NATIONAL PARK SERVICE GEOLOGIC RESOURCE EVALUATION: GEOLOGY ISN'T JUST FOR SCENERY ANYMORE

The National Park Service (NPS) Geologic Resource Evaluation (GRE) Program is a systematic approach to gather and disseminate useful digital geologic information to support natural resource management in some 270 NPS units with "significant" natural resources. This involves documenting the features, issues and processes specific to that park and to make a "crosswalk" between a digital geologic map and these features, issues and processes. Numerous steps are involved in completing a park's GRE including conducting scoping meetings, assembling geologic bibliographies of all known applicable references, producing digital geologic maps (bedrock, surficial, abandoned mines, caves, coastal features, etc.), and then assembling all of this information into a usable database. Many cooperators are active in the entire process (federal, state, academic, private etc.)and contribute at various levels from educating park management on geologic resource issues to actually producing geologic field maps. The end result of this multi-faceted cooperation is better stewardship of geologic resources in NPS areas for the enjoyment of future generations.