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• Park Dry Tortugas National Park This park protects seven small islands 70 miles west of Key West, Florida, and the ocean waters that surround them. These islands change constantly from the effects of tides, weather, air, and other environmental and human factors. On Garden Key, visitors can tour the largest all-masonry fort in the United States, built between 1846 and 1875 to defend the Gulf of Mexico, but never completed. The park is also renowned for its vibrant coral, lush seagrass, and migratory birds.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Press Release BLM Advances Oil and Gas Leasing Close to Dinosaur National Monument and Great Basin National Park Dec 2017 The lease sales next to Dinosaur National Monument and Great Basin National Park continue the Trump Administration’s troubling track record of leasing lands near national parks.
• Press Release Grand Teton National Park Wildlife, Visitors to Benefit from Final Moose-Wilson Road Plan Sep 2016 The National Park Service's final Moose-Wilson Corridor plan puts Grand Teton National Park on track to preserve the corridor’s unique resources for the long term. The popular road corridor is home to grizzly bears, moose, wolves and other iconic wildlife as well as significant Native American archaeological resources.
• Press Release Opportunity Presented to Keep Everglades National Park Fully Protected from Power Lines Dec 2015 Decision to acquire Florida Power & Light’s ecologically critical parcel within Everglades National Park could finally put an end to the threat of power lines being built inside park boundaries
• Blog Post It’s Time for Seniors to Pay More for Their National Park Passes Mar 2016 | By Tom Hill The $10 lifetime national park pass is a phenomenal bargain for people 62 and older—but one senior citizen thinks it's a deal that our parks can't afford.
• 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.
• Press Release Delayed Air Quality Protections Favors Pollution Over Parks and Public Lands Dec 2017 The Bureau of Land Management is delaying implementation of commonsense methane rules, putting the health of national parks and park visitors at risk.
• Press Release Gettysburg National Military Park Safe from a Casino – For Now Jun 2017 In a victory for national park and historic preservation, an ill-advised proposal for a racetrack and casino near Gettysburg National Military Park was cancelled.
• Blog Post The Only National Park Planetarium Nov 2015 | By Jennifer Errick National parks are some of the last, best places in the country to experience naturally dark night skies. Only one U.S. national park site features a planetarium to help visitors learn about the cosmos.
• Policy Update Infrastructure needs in our National Parks Mar 2021 NPCA sent the following letter to the House Transportation Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee outling infrastructure needs in our parks and park landscapes. 
• Press Release Nature Valley® Celebrates the Third Year of Its Preserve the Parks Program Apr 2012 Encourages Americans to Visit National Parks and Support Park Preservation
• Blog Post Why Can’t Visitors Walk In to “Open-Air” Parks? Oct 2013 | By John Garder National parks are prominent icons representing the very best of America—so it’s not surprising that losing access to these inspirational places is causing heartbreak and anger around the country. When Congress closed the national parks as part of the government shutdown on October 1, it affected hundreds of thousands of visitors, business owners, and workers. Eleven days later, the standoff on Capitol Hill continues.
• Press Release Anchor Brewing Company Supports Parks Nationwide and Releases Anchor California Lager® in Cans May 2014 Sales of Anchor California Lager Benefit National Parks Conservation Association & California State Parks Foundation
• Policy Update Letter Regarding Recent Park Police Activities Jun 2020 NPCA, along with partners, submitted the following letter to the Secretary of the Interior in response to recent Park Police events in Lafayette Park. 
• Press Release BLM Defers Oil and Gas Lease Sales in New Mexico, Temporarily Protecting Chaco Culture National Historical Park Feb 2019 National Parks Conservation Association celebrates temporary victory for public lands near New Mexico National Park, still concerned about overall leasing processes and lack of public input.
• Blog Post VICTORY: What You Helped Protect at Biscayne National Park Jun 2015 | By Caroline McLaughlin Earlier today, park officials at Biscayne made an announcement that NPCA has been waiting more than 15 years to hear: The park will establish a new marine reserve to help protect its fragile, one-of-a-kind underwater resources. This important step represents the work of numerous environmental groups, scientists, fishermen, and concerned citizens—including more than 20,000 NPCA supporters who spoke out over the years to make this reserve a reality.
