Background
After
20 years of inadequate funding, backlogged preservation treatment needs
and a lack of information on condition, thousands of prehistoric and historic
ruins in 41 National Park Service units in the arid west are threatened
with severe deterioration and collapse. Vanishing Treasures is a program
designed to address the devastating destruction of these irreplaceable structures
(many are also World Heritage Sites), the impending loss of preservation
specialties - many who are retiring after 30 plus years in the service,
and the lack of staff available to conduct the required preservation work.
This grassroots program has three primary thrusts to solve these problems. First, the program seeks to eliminate resource loss by implementing emergency projects where structures are in immediate danger of destruction. Second, the Program focuses on replacement of an aging workforce with unique craft skills that will be lost without the addition of new, younger workers. Third, the Program strives to move from a posture of dealing with emergency projects and urgent personnel loss to a proactive preservation program.
Status
The
President's budget for FY 1998 proposed a 10-15 year program to bring the
ruins to a condition where normal cyclic maintenance will suffice for their
preservation and the necessary cadre of skills and expertise can be rebuilt
and maintained. Long range estimates indicate that $67 million is needed
to address the needs of the Program. Of that, approximately $8 million is
needed for the preservation work force estimated at 150 individuals.
The length of the Program is dependent upon the amount of funding appropriated each year. Funding allocations since FY 1998 have been below original projections. Assuming that funding levels will remain consistent with the first three years of the program, we are looking at continuing the need to seek funding for high priority projects, and for the recruitment of a skilled workforce for at least the next 15-20 years.
Learn more about the Vanishing Treasures Program.