Cultural Resources

As a federal agency, the NRCS must consider possible effects to cultural resources in all of our undertakings. The following resources have been developed to help us protect any historic or prehistoric sites that we may encounter as we assist landowners in implementing conservation practices.

Ground Disturbing Potential of Conservation Practices

During the conservation planning process, the NRCS must consider the ground disturbing potential of activities associated with the application of a conservation practice and its impact on cultural resources that may be present at or near the site.

Please visit our Ground Disturbing Potential of Conservation Practices Web page to view a list of conservation practices and their ground disturbing potential.

Culturally Significant Plants

The National Plant Data Center (NPDC), in collaboration with Native American plant authorities, NRCS plant material centers, and university specialists, is assembling a series of Culturally Significant Plant Guides and technical notes for each NRCS region. These guides can help Native American tribes and NRCS field offices to establish and manage culturally significant plants and restore traditional gathering sites.

Photo: Cleaning elderberry (Sambucus mexicana) fruits by the Sierra Miwok family, which will be used in the making of jams, jellies, and pies.

Information Resources

• Cultural Resources Training Series - National Employee Development Center (NEDC) The purpose of this training is to increase student knowledge of NRCS’ cultural resources stewardship responsibilities. It is designed for field office personnel, partners and others who work with the NRCS State Cultural Resources Specialists and Coordinators (CRSs and CRCs) in meeting the agency’s National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance responsibilities.
   

• History and Culture - National Park Service (NPS)
  Link to technical guidance documents for treatment of historic and cultural properties, developed by the National Park Service's Technical Preservation Services, the current list of National Register of Historic Place properties and guidance on care and treatment.
   

• National NRCS Cultural Resources Web site - (USDA NRCS)
   

• New York State Historic Preservation Office, GIS-Public Access
  This Web site presents an interactive New York State map that allows the visitor to select locations to view archeological sensitive areas.
   

• Protecting Historic Properties: A Citizen's Guide to Section 106 Review - Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (AHCP)

Charts and Maps

• Cultural Resources Review Process Flowchart
  This is a flowchart outlining the Cultural Resources Review process. This chart may also be downloaded from the documents area of this page.
   

• New York Aboriginal Territories
  This is a New York State map displaying Native American areas where Cultural Resource agreements are in effect. This map may also be downloaded from the documents area of this page.

Documents

These documents require Adobe Reader.

Cultural Resources Review - Form NY-ECS-21 (PDF; 271 KB)
This is a fillable Adobe PDF document.

Cultural Resources Review Process Flowchart (PDF; 97 KB)
A flowchart outlining the Cultural Resources Review process.

New York Aboriginal Territories (PDF; 190 KB)
A New York State map displaying Native American areas where Cultural Resource agreements are in effect.

New York State Historic Preservation Plan (PDF; 1.2 MB)

Contact Information

You may send comments regarding this Web site to:

Agricultural Economist

Flo Swartz
Syracuse, New York
Telephone: 315-477-6533

If you encounter any problems with documents on this page, have questions, suggestions, or find a broken link, please contact Gary Vandawalker at 315-477-6546.

< Technical Resources