GEOANTIQUITIES IN THE URBAN LANDSCAPE: POTENTIAL LOSS OF GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE

Unique geological sites worldwide are successfully recognized and protected through procedures implemented by interested citizens, organizations and governments. The term geoantiquity denotes a scientifically important, natural record of Earth-surface processes, environments, and geological history. Geoantiquities in regions of rapid urban growth are prime targets for housing developments or removal (e.g., sand and gravel extraction), particulary those on private land.

The Stockton Bar of Tooele County, Utah, is a prominent sand and gravel barrier bar that was deposited by longshore transport and waves in Pleistocene Lake Bonneville. The Stockton Bar is the largest and highly detailed lacustrine bar of its kind in the western hemisphere, with one of the most complete records of ice-age history. After 8 years of efforts to protect the Stockton Bar and educate the community on its value, residents organized and rose up to protest requests for re-zoning that would allow for more extensive sand and gravel extraction. Ultimately, it was the potential negative effect on quality of life that mobilized the community. However, without outright land ownership or protection through government park systems, efforts of geoconservation in the United States will always lag because of the hurdles of private-owner rights. These issues offer the opportunity to raise community awareness and involvement. Transformation in how we think about geoconservation needs to start with scientists and citizens taking an activist role to preserve our geological heritage.