Big Hole National Battlefield: Geologic and Soil Resources Inventory Summary
Thornberry-Ehrlich T. 2025. Big Hole National Battlefield: Geologic and Soil Resources Inventory Summary. National Park Service
This document summarizes the status of National Park Service (NPS) Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) and Soil Resources Inventory (SRI) deliverables for Big Hole National Battlefield (BIHO). It also provides information on current geology and soil resources management concerns with a focus on identified inventory needs related to geologic heritage, geohazards, and related soil features and processes. This document is intended to assist park staff with prioritizing technical assistance or new inventory and assessment funding requests in the near term (roughly 1–5 years). GRI hosted a baseline scoping meeting for BIHO in 2004. A baseline bedrock geologic map was delivered to the park in 2009. SRI delivered a legacy soil database and map to the park in 2006 and delivered updated data and an “enhanced report” in 2013. Geologic and soil maps could be revised at a larger scale within BIHO boundaries for resource managers. Geologic heritage resources of particular interest include Nez Perce history, the fateful battle, North Fork Big Hole River, geology and the Big Hole ecosystem, and stratotypes. Inventory needs include incorporating newer (2024) mapping from the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, investigating stratotype potential, updating interpretive materials, detailed surficial geologic mapping, and studying camas lily and Lemhi penstemon decline. Resource management issues include fluvial issues, slope movements, seismicity, climate change impacts, and the legislatively required geologic inventories: caves and karst, geothermal features and springs, and paleontological resources inventory and protection. Geohazards include riverine floods, climate change, drought, landslides, earthquakes, and burn probability. Inventory needs are climate change impact analyses, field-based paleontological surveys, and mineral resources inventories. Soil hazards in the park include shrink and swell layers (possibly derived from till or volcanic ash), as well as toxic soils containing radon, arsenic, cadmium, and lead. Inventory needs include detailed mapping of problematic soils.
- Type
- Unpublished Report
- Authors
- Thornberry-Ehrlich, Trista
- Date of Issue
- 2025-07
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- BIHO , GRI , PWR , SRI , UCBN
- Keywords
- Battle Mountain, Camas Lily, Climate Change, Fluvial Processes, Geohazards, Geologic Features, Geologic Hazards, Geologic Heritage, Geologic History, Geologic Processes, GIS, Map Units, Nee-Mee-Poo National Historic Trail, Nez Perce, Normal Faults, North Fork Big Hole River, Renova Formation, Resource Management, Sixmile Creek Formation, Trail Creek Pluton
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Windblown Features and Processes , Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Hillslope Features and Processes , Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Geomorphology | Stream/River Channel Characteristics , Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Subsurface Geologic Processes | Volcanic Features and Processes , Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Subsurface Geologic Processes | Seismic Activity , Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Soil Quality | Soil Function and Dynamics , Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Paleontology | Paleontology