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Effigy Mounds National Monument

General Management Plan

Newsletter #3

December 2006

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Effigy Mounds National Monument

Iowa

Please plan to attend one of our Public Meetings

Phone: 563-873-3491

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

7:00 P.M.

McGregor Public Library

334 Main Street

McGregor, Iowa 

Tuesday, January 9, 2007

7:00 P.M.

Prairie du Chien City Hall

(Use parking lot door)

214 E. Blackhawk Avenue

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin

Dear Friends,

On behalf of the planning team, I am pleased to

share this third General Management Plan newsletter with you and ask for your continued help in

planning the future of Effigy Mounds National

Monument. As a reminder, general management

plans provide overall guidance for the long-term

management of a national park service unit. This

process requires that we develop a range of possible alternative future conditions and management

strategies for the cultural and natural resources of

this historic site. The plan will determine how the

park will address resource management, visitor

uses, development needs, and interpretation or

education issues for the next 15 to 20 years. 

The planning team has developed a set of management zones that describe how specific portions of

the park would be managed for resources, visitor

experience and park operations. These zones were

then assembled into two different configurations to

create a range of alternatives or possible future

management strategies.

This newsletter is your first opportunity to respond

to the preliminary management alternatives. Your

comments and suggestions will help in developing a

preferred alternative that will be presented in the

Draft General Management Plan and Environmental

Impact Statement available for public review and

comment in early 2008.

I welcome your continued participation in this

important planning effort.

Sincerely,

Phyllis Ewing

Superintendent

Monument boundary

Towns

0 1 2 Miles

North

Sny Magill Unit

Prairie 

du Chien

McGregor

Yellow RiverYellow River

IOWA WISCONSIN

76

76 Marquette

Heritage 

Addition

Visitor Center and

Monument Headquarters

REGION

EFFIGY MOUNDS NATIONAL MONUMENT

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR / NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

DSC / Nov. 06 / 394 / 20,022A

South

Unit

North

Unit

X-56
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A park’s purpose statement reflects why a park is a part of the national park

system. Significance statements capture the essence of the park’s importance

to our country’s natural and cultural heritage. Defining the national monument’s significance helps managers make decisions that preserve the

resources and values necessary to accomplish the monument’s purpose.

Monument Purpose

Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves outstanding representative

examples of significant phases of prehistoric Indian mound-building cultures in the

American Midwest; protects wildlife and natural values within the monument;

and provides for scientific study and appreciation of its features for the benefit of

this and future generations.

Monument Significance 

1. The national monument contains nationally significant archeological

resources comprising one of the largest concentrations of Indian mounds

in the United States including some of the finest and best preserved examples of effigy mounds in their original forms. These cultural features provide insight into the social, spiritual and ceremonial life of the people who

were here prior to contact by Europeans. 

2. The natural and cultural resources of the monument are intricately connected – the mound-building cultures were the result of the dynamic interface of people and their environment. The native vegetation communities

associated with the mound-building era were the result of the topography

and climate found in the geologically unique Driftless Area of the Upper

Midwest. This environment produced microhabitats that support high

flora and fauna diversity. 

3. The monument contains historic resources that represent Euro-American

settlement of the area and the displacement of historic American Indian

culture. Conversely, early scientific research began the period of understanding and preserving the rich Indian culture.

4. The monument preserves and protects physical evidence of the cultural

landscape, which documents the early and continuing scientific interest in

the mounds and mound-building cultures. The monument’s cultural

resources and collections document the change from early archeology, narrowly focused on artifact recovery, to a change in philosophy and methods

of modern archeological investigation that incorporates a variety of investigative techniques and native perspectives.

5. The monument is a sacred landscape identified by present-day members of

the monument's affiliated tribes. 

MONUMENT PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIONS AND ZONES

As part of this phase of the planning process, the planning team developed

management prescriptions that describe the desired future condition of cultural and natural resources, the desired visitor experience, and the appropriate types of facilities. These prescriptions were then divided into four sets to

form distinct zones. All areas of the monument were placed into one of these

zones (See alternative zoning maps). The management prescriptions helped

guide the development of the preliminary management alternatives also presented in this newsletter. While there is a resource preservation mandate for

the entire monument, the management emphasis varies by zone.

