Independent Research
PadreIsland National Seashore strongly encourages the participation of academic and independent scientists in the park science program. A great deal of past research at the seashore has been carried out by qualified individuals engaged in independent studies. Persons wishing to familiarize themselves with recent research and resources management projects in the seashore are encouraged to visit the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System website and examine the archive of Investigator's Annual Reports. These are mandatory year-end reports required from all Principal Investigators (PI's) who engage in science and resource management activities in the various parks. A wide range of technical disciplines are represented. Parks are listed alphabetically and a search utility is provided for retrieval of research summaries according to park, subject or names of the PI's.
Priority consideration is given to research proposals that address resource issues of most immediate concern to park managers. Many of these concerns are documented in the park Resources Management Plan, a strategic plan that monitors the condition of park resources and recommends remedial actions to deal with specific problems. However, qualified scientists are invited to conduct independent studies in their special areas of expertise in the national parks when the work promises to yield information that is useful to park management. NPS policy discourages studies that are not likely to produce results having some intrinsic value for preserving or managing park resources.
How to Obtain a Research and Collection Permit for Padre IslandNational Seashore
Persons wishing to conduct scientific research in Padre Island National Seashore can apply for a Research and Collection Permit through the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System website. This is done by selecting “Submit applications for research permits” and following the instructions on the screen. The application form can be filled out and submitted electronically from the website. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the instruction set and general guidelines posted on the website prior to completing the Application Form (see “Application FAQs” and “Permit FAQs”).
A Research Proposal or Study Plan is required in addition to the Application Form. Proposals can be attached during the on-line application process or can be sent directly to the park Research Coordinator either electronically or via regular mail. Information for contacting the Research Coordinator appears at the end of this section and on the application site. If a peer reviewed proposal already exists (i.e., one prepared for a granting institution, etc.) this will often satisfy the requirement for a study plan. In this case PI's are asked to attach a short letter to the proposal describing how their work in Padre Island National Seashore relates to the overall goals of the investigation. Research methods to be employed in the park should be clearly described in the letter if they are not fully documented in the study proposal. Experience has shown that lack of details on field methods causes most of the delays in the permitting process.
Investigators are encouraged to apply at least 90-days in advance of the time they plan to arrive in the park. This amount of lead-time is sometimes necessary because processing the application involves numerous steps. These include various levels of review and checks for compliance with NEPA, park regulations, compatibility with wilderness management guidelines, etc. In many cases accompanying research proposals will already have undergone one or more levels of peer review. Additional review may be sought depending upon the scope and complexity of the proposal. Applicants may be contacted by park staff and requested to provide additional information or clarification about the proposed work. A separate permit must be obtained from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service by investigators planning to handle or otherwise disturb any species listed under the Endangered Species Act . Permits from appropriate state agencies may also be required. No research permits will be authorized until all necessary State and Federal permits are received by the park. Upon completion of these reviews PI's will be notified via e-mail, telephone or letter about the status of their permit. Persons conducting multi-year projects may request a permit valid for up to 5 years. Researchers will be mailed one copy of the permit. The PI should sign this, make a copy, and mail the original signature copy back to the park. The copy of the original must be carried by the PI or field team leader at all times while in the field in the park.
Principal Investigators and members of their research teams are required to notify the park’s Science and Resources Management Team personnel whenever they plan on entering the park to conduct research activities. The NPS staff person contacted will discuss any special restrictions or requirements that may apply depending on location of study sites, current conditions, management actions, etc. These procedures have been established to ensure the safety of researchers working in the field and to avoid conflicts with other park activities.
In addition to the general guidelines, rules, and requirements described on the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System website, researchers may have additional restrictions or conditions imposed that are specific to Padre Island National Seashore. These are sometimes necessary due to temporary closures of areas due to wildfire, active avian nesting areas, sea turtle nesting, etc. Researchers are required to exhibit a dashboard display in the windshield of their vehicle while conducting research activities that clearly identifies them as members of a field research team and describes authorized areas where research activities can be carried out. The dashboard display will be mailed to the PI along with the permit to be signed.
Information gained from research investigations is archived in several standardized databases that are in Service-wide use throughout the NPS. Scientific data obtained in a national park under the authority of a Research and Collection Permit must be reported in formats that have been adopted for these databases. This includes a protocol for recording metadata. Guidelines for reporting results in the appropriate formats will be furnished to investigators conducting scientific studies in Padre Island National Seashore. A digital copy of original data files and any derived data products may also be requested, in addition to metadata, when the study topic has potential for future monitoring. Investigators needing assistance with this or who wish to discuss technical aspects of reporting their data may contact Mark Biel, Resource Management Specialist in Padre Island National Seashore. He can be contacted by phone at (361) 949-8173 extension 234 or via e-mail: mark_biel@nps.gov.
Principal Investigators issued a Research and Collection Permit will be contacted at the end of the year and requested to submit an "Investigator's Annual Report" (IAR). This can be prepared either in hard copy or online via the NPS Research Permit and Reporting System website. Instructions for filing the report will be provided with the notification. Completion of an condition for renewal of permits and are required each year of the project from initial data collection until a final report is submitted. IAR's are intended to be brief, stand-alone summaries to communicate the highlights of objectives and research progress and findings to park management, park interpreters, and the public. Upon completion of a project, investigators must submit a copy of the final report or publication to the park for our library. We encourage investigators to submit a one to two page layman's abstract along with their final report. Investigators may also be invited to speak to park staff and the public.Investigators planning to collect specimens that will be retained permanently are required to contact the park's Museum Curator to discuss arrangements for the cataloging and disposition of specimens at the beginning of their project. It is not necessary to comply with this requirement if specimens collected are to be destroyed during the analysis process. Preparation and cataloging of permanently retained specimens, including the entry of catalog data into the NPS ANCS+ database, is the responsibility of the PI or authorized designee. Specimens remain the property of the National Park Service, but may be placed on loan to another institution or repository. Please contact Darrell Echols, Museum Curator, at (361) 949-8173 extension 223 or via email at darrell_echols@nps.gov .
Fee Waivers
Investigators engaged in approved research projects at Padre Island National Seashore are entitled to a fee waiver for entry into the park. The copy of the signed research permit, which should also include a list of names of field personnel, will serve as a fee waiver to enter the park. Principal Investigators and members of their research teams are required to notify the park’s Science and Resources Management Team personnel whenever they plan on entering the park to conduct research activities to provide a list of names of all persons in their crews along with license number(s) and a description of the vehicle(s). This must be submitted in advance of arrival.
Camping fee waivers are not granted. Principal Investigators are advised to make allowances for field expenses, including use of public campgrounds or local hotels, during preparation of their budgets. Fee free camping is allowed on SouthBeach on a first come-first served basis.
Park Research Coordinator
Persons interested in obtaining a research and collection permit or those needing assistance with the application process and administrative or logistical aspects of their work in Padre Island National Seashore should contact:
Mark Biel, Biologist
Science and Resource Management Division
Padre Island National Seashore
Corpus Christi, Texas 78418
Phone: (361) 949- 8173 extension 234
Fax: (361) 949-8023
Email: mark_biel@nps.gov
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