Last Update, Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Photo courtesy of Steve Neel

Kachemak Bay State Park Trail Report - May 8 ,2012 Park Opening Dates - May 9, 2012 Chugach Trail Maps

Governor Proclaims Safe Boating Week

(Anchorage, AK) – Governor Sean Parnell has proclaimed May 19-26, 2012 as Safe Boating Week in Alaska, encouraging all boaters to follow safe boating practices this boating season. A copy of the proclamation is available online at: http://gov.alaska.gov/parnell/press-room/proclamations.html.

The kick-off event for Safe Boating Week is "Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day" on May 18, 2012. The purpose is to heighten awareness of the many different life jacket designs now available, including inflatable life jackets, , and demonstrate their comfort and versatility by wearing them to work. The National Safe Boating Council is asking participants to take a picture of themselves in their life jacket while at work and post it to www.facebook.com/ReadySetWearIt. Everyone is encouraged to participate.

The State of Alaska has over 33,000 miles of coastline, vast interior river systems, and thousands of pristine fresh water lakes. To many Alaskans, boats are both an important means of day-to-day transportation and a popular form of recreation. However, every year Alaskan boaters lose their lives in boating accidents.

"Five out of six of Alaska's boating fatalities are a cold water immersion related drowning, resulting from a vessel capsize or fall overboard. Most are adult males. Many could have survived if they had simply been wearing life jackets. Even on calm, sunny, clear blue sky days, Alaskan boaters of all ages and experience levels should commit to wearing a life jacket," said Jeff Johnson, State Boating Law Administrator.

The U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary will be hosting other events including classes on safe boating and courtesy vessel safety checks for vessel owners. For information on events happening in your area, go to http://cgauxalaska.org/NSBW1.html.

The Alaska Office of Boating Safety in the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation works to reduce Alaska's boating fatalities and enhance safe enjoyable boating with an emphasis on boater education. Information on programs and resources for boaters can be found on their web site at www.alaskaboatingsafety.org.

SnowTRAC board will hold teleconference May 17

(Anchorage, Alaska) – The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation will hold a teleconference with the SnowTRAC board to discuss funding issues as well as upcoming programmatic changes currently being considered, Thursday May 17, 2012 at 11:00 am.

The SnowTRAC board advises the Director of the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation on how to spend snowmachine point-of-sale registration fees. Fees are typically used to support trail development and maintenance as well as safety and education programs. The public is welcome.

For more information or how to participate please contact Darcy Harris at 907-269-8699 or email her at darcy.harris@alaska.gov.

National Trails Day at Matanuska Lakes on June 2

(Palmer, AK) – Please join the Alaska State Trails Program in celebrating National Trails Day with trail cleanup activities at the scenic Matanuska Lakes State Recreational Area on June 2 from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please pre-register for this event by calling 907-269-8699 or sending an e-mail to Darcy Harris at darcy.harris@alaska.gov.

Matanuska Lakes SRA, formerly known as the Kepler-Bradley SRA, is located southwest of Palmer, just north of the Glenn Highway. Take the Glenn Highway to Mile 36.4 and turn onto Kepler Drive. You will enter the park immediately. From there, follow the signs to the event headquarters.

Activities will include brushing and clearing trails, small repair projects and trash collection. Participants are invited to join a barbecue afterward in the park. Please dress for variable weather and bring appropriate footwear. Hand tools and work gloves will be provided. A shelter tent and restrooms also will be available.

Trails Day in Kachemak Bay State Park on June 9

(Homer, AK) – Please join Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park and Alaska State Parks for a day of fun and trail clearing in beautiful Kachemak Bay State Park on Saturday, June 9, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Projects will include minor brushing and limbing, trail clearing, installation of trail signs, erosion control, litter pickup along beaches and a family hike.

Please pre-register at the following locations: Homer High School at The Shorebird Festival - Saturday May 12, or at the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center at 95 Sterling Highway, Homer, AK 99603, between Sunday, May 13 and Friday, June 8.

