Geodiversity Atlas—Eastern Rivers and Mountains I&M Network Index

Photo of a river in a forested canyon
Gauley River National Recreation Area, West Virginia.

NPS photo by Dave Bieri.

Geology and Stratigraphy of the Eastern Rivers and Mountains I&M Network

The Eastern Rivers and Mountains Inventory and Monitoring Network (ERMN) consists of nine NPS units in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, western New Jersey, and western New York. The parks include: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site (ALPO), Bluestone National Scenic River (BLUE), Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA), Fort Necessity National Battlefield (FONE), Friendship Hill National Historic Site (FRHI), Gauley River National Recreation Area (GARI), Johnstown Flood National Memorial (JOFL), New River Gorge National Park and Preserve (NERI), and Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UPDE).

The network parks are dominated by eastern deciduous forests and river systems within temperate latitudes of the central Appalachian Mountains. The parks are situated within broad river floodplains to small, ephemeral streams, high mountains to deep gorges, and dry barrens to mesic forests (Marshall and Piekielek 2004). Five parks are dominated by large rivers (NERI, GARI, BLUE, DEWA and UPDE), three of which contain river sections that have Wild and Scenic River designation (BLUE, UPDE, DEWA). Collectively the parks of the ERMN preserve important fauna, flora, habitat, rivers, and recreational resources.

A Brief Geologic History

A few examples of events and Network resources in each geologic time period are highlighted below, from youngest to oldest.

Geology & Soils—Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network Parks

Showing results 1-9 of 9

  • NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Pennsylvania

    • Locations: Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
    • Offices: Geologic Resources Division
    stone bridge

    Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.

  • NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Bluestone National Scenic River, West Virginia

    • Locations: Bluestone National Scenic River
    • Offices: Geologic Resources Division
    rock outcrop and trees

    Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.

  • NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, New Jersey and Pennsylvania

    • Locations: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
    • Offices: Geologic Resources Division
    delaware water gap divides the ridge line

    Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.

  • NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Pennsylvania

    • Locations: Fort Necessity National Battlefield
    • Offices: Geologic Resources Division
    wooden fence and trees

    Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.

  • NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Pennsylvania

    • Locations: Friendship Hill National Historic Site
    • Offices: Geologic Resources Division
    historic home

    Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.

  • NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Gauley River National Recreation Area, West Virginia

    • Locations: Gauley River National Recreation Area
    • Offices: Geologic Resources Division
    Gauley River Gorge

    Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.

  • NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Pennsylvania

    • Locations: Johnstown Flood National Memorial
    • Offices: Geologic Resources Division
    railroad tracks and remains of dam

    Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.

  • NPS Geodiversity Atlas—New River Gorge National River, West Virginia

    • Locations: New River Gorge National Park & Preserve
    • Offices: Geologic Resources Division
    rock outcrop and trees

    Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports.

  • NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Upper Delaware National Scenic and Recreation River, New York and Pennsylvania

    • Locations: Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
    • Offices: Geologic Resources Division
    canoes on river bank

    Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park.

Tags: geodiversity atlas ermn
Back to top

Type Sections—Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network

thumbnail image of the cover of a geologic report
Image linked to full report.

The geologic history above is excerpted from a report titled, "National Park Service geologic type section inventory: Eastern Rivers and Mountains Inventory & Monitoring Network". Type sections are essential reference locations for the geoscientists who study geologic history and paleontology. A summary of the type sections in each park can be found at the links below.

  • Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Pennsylvania (no designated stratotypes identified)

  • Bluestone National Scenic River, West Virginia (no designated stratotypes identified)

  • Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, New Jersey and Pennsylvania (contains 11 identified stratotypes)

  • Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Pennsylvania (no designated stratotypes identified)

  • Friendship Hill National Historic Site, Pennsylvania (no designated stratotypes identified)

  • Gauley River National Recreation Area, West Virginia (no designated stratotypes identified)

  • Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Pennsylvania (no designated stratotypes identified)

  • New River Gorge National River, West Virginia (contains three identified stratotypes)

  • Upper Delaware National Scenic and Recreation River, New York and Pennsylvania (contains four identified stratotypes)

The full Network report is available in digital format from:

Please cite this publication as:

  • Henderson T, Santucci VL, Connors T, Tweet JS. 2021. National Park Service geologic type section inventory: Eastern Rivers and Mountains Inventory & Monitoring Network. Natural Resource Report. NPS/ERMN/NRR—2021/2248. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado.

NPS Stratotype Inventory

Fossil Resources—Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network

thumbnail image of the cover of a geologic report
Image linked to full report.

Between 2002 and 2011, network-based paleontological resource inventories were completed for all the 32 I&M networks, and six of the earliest were completely updated between 2012 and 2016. The report linked below summarizes the paleontological resources of all park units in the Eastern Rivers and Mountains Inventory & Monitoring Network (ERMN). The report provides geologic background and paleontological resource data for each park to support management operations, planning, and science-based decision making as required by NPS management policies and the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (2009).

The full report is available in digital format from

Please cite this publication as:

  • Koch AL and Santucci VL. 2004. Paleontological Resource Inventory and Monitoring, Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network. None. United States Department of Interior, National Park Service, Eastern Rivers and Mountains Network. University Park, Pennsylvania.


Last updated: February 21, 2025

Experience More

Subjects

Parks

Organizations

Tools

  • Site Index