GEOLOGIC RESOURCE EVALUATION PROGRAM - PRODUCTS AND USES

The goals of the Geologic Resource Evaluation Program (GRE) within the National Park Service are to raise awareness about geology and the role geologic features and processes play in the environment. The GRE team provides 270 natural area parks with a geologic scoping meeting, digital geologic map data, and park-specific geologic report. These products are designed to enhance stewardship of park resources by providing valuable information about geologic formations, hazards, and links between geology and other natural resources. Park staff are currently using digital geologic data to identify and protect threatened plant and animal habitat, locate cave entrances, identify areas with potential paleontologic resources, plan for infrastructure, protect visitors from hazards, and educate the public. GRE reports identify key geologic resource management issues, geologic features and processes important to park ecosystems, and include a brief geologic history of the park area. As of May 2007, the GRE team has held scoping meetings for 183 parks, completed 96 map products, and 30 geologic reports.