Misplaced Pages

#544455

19-495: Haven Hill Natural Area , within the Highland State Recreation Area, was designated in 1976 as a National Natural Landmark . The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), which owns and operates Highland, describes the recreation area as a parcel of forest, wetland , and kettle lakes primarily operated for light camping and drive-in/drive-out recreational day use. 45 miles (72 km) of trails in

38-701: A site must be one of the best examples of a natural region's characteristic biotic or geologic features. Since the establishment of the NNL program, a multi-step process has been used to designate a site for NNL status. Since 1970, the following steps have constituted the process. Prospective sites for NNL designation are terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; geological features, exposures, and landforms that record active geological processes or portions of earth history; and fossil evidence of biological evolution. Each major natural history "theme" can be further subdivided into various sub-themes. For example, sub-themes suggested in 1972 for

57-556: The Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666, 16 U.S.C. 641); the program is governed by federal regulations. The NNL Program does not have the protection features of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Thus, the designation of a National Natural Landmark presently constitutes only an agreement with the owner to preserve, as far as possible, the significant natural values of

76-813: The National Park Service , U.S. Forest Service , Bureau of Land Management , Bureau of Reclamation , Fish and Wildlife Service , Air Force , Marine Corps , Army Corps of Engineers , Navy , and others. Some NNLs has been designated on lands held by Native Americans or tribes. NNLs also have been designated on state lands that cover a variety of types and management, such as forest , park , game refuge , recreation area , and preserve. Private lands with NNLs include those owned by universities, museums , scientific societies, conservation organizations, land trusts , commercial interests, and private individuals. Approximately 52% of NNLs are administered by public agencies, more than 30% are entirely privately owned, and

95-658: The National Park Service . The secretary also serves on and appoints the private citizens on the National Park Foundation Board. The secretary is a member of the United States Cabinet and reports to the president of the United States . The function of the U.S. Department of the Interior is different from that of the interior minister designated in many other countries. As the policies and activities of

114-560: The geological and ecological history of the United States. It also hopes to strengthen the public's appreciation of the country's natural heritage. As of July 2024, 605 sites have been added to the National Registry of Natural Landmarks. The registry includes nationally significant geological and ecological features in 48 states, American Samoa , Guam , Puerto Rico , and the U.S. Virgin Islands . The National Park Service administers

133-493: The 721-acre (292 ha) Haven Hill Natural Area and National Natural Landmark, a component unit of the Highland Recreation Area. MDNR describes Haven Hill as an area that contains "all of southern Michigan's principal forest types within one small area, including swamp forest of tamarack , cedar , beech-maple forest, oak-hickory forest, and mixed hardwood forest . The area has remained largely undisturbed for

152-641: The Department of the Interior and many of its agencies have a substantial impact in the Western United States , the secretary of the interior has typically come from a western state; only one secretary since 1949, Rogers Morton , was not a resident or native of a state lying west of the Mississippi River . Secretary of the Interior is a Level I position in the Executive Schedule , thus earning

171-676: The Interior The United States Secretary of the Interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior . The secretary and the Department of the Interior are responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land along with natural resources , leading such agencies as the Bureau of Land Management , the United States Geological Survey , Bureau of Indian Affairs and

190-562: The NNL Program and, if requested, assists NNL owners and managers with the conservation of these important sites. Land acquisition by the federal government is not a goal of this program. National Natural Landmarks are nationally significant sites owned by a variety of land stewards, and their participation in this federal program is voluntary. The legislative authority for the National Natural Landmarks Program stems from

209-584: The conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States . It is the only national natural areas program that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership. The program was established on May 18, 1962, by United States Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall . The program aims to encourage and support voluntary preservation of sites that illustrate

SECTION 10

#1732854795545

228-427: The designation. It is conceivable that state or local governments of their own volition could initiate regulations or zoning that might apply to an NNL. However, as of 2005 no examples of such a situation have been identified. Some states require planners to ascertain the location of NNLs. Listed by state or territory in alphabetical order. As of July 2024, there were 605 listings. United States Secretary of

247-647: The overall theme "Lakes and ponds" included large deep lakes, large shallow lakes, lakes of complex shape, crater lakes , kettle lake and potholes, oxbow lakes , dune lakes, sphagnum-bog lakes, lakes fed by thermal streams, tundra lakes and ponds, swamps and marshy areas , sinkhole lakes, unusually productive lakes, and lakes of high productivity and high clarity. The NNL program does not require designated properties to be owned by public entities. Lands under almost all forms of ownership or administration have been designated—federal, state, local, municipal, and private. Federal lands with NNLs include those administered by

266-595: The past 75 years." Haven Hill was preserved as a natural area first by auto magnate Edsel Ford , whose estate it was, and then by MDNR after Ford's death in 1943. The Highland State Recreation Area, and the Haven Hill Natural Area embedded within the recreation area, are both located on M-59 directly west of Pontiac, Michigan. The nearest limited-access highway is U.S. Highway 23 at M-59/Highland Road. National Natural Landmark The National Natural Landmarks ( NNL ) Program recognizes and encourages

285-532: The property nor induce any encumbrances on the property. NNL status does not transfer with changes in ownership. Participation in the NNL Program involves a voluntary commitment on the part of the landowner(s) to retain the integrity of their NNL property as it was when designated. If "major" habitat or landscape destruction is planned, participation in the NNL Program by a landowner would be disingenuous and meaningless. The federal action of designation imposes no new land use restrictions that were not in effect before

304-472: The recreation area are designated for hiking , mountain biking , and equestrian sports. West of Duck Lake Road in Highland State Recreation Area, a group of small moraines are locally called "mountains"—the highest elevation in the park, Mount Kanzer , is 1,150 feet (350 m) above sea level. The highland for which this recreation area is named is this group of moraines. South of Highland Road ( [REDACTED] M-59 ) and east of Duck Lake Road lies

323-483: The remaining 18% are owned or administered by a mixture of public agencies and private owners. Participation in the NNL Program carries no requirements regarding public access. The NNL registry includes many sites of national significance that are open for public tours, but others are not. Since many NNLs are located on federal and state property, permission to visit is often unnecessary. Some private properties may be open to public visitation or just require permission from

342-420: The site manager. On the other hand, some NNL private landowners desire no visitors whatsoever and might even prosecute trespassers . The reasons for this viewpoint vary: potential property damage or liability , fragile or dangerous resources, and desire for solitude or no publicity. NNL designation is an agreement between the property owner and the federal government. NNL designation does not change ownership of

361-477: The site or area. Administration and preservation of National Natural Landmarks is solely the owner's responsibility. Either party may terminate the agreement after they notify the other. The NNL designation is made by the Secretary of the Interior after an in-depth scientific study of a potential site. All new designations must have owner concurrence. The selection process is rigorous: to be considered for NNL status,

#544455