Report on Hydrothermal Features in the NPS
Arndt M . 2024. Report on Hydrothermal Features in the NPS. National Park Service
Hot springs, geysers, mud pots, and fumaroles are incredible features on display at some national parks. These dynamic features are the surficial expressions of subsurface geothermal systems, and there is a risk that surface hydrothermal features may be permanently lost in the event of geothermal development. The Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (amended in 1988), 30 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1028, allows leases to be issued for development and utilization of geothermal resources on public land. Despite geothermal leasing being prohibited on National Park Service (NPS) lands, it is imperative that the NPS be aware of its geothermal resources and the impacts that leasing outside park boundaries may have on park resources. This report describes the Act and how it applies to the NPS, briefly discusses the base of knowledge of NPS hydrothermal resources, summarizes information on the 17 parks with listed significant hydrothermal features and 6 others with features deemed not significant in the Act, introduces several other parks and features that could be considered for inclusion in the Act, and proposes next steps for understanding hydrothermal resources in the NPS.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Arndt, Molly
- Date of Issue
- 2024-08-16
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- AMIS , ANIA , BELA , BIBE , CRLA , CRMO , DENA , DEVA , DINO , GAAR , GICL , GLBA , GLCA , GOGA , GRCA , GRTE , HALE , HAVO , HOSP , JODR , KATM , LACL , LAKE , LAVO , MOCA , MOJA , MORA , OLYM , ORPI , PARA , PORE , SEKI , VALL , WRST , YELL , YUCH , ZION
- Keywords
- Fumarole, Geothermal, Hydrothermal, Spring