Problem:  The National Park Service is required to inventory and monitor the water quality of the key water bodies in Booker T. Washington National Monument, George Washington Birthplace National Monument, and Petersburg National Battlefield for management of the parks central cultural, historical, and natural resources. In addition, there is a requirement to develop a water-resources management plan for the Richmond National Battlefield Park. Richmond National Battlefield Park was established by federal legislation to protect the Civil War battlefield resources associated with the struggle for the capital of the Confederacy and to interpret these resources so as to foster an understanding of their larger significance. Competing pressures on parkland, such as encroaching development, existing development within and outside of park boundaries, non-point source pollutants, proximity to point-source pollutants, natural processes, and future changes in land use are potential threats to the integrity of water quality and quantity in the park.  Because of these competing pressures, a Water Resources Management Plan is necessary for Richmond NBP.  A WRMP supports the decision-making process of the National Park Service related to the protection, conservation, use and management of a park's water resources.  The WRMP is a component of a park's overall resource management program and serves as a supplemental "action plan" appended to the park's Resource Management Plan (RMP).  By compiling pertinent information about the park's water resources and water-related environments, and by identifying water resources issues facing the park, the WRMP assists management in developing and evaluating alternative actions addressing these issues, and in selecting a preferred course of action.

Objective: (1) To identify the basic physical and chemical properties of the key water bodies within the boundaries of Booker T. Washington National Monument, George Washington Birthplace National Monument, and Petersburg National Battlefield. (2) to develop a WRMP for the Cold Harbor and Gaines Mill units of the Richmond National Battlefield Park.

Relevance and Benefits: The work will provide the National Park Service with the information required to manage and protect its vital natural and cultural resources. This information may be employed by various State and Federal agencies for planning, enforcement, and operational applications relevant to the National Park Service mission.

Approach: (1) Quarterly collection of discharge and basic water-quality parameters, plus analysis of nutrients, ions, alkalinity, and fecal-indicator bacteria will be collected from significant water bodies in Booker T. Washington National Monument, George Washington Birthplace National Monument, and Petersburg National Battlefield. Data will be entered into STORET and ADAPS. A Microsoft Excel database will be maintained. Findings will be presented to the National Park Service. (2) For the Richmond National Battlefield WRMP, the approach will include the following: (a) Document natural and cultural water resource management objectives; (b) assess what is known about current water quality, water quantity, and water-related environments; (c) identify any current or future water-quality or quantity issues and associated impacts; (d) identify types of data necessary to assess current and future water-resource conditions and identify which data are not available (i.e., data gaps); (e) propose studies that would identify and document present water resources and water-quality and quantity conditions (i.e., fill data gaps) to assess impacts of current or potential threats; and (f) define management, research, and monitoring actions needed to achieve and maintain desired natural and cultural conditions (i.e., attain objectives).