On the day of the event, participants will meet at 7 a.m. at the Seafarers Memorial on the Homer Spit. The park is only accessible by boat and it is a 20-30 minute boat ride one way. Alaska State Parks has arranged for a REDUCED WATER TAXI COST OF $20 PER PERSON FOR TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE PARK. This is a discount of 75%. Shortly after 7 a.m., individuals will be assigned to a specific water taxi for transport to and from Kachemak Bay State Park for the day.

Each work project has a limited amount of space and will be determined by the beginning of May Please bring gloves, appropriate footwear and clothing for the day, and food and water. If you have tools for the project that you signed up for, please bring them.

Bird Creek Campground Closure

(Anchorage, AK) – The Bird Creek Campground and its immediate vicinity located south of the Seward Highway and to the north of the Indian to Girdwood National Recreation Pathway is closed by Directors Order to the public as of 20 May, 2011.

Dangerous conditions exist due to the substantial stands of dead and dying spruce trees which may fall or unexpectedly snap off and drop without warning. To protect the health and safety of the public and implement management responsibilities, this area (see attached map) is being closed to the public until the hazard is abated.

Additionally, the Bird Creek Campground is scheduled for a rehabilitation project during the summer of 2012. The campground and its immediate vicinity will remain closed until completion of the rehabilitation project. It is anticipated that this closure will conclude on or about December 31, 2012.

Denali State Park closes to snowmachines

(Mat-Su, AK) - The Mat-Su Area Office, Alaska State Parks, announces that the entire area of Denali State Park is closed to the use of snowmachines effective as of Thursday, April 26, 2012. Due to deteriorating snow condition and warmer temperatures the snow pack is not sufficient to protect underlying vegetation in the park.

For more information, contact the Mat-Su Area Office at 745-3975.

Seasonal trail restrictions at Chena River State Recreation Area

(Fairbanks, AK) – Effective April 20, 2012, the Compeau, Stiles, and Angel Creek Hillside trails in Chena River State Recreation Area will be closed to all trail uses except pedestrians. In an effort to protect the state's investment in these popular trails and to maintain their sustainability for summer motorized use, it is necessary to allow the trails to thaw and water to disperse without disturbance. The trails will re-open on Thursday May 24, in time for the Memorial Day weekend.

State Parks is reluctant to restrict any trail uses unless there are no other viable management alternatives. In this case, the benefits of protecting the use of these trails outweigh the inconvenience of seasonal restrictions. Park users are urged to adhere to the restrictions so others may continue to enjoy the trails. Violations may be reported to the State Parks office at 451-2695. On evenings and weekends, call the State Troopers and they will contact the park enforcement team.

Mat-Su Area Snowmachine Closures

(Mat-Su, AK) – With the onset of warmer weather, the Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation is closing certain areas in the Mat-Su region to snowmachine use.

The portion of the Hatcher Pass Road snowmachine corridor from the Goldmint Trailhead at Mile 14 to Mile 16.5, as well as Archangel Valley, is closed to snowmachining as of today, April 16. This is due to deteriorating snow conditions.

The portion of the snowmachine corridor from the Fishhook Parking Lot up to and including Summit Lake State Recreation Site remains open to snowmachining.

With the warmer temperatures, snowboarders, skiers, and snow vehicle operators are advised to take extra precautions as the higher peaks in the Hatcher Pass area are prone to avalanche activity during this transition period.

The Nancy Lake State Recreation Area will close to snowmachine use on Thursday, April 19. Warm weather conditions have diminished the snow pack depth. The remaining snow is very rotten with little support for foot traffic or snow vehicles. Runoff from the melting snow is accumulating on the lake surfaces, making travel across the lakes difficult.

The gate at the Nancy Lake Parkway, Mile 2.2, will remain closed until the snow and ice have melted from the roadway, allowing traffic back to South Rolly Campground. The lakes will generally become ice free sometime in May.

For further information, contact Teri Zell at the Mat-Su/Copper Basin Area Office at 907-745-8931.

Mat-Su/Copper Basin Area Seeks New Citizens Advisory Board

(Wasilla, AK) – Alaska State Parks is currently seeking to fill several positions on the Mat-Su/Copper Basin Citizens Advisory Board. Each member's term is three years, with an option to renew. Board members are recruited from the community at large to represent the various recreational, historical, and cultural resource interests in a balanced manner for the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.

