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Surficial Geologic Mapping in the Noatak National Preserve

Western Arctic National Parklands » Surficial Geologic Mapping in the Noatak National Preserve » Document List

The Geologic Resources Evaluation (GRE) Program is part of the Natural Resource Challenge, a National Park Service (NPS) program intended to enhance the knowledge, management and protection of park resources. The goal of the GRE program is to produce the following for each National Park: 1) Digital geologic map(s), 2) Geologic resource evaluation report, 3) Geologic bibliography. A surficial geologic map for Noatak National Preserve will help meet the goals of the national GRE program.

Surficial geology is one of several important bio-physical elements of an ecosystem. Ecoregions are characterized by distinctive and interrelated bio-physical elements including landform, soil, vegetative, climatic, topography, lithology and in the case of NOAT, glaciation. A better understanding of the biophysical elements in WEAR will enhance the ability of the NPS to coordinate and integrate research and monitoring activities of the Inventory and Monitoring Program in the Arctic Network. A better understanding of in the ecoregions of WEAR will facilitate the ability of the NPS to detect change in natural systems and to better manage park resources.

The surficial geologic mapping project in NOAT this summer will be based out of the Kelly River Ranger Station. The project is scheduled for June 12-25. A two-man crew will use an R44 helicopter. Tom Hamilton (USGS) and Bruce Giffen (NPS-AKRO) will do the mapping. About 55 flight hours with the helicopter are planned. The area of interest are the Noatak National Preserve portions of the DeLong and Noatak quadrangles.

The National Park Service has approved this project after reviewing it for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

Contact Information

Bruce A. Giffen, Geologist
Natural Resources Team
Alaska Regional Office
National Park Service
240 West 5th Ave
Anchorage, Alaska 99501
(907) 644-3572 (phone)
(907) 644-3809 (Fax)
bruce_giffen@nps.gov