Emphasis in this zone would be to protect the resources while providing opportunities for visitors to experience the

resource features through appropriate

activities such as canoeing and occasional guided trail hikes. The natural setting

created by preserving or restoring landscapes would provide a connection

between the mound-building cultures and

the environment that shaped their lives

and beliefs. Independent visitor access on

the ground would be limited both by

developing no new trails and by returning

some disturbed land (for example, old

logging roads) to native vegetation.

The purpose of this zone is to place

management emphasis on preserving the resources while providing

hiking trails for visitors by either,

preferably, reusing existing roads or,

as necessary, building new lowimpact trails. New trails could be

built in this zone.

The purpose of this zone would be

to provide visitor access via trails

adjacent to resources. Interpretive

media would allow visitors to understand and appreciate the meanings

inherent in burial mounds, the cultures that produced them, and the

associated landscape.

Emphasis of this zone would be on

concentrated visitor services and

monument operations. Visitors

would receive primary orientation,

information, and interpretation here.

Facilities for monument operations

are located in this zone.

Preservation Zone Preservation/Trail Zone Visitor Trail Zone Development Zone

NOTE 1: The riverfront property is within the monument's legislated boundary but is not currently owned by the NPS. This property is zoned in all alternatives with the understanding that the zoning would not be in effect until the land was acquired. The

railroad right-of-way would be in the Brown Zone unless it is abandoned.

NOTE 2: The exact location of some monument boundaries is uncertain. The boundary, and therefore the shape of the corresponding zone(s), could change when an approved boundary survey is completed.

The NPS planning team is required to develop and analyze alternative ways

to achieve the desired future conditions while meeting the monument’s stated

purpose and protecting significant resources and values. The planning team

considered suggestions from the public and park staff to develop the three

preliminary alternatives summarized here. The alternatives are not final and

may change based on comment. They are being distributed to all who are

interested so that the NPS can benefit from your review and comments.

Current management strategies and

trends would continue under the noaction alternative. There would be no

major changes to monument operations or visitor services other than

those already in progress or

approved. All cultural sites would

continue to be maintained and preserved using current practices. The

mounds would be protected by

native vegetation. Management treatments would vary according to the

cover and condition of individual

mounds. Historic sites would be protected from damage but not otherwise managed. The landscape would

continue to be managed to represent

the environment associated with the

mound-building cultures.

The Heritage Addition would not

have a long-term management plan in place. The North, South, and Sny Magill

units would continue to be managed under three different strategies.

Key Components of 

Alternative A

• Current management strategies and trends will continue. 

• Trails and other facilities (benches, signs, etc.) would continue to be maintained.

PRELIMINARY MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES

A L TERNA TIVE A

–NO ACTION

Legend

Monument Boundary

HERITAGE ADDITION

NORTH

UNIT

SOUTH

UNIT

Sny Magill

North

DSC • Nov 2006 • 394 • 20024
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Alternative B would provide an

enhanced visitor experience with

increased understanding of the monument while protecting natural and cultural resources. The monument would

serve as a catalyst for mound research

and management in the region. For

example, there would be an expanded

role for maintenance and interpretive

staff who would work in cooperation

with resource management to develop

innovative management techniques.

The desired visitor experience would

be to make personal connections to

the monument’s tangible resources

through understanding of the significance of the American Indian moundbuilding story and its relationship to

the heritage of the region. The landscape and visitor facilities would support a contemplative atmosphere with

opportunities for the public to spend

time reflecting upon the lives and legacy of the moundbuilders and the sacred

nature of the site today. The inextricably

linked cultural and natural resources

would be managed to resemble the

landscape associated with the mound

building era. This natural setting would provide a connection to the moundbuilding cultures and the environment that shaped their lives and beliefs. 

