Statement for Management-Devils Tower National Monument

28 Pages·1991·1.5 MB·English

by  National Park Service

he•ero
August 1991
Statement Management
for
Tower
Devils
Monument
National
Definition
The Statement for Management (SFM) provides an up-to-date inventory of the
monument's condition and an analysis of its problems. It does not involve any
prescriptive decisions on future management and use of the monument, but it provides
a format for evaluating conditions and identifying major issues and information voids.
Recommended
by:
/s/ Bill Pierce 7/24/91
Superintendent, Devils Tower National Monument Date
Approved by:
Regional Director, Rocky Mountain Regional Office
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LOCATION 5
PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE 5
INFLUENCES: INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS 6
LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE 6
Authorizations 6
Agreements and Permits 6
RESOURCES
7
Natural Resources 7
Cultural Resources 8
LAND USES AND TRENDS 8
VISITOR USE ANALYSIS 9
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT ANALYSIS 11
Nonhistone Roads and Trails 11
Nonhistone Buildings and Facilities 11
Utility Systems 11
Historic Structures 12
Major Equipment 12
STATUS OF PLANNING 12
EXISTING MANAGEMENT ZONING 12
MAJOR ISSUES 14
VISITOR ISSUES 14
NATURAL RESOURCE ISSUES 15
CULTURAL RESOURCE ISSUES 16
ADJACENT LAND ISSUES 16
OVERFLIGHTS 16
MONUMENT NAME
17
PARK ROAD 17
MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES 17
APPENDICES
19
Illustrations
Region Map/1
Map/2
Vicinity
Boundary Map/3
Visitor Use Graphs/10
Existing Management Zoning Map/13
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012 with funding from
LYRASIS Members and Sloan Foundation
http://archive.org/details/statementformana91devil
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Map
Vicinity
Devils Tower National Monument
United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service
109 80,012-A
2 JULY 85] RMRO
national monument
boundary
paved road
unpaved road
trail
Boundary Map
Devils Tower National Monument
U.S. Dept. of the Interior - National Park Service
3 JULY 85 RMRO
I

Location
LOCATION
Devils Tower is located in Crook County, Wyoming, in the northeast corner of, and near
the lowest elevation of, the state. It is in the at-large congressional district.
PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE
To preserve and provide for the use of Devils Tower "... a natural wonder and an object
of historic and great scientific interest. ."
. .
The above purpose is based on the following relevant portion of Proclamation No. 658-
-September 24, 1906-Stat. 3236, the proclamation establishing Devils Tower National
Monument.
And, WHEREAS, the lofty and isolated rock in the State ofWyoming, known
as the Devils Tower, situated upon the public lands owned and controlled
by the United States is such an extraordinary example of the effects of
erosion in the higher mountains as to be a natural wonder and an object
of historic and great scientific interest and it appears that the public good
would be promoted by reserving this tower as a national monument with as
much land as may be necessary for the proper protection thereof.
The purpose also relates to an act dated August 9, 1955, ". and in order to provide
. .
suitable public campground facilities and other development for the public benefit. ."
. .
Devils Tower is a high, isolated monolith of igneous rock, with remarkably symmetrical
joint columns, set upon a pine-clad pedestal of colorful sedimentary shale and sandstone
and located within a gracefully meandering bend of the Belle Fourche River. The tower
is a unique example of landscape forms that owe their existence to volcanic intrusion
and subsequent erosion. The unusual character of this peculiar landform and its superbly
aesthetic aspect were recognized long ago when, on September 24, 1906, it was
established as the first national monument.
As identified in the National Park System Plan, Devils Tower is located in the Great Plains
physiography region. The National Park Service theme is "Works of Volcanism." The
monument provides fairly good representation ofthis theme although the volcanic feature
is not typical of volcanic phenomena of the Great Plains.
STATEMENTFOR MANAGEMENT- DEVILS TOWER NM
INFLUENCES: INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS
LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE
Authorizations
In accordance with the act of August 9, 1955, the additional lands are to be used, ". in
. .
order to provide suitable public campground facilities and other developments for the
public benefit and to facilitate administration. ."
. .
Crook County is required to prepare a land use plan according to the State Land Use
Planning Act (February 1975). A nine-member board-three members from each county-
-has pursued efforts for a joint plan for Crook, Weston, and Niobrara counties.
Agreements and Permits
Special use permit no. 2109-0002 to Tri County Electric Association, Inc., originally for the
period of March 1, 1971, to February 28, 1991, and recently extended through
February 28, 1996, provides for right-of-way/permit for overhead power lines and
provision of power to the monument.
Special use permit no. 2109-0001 to Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company
to be reissued for maintenance of telephone cables. The permit is to provide telephone
service to the monument.
Memorandum of understanding (MU-1390-0-9001) with Hulett Emergency Services, Inc.,
for emergency medical service. Expires June 1995.
Memorandum of understanding (MU-1390-0-8001) with Hulett Volunteer Fire Department
for structural fire response. Expires July 1995.
Memorandum of understanding (MU-1390-0-8002) with Crook County Sheriff's Office for
law enforcement, fire, and search and rescue assistance. Expires June 1995.
Agreement with the U.S. Forest Service for fire protection, written April 1989, for a 5-year
period.
The monument maintains several gravel ranch access roads that were in use prior to
establishment. They are also used for visitor and administrative access.