Last updated: August 14, 2024
Article
Project Profile: Assess and Prescribe Treatment for Climate Threatened Cultural Resources at Midwest Region Parks
Blinderman Construction
Inflation Reduction Act
Resilience | FY23, FY25, and FY27 $1,335,960
The National Park Service (NPS) is confronting challenges as cultural resources are increasingly facing threats from climate-driven storms, high-water levels, and erosion. This multi-park project will document vulnerable assets in these parks and offer adaptation recommendations for historic structures, landscapes, and archaeological sites across the Midwest.
Why? The urgency of this project arises from the intensifying weather patterns in the Midwest. Bomb cyclones and derechos have become more frequent, perhaps best exhibited by the 2017 onslaught at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, setting 100-year flood records—and submerging historic structures and destroying archaeological sites in its aftermath. This incident is one of countless across the Midwest, where Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore have seen significant changes and damage from Lake Superior. The significance of the resources at risk is paramount; for instance, many of the structures and landscapes are either listed on the National Register or are eligible for such recognition, serving as fundamental cultural and historical assets.
What Else? The project's multifaceted approach leverages best practices that align with cultural resource practice and policy. It addresses vulnerabilities and offers a forward path for parks to mitigate climate impacts. This involves NPS-led crews following established protocols for documentation, threat assessment, and stabilization recommendations at multiple archaeological sites. For historic structures and landscapes, contracted services with the Denver Service Center will streamline processes and focus on tailored treatment plans.