Rock Creek Park Natural Resource Condition Assessment

The National Park Service is currently in the process of assessing the condition of all parks with significant natural resources throughout the country. Rock Creek Park is one of the oldest National Parks in the U.S. (established in 1890) and is still a forest and wetland oasis in the heart of suburban Washington, D.C. This report uses air quality, water quality, biodiversity and ecosystem status data to assess the current condition of the three main habitat types within the park. Forests were assessed to be in fair condition, wetlands in good condition and artificial terrestrial habitats in poor condition. The report summarizes findings and links them to management implications as well as identifying major data gaps.

---