Project Profile: Swept Away - Riparian Ecosystems in the Midwest Under Climate Change

An upriver view of Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway.

NPS / Van Tatenhove

Inflation Reduction Act
Resilience | FY24 $600,000

The National Park Service (NPS) will develop climate change vulnerability assessments (CCVAs) for Buffalo National River, Ozark National Scenic Riverway, Niobrara National Scenic River, and Saint Croix National Scenic Riverway. The CCVAs include historical and future water flow analysis, evaluation of local species sensitivity, and flood risk vulnerability mapping. The assessments will support park planning related to river management, historic buildings, and visitor use, and the NPS ability to respond to climate-induced changes.

Why? Climate change threatens river and riparian ecosystems. It influences the magnitude and frequency of floods, the intensity and duration of droughts, and increases temperatures. These parks face challenges such as erosion of cultural sites and trails, road washouts, and decreasing populations of riparian plants. CCVAs give the NPS key knowledge about the effects of climate change on rivers that can inform park management and standardize adaptation approaches.

What Else? The parks involved in the project will engage youth through education, volunteer, and employment opportunities. Programs like these inspire future generations to protect, restore, and build resilience in the ecosystems around them.

About the Inflation Reduction Act

The Inflation Reduction Act provides the National Park Service with an historic opportunity to address critical ecosystem resilience, restoration, and environmental planning needs. Projects funded in national parks represent broad-scale and impactful resource investments across every corner of out nation—from Alaska to Florida to Maine.