PRESERVING THE FOSSILS AT FOSSIL POINT: A NEW EFFORT TO MONITOR AND PROTECT PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES IN LAKE CLARK NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, SOUTHWEST ALASKA

Fossil Point is an exceptionally rich fossil locality found in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. The rocks at Fossil Point are known for their abundant and well-preserved Middle Jurassic invertebrate fossils, including bivalves, ammonites, and belemnites. The abundance and quality of fossils, as well as the relatively easy coastal access, makes fossils at Fossil Point vulnerable to unauthorized collection. As established by the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (2009), fossil collection without a permit is illegal on all National Park Service land. Despite this, anecdotal evidence suggests that collection without a permit is occurring at Fossil Point and has been for many years. Beyond anecdotal evidence, the prevalence and scale of unauthorized fossil collection at Fossil Point has thus far gone undocumented.

A new effort was initiated in 2018 to gauge visitation to Fossil Point and document the loss of paleontological resources over the summer season. This involved conducting fossil surveys of the beach at the beginning and end of the summer. During these surveys, well-preserved and easily-collectible fossils were photographed and their positions were documented using GPS. The surveys documented direct evidence of fossil collection activities, which included fossil collection cairns and rocks that appear to be broken by human agency. Additionally, visitor use of Fossil Point was monitored throughout the summer by park rangers. The results of this study provide baseline data that will be used to inform management decisions concerning the best way to protect the paleontological resources at Fossil Point.