DOE National Environmental Research Parks
and Associated Ecoregions
The seven National Environmental Research Parks are
located within six major ecoregions of the United States. These
ecoregions cover more than half of the nation (click on map below to
enlarge).
Fermilab in Illinois provides research opportunities in
tallgrass prairie and its interfaces with marshes, scrubby wetlands,
creeks, ponds, and deciduous forests. The Park is located in a mosaic of
tall prairie grasses.
Hanford Park in Washington State is one of two Parks
that allow comparative studies of ecological processes in
sagebrush-steppe ecosystems. This Park is located in the Columbia River
Basin Ecoregion and allows research with the grass-sagebrush interface.
Idaho Park is the second of two Parks that allow
comparative studies of ecological processes in sagebrush-steppe
ecosystems. This Park is located in the Snake River Basin Ecoregion and
includes numerous cool desert communities.
Los Alamos Park in New Mexico includes the arid
pinyon-juniper communities and their interfaces with coniferous forests
and mountain meadows and valleys. This Park is located in a mosaic of
mountains and montane environments.
Nevada Test Site Park is positioned in the transition
between the Southern and Northern Basin and Range Ecoregions. This Park
includes a vast desert area of mountain ridges, closed basins, and diverse
community ecotones.
Oak Ridge Park in Tennessee is part of the eastern
deciduous forest system. The Park is located in the Central Appalachian
Ridge and Valley Ecoregion near its transition with the Blue Ridge
Mountain Ecoregion.
Savannah River Park in South Carolina provides research
opportunities in cypress swamp and southeastern pine and hardwood
forests. The Park is located in the Southeastern Plains Ecoregion.
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