Increased wildfire and post fire impacts have destroyed or damaged or are currently threatening cultural resources in national parklands

This Cooperative Agreement award, funded by the National Park Service under the Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945) program, supports research to assess the effects of wildfire and fire suppression activities on cultural resources within two National Park Service managed properties - Lava Beds National Monument and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

The $296,976.42 award, with a performance period from August 31, 2024 to September 30, 2027, will be managed by the Principal Investigator Christopher Morgan at the University of Nevada, Reno. The project aims to: 1) Evaluate the reliability of post-wildfire reports in documenting cultural resource inventory, stabilization, and restoration needs; 2) Inventory areas affected by wildfire or suppression that lack cultural resource data; 3) Document significant archaeological, ethnographic, and historic sites impacted by wildfires in the past 5 years; and 4) Develop recommendations to incorporate into post-wildfire strategic plans to preserve cultural resources. The research will involve archaeological surveys, site recording, damage assessments, and the generation of GIS products and evaluation reports.

The purpose of this projects is to assist the national park service in assessing the effects of fire and fire suppression activities on archaeological sites historical buildings and other cultural resources in two NPS managed properties lava beds national monument and sequoia and kings canyon national parks. The specific goals of the project are TO1. Assess the reliability of postwildland fire reports in capturing cultural resource inventory documentation stabilization and restoration needs to ensure the preservation of cultural resources.2. Inventory areas affected by wildland fire or fire suppression activities that lack documented cultural resource data.3. Document a sample of known significant archeological ethnographic and historic sites and landscapes impacted by wildland fire within the past five years.4. Report findings from assessments and inventories and develop recommendations or tools to include in postwildland fire strategic plans to ensure the preservation of significant cultural resources. The project will be of three years duration and be managed by the PI christopher morgan with the work performed by morgans graduate students and UNR undergraduates. Fieldwork will include archaeological survey site recording and site evaluation and assessment including damage assessment. Labwork will include generating archaeological site records GIS products and survey and evaluation reports.