The Citizen Advisory Board members fulfill an important role of communication between Alaska State Parks and Mat-Su/Copper Basin communities. In the past year, the board considered issues such as the Hatcher Pass Management Area Plan Revision, the South Denali Project development, Fishhook Hydroelectric Projects, and cell towers in Denali State Park. This year the board will be working on the Nancy Lake State Recreation Area Management Plan update, the Denali State Park Trails Plan, and capital improvement projects in the Mat-Su/Copper Basin Area. Each fall, the board assists with a legislative briefing for the Mat-Su Legislative Delegation.

Board meetings are held September through May, on the second Tuesday of each month, at the Wasilla Middle School Library. Members from outlying areas can attend meetings telephonically. The board welcomes the public to attend its monthly meetings.

Applications are available at the state parks office at 7278 East Bogard Road in Wasilla, or at http://www.dnr.alaska.gov/parks/misc/brdappgeneric.pdf. For more information, contact the Park office at 745-8935.

State Parks Announces New Valdez Ranger

(VALDEZ, AK) – An Alaska State Parks Ranger has been assigned to Valdez and Prince William Sound. Ranger Travis Russell began his assignment Oct. 3 after completing his initial field training this fall. His duties include natural resource management, facility maintenance, resource protection, community outreach and education. "The Alaska Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation is excited to now have a presence in Valdez," said State Parks Director Ben Ellis.

Prior to this position, Ranger Russell worked at Shuyak Island State Park and Chena River State Recreation Area. As the Valdez Ranger, Russell will manage the state parks at Worthington Glacier, Blueberry Lake, Mineral Creek, Shoup Bay, Jack Bay, Sawmill Bay, Galena Bay, Heather Bay, Busby Island, Ellamar, Landlocked Bay, Canoe Passage, Boswell Bay, and Kayak Island.

Ranger Russell has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and has graduated from the Tanana Valley Campus Law Enforcement Academy.
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State archaeologist explores Russian heritage

(Anchorage, AK) – State Archaeologist Dave McMahan has been building a base of knowledge about Alaska's historic Russian settlements for the past three decades. However, many Russian artifacts he and others have discovered in Alaska aren't explained in writings from the period. In McMahan's words, to properly identify and understand the cultural significance of these items, "you have to go to the motherland."

Based in the Alaska Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation, McMahan has been the state archaeologist for roughly a decade and he presently serves as the president of the International Association of Specialists on Russian America (IASRA). For most of the past decade, McMahan has spent a portion of his summers visiting Russian communities with special significance to the country's early settlement of Alaska. This work is primarily funded with grant money and vacation time.

This summer, McMahan made his 7th research trip to Russia. With other IASRA members, he traveled to Ryazan, 122 miles southeast of Moscow, where he met museum and university officials and visited archaeological sites as well as the home of the 19th century Alaska explorer Lavrenty Zagoskin. Zagoskin explored the Yukon, Kuskokwim, Innoko and Koyukuk rivers during the early 1840s. Russian polar explorer Mikhail Malakhov retraced a portion of Zagoskin's travels in Alaska this summer.

McMahan then traveled to Kaluga, 117 miles southwest of Moscow, where he met the Russian Orthodox Chancellor for the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Kliment, an expert in the early history of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska. McMahan also made presentations of his research on colonial settlements in Alaska at a seminar in Vologda. He then traveled to Totma, the home base for many Russian traders who participated in the Alaska fur trade.

McMahan said the ultimate goal of these trips has been to enrich the understanding of Russian settlement and artifacts found in Alaska. Thanks to the connections made in Russia, when he or others in Alaska – museum curators, for example – have a question about artifacts found in Alaska, they have colleagues in Russia that they can call or e-mail, he said.

The cultural component is also significant. "There is a significant Alaska connection in some of these communities. People there still feel very connected to Alaska. In Totma, for example, even though it is an inland city, a number of people who lived there in the 18th and 19th century ended up on voyages of exploration to Alaska. These Russian seafarers became wealthy from their trading and sent back money to build churches in Totma, including one that is now the Seafarers' Museum," McMahan said.

