
WELCOME
2022 was a year to celebrate with May 18th marking 60 years since the establishment of the National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program. Now including over 600 designated sites there is much to highlight and be excited about. Social media posts, celebration events, and outreach products, all provided the opportunity to shine a light on the reason behind the six decades of the program’s success – its partners! Conservation of these significant areas happens because of the dedicated stewardship of hundreds of public and private land stewards. Cheers to 60 years and here’s to 60 more!Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man.
— Stewart Udall (Secretary of the Interior 1961-1969 and creator of the NNL Program)

NNL PROGRAM’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY
All Over Social Media
Established in 1962 by Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, landmark owners, managers, and partners across the country took to social media to help share the news and engage in the celebration of six decades of recognizing and supporting the conservation of America’s natural heritage!


Activities, Events & Publications – oh my!
In addition to abundant social media posts, the following are some of the other ways partners helped shine a light on the program throughout the year.The Audubon Society offered free admission to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary on the program’s anniversary. Visitors to this southern Florida landmark could hike the 2.25-mile boardwalk through the site’s old growth bald cypress forests and attend naturalist’s programs to learn about some of the inhabitants of this nationally significant swamp. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to hold free admission day - Bonita Springs Florida Weekly
A free 1.2-mile guided nature hike was offered by the Central Indiana Land Trust for visitors to explore and learn about Meltzer Woods NNL, a significant old-growth forest less than a 40-minute drive southeast of Indianapolis.

International Bog Day on July 24 provided the perfect opportunity for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to celebrate the Volo Bog Nature Preserve NNL. Located within the Volo Bog State Natural Area in the far northeast corner of the state, this classic northern quaking bog is the featured NNL along with bogs artwork in the 2023 NNL calendar.
Coinciding with Tennessee State Park’s celebration of 85 years of publication of its official magazine, The Tennessee Conservationist, an article in the last issue of 2022 was published highlighting the program anniversary and Tennessee NNLs. Six of the state’s 13 NNLs are managed by the state and protected as State Natural Areas. Tennessee Conservationist Magazine — Tennessee State Parks (tnstateparks.com)
Coinciding with Tennessee State Park’s celebration of 85 years of publication of its official magazine, The Tennessee Conservationist, an article in the last issue of 2022 was published highlighting the program anniversary and Tennessee NNLs. Six of the state’s 13 NNLs are managed by the state and protected as State Natural Areas. Tennessee Conservationist Magazine — Tennessee State Parks (tnstateparks.com)


Video Rock Stars
In response to a request for video clips, landmark owners and managers answered the call with excitement and creativity! Over 80 video clips were submitted showcasing the scenery from NNLs across the country and including messages about landmark resources and congratulations, gratitude, and cheerful wishes. This provided an incredible wealth of footage from which the NPS’ Natural Resource Office of Communications was able to create a joyful collage video to honor NNL sites across the country, celebrate the program’s 60-year milestone and provide a positive reminder of the importance of conservation and the power of partnerships.The NNL Program used this video as the primary communication tool on May 18, 2022. The video, posted prominently on the program’s website, was shared on NPS social media accounts, in the NPS’ Green & Gray Report, highlighted in the May 20th edition of This Week at Interior, included in communication outlets internal to all 70,000 Department of Interior employees, and shared with over 700 media outlets nationwide via an NPS News Release.While most of the video clips submitted were utilized to create the celebration video, others can be found featured here on the NNL Program’s website.
SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION IN ACTION
Research conducted on the North/South River estuary has led investigators with the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst to redefine how New England salt marshes acquire the sediment that keeps them viable. They discovered that the sediments, vital to building and maintaining salt marsh volume at sufficient height above sea level, are coming predominately from the ocean, not rivers as has been the prevailing theory. Salt marshes, such as those occurring at river-mouth estuaries like the North and South Rivers NNL, provide critical services such as erosion and flood buffering, carbon sequestration, and filtering of pollutants, while offering habitat for a host of birds, marine invertebrates, and fish. Proper understanding of the source of salt marsh sediment has direct implications for their management and protection, especially considering future sea-level rise. Full study details and results were published in the March 2022 Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface (How a Massachusetts Salt Marsh Is Changing What We Know About the New England Coast : NE CASC (umass.edu) and Sources, Mechanisms, and Timescales of Sediment Delivery to a New England Salt Marsh - Baranes - 2022 - Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface - Wiley Online Library).






