Bureau of Reclamation's
Fossil Resources

Fossils are the remains, imprints, and traces of once-living organisms preserved in the earth's crust.  They may be bones and teeth, shells, leaf impressions, footprints, or burrows.  Fossils are non-renewable and (except for microfossils and those that make up the energy minerals) relatively rare resources with significant scientific, educational, commercial, and recreational values. 

Paleontology is the science which uses fossils to study life in past geologic times.  Early in its history, the Bureau of Reclamation recognized the importance of fossils.  A 1905 circular produced by the agency included the following language, "In constructing irrigation works it is probable that fossiliferous beds will be uncovered, giving exceptionally good opportunities for collecting specimens of value to geologists and paleontologists.  Well-preserved imprints of leaves, ferns, or other plant remains, fossil shells, and the bones and teeth of animals are always interesting, and may add much to our knowledge of the geologic history and structure of the region."

To date, Reclamation has documented close to 180 paleontological sites on its land, and maintains roughly 50,000 fossils as museum property.  Some significant paleontological discoveries and research have occurred on Reclamation lands. At Harry Strunk Lake in southwest Nebraska, excavations of archaeological and paleontological remains were initiated in the 1940s when the dam forming the lake was constructed.  Impressive remains of several Pleistocene species, such as saber-tooth tiger and shovel-tusked mammoth were recovered.

In the late 1980s, the remains of an 18,500 year old mammoth were discovered eroding out of the reservoir bank.  The site contains bone flakes, impact points, and other patterns which would seem to indicate human presence at a very early period.  Part of the mammoth was excavated, but more than half was left in place for future research. This was done because research techniques such as DNA identification, methods of determining the age of the deposits, and other forms of microscopic and chemical analysis, are rapidly improving and changing.  Future excavations using advanced methods and technology might yield important information that would be lost if the excavations were done today.

At Flaming Gorge Reservoir in northeastern Utah, a number of agencies were involved in recording the footprints of ancient sauropods, long-necked dinosaurs who roamed the area about 180 million years ago.  Also found were the much rarer tracks of a pterosaur, a flying reptile that lived between 220 and 65 million years ago.   Ongoing research continues to reveal more information about the prehistoric animals.  To protect the sites, their locations are not public information at this time.

Dinosaur tracks at Flaming Gorge Reservoir

The public has an opportunity to view fossilized plants and marine animals and even fragments of dinosaur bones in their natural setting at the Cottonwood Creek Dinosaur Trail, located about 25 miles southwest of Casper, Wyoming, at Reclamation’s Alcova Reservoir.

The rock formations along the trail include many invertebrate, vertebrate, and plant fossils, indicating a rapidly changing environment of deposition 200-140 million years ago with tidal flats, sand dunes, beaches, oceans, storm deposits, and complex stream and river systems.

In 1991, fossilized skeletal remains of a medium-sized dinosaur (Camarasaurus) were discovered at the site. In 1993, fossil remains of a small Ornithopod, nicknamed "Sniffles", were found. Most of the actual dinosaur bones which have been discovered to date have been removed for preparation and study and now reside at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

Cottonwood Creek Dinosaur Trail
Alcova Reservoir

The best remaining examples of dinosaur bones can be seen near the top of Cottonwood Creek Dinosaur Trail, which is approximately 2 miles long and rises nearly 300 feet in elevation.  The extreme, unstable slopes and switchbacks contribute to continually changing trail conditions. The trail user should be in good physical condition and exercise caution.  Due to the rugged terrain, the trail is not accessible to the mobility impaired, although interpretive signs located at the trailhead are accessible. Estimated time to complete the self-guided tour along the trail is 2-3 hours. Collection of fossils by the public is prohibited along the trail. For additional information, contact Jay Dallman or call (307)261-5608.

Paleontological resources are protected under Federal property rules and regulations.  Anyone wishing to collect fossils on Reclamation land must first obtain a permit.  Permits are only issued for scientific research. They are given to people with specific qualifications that include related college education and experience.  Prior to receiving a permit, applicants must also demonstrate that a Federal or Reclamation approved repository has agreed to accept any collected fossils.  All collected items remain the property of the Federal Government and cannot be kept by the collector.

Information regarding fossil permits in Reclamation may be obtained from Thomas Lincoln, Federal Preservation Officer, 303-445-3311.

Proposed Fossil Bill

In recent years, there have been several attempts to pass Federal legislation to protect paleontological resources through a permitting process and penalty provisions for illegal collection.  In January 2007, both the House and Senate introduced a bill "To provide for the protection of paleontological resources on Federal lands, and for other purposes" (H.R. 554 and S. 320). The most recent actions were hearings in the House Subcommittee on Natural Resources held in April 2007.  No further action has been scheduled.

Other Federal Paleontology Websites

Links to some other Federal websites regarding paleontology follow:

 
Bureau of Land Management

National Cultural and Fossil Site
BLM Manual 8270
BLM Handbook H-8270-1
Discovering Dinosaurs
New Mexico Paleontology
Wyoming: Red Gulch Dinosaur Track Site

National Park Service

NPS Paleontology Program
Paleontological Resources Management

U.S. Forest Service
Forest Service Paleontology

U.S. Geological Survey

Paleontology Home Page
Selected Paleontology Links

National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian)