Craters of the Moon plans its future

National parks around the nation are planning for the future.

The National Park Service is encouraging parks to prepare a foundation document. The document outlines the park’s core mission and significance for future plans and management strategies. Of course, this includes Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.

Chief of Resource Management John Apel said the Monument’s significance can be attributed to its uniqueness.

“The types of volcano processes and features that occur here are very much like the ones that are currently active in the Hawaiian islands. These are much more accessible to folks that live in the Pacific Northwest and in Idaho. Of course, volcanic processes are very much a part of what created southern Idaho,” said Apel.

The NPS hopes to have foundation documents for all parks by 2016.