blog Post No, National Parks Are Not America’s 'Best Idea' Feb 2016 | By Alan Spears Could the way some enthusiasts refer to national parks actually alienate the diverse supporters the parks need?
• Park Minute Man National Historical Park No one really knows who fired the first shot at the battle of Lexington Green on April 19, 1775, but the result is not disputed—America was at war for her independence from the British Crown.
• Report The U.S. National Park System: An Economic Asset at Risk The U.S. National Park System is an economic asset at risk. The park system generates at least four dollars in value to the public for every tax dollar invested in its annual budget.
• Report Center for State of the Parks: Ninety Six National Historic Site In recognition of the important historical resources protected within Ninety Six National Historic Site, the National Parks Conservation Association’s Center for State of the Parks conducted an assessment to determine current conditions of the park’s resources.
• NPCA at Work Fighting for Clean Air in our National Parks Air pollution is one of the most serious threats facing national parks, harming visitors’ health, clouding scenic views and altering our climate.
• Report Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Expansion NPCA has advocated for adding Harriet Tubman’s story to the National Park System since 2007, first supporting the legislation to authorize the Secretary of the Department of Interior to conduct a special resource study there, leading up to the national monument designation in 2013 by President Obama.
• Report Leveraging National Park Partnerships in Urban Areas Do you engage in partnerships to achieve your mission? Does it work well? Would you like to strike up new and different types of partnerships?
• Park Colorado National Monument Colorful canyons, cliffs, and other rock formations tower 2,000 feet over the Colorado River on this part of the spectacular Colorado Plateau. Drive or bike the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive for scenic views from the top of the canyons or hike among the 40 miles of trails to get a closer look at some of the park's sculpted rocks, wildlife, and desert plants.
• Staff Ryan Valdez, Ph.D. Director, Conservation Science & Policy Ryan Valdez serves as Director for Conservation Science & Policy for National Parks Conservation Association. He facilitates the application of multidisciplinary science focused on air/climate, energy, landscapes, water and wildlife toward conservation strategies helping to protect US national parks.
• NPCA at Work Stop Alaska’s War on Wolves and Bears The Department of the Interior has proposed allowing unethical hunting practices on lands managed by the National Park Service.
• NPCA at Work Stand Up to Polluters at Indiana Dunes EPA must enforce the Clean Water Act to protect this national park site from toxic chemicals.
• Clark Bunting Former President and Chief Executive Officer Former President and CEO W. Clark Bunting joined the National Parks Conservation Association in November 2013, following a distinguished career as a businessman and innovator within the media industry.
• Report Proposed Tule Springs Transmission Corridor This report was prepared in response to NV Energy’s request to locate a transmission corridor in an area known alternately as Tule Springs and the Upper Las Vegas Wash, in an area proposed to be a national monument managed by the National Park Service.
• Daniel Saxton Daniel is former senior program coordinator for NPCA's Center for Park Research.
• Laurie McClellan Author LAURIE MCCLELLAN is a freelance writer who grew up on the southern shores of Lake Michigan. She loves maple syrup and anything made out of birch bark, and has hiked in more than 20 national parks.
• Park Coronado National Memorial In the 1540s, Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led 339 European soldiers and more than 1000 Aztec allies on a quest for gold through the Southwest. The expedition didn't find treasure, but it did have an enormous impact on the culture of the region. The memorial is located in a region known as Sky Island where four major biogeographic provinces meet. As a result, the park features a varied geology and rich biodiversity.
• Park Christiansted National Historic Site This historic site provides a unique perspective into life under Danish colonial rule in St. Croix. The park's seven waterfront acres feature historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries, including a military fort, a custom house and a warehouse from the city's past as a major sugar producer and exporter. Visitors can learn about the role this city played in the international slave trade; more than 100,000 enslaved Africans arrived and were auctioned at the city's wharf over the course of 115 years.
• NPCA at Work Commercial Spaceports Could Threaten Canaveral and Cumberland Island The commercial space industry is an exciting and growing field. But the race for space should not put our national seashores at risk.
• Staff Kari Tobaygo Associate Director, Research & Prospect Management Kari has over 20 years experience in the prospect research field and has led the NPCA Prospect Research team since July, 2012.

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