Some changes in developed space within the current footprint, or on new

land should it be acquired from willing sellers, would be necessary to provide

needed visitor services and research space. This would provide increased education, research, and access opportunities through the development of a permanent facility at Sny Magill with regional partners if adjacent land is

acquired from a willing seller. Bookstore and museum space would be reconfigured in the existing visitor center to provide increased access and quality of

exhibits and sales items. Education and interpretation of the natural resources

of the park would be expanded. The monument would offer increased formal

educational programming for visitors. Programming would emphasize reaching a broader segment of the public including improved accommodation of

educational groups. Physical access to and interpretation at the Sny Magill

mound group and T.H. Lewis mound group would increase. The visitor and

research center at Sny Magill would promote education and protection activities that would support mound management throughout the region and allow

for partnering with outside groups to enhance mound building culture

research in the region. If land adjacent to Sny Magill is acquired, a visitor and

research center would be built on that land to promote education and 

protection activities in support of mound management and research into

mound culture throughout the region as well as allow for increased partnering

with outside groups.

Key Components of Alternative B

• Heritage Addition: Some existing logging roads maintained as trails, some

visitor trails developed, bridges over Dousman Creek and Yellow River.

Pursue “no-wake” restriction for Yellow River to protect resources and

visitor experience.

• Visitor Center and Maintenance Area: Most maintenance functions maintained at their present location, some moved to North Unit. Former housing used for administrative purposes. Expanded interpretive space in visitor center.

• North/South Units: No new trails (other than those already approved),

existing trails could be re-aligned for resource protection, there would be

an increased emphasis on landscape preservation.

• Sny Magill: A low-profile boardwalk provided to protect mounds, visitor

contact station and research center (with partners) on adjacent property if

acquired from a willing seller.

Alternative C would emphasize the

natural resource environment and its

interconnectedness with the cultural

resources. It would also increase formal education and outreach programs.

Natural viewsheds, soundscapes, and

odorscapes would be protected as

much as feasible under this alternative.

Changes in development would be limited to an accessible, low visibility

boardwalk at the Sny Magill unit, relocation of most of the maintenance

facility to the North Unit, reallocating

facility (building) space in the developed area to provide meeting and

rainy-day areas for educational and

other groups, and planting prairie vegetation in the (main unit) visitor center

area and on land adjacent to the Sny

Magill mound group. The inextricably

linked cultural and natural resources

would be managed as a landscape

appropriate to the environment associated with the mound building era. The

natural setting created by preserving or

restoring landscapes would provide a

connection between the mound-building cultures and the environment that

shaped their lives and beliefs.

Education and interpretation of the natural resources of the park would be

expanded. Education and outreach efforts would continue in the region. The

preservation emphasis would continue as it is today in the North, South, and

Sny Magill units. Additional trail development would be only allowed in previously developed corridors of the monument when necessary for visitor safety

or resource protection. The visitor experience in the Heritage Addition would

be primarily self-directed resource observation by canoeing on the Yellow

River, or by periodic special ranger-led hiking and canoe tours in a quiet, contemplative setting to preserve the sense of sacredness of the mound groups. 

Key Components of Alternative C

• Heritage Addition: A few old roads maintained as trails for administrative

and occasional public use, the remaining old roads would be rehabilitated.

No new visitor trails would be developed.

• North/South Units: Most maintenance functions moved to North Unit,

some new trails allowed for interpretation of prairies.

• Visitor Center and Maintenance Area: Room for educational groups in

space vacated by maintenance, former housing used for administrative

space, expanded interpretation and museum in visitor center.

• Sny Magill: Minimal development, a roving ranger would provide interpretation and NPS presence during periods of high visitation.

Legend

Monument Boundary

Zone

Development

Visitor Trail

Preservation

Sny Magill

North

DSC • Nov 2006 • 394 • 20026

Legend

Monument Boundary

Zone

Development

Visitor Trail

Preservation

Preservation/Trail

Sny Magill

North

DSC • Nov 2006 • 394 • 20025

A L TERNA TIVE B

A L TERNA TIVE C
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BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT

As part of the NPS planning process, the planning team will assess areas to determine if any

additional lands are necessary or desirable to fulfill Effigy Mounds National Monument’s mission.