McMahan's travels this summer were made possible by the Alaska Historical Society, the Alaska International Education Foundation and the National Science Foundation. Other scientists who joined him on the trip include Ty Dilliplane, a Lower 48 professor and former Alaska State Historic Preservation Officer, noted Russian historian Alexander Petrov and Yury Lyhkin, scientific advisor to the Taltsi Museum of Architecture and Ethnography in Irkutsk.

Firewood no longer supplied at roadside public use cabins in Chena River State Recreation Area

(Fairbanks, AK) – Alaska State Parks will no longer be stocking firewood at the three road accessible public use cabins in Chena River State Recreation Area. The three cabins are: the Chena River Cabin at mile 32.2 Chena Hot Springs Road (CHSR); the Hunt Memorial Cabin at mile 42.3 CHSR; and the North Fork Cabin at 47.8 mile CHSR. Out of the 13 state park public use cabins available for rent in the division’s Northern Area, these were the only three stocked with firewood.

Alaska State Parks has not been able to keep up with the demand for firewood, partially due to cabin users having outdoor bonfires. Bonfires put a big dent in the woodpile and leave the next cabin renter without wood. Furthermore, eliminating firewood at the three cabins along Chena Hot Springs Road will provide consistency throughout the Northern Area.

The Alaska State Parks’ Public Use Cabin information sheet provides additional details on the use of firewood at the cabins. For example, the information sheet recommends that renters bring firewood for at least the first night and advises renters that each cabin is supplied with a bow saw and axe for their use. Only dead and down or fire-killed trees may be cut in Chena River State Recreation Area. Alaska State Parks would appreciate customers help keeping the woodshed stocked for the next renter and advises cabin renters to bring firewood as the area around the cabins are pretty well picked over.

Alaska State Parks begins planning for lower Kasilof River boat retrieval project

(Kasilof, AK) - The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation (DPOR), has received project money to develop a public drift boat takeout on the lower Kasilof River to address increasing demand for such a facility on the popular drift-only fishing portion of the river. Currently, most boaters access the Kasilof at the Alaska State Parks public boat launch at mile 109.4 of the Sterling Highway; however, there is no publicly-owned exit point for boaters on the lower portion of the river.

In the first phase of this project, DPOR is distributing a short questionnaire to gain public input on where a retrieval site should be located, what criteria should be used to evaluate potential locations, and what type of facilities should be constructed. The questionnaire and additional project information is available at: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/kasilof/kasilofboatretrieval.htm

Recreational Trail Projects Receive Additional Funds

(Anchorage, AK) – The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is pleased to announce recipients of supplemental funding for 2011 Recreational Trail Grants. The federally-supported, reimbursable grants were available for development and maintenance of recreational trails and facilities and acquisition of trail right-of-way. The awards go to the following projects:

SOUTHEAST ALASKA:

Juneau Trails Wayfinding Project: The City and Borough of Juneau has been awarded $36,680 toward constructing trailhead kiosks on 12 of Juneau’s most popular trails. The kiosks will serve as consistent landmarks, making it easy to find and access trails from the Juneau Road System. Maps and other signage will provide information on accessibility, trail etiquette, and interpretation.

Skaters Lake Trail, Phase II: The Metlakatla Indian Community has been awarded an additional $49,761 to supplement previous funding to resurface and extend the Skater's Lake Trail, with assistance from volunteers with the Annette Islands School District - School to Work Youth Program. The additional funding will also be used toward the long-term goals of lighting the entire length of trail and acquiring a utility terrain vehicle and a compactor, which will allow the community to maintain the site for years to come.

Treadwell Ditch Trail Rehabilitation: The City and Borough of Juneau has been awarded $44,704 in supplemental funding to restore four miles of the Treadwell Ditch Trail. This additional funding will also support a C-1 fill trail-capping project on the Gastineau Meadows Access trail, where the blasted-rock surface is damaging bike tires.

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA:

Big Lake Groomer Purchase: Big Lake Trails, Inc. has been granted $44,500 to replace its 1971 Bombardier Ski-Dozer with a new Sno-Cat that is more fuel efficient and less expensive to maintain. Heavier equipment is needed to address high frequency of trail use, including racing events, given that lighter grooming equipment has not provided a good rider experience.

