Effects of Climate Change on Cultural Resources in the Northern Rockies

Abstract

Cultural resources in the Northern Rockies are currently vulnerable to various natural and human agencies, including wildfire and biological processes, vandalism and other depreciative human behaviors, and changing population demographics and recreational use. Climate change has the potential to accelerate some of these ongoing effects to cultural resources. Increasing wildfires will have a direct effect on cultural resources, because they are broadly distributed throughout forest and grassland ecosystems. Melting ice caused by climate change poses a risk to previously ice-encased and well-preserved cultural resources. Seasonal aridity and prolonged drought will accelerate soil deflation and erosion, and expose archaeological sites once buried in prairie or mountain soils. At the same time, a projected increase in winter precipitation, coupled with earlier and more intense spring runoff, poses another threat to cultural resources. Climate-induced changes in terrestrial and aquatic habitats also affect abundance of culturally-valued plants, animals and fish, affecting the ability of Native American tribes to exercise their treaty rights.

Damage to cultural and historic sites is irreversible, making protection a key management focus. To some extent, wildfire effects can be mitigated through active prevention measures (for example, thinning trees around historic structures) and fire suppression and recovery tactics. Hydrological events are unpredictable, and protection measures such as stabilization and armoring are expensive. Nonetheless, federal agencies have a strong mandate to implement measures to protect cultural sites threatened by such natural processes and emergency events. Survey and evaluation in areas where cultural resources are concentrated or likely is ongoing, although intermittent, in the Northern Rockies. It will be possible to locate and monitor cultural resources only if these efforts are significantly expanded.