Policy and governance of water resources in the National Park System: a case study of First State National Historical Park along the Brandywine River

The United States National Park Service is required to manage the water resources of the National Park System in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations and programs that have been established to assist in the management of the park’s water resources. The Inventory and Monitoring Program is responsible for the inventorying and monitoring of natural resources under the National Park Service. There are 32 program networks that are responsible for performing Natural Resource Condition Assessments which are used by park managers and employees to complete a State of the Park Report. The condition and reporting of water resources and approaches to water resources management of First State National Historical Park is compared to Valley Forge, Minute Man, and Harpers Ferry National Historical Parks. The policies, management approaches, and scientific information of water resources is conveyed in Natural Resource Condition Assessments and State of the Park Reports that differs among First State and other historical parks due to their location and classification. All four national historical parks are affected by activities outside of the park, so they depend on public and private partnerships to help manage the park’s water resources. In Minute Man and Valley Forge National Historical Parks, the condition status/trend of water resources was displayed graphically in terms of spatial and temporal trends.