COLLABORATION AND CONNECTED CONSERVATION
Collaborations
John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, located in Philadelphia, received $900,000 in federal dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to restore Henderson Marsh. This is one of 40 National Fish Passage Program projects in 23 states and Puerto Rico that was awarded in 2022. Alongside Ducks Unlimited, Eastwick United Community Development Association, and many other conservation partners, the US Fish and Wildlife Service plans to improve water flow to Henderson Marsh by restoring tidal channels and pools. This marsh is currently tidally restricted from Darby Creek, a tributary to the Delaware River. Constructing new openings in the existing berm and excavating 13,000 feet of new or enhanced tidal channels will reestablish a more natural hydrology to the marsh, allowing for fish passage of several migratory species. Additionally, the project will help to ameliorate flooding damage to surrounding communities and expand recreational opportunities for kayaking and fishing. A quarter of this 1,000-acre refuge has the NNL designation, in recognition of it as the largest freshwater tidal wetland in Pennsylvania, including representative tidal marsh flora and fauna. Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds help restore urban oasis | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (fws.gov)

Connected Conservation
For the sixth summer, NNLs participated in sampling for the long-term, landscape-scale Dragonfly Mercury Project. In 2022, four NNL sites (Bear Meadows Natural Area, PA, East Inlet Natural Area, NH, Fort Worth Nature Center and Refuge, TX, and Ell Pond, RI) collected larvae from 10 different sampling locations, adding to the data collected at over 160 other sites across the country. All years of dragonfly mercury summary data are available at The Dragonfly Mercury Project Data Dashboard (usgs.gov) and a synopsis of this project can be found in the Summer 2022 Issue of Park Science -- “How an Insect Became a National Park Service Superhero”
Making Connections
NNL site visits often create the perfect opportunity to bring together multiple partners who share interest in the site’s conservation, as exemplified in the stories below.Bingham Pond Bog, located in the far northwestern corner of Connecticut, was designated an NNL in 1973 in recognition of the site as an undisturbed, cold northern spruce bog. Located on private land and accessible by permission only, this 91-acre NNL site is situated within nearly 4,300 acres owned by Mt. Riga, Inc., and falls entirely within a conservation easement held by The Nature Conservancy. The NNL is also within the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, designated by Congress in 2006 to illuminate the diverse historical, cultural, and natural identity of the Upper Housatonic River valley. A 2022 visit to the site by NNL Program staff brought all these partners together to discuss land use and environmental issues, potentially sparking future collaborations.


Connecting Through National Celebrations
With the pandemic continuing to limit many in-person events in 2021, the International Year of Caves and Karst (IYCK) was extended a second year and several NNL sites continued to host IYCK events throughout 2022, including the Texas Hydro-Geo Workshop hosted at Cave Without A Name to bring students and professionals together in a field setting for a hands-on learning experience (April); the Fort Stanton Cave Science Conference, held alongside the New Mexico Geological Society Symposium in Socorro to share results and spur future projects for Fort Stanton Cave (April); and International Cave Day celebrations in June at Mark Twain Cave, Lake Shasta Caverns and Cumberland Caverns. Information about these and the hundreds of other IYCK events that occurred over the past couple years can explored here Event Results – April 2022 – IYCK (iyck2021.org)
NNLS MAKING A SPLASH
National and International Honors
Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Area earned entry into the Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN) in 2022. Network Forests are old-growth or mature native forests that are protected from commercial logging and open to the public. Located in northwest Pennsylvania within the Allegheny National Forest, Tionesta Scenic and Research Natural Area was designated an NNL in 1973 as the largest old-growth forest in the hemlock-white pine/northern hardwood forest regions of North America. It is now one of 185 Network Forests nationwide and joins at least 24 other NNLs previously awarded this status. Every new Network Forest advances OGFN’s goal “to locate and designate at least one protected forest in every county in the United States that can sustain a native forest.” The OGFN also designates Community Forests and Private Forests, recognizing the importance of local communities and private individuals in landscape-scale forest conservation. Old-Growth Forest Network (oldgrowthforest.net)

New Additions and Discoveries
Tennessee State Parks welcomed Savage Gulf State Park as the newest park in September 2022, bringing the total number of parks in the state park system to 57. The new state park includes over 19,000 acres, including the 2,600-acre Savage Gulf NNL, designated in 1971 for its old-growth forest, considered some of the best and largest within the mixed mesophytic forest region. Located on the western edge of the Columbia plateau in Grundy and Sequatchie counties, this area also contains remarkable vistas, waterfalls, sandstone cliffs and picturesque gorges. Savage Gulf State Park — Tennessee State Parks (tnstateparks.com)
CELEBRATING LANDMARKS
On June 30th, 2022, John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, America’s first urban refuge, celebrated their 50th anniversary. With children, grandchildren, and relatives of the first employee and manager of the Refuge in attendance, as well as long-time partners and volunteers. Together, they celebrated the grassroots origin of the refuge and shared hopes and goals for the future of community-centered conservation. The event included activities for all, from guided walks on various topics, to a paddling trip and archery. https://6abc.com/john-heinz-national-wildlife-refuge-animals-philadelphia-fyi-philly/12115385/ and John Heinz NWR 50th Anniversary Visitor Stories

