Waco Mammoth Site Waco National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Waco Mammoth Site • Special Resource Study / Environmental Assessment • Texas Waco Mammoth Site Special Resource Study Special Resource / Environmental Assessment Environmental National Park Service • United States Department of the Interior Special Resource Study/Environmental Assessment Texas July • 2008 As the nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering sound use of our land and water resources; protecting our fish, wildlife, and biological diversity; preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national This report has been prepared to provide Congress and the public with information about parks and historical places; and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor the resources in the study area and how they relate to criteria for inclusion within the recreation. The department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to ensure national park system. Publication and transmittal of this report should not be considered an that their development is in the best interests of all our people by encouraging stewardship endorsement or a commitment by the National Park Service to seek or support either and citizen participation in their care. The department also has a major responsibility for specific legislative authorization for the project or appropriation for its implementation. American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under Authorization and funding for any new commitments by the National Park Service will have U.S. administration. to be considered in light of competing priorities for existing units of the national park system and other programs. NPS D-80D-70 August _____ 2008 2008 This document was printed on recycled paper. This document was printed on recycled paper. Cover illustration by Joe Taylor. Summary PURPOSE AND NEED are currently housed in Baylor University's Mayborn Museum Complex, while in situ This special resource study is investigating, for specimens remain at the discovery site owned possible designation as a new unit of the by the city of Waco. national park system, the site within the city limits of Waco, Texas, where the remains of a Currently, visitor access to the Waco Mam- Pleistocene Columbian Mammoth herd were moth Site is restricted and would continue to discovered. be so until the current actions already under- way by the Waco community to erect an Special resource studies are initiated at the excavation shelter and provide for visitor direction of Congress. On December 16, 2002, access are completed. This would be the first Public Law 107-341 was enacted, directing the time that public access would be accommo- secretary of the interior, in consultation with dated at the site and mark a very special the state of Texas, the city of Waco, and other milestone for members of the Waco appropriate organizations, to conduct a community who have been actively involved special resource study. The study would in preservation efforts there for almost 30 determine the national significance, years. suitability, and feasibility of designating the Waco Mammoth Site as a unit of the national park system, and the need for direct SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY PROCESS management by the National Park Service. To receive a favorable recommendation from the National Park Service, a proposed addi- RESOURCE DESCRIPTION tion to the national park system must meet four criteria: The Waco Mammoth Site is located 4.5 miles north of Waco’s city center. The study area (1) Possess nationally significant resources includes over 109 combined acres under the (2) Be a suitable addition to the system ownership of the city of Waco and Baylor (3) Be a feasible addition to the system University. (4) Require direct management by the National Park Service instead of protection by another public agency or the private sector National Significance The paleontological resources of the Waco Mammoth Site meet the National Park Service’s established criteria for national significance. The combination of both in situ articulated skeletal remains and the excavated specimens from the site represents the nation’s first and only recorded discovery of a Both entities have formed a partnership for nursery herd of Pleistocene mammoths. The the purpose of providing preservation and resource possesses exceptional interpretive interpretation of the site’s paleontological value and provides superlative opportunities resources. A number of collected specimens for visitor enjoyment and scientific study. The i SUMMARY resource retains a high degree of integrity as significant roles that the National Park Service many of the remains represent fully could have in site operation and management. articulated specimens of varying age groups. Their location and position have been recorded; the stratigraphy of the site has been MANAGEMENT OPTIONS studied in detail; and collected specimens have been placed under the curatorial care of The methodology adopted to assist in the a single institution. evaluation of the need for direct management by the National Park Service included Suitability developing a range of management options or alternatives, analyzing the environmental The resources of the Waco Mammoth Site consequences of each, and providing a meet the National Park Service’s established comparison of the attributes of each suitability criteria for consideration as a new alternative. unit of the national park system. Including this site would expand and enhance the diversity Alternative A – Continuation of of paleontological resources already Current Management Trend represented by other parks in the system. Alternative A is the no-action alternative, Feasibility which represents the continuation of current The Waco Mammoth Site is considered a management trends at the Waco Mammoth feasible candidate for consideration as a new Site and serves as a base-line measurement for unit of the national park system. There are comparing three proposed alternative opportunities for efficient administration by management strategies. The existing the National Park Service at a reasonable cost, cooperative management arrangement especially if existing partnership support between the city of Waco and Baylor could be maintained and enhanced. University would continue. The local community would continue to play a key Need for Direct Management partnership role in supporting current by the National Park Service preservation and public access initiatives. Additional staffing, new programs, activities, The fourth and final criterion in the special or site development beyond the efforts resource study process is the determination of currently underway by the Waco community the need for direct management by the are not considered in this alternative. National Park Service. With the resources of the Waco Mammoth Site having met the Alternative B – Partnerships criteria for national significance, suitability, Led by the City of Waco and feasibility, it was deemed appropriate to investigate the potential for inclusion of the The existing cooperative management site in the national park system and for the arrangement between the city of Waco and National Park Service to take on key roles in a Baylor University would be expanded with partnership arrangement. Comments received additional partners, with the city taking a lead during the initial public scoping phase of the role. National natural landmark status would study project supported expanding the exist- be actively pursued, allowing the city to seek ing partnership between Baylor University technical assistance from the National Park and the city of Waco to include the National Service for site resource preservation, Park Service. It was found that direct NPS interpretation, and educational research. management is not the only practicable means Additional partnerships, such as local com- for meeting the goals of protecting resources munity initiatives, land trusts, foundations, and furthering public use; however, to meet federal, state, and local governments, and these goals to the fullest extent, there are nongovernmental organizations, would also ii Summary be sought to assist with developing and The matrix on the following page compares managing the site. This alternative would and contrasts the major components of each protect, provide opportunities for research, alternative. and interpret core paleontological resources. It also would give the city freedom to pursue Environmental Assessment possible broader ideas such as providing environmental education and recreational In order to comply with the National Environ- opportunities. An option under this mental Policy Act, an environmental assess- alternative could include pursuing designation ment accompanies this special resource study. as a “National Park Service affiliated area” to The analysis of potential environmental con- further strengthen National Park Service sequences to the resources resulting from involvement. implementation of the alternatives found that there is no potential for significant environ- Alternative C – Partnerships Led mental effects. For all action alternatives, it is by the National Park Service anticipated that there would be moderate, long-term, beneficial impacts to the funda- Waco Mammoth Site would be a new unit of mental resources of the Waco Mammoth Site, the national