What We Do

Young mussels adhered to a boat
Invasive mussels attached to a hard surface.

Photo by Dave Britton.

The National Park Service (NPS) is working to manage invasive species on park lands and waters through a suite of national and local programs, each based upon the following strategies:

  • Cooperation and collaboration,
  • Inventory and monitoring,
  • Prevention,
  • Early detection and rapid response (EDRR),
  • Treatment and control, and
  • Restoration.

Park, regional, and national staff responsibility

Staff at all levels of the NPS work to manage invasive species. Park and regional staff implement strategies locally to deal with invasive plants, animals, and more. Almost all parks have incorporated invasive species management into long range planning goals for natural and cultural landscapes, as well as day to day operations. For example, Curecanti and Glen Canyon National Recreation Areas have implemented “boat checks” to help visitors make sure their boats are free of zebra and quagga mussels prior to entering the park.

At the national level, staff in the Natural Resources Stewardship and Science Directorate (NRSS) support parks in a variety of ways. Within NRSS, the responsibility of invasive species rest within three divisions: the Biological Resources Division, the Inventory and Monitoring Division, and the Water Resources Division.

Source: Data Store Collection 5592. To search for additional information, visit the Data Store.

Learn more about the management of each specific group of invasive species under the About page.

Last updated: April 10, 2019