Quinquagenary Anniversaries
Forty-eight sites were designated as NNLs by Secretary of the Interior Rogers C.B. Morton in 1972 and thus celebrated their quinquagenary anniversary in 2022. Twenty-three sites received the distinction in late June and 25 more in late November of that year. Happy 50th!State/Territory | NNL |
Alabama | Cathedral Caverns |
American Samoa | Aunu'u Island |
American Samoa | Cape Taputapu |
American Samoa | Fogama'a Crater |
American Samoa | Le'ala Shoreline |
American Samoa | Matafao Peak |
American Samoa | Rainmaker Mountain |
American Samoa | Vai'ava Strait |
Arkansas | Mammoth Spring |
California | Miramar Mounds |
Georgia | Cason J. Callaway Memorial Forest |
Guam | Facpi Point |
Guam | Fouha Point |
Guam | Mount Lamlam |
Guam | Puntan Dos Amantes |
Hawaii | ʻĪao Valley |
Hawaii | Ko‘olau Range Pali |
Hawaii | Makalawena Marsh |
Hawaii | Mauna Kea |
Hawaii | North Shore Cliffs |
Illinois | Heron Pond-Little Black Slough Natural Area |
Illinois | Horseshoe Lake Nature Preserve |
Illinois | Mississippi Palisades |
Illinois | Volo Bog Nature Preserve |
Illinois | Wauconda Bog Nature Preserve |
Indiana | Donaldson Cave System and Woods |
Indiana | Rise at Orangeville |
Indiana | Tolliver Swallowhole |
Indiana | Wesley Chapel Gulf |
Indiana | Wyandotte Cave |
Massachusetts | Acushnet Cedar Swamp |
Massachusetts | Fannie Stebbins Refuge |
Massachusetts | Lynnfield Marsh |
Massachusetts | Poutwater Pond |
Missouri | Mark Twain and Cameron Caves |
Missouri | Marvel Cave |
Nevada | Hot Creek Springs and Marsh |
Nevada | Ruby Marsh |
New Hampshire | East Inlet Natural Area |
New Hampshire | Floating Island |
New Hampshire | Heath Pond Bog |
New Hampshire | Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge |
New Hampshire | Spruce Hole Bog |
New York | Hart's Woods |
Pennsylvania | Ferncliff Wildflower and Wildlife Preserve |
Pennsylvania | Hemlocks Natural Area |
Pennsylvania | McConnell's Mill State Park |
Virginia | Great Dismal Swamp |

RAISING AWARENESS
Education and Interpretation
Camp Borrego, a 3-day, 2-night outdoor education program for 5th grade students in underserved schools in Imperial and San Diego Counties, started 20 years ago from a partnership between California State Parks and the Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF) to provide students place-based learning at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Needed safety upgrades shuttered the camp in 2017, however ABF and the park are committed to rebuilding a permanent camp facility to increase impact of this popular and one-of-a-kind desert program, detailed in a new five-year strategic plan. ABF is currently working with state officials to finalize plans for six cabins and a multipurpose room facility, while working to secure funds to expand programs to reach k-12 students, adults, families, park staff, universities and more. Designated an NNL in 1974, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park contains some of the best examples of desert biotic communities of the Colorado Desert and exceeding 640,000 acres in size, this outstanding natural area provides excellent opportunities for immersive education. Learn more about this critical project to reach the next generation of park advocates: Camp Borrego – The Anza-Borrego Foundation (theabf.org)

Illustrating America’s Natural Heritage
In 2022, in celebration of the program’s 60th anniversary, new NNL artwork was released every 60 days over the course of the year. New pieces beautifully illustrate geological and biological features associated with glaciers, springs, bogs, estuaries, fossils, and forests. The Illustrating America’s Natural Heritage collection now includes 14 pieces, representing a broad array of the diversity of natural features. These works, along with information about the natural feature and places where they can be found, are included on the NNL Program website. Artwork - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)NNL PROGRAM STAFF
NNL Program staff connected with and reported on 57 NNL sites in FY2022. These periodic contacts with NNL landowners and managers provide opportunities to check in on the status and condition of sites, update contact information, inquire about conservation needs or issues, and identify potential collaboration opportunities.Program Work Planning
For the first time in three years, NNL Program staff were able to meet in-person for an annual work planning session. Mammoth Site of Hot Springs NNL, located in the Black Hills of South Dakota hosted the team. This site, situated in the southwest corner of the state, is nearby to Cathedral Spires and Limber Pine Natural Area, an NNL within Custer State Park, and Wind Cave National Park. The close proximity of these natural areas provided a great opportunity to visit and engage with managers at all of these areas, sharing information and seeking collaborative opportunities.Contact information for program staff can be found on-line here Contact Us - National Natural Landmarks Program (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)This report provides a sampling of stories from NNLs across the country for 2022. Thanks to the many landmark owners and managers who are working to conserve these significant areas and for your contributions to this report.