Difference between revisions of "National Heritage Areas (NHA)"

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== The function of NHAs ==
 
== The function of NHAs ==
  
<Need an explanation of what NHAs actually do. Are they active or passive (i.e. merely designations)? Do they have MOUs where partners commit to certain roles and activities? Are they funded?>
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<span style="color:#ff00ff"> Need an explanation of what NHAs actually do. Are they active or passive (i.e. merely designations)? Do they have MOUs where partners commit to certain roles and activities? Are they funded?</span>
  
 
== Notable NHAs==
 
== Notable NHAs==

Revision as of 12:45, 4 March 2021

An environmental summary by the ENVS 560/L Watershed Systems class at CSUMB with relevance to the Central Coast region and the Range of the Condor National Heritage Area.

National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are nationally important landscapes, recognized for their natural, cultural, and historical resources. NHAs are designated by Congress but created at the request of local organizations and state governments. These areas are administered by local coordinating entities (i.e., local organizations, state governments). The local coordinating entities form a partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), which has a limited advisory role.

The NHA designation fosters a community-driven approach to heritage conservation and economic development. Through public-private partnerships, NHA entities support historic preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage tourism, and educational projects. Leveraging funds and long-term support for projects, NHA partnerships foster pride of place and an enduring stewardship ethic [1]. NHAs receives limited federal funding and do not affect private property rights [1].

Currently, there are 55 NHAs [2].


How NHAs are formed

Designation as an NHA begins at the local level. A local initiative must consider applying, then following a series of steps:

  • Heritage groups, tourism groups, or jurisdictions decide to pursue designation as a National Heritage Area.
  • The original supporters work to build support, reaching out to other groups, jurisdictions, and the public.
  • A formal feasibility study evaluates the quality of the heritage resources, potential sustainability, and local support for the proposed Heritage Area
  • The National Park Service reviews the feasibility study and advises Congress on the eligibility of the proposed Heritage Area.
  • Congress passes legislation authorizing the Heritage Area (public laws)
  • The new Heritage Area has three years to complete a management plan to meet the local goals of the Heritage Area [3].

ToDo: Add more detail on which specific acts Congress has passed in relation to NHAs

Criteria

The National Park Service has the following ten criteria for evaluation of candidate areas by the National Park Service, Congress, and the public:

  • The area has an assemblage of natural, historic, or cultural resources that together represent distinctive aspects of American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and continuing use, and are best managed as such an assemblage through partnerships among public and private entities, and by combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and active communities
  • The area reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife that are a valuable part of the national story
  • The area provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, cultural, historic, and/or scenic features
  • The area provides outstanding recreational and educational opportunities
  • Resources that are important to the identified theme or themes of the area retain a degree of integrity capable of supporting interpretation
  • Residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and governments within the proposed area that are involved in the planning have developed a conceptual financial plan that outlines the roles for all participants including the federal government, and have demonstrated support for designation of the area
  • The proposed management entity and units of government supporting the designation are willing to commit to working in partnership to develop the heritage area
  • The proposal is consistent with continued economic activity in the area
  • A conceptual boundary map is supported by the public
  • The management entity proposed to plan and implement the project is described

The National Park Service uses these criteria to evaluate potential areas and references them in subsequent testimony before congressional authorizing committees regarding legislation proposing designation of specific national heritage areas.[4]

The function of NHAs

Need an explanation of what NHAs actually do. Are they active or passive (i.e. merely designations)? Do they have MOUs where partners commit to certain roles and activities? Are they funded?

Notable NHAs

Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Area

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National Heritage Area

Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area

Links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 https://www.nps.gov/articles/what-is-a-national-heritage-area.htm
  2. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33462.pdf
  3. https://www.cityofgigharbor.net/DocumentCenter/View/561/Background-Information-PDF
  4. https://www.nps.gov/subjects/heritageareas/upload/NHA-Feasibility-Study-Guidelines_FINAL-Revisions-2019_508-compliant.pdf

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.