The National Park Service (NPS) recently announced its intention to draft new management plans for three National Parks in Alaska - Wrangell-St. Elias, Gates of the Arctic, and Glacier Bay. Together, these parks constitute nearly 20% of all Wilderness in the National Wilderness Preservation System. They encompass multiple habitats, from vast expanses of taiga, cushioned with moss campion, heather and saxifrage, to peaks soaring over 18,000ft and multi-hued glaciers calving powerfully into the sea. They are refuges for endangered species, and havens for those seeking adventure and solitude in an increasingly hectic world. With so much at stake, Wilderness Watch is working hard to ensure that the NPS drafts management plans that honor and preserve the area’s wilderness character.

Considering the wild beauty of these Wildernesses, it is not surprising that the number of visitors has steadily increased in certain areas since their designation in 1980. Sadly, the surge of visitors is matched by an increase in threats to the very wilderness character that makes these areas special. It is imperative that the new management plans address these concerns in order to ensure that we do not love these areas to death.

The management plans must focus on preserving the endangered wilderness character of Wrangell-St.Elias, Glacier Bay, and Gates of the Arctic. As the plans dictate management for the next 15-25 years, they should be visionary in scope, a goal achieved by anticipating future threats and adopting proactive measures to avoid them. The plans should adopt a policy of non-degradation, prohibiting actions that diminish an area’s current level of wildness. These themes are imperative when addressing a number of key issues, including:

1. Visitor Improvements: So-called visitor improvements include the construction of trails,
visitor facilities, signs, trailheads, campsites, new or enlarged airstrips, toilets, and bridges.
Though some of these constructions might be seen as "convenient", they have no place in these Wildernesses, which encompass some of the wildest land in North America. The Wildernesses should remain in their current trail-less condition, without new construction of signs, campsites, or facilities.

2. Motorized Equipment: The use of motorized equipment, such as ATVs,
snowmachines, and airplanes, should be carefully regulated in these Wildernesses. The Alaska National Interest lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) allows for limited motorized use in Wilderness for traditional activities and subsistence use. Currently, the NPS at Wrangell–St. Elias holds that the use of ATVs constitutes a traditional means for conducting subsistence activities in Wilderness.

This is an odd assertion, as ATVs did not appear on the market until the mid-70s, just a few years before ANILCA was drafted. ATV use is hardly "traditional", and the Park should rescind its current policy and adopt the more carefully thought out definition of "traditional activities" currently employed in Denali National Park.

Motorized use is the antithesis of Wilderness, impacting wildlife and human visitors and resulting in significant on-the-ground damage to the landscape. Recreational snowmobiling, does not belong in Wilderness, and the number of cruise ships in Glacier Bay should be decreased to protect marine wildlife and opportunities for solitude. Flightseeing over Wilderness should be discouraged, and private aircraft landings should be limited to drop-offs and pick-ups, disallowing aircraft landings for camping and day-use activities such as picnics and photo opportunities. In addition, landing zones should be limited to existing strips built on durable surfaces that are widely spaced at least a 3 to 4 day hike apart, leaving large areas of the Wilderness free of mechanization.

3. Access to Inholdings: Access to Wilderness inholdings and native allotments should be achieved by means that have the least impact on the landscape and wilderness character of the three parks. The use of motorized vehicles to access these lands should be strictly limited, and the NPS should plan to pursue opportunities for acquiring the inholdings.

4. Recreational Use: The plans should emphasize the unique nature of the recreational opportunities offered by Glacier Bay, Wrangell-St. Elias, and Gates of the Arctic. These Wildernesses represent some of the wildest country in the National Wilderness Preservation System, offering visitors unparalleled opportunities for solitude, introspection, and adventure. The plans must strive to ensure these opportunities for future generations by carefully guarding the wilderness character of these three parks.

It is imperative that the management plans adopt responsible group size limits, modeled after those already in use in Gates of the Arctic (currently limited to 7 per group). Group size limits are effective for decreasing on-the-ground visitor impacts and providing for solitude, a feeling of remoteness, and unconfined recreation.

5. Commercial Enterprises: The management plans should include proactive measures to address concerns associated with commercial enterprises in Wilderness. Decisions about such uses should be based on a genuine public need, rather than market incentive. Clear terms and regulations should be drawn up for permits, with contracts awarded to those operations that adhere and champion Wilderness principles.

What you can do:

You can help protect these wild places! The impending management plans are critical for preserving the wilderness character of Wrangell-St. Elias, Glacier Bay, and Gates of the Arctic. The NPS is soliciting input regarding the drafting of these three management plans. Please send your comments and concerns to the following addresses, either by mail, fax, or email (please note that they are for specific parks). Please remind the NPS that these three Wildernesses embody the wildest of the wild, part of America’s precious natural heritage!

Gary Candelaria, Superintendent
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
PO Box 439
Copper Center, AK 99573
P: (907) 822-5234
F: (907) 822-7216

WRST_Administration@nps.govDavid D. Mills, Superintendent
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
201 First Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701
P: (907) 457-5752
F: (907) 822-7216

GAAR_Superintendent@nps.govTomie Lee, Superintendent
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
PO Box 140
Gustavus, AK 99826
P: (907) 697-2232
F: (907) 455-0602
GLBA_Administration@nps.gov