STORIES IN STONE: GEOLOGIC RESOURCES OF OUR NATIONAL FORESTS

National Forest System (NFS) lands encompass a wide range of geology. The Minerals and Geology Management Program administers a variety of geologic resources across NFS lands such as groundwater, caves and karst, geohazards, and paleontological resources. The scientific understanding of geologic processes is a crucial component of land-use planning and management in order to sustain ecosystems and support multiple uses of geological resources. However, the direct influence of geology and geologic processes on public land management is underrepresented in popular society. Efforts to communicate the role of geologic resources in management have been underway using a wide range of available mapping and web applications, but very few on a national scale. Stories in Stone uses Esri Story Maps to highlight geologic features across many National Forests and Grasslands. This project uses geologic data, imagery, and cartography to connect readers to geographic themes in natural resource distribution. 40 visually striking geologic sites were chosen to highlight compelling stories of a landscape's geologic history and evolution. These stories underscore that management of the land for mineral resources, recreation, and conservation is highly influence by geologic processes and the bedrock beneath.