The Evaluation of Natural Areas in the Pacific West Region as Potential National Natural Landmarks
Project ID: J8W07100051
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: Oregon State University
Fiscal Year: 2010
Initial Funding: $7,050
Total Funding: $32,238
Project Type: Technical Assistance
Project Disciplines: Biological
National Park: Pacific West Region Oregon
Principal Investigator: Kagan, Jimmy
Agreement Technical Representative: Gibbons, Steve
Abstract: The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program was established in 1962 by the Secretary of the Interior to encourage the preservation of the best remaining examples of the biological and geological features composing the Nation’s natural landscape. Currently, there are 586 NNL Program sites nationwide with seven designated in Oregon. This is a collaborative effort to evaluate two natural areas, Zumwalt Prairie near Enterprise, Oregon and Boardman Grasslands near Boardman, Oregon as potential additions to the National Registry of Natural Landmarks. Portland State University will work with the National Park Service to conduct an evaluation of these two sites according to the NNL Program’s “Guidelines for Evaluation of Potential National Natural Landmarks.” The guidelines include a framework for preparing an evaluation report on a potential NNL, and include information on ecological conditions, descriptions of the primary and secondary natural features at the site, and an evaluation of its natural significance. Products from this project include an evaluation report and a PowerPoint presentation for each natural area.
Deliverables:
- Evaluation of The Island Jefferson County, Oregon for its merit in meeting national significance criteria as a National Natural Landmark to represent Pumice Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) in the Columbia Plateau Province (Final Report)
- Evaluation of Round Top Butte Jackson County, Oregon for its merit in meeting national significance criteria as a National Natural Landmark to represent Upland Valley Grasslands and Savanna in the North Pacific Border Biophysiographic Province (Final Report)
- Evaluation of Zumwalt Prairie, Wallowa County, Oregon for its merit in meeting national significance criteria as a National Natural Landmark representing Plateau Grasslands in the Columbia Plateau Biophysiographic Province (Final Report)
- Evaluation of Mount Howard – East Peak, Wallowa County, Oregon for its merit in meeting national significance criteria as a National Natural Landmark to represent Montane Grasslands in the Columbia Plateau Biophysiographic Province (Final Report)