Amendment to the Mediterranean Coast Network Vital Signs Monitoring Plan
Ostermann-Kelm S , Convery KM, Pandori L , Tiszler J. 2026. Amendment to the Mediterranean Coast Network Vital Signs Monitoring Plan. Science Report. NPS/SR—2026/518. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/2319355
The Mediterranean Coast Network (MEDN) Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program of the National Park Service supports long-term ecological monitoring at Cabrillo National Monument, Channel Islands National Park, and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Established in 2000, the program has evolved substantially from its origins as a two-park network plus a prototype monitoring program at Channel Islands National Park. This report documents the history of the MEDN I&M Program, summarizes major administrative and scientific milestones, and presents an amendment to the 2005 Vital Signs Monitoring Plan based on changes in program structure, funding, staffing, scientific understanding, and management needs. Central to this amendment is the outcome of a comprehensive external review conducted in 2022, which evaluated MEDN monitoring programs against National Park Service I&M Core Expectations and key factors including scientific relevance, data quality, feasibility, and cost. Following deliberations by an external review panel, followed by the MEDN Technical Committee and the Board of Directors, each of the monitoring programs was designated as either Network, Conditional, Park or Partner, or Suspended. As of 2024, eight programs are affirmed as Network monitoring programs, four programs are designated as Conditional pending substantial revisions and capacity improvements, several programs are re-designated as Park or Partner efforts, and others are formally suspended. This amendment establishes a valuable and sustainable monitoring portfolio for MEDN, clarifies roles and commitments among participating parks and partners, and outlines a pathway for addressing deficiencies in Conditional programs. The report provides a transparent framework for future program evaluation and ensures that MEDN monitoring efforts continue to deliver scientifically rigorous, management-relevant information to support natural resource stewardship in coastal southern California parks. This is the first of 32 National Park Service I&M monitoring plans to be amended.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Ostermann-Kelm, Stacey; Convery, Ken; Pandori, Lauren; Tiszler, John
- Date of Issue
- 2026-10
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2319355
- Units
- CABR , CHIS , MEDN , SAMO
- Keywords
- Evaluation, Network Review, Vital Signs Monitoring Plan