Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

Cultural Landscapes Inventory and Condition Update

Project ID: J8W07110008

Federal Agency: National Park Service

Partner Institution: University of Oregon

Fiscal Year: 2011

Initial Funding: $22,908

Total Funding: $50,617

Project Type: Technical Assistance

Project Disciplines: Cultural

National Park: Pacific West Region

Principal Investigator: Melnick, Robert

Agreement Technical Representative: Louter, David

Abstract: This is a collaborative project to complete physical assessments and condition updates for significant cultural landscapes in national parks within the Pacific West Region. The project will support the National Park Service (NPS) Cultural Landscapes Inventory (CLI) Program. The CLI is a national database containing information about historically significant landscapes within the NPS system. This evaluated inventory identifies and documents each landscape’s location, size, physical development, character-defining features, and condition, as well as other valuable information useful to resource managers. The project will take place over two summer field seasons and will involve students working with NPS cultural resources staff to document significant characteristics of cultural landscapes in California, Oregon, and Washington. Collectively, they will review condition assessments and update information in the regional CLI database. NPS will provide training and background materials related to the CLI program. The students will conduct research, document cultural landscape characteristics in the field, develop site maps, take documentary photographs, and provide updates to the condition assessments for historic structures, vegetation, and small-scale features among other landscape resources. This project benefits the public by providing documentation necessary to identify historically significant properties, information for cultural resources managers to develop preservation strategies, and educational opportunities for several students. Clear identification of historic significance, period of significance, boundaries, and contributing and non-contributing resources within cultural landscaped help inform and promote future preservation projects. Preservation of historic resources creates opportunities for the public to experience tangible links to our country’s past through continued use and/or interpretative programs. The NPS is in the early stages of developing a web application that will make information in the CLI database available to the public.

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