Case Study Natural and Cultural Resource Protection and Preservation Program (NCRP3) Del Norte County, CA
Challenge
Del Norte County, CA, long the homeland of the Yurok and Tolowa people, is known for its impressive natural and cultural resources; yet significant gaps remain regarding planning or other initiatives to protect and preserve these important assets during and after a disaster. The region faces numerous hazards, including wildfire, drought, earthquake, tsunami, and severe storms; increasingly, climate change is intensifying the threat of several of these. Two Wild and Scenic Rivers, a United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site (Redwood National and State Parks), and multiple Indigenous traditional knowledge and heritage collections are among the values at risk. Our natural and cultural resources support our way of life and reflect our identity. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that communities are stronger and more resilient in the face of disaster when they prioritize these vital resources.
Solution
Tidal Basin supported the Natural and Cultural Resource Preservation and Protection Program (NCRP3) by creating a NCRP3 Disaster Plan and a tabletop exercise to promote future NCRP3 Response Team familiarity with the Disaster Plan. Over the course of a year, the project team met multiple times to determine and characterize plan elements within an inclusive environment that recognized multiple viewpoints and priorities. The resulting plan includes: • Identification of local natural and cultural resources, including intangible resources. • Documentation of stakeholders at the local, state, tribal, and federal levels.
• A risk analysis evaluating the threat of local hazards and key vulnerabilities. • Guidance on identifying and securing natural resource areas and cultural collections. • Protocols to share intelligence and information between stakeholders and law enforcement about potential acts of terrorism. • Proposed mitigation projects. • A comprehensive concept of operations (CONOPs) section detailing roles and responsibilities, including integration with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). • A recovery section that includes a list of national and international organizations that specialize in heritage recovery. • Adherence to regulations and best practices concerning tribal sovereignty and intellectual and cultural property rights. The Plan can be activated in response to a situation associated with any hazard – natural or human-caused – that may affect Del Norte County requiring planned, coordinated responses by multiple agencies or jurisdictions. The planning team was comprised of local emergency managers, cultural stewards, and heritage custodians, including those from Del Norte County OES, Elk Valley Rancheria, Pulikla Tribe of Yurok People (formerly “Resighini Rancheria”), Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation, Yurok Tribe, City of Crescent City, Del Norte Association for Cultural Awareness, and the Latinx community. Technical assistance was provided by Tidal Basin Government Consulting and the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative.
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