I PRO w O ' ~ED • I I fOSSIL BUTTE I NATIONAL MONUMENT I I I I I I I I I I NIT 0 STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE •I . .. - - I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I SYNOPSIS OF REPORT --PROPOSED FOSS:U. BU'l'TE NATIONAL MONUMENT PROPOSAL: That Fossil Butte and surroUlld.ing lands and features in W;yOIIIing be established as the Fossil Butte f!ationnl ~!onument e.nd be administered by the National Park Service. !OOATIC»!: Fossil Butte is about 10 miles vest oi' Kemme1•er: Lincolll County • Wy€nning9 adjacen'~ to U, S, 30N-~an au-weather • t:rans­ contineutal higl:lway. DESCRIPTION OF AREA: The proposed monument includes Fossil Butte, a rugged topograPhic feature rising 1:000 feet above the valley floor to au elevation of' over "? ,500 feet, This butte and the associated Ccndick Ridge a:re made up of the 1-/asatch and Green River formations which contain numerous, well-preserved fossils of Eocene age. Fl•om vantage poiuts on the ridge interesting features associated with the geolosic history of '~hese formations and the al1oient inland lake in which the Green River formatiou was deposited can be observed, S:WNIF:ICf..NCE .MID NEED FOR CO.I'ISERVM:!OH: Foosil Butte, from the scientific viewpoint, is of national significance because of its unusual eoncentration of aquatic vertebrate remains. Knovn loca­ tions of fossil f'ieh of any age are rare, but here thousands of :fish f'ossil.G a:ra pre:;ent IW.d fossils :from th;i.s locality are exhibited in museums througllcnrt. the world. These fosGils represent the evolu~ tion and modernization o:~ fresh~va:'Ge-.<" fishes better tltan these from arJiY' other kn01m site iu the world. The fossil remains o:f plant a.nd animal life in the Wasatch forllllltion are of added value along with the outstanding geologit; CX81l\Ples of lake, shoreline, and tl•ibutary river ;f'l.ocid plain deposit>~. SUI'l'ABII..ITY: This area is highly suited f'or preservation and development as a national l!'.oilUlllent. It has great scientific interest for the geologiat, paleontoloeiat, icthyologist and botanist as well as for the visitor who bas seen i'oss:l.l fishes from this local·· 1ty exhibited iu museums elsevhereo The area is relatively free from mamnade iutrusions with no devel.oped properites included within the proposaL It is readily access:l.ble :from an all... weather road. FEASIBILI'l'lr: Oi' the 8,2110 acres inclw.ed in the proposal, 86 percent is already in Federal owrwrsbip0 9 percent is ·State~01med land and 5 :percent is priv~tel;y <T.rned. The area con'roins all undeveloped graz., ing land~-r.rostly UDder lelllle to sra.zing allotteea. 'l'bere is a good possibility for exchenglZlg the private al!d State-owned lands for Federal lands outside 'Ghe boull'dary, !:1' these exchanses could be made, no Federal f'1.md.s for land acqu!sition would be required a.nd no private lands would be removed f1•om the tax rolls. PROPOSED DEVELOPl4ElWJ.' AND USE: A visitor eerrter· containing edil!inistra·t;ive offices and a l!l.l.tSeuJil would be located near u.s. 30N as an initial i:n:fOl'mation center and contac·c point for visitors to the na'cional F.!Ollument. Roads and trails 1-IOUld lead to a nmjor interpretive facility at a location where fossil deposits are rich and easily l'.ccessible and the visitors cou1.d ~1e:~ch scientists e:::pcse and preps.?e t'ossils for in-place exhibits. Interpretive markers • self~gv.iding trails and wayside el,llibits would provide additional interesting details of the scientific story, A ama.ll campground, a picnic area and scenic overlook would also be developed for the visitors. Employee housing and facilities would be needed fol' the proper arlmjnjstra·i:ion, interpretation, pro-~ection and maintenance o-1 the area. September 1964 E !TATIONAL PARK 8DVICE l<oO. I LIBRARY I Foeu .O....var, Colonds .5B<o1- MAR 2 1 1990 I c ..3 WITHDRAWN !I J PROPOSED FOSSIL BUTTE r1 NATIONAL MONUMENT I 1 _I I I AUGUST 1964 I I ··I I I DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MIDWEST REGION I OMAHA, NEBRASKA I I I I c.3 ~ 767 .L5 P76 1964 Proposed Fossil Butte National Monument I ~-- - I I I I Created in 1849, the Department of the Interior-­ America's Department of Natural Resources--is I concerned with the management, conservation, and development of the Nation's water, wildlife, mineral, "forest, and park and recreational resources. It also I. has major responsibilities for Indian and territorial· affairs. I As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department works to assure that nonrenewable resources are developed and used