PROMOTING GEOLOGIC EDUCATION THROUGH OUTSTANDING GEOLOGIC FEATURES OF PENNSYLVANIA

The Pennsylvania Geological Survey publication Environmental Geology Report 7, Parts 1 and 2 (EG 7, 1979 and 1987), Outstanding Scenic Geological Features of Pennsylvania, was a “best-seller” for many years. Authors Alan Geyer and William Bolles described 514 sites of particular geologic significance or interest from across the state. Selected sites from that report became the basis for inclusion of geologic “species” into the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. Ultimately, EG 7 went out of print. In the mid-2000s, many of these sites were revisited and found to be overgrown with vegetation or in some other way degraded (nearby development, graffiti, etc.). In addition, the publication of features located on private land had become problematic. The Survey turned to sites on public land to direct public attention to such exceptional features.

In the early 2010s, the Survey initiated the development of one-page summary sheets for specific Outstanding Geological Features (OGF), which were selected from EG 7 sites. The summary pages, designed as portable documents and written for the general public, included coordinates, inset maps, photographs, geologic summary, and site references. The development of department online-mapping tools including PaGEODE (Pennsylvania GEOlogic Data Exploration) coincided with the OGFs. As more site summaries were completed, the OGF data layer became one of the most-heavily accessed web pages. In 2016, the summary pages and other geologic park guides underwent a transition to a new Trail of Geology publication series with more than 100 publications. The sites covered are mostly publically accessible features. Rock cities, scenic views, landforms, waterfalls, springs, and geologic outcrops that show structure are typical of the features described. We recognize that publishing the locations of features may have drawbacks; acts of vandalism such as spray-painting continue to plague easily-accessed outcrops; locations with fossils may be “overgrazed.” Overall, we believe outreach to the geologic tourist will have more positive impacts than negative ones. Promotion of outstanding examples of geology fosters education and outdoor recreation, and works toward the conservation of important sites. The Trail of Geology series can broaden the public’s appreciation of geology.