Earthworks Landscape Management Manual

Andropogon Associates, Ltd.; Sotir, Robbin

This Earthworks Landscape Management Manual is intended for use at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park, Richmond National Battlefield Park, Petersburg National Battlefield, and Colonial National Historical Park. The primary focus is to develop management strategies and interpretive guidelines which resolve current conflicts between the requirements for preservation and the impacts of interpretation and visitor use at the earthwork sites. The basic approach is intended to be adaptable for use at other earthwork sites under somewhat different environmental and cultural conditions, and with further limited study. Many of the recommendations will also be applicable to a variety or natural and ·managed landscapes. This manual emphasizes the need to rely increasingly on management that favors native vegetation versus the maintenance of Jess suitable, although more familiar, horticultural standards, especially turf. This will also require revisions in interpretive expectations and the design of innovative, new facilities. For instance, at present there are few examples of interpretive programs for a forested site. However, the long-range need is clear to create more durable and effective facilities that can accommodate greater numbers of visitors as well as manage the resource. The manual contains two major sections. The first is a review and evaluation of current management practices, which includes the criteria for evaluating current National Park Service management, derived from policy and enabling legislation. The driving force behind the evaluation of current management, attitudes, and procedures is also examined in this section, as well as an assessment of present vegetative cover types. This section concludes with recommendations for an overall management program aimed at integrating preservation and interpretation objectives. The second major section is the management manual itself, which begins with procedures for evaluating and monitoring a site with respect to the proposed guidelines. Because effective adoption of the program will require a period of transition, initial management guidelines are distinguished from more routine maintenance issues. The major focus is directed toward dealing with the more serious problems, and will be augmented by a series of management training workshops for park personnel, which include more innovative and Jess familiar techniques.

Earthworks Landscape Management Manual

Series

Collections