Any lands proposed for addition to the boundary

must

• include significant resources or opportunities

for public enjoyment related to purposes of the

park,

• address operational and management issues

such as access and boundary identification by

topographic or other natural features or roads,

• otherwise protect park resources that are critical to fulfilling the monument’s mission. 

Additional land would be acquired only from a

willing seller. The plan will address possible

boundary adjustments separately from the alternatives (i.e., boundary adjustments will not be tied

to a specific alternative). However, if land is

acquired from a willing seller, it may be used in

different ways depending on the alternative.

RIVER STUDY

Because the section of the Yellow River, which

flows through the Monument, is on the

Nationwide Rivers Inventory, a study of this section’s eligibility and suitability as a part of the Wild

and Scenic River System will accompany this general management plan.

FIRST-CLASS MAIL

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

PERMIT NO. G-83

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

DENVER SERVICE CENTER - MATTHEW SAFFORD

12795 WEST ALAMEDA PARKWAY

P.O. BOX 25287

DENVER, CO 80225-0287

______________________

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

Read the newsletter. Send

us your ideas and comments

and/or attend a public

meeting.

Read the newsletter. Send

us your ideas and comments

and/or attend a public

meeting.

Review the draft plan.

Send us your comments

and/or attend a public

meeting.

Read the final plan, including NPS responses to substantive public comments

and official letters.

Work with the national

monument to implement

the plan.

Initiate Project

The planning team assembles,begins to identify the project’s scope,

customizes the planning process, and begins to establish contacts

with participants.

Define Planning Context and Foundation

The team examines why the national monument was established

and confirms its mission, purpose, significance. Team members collect and analyze relevant data and public comments.

Develop and Evaluate Alternatives

Using staff and public input, the team explores what the monument’s future should look like and propose a range of possible alternatives.

Prepare a Draft Document

A Draft General Management Plan / Environmental Impact

Statement is published. The draft document describes the alternatives and impacts of implementing each. Based on the impacts and

public input, a preferred alternative is identified in the document.

Publish Final Document

Based on review by the National Park Service and the public, the

team revises the General Management Plan / Environmental Impact

Statement and distributes a final plan. The plan is approved in a

published record of decision.

Implement the Approved Plan

After the Record of Decision is signed, the plan will be carried out as

funding allows.

2005

Fall 2005 –

Winter 2005

Spring 2006 –

Early 2007

Spring 2007 –

Early 2008

Spring 2009 

Summer

2009 and

beyond

1

2

3

4

5

6

Step Time Frame Planning Activity How You Can Be Involved

We Are Here

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

The planning team welcomes your comments anytime in the planning process. Right now,

we would like to hear your ideas and recommendations on the management zone prescriptions and the preliminary alternative concepts presented in this newsletter. Please comment

through any one of the following methods:

1. Fill out the enclosed comment form and drop it in the mail

2. Attend one of the public meetings shown on page one of this newsletter

3. Fill out an electronic comment form at http://parkplanning.nps.gov

4. Mail or drop off a letter to the 

Superintendent

Effigy Mounds National Monument

151 Highway 76

Harpers Ferry, IA 52146-7519.

D-55

The general management planning process for Effigy Mounds National Monument is expected to take

several years to complete. A summary of the process and anticipated time frame is shown in the table. We

are on step three of the process and the public will have opportunities to share ideas and comments

throughout the remainder of the process.

After reviewing the comments received from this newsletter, the planning team will refine the alternative concepts. Comments from the public will help guide the team in the production of complete alternatives and development of the preferred alternative in the Draft General Management Plan and

Environmental Impact Statement.

PLANNING TIME FRAME

The NPS has not yet developed a preferred

alternative. The preferred alternative will be designated after we obtain public input and conduct a

decision-making analysis. It will be described in

the Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. The NPS preferred alternative could be one of the preliminary alternatives

shown in this newsletter or, more likely, it could be

made up of parts from one or more of the preliminary alternatives.

PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE

STUDIES TO ACCOMPANY 

THE PLAN