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1. National Park Service |
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The National Heritage Area program is under the auspices of the
National Park Service. |
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Unlike National Parks, National Rivers, National Recreation Areas
and the other “administrative units” of the Park Service,
where land is owned outright by the Park Service, the National
Heritage Areas are to be greenways where land use is controlled
by a state regional entity under a management contract with the
Secretary of Interior, at least initially. Various federal, state
and locally owned “heritage” sites are part of a Heritage
tourism program linked by scenic byways and the like, continuous
hiking and bicycling trails are developed on old rail beds and
elsewhere, and much land is acquired by non-profit land trusts
and state and federal government for natural restoration. |
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Member, Mississippi Corridor Study Commission, whose study duties
include the gamut of: Vegetation and Biomass, National Natural
Landmarks, General History and Prehistory, Architectural Character
and Cultural Landscape, Major Literary Themes and Work, Ethnic
Communities, Music and Art, National Historic Landmarks, National
Registers, Railroads, Roads and Bridges, and General Settlement
Patterns. |
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The National Park Service also assists in developing river protection,
trails and conservation plans for Heritage areas at all stages. |
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2. National Trust for Historic Preservation |
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(Private non-profit organization chartered and largely funded
by federal government) |
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The nationwide center for the National Heritage Area program
and numerous other heritage areas spawned the National Heritage
Area Coalition with other related groups. |
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3. Department of Transportation including Federal Highway
Administration |
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Rails-to-Trails. Scenic Byways. These can be part of, or connect,
or evolve into National Heritage Areas. Canal restoration for
recreational tourism and natural resource purposes. |
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ISTEA funding (Intermodal Surface Transportation and Efficiency
Act) for Heritage projects, Scenic By-Ways, and Rails-to-Trails
as environmental “mitigations” for genuine transportation
projects. |
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4. National Endowment for the Arts |
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Helped fund 16 Heritage corridors, among other support. |
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5. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
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Navigation, wetlands preservation, hydrology, flood history and
management. Thirteen million acres of farmland may be considered
for three feet deep wetlands restoration as a preventative for
future Mississippi River flooding. |
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Member Mississippi River Corridor Study Commission. |
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6. U.S. Department of Interior - Fish and Wildlife Service |
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Flyways, fisheries, wildlife refuges. Biodiversity surveys. Endangered,
threatened and rare species preservation. |
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Member, Mississippi River Corridor Study Commission. |
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7. U.S. Coast Guard |
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Navigation, marine industry. Member, Mississippi River Corridor
Study Commission. |
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8. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
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Environmental issues, pollution. |
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9. U.S. Department of Commerce - Economic Development |
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Industries adjacent to water. Member, Mississippi River Corridor
Study Commission |
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10. U.S. Department of State |
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Potential involvement if National Heritage Areas are upgraded
to U.N. World Heritage Sites |
