Executive Summary
6.1 Alternative One. Establish a Unit of the National Park System
return to National Park Service UH CESU page
Page last updated 23 February 2007.. Send Comments or corrections to bryan_harry@partner.nps.gov or gary_barbano@partner.nps.gov
7.4 Reconnaissance Survey Findings
7.2 Community Interest and Support
Unless otherwise credited photos are by the National Park Service.
The findings contained in this draft reconnaissance survey should not be construed as representing either the approval or the disapproval of the National Park Service or the Secretary of the Interior.
Figure 1. Mariana Islands
Figure 2. Land Use
Figure 3. Archeological Sites and Features
Figure 4. The Mochon Archeological District
Figure 5. The Chugai Cave complex.
Figure 6. Hans Hornbostel plan map of the Taga Latte Quarry
Figure 7. Native Forest
Figure 8. Rare Species pictographs on the south wall of Chugai Cave.
Figure 9. Critical Habitat, Mariana Crow
Figure 10. Benthic Habitats
Figure 11. Significant Natural Areas and Cultural Sites Feasible for Park Management
List of Figures.
Next page - sec. 1.0 >
4.2.1.5 Alaguan Bay Ancient Village
4.2.1.5.1 Significance
7.3.6 Concepts for Resource Management and Visitor Use
4.3.1.3 Upper-elevation Limestone Terraces
DRAFT
RECONNAISSANCE SURVEY
SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AREAS AND CULTURAL SITES
ISLAND OF ROTA
COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
One of 46 sets of latte at the Mochong Latte Stone Site
August 2005

Prepared by the
National Park Service
Pacific West Region--Honolulu

for the
Legislature of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 SUMMARY
Return to Title Page
2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 Background
2.2 National Park Service Special Resource Studies
2.2.1 Significance, Suitability and Feasibility Criteria
2.2.1.1 National Significance
2.2.1.2 Suitability
2.2.1.3 Feasibility
3.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA
3.1 Regional Context
3.2 Location, Size and Ownership
3.3 Land Use on Rota
3.4 Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
3.5 Resource Type
4.0 RESOURCE SIGNIFICANCE
4.1 Current Status of the Study Area
4.1.1 Habitat Conservation Plan
4.2 Cultural Resources
4.2.1 Significant Prehistoric Sites
4.2.1.4.1 Significance
4.2.1.2.1 Significance
4.2.1.2 Chugai Pictograph Cave
4.2.1.1.1 Significance
4.2.1.1 Mochon Latte Stone Village
4.2.1.3.1 Significance
4.2.1.3 Taga Latte Stone Quarry
4.2.1.4 Dugi Archeological Site
4.2.2 Historic Sites
4.2.2.1 Japanese Period
4.2.2.1.1 Ginalangan Japanese Defensive Complex.
4.2.2.1.2 Nanyo Kohatsu Kabushiki Kaisha Sugar Mill, Japanese Coastal Defense Gun, Japanese Hospital
4.2.2.2 German Period
4.2.2.3 Spanish Period
4.3 Natural Resources
4.3.1 Native Forest
4.3.1.1 Lower-elevation Limestone Slopes and Terraces
4.3.1.2 Mid-elevation Limestone Terraces
4.3.2 Threatened and Endangered Plants
4.3.3 Other Vegetation
4.3.4 Threatened and Endangered Wildlife
4.3.4.1 Mariana Crow
4.3.5 Other Wildlife
4.3.6 Marine Resources
4.4 Evaluation of Significance
4.4.1 Cultural Resources
4.4.2 Natural Resources
5.0 PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY
5.1 Rarity of Resources (Suitability)
5.1.1 Natural History Themes
5.1.2 History and Prehistory Themes
5.1.3 Summary of Suitability
7.3 Large Natural Areas and Significant Cultural Sites
7.3.1 Mochon Latte Stone Village
7.3.2 Taga Latte Stone Quarry
7.3.3 Chugai Pictograph Cave
7.3.4 Alaguan Bay
7.3.5 Native Limestone Forest
7.3.6.1 Large natural areas
7.3.6.2 Significant cultural areas
5.2 Feasibility for Addition to the National Park System
6.0 ALTERNATIVES FOR RESOURCE PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT
6.2 Alternative Two. Establishment of a Commonwealth Park on Rota
6.2.1 Long-term Resource Protection
6.2.2 Effects on Existing Land Uses, Land Ownership and the Local Economy
6.2.3 Quantity and Type of Visitor Use Opportunities
6.2.4 General and Comparative Consideration of Cost
6.2.5 Potential for Resource Improvement
6.3 Alternative Three. Establishment of a National Wildlife Refuge
6.3.1 Long-Term Resource Protection
6.3.2 Effects on Existing Land Uses, Land Ownership and the Local Economy
6.3.3 Quantity and Type of Visitor Use Opportunities
6.3.4 General and Comparative Consideration of Cost
6.3.5 Potential for Resource Improvement
6.4 Alternative Four. Designation as National Landmarks
6.4.1 Long-Term Resource Protection
6.4.2 Effects on Existing Land Uses, Land Ownership and the Local Economy
6.4.3 Quantity and Type of Visitor Use Opportunities
6.4.4 General and Comparative Consideration of Cost
6.4.5 Potential for Resource Improvement
6.5. Alternative Four. Protection By Locally Designated Conservation Areas
6.5.1 Long-Term Resource Protection
6.5.2 Effects on Existing Land Uses, Land Ownership and the Local Economy
6.5.3 Quantity and Type of Visitor Use Opportunities
6.5.4 General and Comparative Consideration of Cost
6.5.5 Potential for Resource Improvement
7.0 FINDINGS
7.1 Position of CNMI and Rota Officials
6.1.1 Long-term Resource Protection
6.1.2 Effects on Existing Land Uses, Land Ownership and the Local Economy
6.1.3 Quantity and Type of Visitor Use Opportunities
6.1.4 General and Comparative Consideration of Cost
6.1.5 Potential for Resource Improvement
8.0 SELECTED REFERENCES
9.0 PREPARERS AND CONTRIBUTERS
10.0 APPENDIX
10.1. Site Visit
10.2. Letter From CNMI Legislative Bureau Legal Counsel
10.3. Abbreviations Used in the Reconnaissance Survey
Return to Top of Contents