Heritage Resource
Site Stewardship Program
PURPOSE
The purpose of this project is to recruit volunteers from the VWA membership to assist in the monitoring preservation of prehistoric and historic archeological sites. These sites are within the Ventana and Silver Peak Wilderness and adjacent areas of the Monterey Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest, under the auspices of the LPNF "Partners in Preservation" program.
BACKGROUND
The Los Padres National Forest Partners in Preservation program may be of interest to you as a Ventana hiker and wilderness advocate. It is an organization of volunteers whose membership is selected, trained, and certified by archaeologists, historians, and law enforcement personnel of the Heritage Resources Program. Certification would provide you with the opportunity to monitor and protect a selected site or sites located in the LPNF.
For example, suppose you wished to be assigned to a rock art, midden site, or historic restored cabin or adobe on the Monterey: you would hike to it on a monthly or quarterly basis as you were able. You would field check the site for any condition changes such as weathering or vandalism. If it were a newly registered site, you might assist in the inventory or protective restoration work.
Site stewards can work individually or as teams. The program was started in the early 90's in order to enlist the resources of committed wilderness advocates like you to assist forest archaeologists in preserving cherished prehistoric and historic sites from needless abuse and loss, as well as interpreting sites for the public and education pertaining to Federal and State law.
For more information about the US Forest Service Partners in Preservation Program, take a look at Joy Greenberg's highly informative article on the topic.
CONTACT
For more information about this project, contact Dennis Palm, VWA Board Member/Site Stewardship Program Coordinator at dennis@ventanawild.org, or Brenda Reed at the King City District Office for the LPNF, at 831-385-5434, ext. 221.
