Geologic Resources Inventories

Geological resources are a basic component of all ecosystems. Understanding the interrelationships among the many physical (geologic, atmospheric, and aquatic) components and the biological (plants and animals) components of ecosystems is critical to managing and protecting our natural resources. Geologic resources for management consideration include both the processes that act upon the Earth and the features formed as a result of these processes. Geologic processes include: erosion and sedimentation; seismic, volcanic, and geothermal activity; glaciation, rockfalls, landslides, and shoreline change. Geologic features include mountains, canyons, natural arches and bridges, minerals, rocks, fossils, cave and karst systems, beaches, dunes, glaciers, volcanoes, and faults.

The purpose of the Geologic Resources Inventory is to raise awareness of geology and the role it plays in the environment, and to provide natural resource managers and staff, park planners, interpreters, researchers, and other NPS personnel with information that can help them make informed management decisions.

Geologic resource inventory products include scoping meetings, digital geologic maps, and geologic reports.