National Park Service Harpers Ferry National U.S. Department of the Interior Historical Park National Capital Region Network West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia

At the Confluence of Rivers, Air Quality and Climate Harpers Ferry History and Nature Merge Air quality inpacts scenic vistas National Historical Park Harpers Ferry National Historical Park protects 3 the historic town area and surrounding natural Watershed resources lands at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers in West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. Preserved structures North and landscapes in the park tell of the historic role of the town and 0 2.5 5 Miles adjacent lands Harpers Ferry Historical Park lands in the Civil War, African American history, manufacturing, and (Above left) watershed and transportation and other historic events. The natural heritage of the The natural landscape of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park National Capital Region Network parks (red). park is equally rich, and over 70% of the park’s 3,645 acres is covered Potomac River (Above right) Harpers Ferry National Historical includes major rivers, forested mountains, riparian habitats, old fields, Park watershed and boundary. with eastern deciduous forest. Changes in adjacent land use that Harpers grasslands, and agricultural lands. Panoramic views and spectacular Ferry may affect park resources (e.g., water quality, invasive species, deer landscape serve as context for the interpretation of historic Civil population) are of primary concern to park management. Because of War and Civil Rights events that the park commemorates. Degraded its unique location, flooding is also a major concern. air quality and haze from regional pollution sources cause (Left) Park map showing increased ozone levels 3 that threatens vegetation . Expanding Shenandoah River major roads and waterways. Limestone Shale residential development adversely affects the historic and scenic Land Use vistas in the park. National Park Vital Signs Monitoring Agriculture

Urban Assembling the puzzle PotomacRiver Waterways Sandy South Biodiversity Other park Hook Mountain Natural and anthropogenic disturbances threaten historic Park vital signs monitoring is designed to inform Unknown 340 Harpers managers of the condition of water, air, plants and animals, and the Highway Ferry resources Main road various ecological, biological, and physical processes that act on those Railroad resources. This site-specific data will provide parks the information 340 needed for ecologically sound management of the natural resources.

Potomac Shenandoah River River In Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, data are being collected on 671 ShenandoahRiver Air Quality and Climate and Biodiversity, with reference to park specific concerns as well as understanding regional issues. Harpers Ferry National Historic Park

Blue Ridge Air quality-related values, such as visibility, are highly significant for the

Short Hill Flooding is a natural occurrence at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. The view of the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers Park. Located at the lowest point of the confluence of the Potomac inspired to say it is “worth a voyage across the Atlantic” and continues to inspire visitors today. and Shenandoah rivers, flooding can have a devastating impact The data for this vital sign category are collected regionally rather than just in Harpers on historic buildings and archeological features. Gypsy moth Ferry Historical Park. Based upon the data that has been analyzed to date, the area often North 0 0 0.5 1 Mile infestations and unchecked populations of white-tailed deer have exceeds regulatory threshold values for air quality and climate vital signs, indicating that severely defoliated sections of the park’s historic Maryland Heights the DC region has poor air quality. Resource Values Resource Stressors forest. Invasive exotic plants and acid rain threaten Civil War Nonattainment Areas Map - Particulate Matter (size < 2.5 micrometers) sites and historic geological structures such as the Stone Steps and Freshwater flow: Potomac and Development: suburban Shenandoah Rivers Jefferson Rock.

Geologic regions: limestone White-tailed deer: overpopulation and shale

Forests: chestnut oak and red maple Invasive/exotic plants

Historic sites: Civil War Insect pests: gypsy moths structures and battlefields Source: US EPA Office of Air and Radiation

Agriculture: crops Flooding: seasonal National Capital Region Inventory Integration & Application Network (IAN) & Monitoring Program University of Maryland Center for National Park Service Environmental Science Railway corridors Toxic runoff Photo: IAN Photo: IAN At Harpers Ferry, the Shenandoah and Potomac Mountain forest with stream. www.nps.gov/cue www.ian.umces.edu Rivers converge. Photos by NPS