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Agate Fossil Beds General Management Plan
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument » Agate Fossil Beds General Management Plan » Document List
Dear Friends of Agate Fossil Beds National Monument,
A new and exciting project is underway at Agate. The National Park Service is beginning the development of a general management plan (GMP) which will guide our efforts in protecting and preserving the park for the next 15 to 20 years. This will be the first management document created for Agate since the 1960's. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is relatively unknown by the American public, yet those who do visit are impressed by all that it has to offer—world-renowned Miocene fossils, a sizeable and important collection of Native American artifacts, and scenic vistas resonating with silence. At the turn of the 20th Century, the area now known as Agate Fossil Beds National Monument was a hotbed of scientific discovery. Thousands of fossilized bones from mammals that had lived during the Miocene Epoch were unearthed. Visitors today can view the historic fossil quarries while hiking the paved trails in the park.
Agate also tells the story of a friendship between "Captain" James Cook, owner of the Agate Springs Ranch, and Chief Red Cloud, a leader of the Lakota people. As a way of honoring Cook, Chief Red Cloud and his followers presented the Cook family with many gifts. These gifts included intricately beaded moccasins, parfleche bags, ceremonial pipes, and many other hand-made Native American items that are now on display in the Visitor Center.
The park will work closely with federal, state, and local agencies; tribes; and the general public to identify common interests and goals for the park. These ideas (alternatives) for protecting the park, meeting the needs of the visitor, and addressing public concerns will be presented in the draft GMP. The final document will be combined with an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will analyze the impacts of each alternative on the park.
We need your participation in this very important project. Please join us in this effort by attending one the upcoming public meetings. You can also participate by mailing back the response card with your thoughts about the park and getting your name on the GMP mailing list. We will keep you informed throughout the entire process and if you have any questions or comments please contact us.
I look forward to hearing from you as we proceed through the planning process. Thank you for your interest in Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
Sincerely,
Blanca Alvarez Stransky
Superintendent
Agate Fossil Beds National Monument
301 River Road
Harrison, NE 69346
A new and exciting project is underway at Agate. The National Park Service is beginning the development of a general management plan (GMP) which will guide our efforts in protecting and preserving the park for the next 15 to 20 years. This will be the first management document created for Agate since the 1960's. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is relatively unknown by the American public, yet those who do visit are impressed by all that it has to offer—world-renowned Miocene fossils, a sizeable and important collection of Native American artifacts, and scenic vistas resonating with silence. At the turn of the 20th Century, the area now known as Agate Fossil Beds National Monument was a hotbed of scientific discovery. Thousands of fossilized bones from mammals that had lived during the Miocene Epoch were unearthed. Visitors today can view the historic fossil quarries while hiking the paved trails in the park.
Agate also tells the story of a friendship between "Captain" James Cook, owner of the Agate Springs Ranch, and Chief Red Cloud, a leader of the Lakota people. As a way of honoring Cook, Chief Red Cloud and his followers presented the Cook family with many gifts. These gifts included intricately beaded moccasins, parfleche bags, ceremonial pipes, and many other hand-made Native American items that are now on display in the Visitor Center.
The park will work closely with federal, state, and local agencies; tribes; and the general public to identify common interests and goals for the park. These ideas (alternatives) for protecting the park, meeting the needs of the visitor, and addressing public concerns will be presented in the draft GMP. The final document will be combined with an environmental impact statement (EIS) that will analyze the impacts of each alternative on the park.
We need your participation in this very important project. Please join us in this effort by attending one the upcoming public meetings. You can also participate by mailing back the response card with your thoughts about the park and getting your name on the GMP mailing list. We will keep you informed throughout the entire process and if you have any questions or comments please contact us.
I look forward to hearing from you as we proceed through the planning process. Thank you for your interest in Agate Fossil Beds National Monument.
Sincerely,
Blanca Alvarez Stransky
Superintendent
Contact Information
SuperintendentAgate Fossil Beds National Monument
301 River Road
Harrison, NE 69346