• 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?
• Press Release Summit Sets Course for Protecting America's National Parks, Connecting to People Jan 2012 Historic gathering of leading national park champions shapes outline for supporting National Park Service's mission for 2016 centennial and the century to follow
• Blog Post Celebrate Dark Skies at These 27 National Parks May 2020 Lay out a blanket after the sun goes down and see a clearer view of the universe at these designated dark-sky parks.
• Blog Post Who Counts? A Closer Look at Parks’ Record Visitation Numbers Mar 2016 | By Nicolas Brulliard Every year, the Park Service releases its official statistics on visitation at national park sites around the country. How does the agency come up with these numbers? With vehicle multipliers, regression formulas, and other unusual procedures, the answer is anything but simple.
• Blog Post National Parks Deserve to Be Protected from Oil and Gas Development Apr 2013 | By Tom Kiernan Theodore Roosevelt was our greatest conservation president. President Roosevelt’s boundless vision and determination resulted in a system of national parks that is the envy of the world, and has been called “America’s Best Idea.” Ironically, his namesake national park, which includes his North Dakota homestead, is currently facing a threat that could permanently degrade a patch of land that was supposed to be protected in perpetuity.
• Blog Post The Top 5 Myths about the Sequester and National Parks Mar 2013 | By John Garder NPCA has been warning the public for well over a year that the deep federal budget cuts known as the sequester would harm national parks. We’ve seen a groundswell of support to restore critically needed funding to the Park Service, but we’ve also heard a great deal of misunderstanding about these funding cuts. Here are five of the biggest myths we’ve encountered.
• 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.
• Blog Post Not-So-Beaten Paths: 11 Lesser-Known Hikes in Popular National Parks May 2016 | By Nicolas Brulliard Hit the trail and avoid the crowds! NPCA staff selected 11 lesser-known hikes in some of the country’s most popular parks.
• Blog Post The Darkest National Parks in the United States Apr 2015 | By Jennifer Errick Last week, the International Dark-Sky Association named a new dark-sky park — the seventh site in the U.S. National Park System that now holds that honor. This coveted designation recognizes not only excellent stargazing opportunities, but also superior night-sky stewardship through responsible lighting, public education and community outreach.
• Blog Post Trivia Challenge: The National Park That Graced 10 Million Albums Sep 2015 | By Todd Christopher Q: Popular culture often portrays national parks in striking and unusual ways. One Grammy Award-winning album of the year even featured a national park prominently on its cover. Can you name this album? Hint: This record took over the airwaves in 1987 and launched four European rockers to super-stardom.
• Blog Post Get Your Binoculars: The 25 Best National Parks for Birding Apr 2017 | By Nicholas Lund Find out which national park sites have the most bird species, with a highlight of what you might see at each place.
• Press Release Court Defends Park Service’s Authority to Manage Its Waterways Oct 2017 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled in favor of the National Park Service, reaffirming the agency’s ability to regulate activities on navigable waters within national park boundaries.
• Press Release Trump Administration Silences National Park Service, Hindering Ability to Provide Expertise Sep 2019 This basic disregard for the Park Service’s mission could have major implications for all our national parks and public lands for years to come.
• Press Release NPCA to Benefit from Breckenridge Brewery “Pints for Parks” Program Jun 2020 A portion of proceeds from every pint of Breckenridge Brewery beer sold across the U.S. will go to support National Park Conservation Association's park protection work.
• Press Release Disappointing: Supreme Court To Reconsider Park Service Authority Over Waterways in Alaska Jun 2018 The Supreme Court agreed to consider a case involving the National Park Service’s ability to regulate hovercraft and other activities on navigable waters within national park boundaries.
• Press Release Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Off-road Vehicle Plan Ignores Threats to Park Resources Mar 2018 The National Park Service’s proposed special regulations for off-road vehicle management at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area misses the mark, ignores park impacts.
• 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?
• 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 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.
• 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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