This document is contained within Soil and Water Resources Toolbox on Wilderness.net. Since other related resources
found in this toolbox may be of interest, you can visit this toolbox by visiting the following URL:
http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=toolboxes&sec=soil. All toolboxes are products of the Arthur Carhart
National Wilderness Training Center.
National Park Service Wilderness and Watershed Policy
The National Park Service Organic Act was passed in 1916 creating the National Park
Service; “Promote and regulate the use of the Federal areas known as national parks,
monuments, and reservations…conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects
and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such a manner
and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations
(16 USC 1)”.
The National Park Service’s Management Policies (2006) contain direction for all park
management activities.
Wilderness Policy is found in Chapter 6 and Soil and Water Policy in Chapter 4
(Natural Resource Management, soils are a sub-section of Geologic Resources, Section
4.8; Water Resource Management is found in Sub-section 4.6). The Park Service Natural
Resource Management Reference Manual #77 offers comprehensive guidance for the
management, conservation, and protection of natural resources found within the parks.
Within the National Park Services Management Policies (2006) are definitions related to
park resources and values that are subject to the no-impairment standard. The physical
processes that created the park and continue to act upon it are specifically mentioned,
including water, soil, and geologic resources. Further this policy directs the Park Service
to “reestablish natural functions and processes in parks unless otherwise directed by
Congress. Landscapes disturbed by natural phenomena, such as landslides, earthquakes,
floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires, will be allowed to recover naturally unless
manipulation is necessary to protect other park resources, developments, or employee
and public safety”. “Impacts on natural systems resulting from human disturbances
include the introduction of exotic species; the contamination of air, water, and soil;
changes to hydrologic patterns and sediment transport; the acceleration of erosion and
sedimentation; and the disruption of natural processes would be returned to natural
conditions and processes using the best available technology and available resources”.
National Park Service Management Policies (2006), Section: 4.6 states “The Service will
perpetuate surface waters and groundwaters as integral components of park aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems.” Much of this policy relates to the Clean Water Act as well as all
other applicable federal, state, and local laws, Executive Orders, and regulations.
Section 4.8.2.4 relates to soil resource management, “The Service will actively seek to
understand and preserve the soil resources of parks, and to prevent, to the extent
possible, the unnatural erosion, physical removal, or contamination of the soil or its
contamination of other resources.”
Section: 6.3.7: Natural Resources Management
“Recognizes that wilderness is a composite resource with interrelated parts. Without
natural resources, especially indigenous and endemic species, a wilderness experience
would not be possible. Natural resources are critical, defining elements of the wilderness
resource, but need to be managed within the context of the whole ecosystem. Natural
resource management plans will be integrated with, and cross-reference, wilderness
management plans. Pursuing a series of independent component projects in wilderness,
such as single- species management, will not necessarily accomplish the over-arching
goal of wilderness management. Natural resources management in wilderness will
include and be guided by a coordinated program of scientific inventory, monitoring, and
research.”
“The principle of non-degradation will be applied to wilderness management, and each
wilderness area’s condition will be measured and assessed against its own unimpaired
standard. Natural processes will be allowed, insofar as possible, to shape and control
wilderness ecosystems. Management should seek to sustain the natural distribution,
numbers, population composition, and interaction of indigenous species. Management
intervention should only be undertaken to the extent necessary to correct past mistakes,
the impacts of human use, and influences originating outside of wilderness boundaries.”
“Management actions, including the restoration of extirpated native species, the altering
of natural fire regimes, the controlling of invasive alien species, the management of
endangered species, and the protection of air and water quality, should be attempted only
when the knowledge and tools exist to accomplish clearly articulated goals.”
Water and water quality is mentioned specifically related to wilderness resources.
In Section 6.3.11.3 Waters in Wilderness, the Park Service will “In keeping with
established jurisdictions and authorities, the Service will manage as wilderness all
waters included within wilderness boundaries, and the lands beneath these waters (if
owned by the United States).”
National Park Service Directors Order #41 (8/2/99), provides additional direction for
Wilderness Management and the creation of management plans with consideration of
water quality and soil resources.
In addition, park management is governed by the Clean Water Act and Executive Orders
pertaining to watershed resources. Similar to the other federal agencies, the NPS has
developed a Wetlands Policy to respond to the Presidential goal of “No Net Loss of
Wetlands”.