wisely, that park and recre­ ational resources are conserved, and that renewable I resources make their full contribution to the progress, prosperity, and security of the United States--now and in the future. I I I I I I I I I I I I I CONTENTS I VICINITY MAP I FOREWORD INTRODUCTION 1 I GENERAL SETTING 3 GEOLOGY 7 I Fossils at the Butte Physiography of the Vicinity Origin and Geologic History I History of Geologic Research and Fossil Collecting I SIGNIFICANCE 21 SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY 22 I CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 25 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND USE 26 I BIBLIOGRAPHY 30 I I I I I I ,BIG HOLE BATTLEFIELD ·~ NAT'[ MON. l I \ \ (:• I ..... • I I •I .....~~-­ - I D I I I I I I I I I I • 4 I L _____}__L__ VICINITY MAP I PROPOSED FOSSIL BUTTE NATIONAL MONUMENT I I I I I I I I FOREWORD Recognition of the significance of fossils in revealing the story of life in the geologic past is increasing each year. The rising educational I level of our citizens has lead to a widespread interest in this, the field of paleontology. Although fossils have long been of fundamental scientific importance and traditionally displayed in public and institutional museums, I their exhibition and interpretation in-place as a cultural and educational medium has only recently come to public attention. A notable example is I the quarry development at Dinosaur National Monument. The phenomenal increase in visitors at the Dinosaur Quarry since com­ pletion of the visitor center there in 1959, is a strong indication of this Nation•s endorsement of the preservation and interpretation of our rich I paleontological heritage. The success of the Dinosaur development and the ever-increasing threat of exploitation or destruction of other well-known fossil beds sharply point out the desirability of preserving some of them, I both for scientific study and for public enjoyment. A goal of the National Park Service is to include within the National I Park System a representation of the more significant chapters of the his­ tory of life as revealed by fossil remains. Some are already represented in existing parks. For example, the earliest known form. of life, exempli­ fied by fossil algae of Precambrian age, is represented at Glacier National I Park; fossil remains of many invert~brates are found in the sedimentary rocks of several parks and monuments, but especially at Grand Canyon; a form of plantlife is represented by the petrified. forests of Yellowstone I and Petrified Forest National Parks; and an important chapter in the Age of Reptiles is represented at Dinosaur National Monument. I Lacking representation in the National Park System is the fossil story of the modernization of fresh-water fishes. This void can be filled by the establishment of a national monument at the site described in this report. Here is an opportunity to present for the benefit of all people another I chapter in the geologic history of life. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Fossil Butte I I I I I I I I I INTRODUCTION I Fossil Butte, world famous for its well-preserved fossil fishes, is I located about 10 miles west of Kemmerer, Lincoln County,' Wyoming. Fossils have been collected at this locality for almost a century, and specimens I from this site are exhibited in museums throughout the world. A reconnaissance study of this area was made by the National Park I Service early in 1959, followed by more detailed studies in subsequent years~ The results of these investigations are covered in this report. I Studies such as this are part of the long-range effort of the National I Park Service to identify areas of sufficient importance to be included in the National Park System. The eventual objective of these efforts is a I system of national parks that will represent the most outstanding examples of America's natural and cultural heritage. I In September 1961, the Advisory Board on National Parks, Historic I Sites, Buildings and Monuments recommended to the Secretary of the Interior, establishment of the Fossil Butte area as a national monument. I The purpose of this report is to present sufficient information about the Fossil Butte site so that its significance to the Nation is understood I at the local, state, and national levels, and to describe what the National I Park Service believes should be done to preserve and interpret it for the benefit and enjoyment of the people. I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I A narrow ridge of badlands connects Fossil Butte with I Cundick Ridge.