The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program in the United States recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the country. It is the only national natural areas program that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership. The program was established on May 18, 1962, by United States Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall.
The program aims to encourage and support voluntary preservation of sites that illustrate the geological and ecological history of the United States. It also hopes to strengthen the public's appreciation of the country's natural heritage. As of July 2024, 605 sites have been added to the National Registry of Natural Landmarks. The registry includes nationally significant geological and ecological features in 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The National Park Service administers the NNL Program and, if requested, assists NNL owners and managers with the conservation of these sites. Land acquisition by the federal government is not a goal of the program. National Natural Landmarks are nationally significant sites owned by a variety of land stewards, and their participation in this federal program is voluntary.
The legislative authority for the National Natural Landmarks Program stems from the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666, 16 U.S.C. 641); the program is governed by federal regulations."National Natural Landmarks Program; Final Rule 36 CFR 62," Federal Register Vol. 64, No. 91, Wednesday, May 12, 1999, pp. 25708-25723. The NNL Program does not have the protection features of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Thus, the designation of a National Natural Landmark constitutes only an agreement with the owner to preserve, as far as possible, the significant natural values of the site or area. Administration and preservation of National Natural Landmarks is solely the owner's responsibility. Either party may terminate the agreement after they notify the other.
Designation The NNL designation is made by the Secretary of the Interior after an in-depth scientific study of a potential site. All new designations must have owner concurrence. The selection process is rigorous: to be considered for NNL status, a site must be one of the best examples of a natural region's characteristic biotic or geologic features. Since the establishment of the NNL program, a multi-step process has been used to designate a site for NNL status. Since 1970, the following steps have constituted the process.
A natural area inventory of a natural region is completed to identify the most promising sites. After landowners are notified that the site is being considered for NNL status, a detailed onsite evaluation is conducted by scientists other than those who conducted the inventory.This step was dropped after 1979 but was reinstituted in 1999. The evaluation report is peer-reviewed by other experts to assure its soundness. The report is reviewed further by National Park Service staff. The site is reviewed by the Secretary of the Interior's National Park Advisory Board to determine that the site qualifies as an NNL. The findings are provided to the Secretary of the Interior who approves or declines. Landowners are notified a third time informing them that the site has been designated an NNL.
Prospective sites for NNL designation are terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; geological features, exposures, and landforms that record active geological processes or portions of earth history; and fossil evidence of biological evolution. Each major natural history "theme" can be further subdivided into various sub-themes. For example, sub-themes suggested in 1972 for the overall theme "Lakes and ponds" included large deep lakes, large shallow lakes, lakes of complex shape, crater lakes, kettle lake and potholes, oxbow lakes, dune lakes, sphagnum-bog lakes, lakes fed by thermal streams, tundra lakes and ponds, swamps and marshy areas, sinkhole lakes, unusually productive lakes, and lakes of high productivity and high clarity.
Ownership The NNL program does not require designated properties to be owned by public entities. Lands under almost all forms of ownership or administration have been designated—federal, state, local, municipal, and private. Federal lands with NNLs include those administered by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, Air Force, Marine Corps, Army Corps of Engineers, Navy, and others.
Some NNLs has been designated on lands held by Native Americans or tribes. NNLs also have been designated on state lands that cover a variety of types and management, such as forest, park, game refuge, recreation area, and preserve. Private lands with NNLs include those owned by universities, museums, scientific societies, conservation organizations, land trusts, commercial interests, and private individuals. Approximately 52% of NNLs are administered by public agencies, more than 30% are entirely privately owned, and the remaining 18% are owned or administered by a mixture of public agencies and private owners.
Access Participation in the NNL Program carries no requirements regarding public access. The NNL registry includes many sites of national significance that are open for public tours, but others are not. Since many NNLs are located on federal and state property, permission to visit is often unnecessary. Some private properties may be open to public visitation or just require permission from the site manager. On the other hand, some NNL private landowners desire no visitors whatsoever and might even prosecute trespassers. The reasons for this viewpoint vary: potential property damage or liability, fragile or dangerous resources, and desire for solitude or no publicity.
Property status NNL designation is an agreement between the property owner and the federal government. NNL designation does not change ownership of the property nor induce any encumbrances on the property. NNL status does not transfer with changes in ownership.
Participation in the NNL Program involves a voluntary commitment on the part of the landowner(s) to retain the integrity of their NNL property as it was when designated. If "major" habitat or landscape destruction is planned, participation in the NNL Program by a landowner would be disingenuous and meaningless.
The federal action of designation imposes no new land use restrictions that were not in effect before the designation. It is conceivable that state or local governments of their own volition could initiate regulations or zoning that might apply to an NNL. However, as of 2005 no examples of such a situation have been identified. Some states require planners to ascertain the location of NNLs.
List of landmarks Listed by state or territory in alphabetical order. As of July 2024, there were 605 listings. (Note: The links connected with the state name go to that state's site list.)
State or territory Number of landmarks Number, non-duplicated Earliest declared Latest declared Image Alabama 7 7 Alaska 16 16 American Samoa 7 719721972 Arizona 10 10 Arkansas 5 5 California 37 37 January 2021 Colorado 17 16Sand Creek shared between Colorado and Wyoming 1964 2023 Connecticut 8 7Bartholomew's Cobble shared between Connecticut and Massachusetts Delaware 0 Florida 18 18 Georgia 11 11 Guam 4 419721972 Hawaii 7 7June 1971December 1972 Idaho 11 1119681980 Illinois 18 18 Indiana 30 29 Ohio Coral Reef shared between Indiana and Kentucky 1965 1986 Iowa 7 719651987 Kansas 5 5 1968 1980 Kentucky 7 6 19662009 Louisiana 0 Maine 14 1419661984 Maryland 6 5 Cranesville Swamp Nature Sanctuary shared between Maryland and West Virginia19641980 Massachusetts 11 10October 1971November 1987 Michigan 12 12Roscommon Red Pines, Department of Natural Resources.19671984 Minnesota 8 7 Ancient River Warren Channel shared between Minnesota and South Dakota19651980 Mississippi 5 519651976 Missouri 16 16June 1971May 1986 Montana 10 1019661980 Nebraska 5 519642006 Nevada 6 619681973 New Hampshire 11 1119711987 New Jersey 11 10Palisades of the Hudson shared between New Jersey and New York New Mexico 12 1219691982 New York 29 27Chazy Fossil Reef shared between Vermont and New York 2023 North Carolina 13 1319671983 North Dakota 4 419601975 Northern Mariana Islands 0 Ohio 23 2319651980 Oklahoma 3 3 Oregon 11 11 Pennsylvania 27 27 Puerto Rico 5 5 1975 1980 Rhode Island 1 1 South Carolina 6 6 South Dakota 13 12 19651980 Tennessee 13 1319661974 Texas 21 2119652024 Utah 4 4October 19651977 Vermont 12 1119672009 Virgin Islands 7 719801980 Virginia 10 1019651987 Washington 18 1819652011 Washington D.C. 0 West Virginia 16 15 19642021 Wisconsin 18 18 Wyoming 6 5 October 1965December 1984
See also National Historic Landmark
Notes
References
External links
National Natural Landmarks Directory