Cultural Resources Potentially Affected by Gulf Oil Spill

oil-leak-splash-150x150The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico presents a variety of resource management issues to officials attempting to mitigate damage caused by the continuing leakage of oil. Not only does this significant spill pose a serious threat to wildlife–affecting as many as 400 species along the coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida–cultural resources are at risk too. Shipwrecks, archeological sites, Civil War forts, and other historic structures in the Gulf area are at risk of damage from both oil and cleanup operations.
In our efforts to keep the public informed, US/ICOMOS has created an interactive map showing cultural resources within the Gulf Coast. This zone is determined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (see NOAA Gulf Spill Restoration) and is used to provide a summary of “coastal resources that are at risk if an oil spill occurs nearby.” The map below plots resources listed on the National Register of Historic Places and includes U.S. National Park Service (NPS) sites and National Historic Landmarks. Click the plotted points for more detailed information.

 

 

Cultural Resources in Area of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Note: Map may be slow to load. Archaeological sites, including many shipwrecks, excluded as a protective measure.

View full map or download source

Sources National Register of Historic Places (National Park Service) Office of Response and Restoration (NOAA)
For additional information, see: deepwaterhorizonresponse.com the official site of the Deepwater Horizon incident command. NOAA Office of Response and Restoration a site containing daily-updated maps showing the extent of the spill and information about the wildlife and other resources impacted. Environmental Response Management Application (NOAA) a robust web-based GIS system including information about the spill.

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