National Park Service (NPS)
A organizational summary by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB.
Overview
The National Park Service is a federal agency in the United States that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other historical and conservation areas with various designations. The NPS was created by the United States Congress on August 25, 1916, through the National Park Service Organic Act. The NPS is a bureau of the United States Department of the Interior and is led by a Director nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. As of 2021, the NPS has approximately 20,000 employees.
History
The first national park in the United States was Yellowstone National Park. In 1872, the federal government assumed direct control of these parks, they were originally divided up under the guidance of the Department of the Interior (DoI). Conservationist Stephen Mather ran a publicity campaign for the DoI, which resulted in the creation of the NPS on August 25, 1916.
In California, the NPS controls 6,240,000 acres of land, the first NPS protected area being Yosemite National Park.
California Central Coast
The NPS manages a wide variety of lands in the California Central Coast Region in four categories (National Parks, National Recreation Areas, National Monuments, National Heritage Areas, and has significant influence over National Historic Areas and federal lands given to the state via the Federal Lands to Parks Program.
National Parks Physical properties managed by NPS within the National Park System.
National Recreation Areas
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
National Monument
Physical properties managed by NPS within the National Park System.
César E. Chávez National Monument
National Register of Historic Places
Established in 1966, through the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act, it is the official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects considered worthy of preservation for their historical significance. A listed property may qualify for tax incentives derived from the total value of expenses incurred in preserving the property.
Carmel Mission
Mission San Miguel Arcangel
La Purísima Mission
Los Alamos Ranch House
Rancho Camulos
Hearst San Simeon Estate
Gonzalez House
Well No. 4, Pico Canyon Oil Field
Rogers Dry Lake
San Juan Bautista Historic District
Monterey Old Town Historic District
Larkin House
Old Customhouse
Royal Presidio Chapel
Juan de Anza House
Jose Castro House
The Forty Acres
Santa Barbara Mission
Mission Santa Inés
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
Carrizo Plain Archeological District
Steedman Estate
Rancho Camulos
Designations by Congress as places where natural, cultural, and historic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally important landscape. NHA entities collaborate with communities to determine how to make heritage relevant to local interests and needs. Currently, there are no NHAs established within Central California.
Federal Lands to Parks Program
Links
- Annotated List of Federal Agencies with Resource Management Responsibilities in California's Central Coast Region
- National Park Service official web site
Disclaimer
This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.