Local Unit READ Guide (LURG) Template: For the proactive protection of National Park Service resources
Drake C, Abendroth D, Buckley S, Campbell D, Engber E, Germano V, Gassaway L, Gibson J, Haertel K, Hale E, Johnson P, Neitlich P, Ogle H, Sheumaker C, Siefkin N, Spaak J. 2025. Local Unit READ Guide (LURG) Template: For the proactive protection of National Park Service resources. National Park Service
A Local Unit Resource Advisor Guide (LURG) is a reference tool developed to promote the rapid and effective protection of sensitive natural and cultural resources, designated lands, and other values within a management unit. A Resource Advisor Atlas is the accompanying geospatial component of the LURG that organizes and communicates data layers and mapping products on resource protection to Resource Advisors (READs), fire personnel, and others. The NPS Local Unit READ Guide Template is presented as an optional job aid to assist in the development of LURGs and READ Atlases. The LURG identifies values at risk and corresponding resource protection measures (Minimum Impact Strategies and Tactics, management/mitigation requirements, and suppression repair requirements) to inform the avoidance, minimization, or mitigation of impacts to sensitive resources within the context of wildland fire and all-hazard incidents. Resource protection measures may address potential impacts associated with the environmental hazard (e.g., wildfire, flood, etc.) or with the management response to the event (e.g., fire suppression, suppression repair, flooding response, etc.). An updated and readily available LURG at the onset of an incident will assist incident managers in implementing the best strategies to protect the highest value resources within the context of a wide range of competing priorities. LURGS are developed in advance of an incident, maintained at the local level, and customized to meet the specific needs of the benefiting unit. Their content is concise, well-organized, easily searchable, and designed for efficient use on incidents. NPS units are encouraged to create LURGs and READ Atlases to inform the protection of resources during wildfire and all-hazard responses. Although there are currently no requirements to follow these guidelines or to produce these products, experience has demonstrated that developing and maintaining these tools, provides the best outcome for the protection of NPS natural, cultural, and other values at risk.
- Type
- Protocol Narrative
- Authors
- Drake, Cedar; Abendroth, Diane; Buckley, Steven; Campbell, David; Engber, Eamon; Germano, Vida; Gassaway, Linn; Gibson, Jennifer; Haertel, Kirstie; Hale, Elizabeth; Johnson, Patricia; Neitlich, Peter; Ogle, Heidi; Sheumaker, Christian; Siefkin, Nelson; Spaak, Jordan
- Date of Issue
- 2025-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Keywords
- Cultural Resources, Fire Planning, Fire Suppression, Natural Resources, READ, Resource Advising, Resource Protection, Wildfire Preparedness
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Landscapes | Fire and Fuel Dynamics | Fire and Fuel Dynamics