Mat-Su Trail Brushing: The Mat-Su Trails Council has been granted $25,250 to fund brush work in the area around Sutton, from Moose Creek to Granite Creek, which attracts a large number of motorized users. Approximately 20 miles of one-lane roads from past mining operations in the area have been identified in the Mat-Su Borough Trails Plan and have been protected for trail use with easements. Past attempts at clearing brush on these trails have proven the amount of material to be cut and disposed of is too much for hand crews. The Mat-Su Trails Council has a Bobcat Mini-Excavator with a boom attached flail mower, which can cut brush up to 3 inches in diameter.

Kincaid Singletrack Trails Project: Alaska Trails, in partnership with Singletrack Advocates (STA), has received $50,000 to supplement its 2011 grant to construct a network of soft-surface, narrow trails that are sustainably built for mountain bikes and other non-motorized trail uses in Kincaid Park. The project will create linkages among existing single-track trails to form a continuous network of approximately 9 miles. The additional funding received will enable them to hire a Student Conservation Association (SCA) crew, and add an additional 7,881 feet of trail design and reconstruction.

Girdwood Nordic Ski Trails, Phase II: The Girdwood Nordic Ski Club has received an additional $50,000 to supplement its 2011 grant to finish construction of a 5-kilometer, year-round use trail system in time for this year’s ski season. This supplemental funding will enable local contractors and volunteers to complete the connector trails.

NORTHERN ALASKA:

Goldstream Bike Pump Park: The Goldstream Valley Lions Club has received $61,574 to finish construction of a 30-foot by 600-foot bike pump park and skills course that will offer a fun and exciting way for riders to learn bike safety and technical skills. The Goldstream Valley Lions Club received a grant earlier this year for planning the park. The additional funds will pay for the contractor and fund the tools, equipment, and fuel needed to complete the project.

Rex Trail Reconstruction Feasibility Study: The Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Mining, Land & Water Division – Northern Region has received $100,000 to study reconstruction of the Rex Trail from Mile 280 Parks Highway to the Wood River. Reconstructing or rerouting the trail may restore access opportunities to those who are currently restricted either by current land management or by the trail conditions. To better inform future DNR decisions and ensure long-term access, a trail prescription report will be performed to assess problem areas for potential reconstruction and analyze rerouting opportunities.

Mastodon Trail Project: Alaska State Parks, Northern Area, will receive an additional $49,000 to supplement previous funding to contract 3.5 miles of full bench construction. This trail segment is part of a non-motorized trail system that will eventually offer 40 miles of trail to three public cabins/shelters.

Stiles Creek Extension: The Alaska State Parks, Northern Area, has been awarded an additional $59,205 to supplement its 2011 grant to realign approximately 4 miles of steep, dangerous trail onto a sustainable curvilinear route with 8 percent grades. The additional funding will provide use or hire of heavier equipment and operators.

Fairbanks Nordic Ski Trail Grooming Equipment: The Nordic Ski Club of Fairbanks has been awarded $100,000 to replace snow machines that maintain about 35 kilometers of ski trails. The snow machines have exceeded their useful life. The funding will help pay for a 2011 Paana Piston Bully, or similar snow machine with attachments. This will enable the club to uphold its long-standing agreement with the Fairbanks North Star Borough Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation to develop and maintain the ski trails at Birch Hill Recreation Area and the adjacent Fort Wainwright land. The new groomer would meet standards for high-quality grooming and enable groomers to satisfy daily requirements regardless of weather conditions.

For more information on how these and other projects were scored please visit the following link: http://www.dnr.alaska.gov/parks/grants/trails.htm to review meeting minutes and the Outdoor Recreational Trails Advisory Board score sheet. The score sheet can be found at the end of the meeting minutes. Additional projects may be funded according to their ranking, depending on the availability of supplemental funds to the Recreational Trail Grant Program.

If you have any questions related to the Recreational Trail Grant Program, please contact Steve Neel, the State Trails Grant Administrator, at Steve.Neel@alaska.gov.

New visitor-friendly features installed at Glen Alps trailhead

(Anchorage, AK) - To provide some new options for park visitors, Chugach State Park has installed an electronic fee payment station and a couple of webcams at the popular Glen Alps trailhead.

The electronic fee station is located on the northeast end of the Glen Alps parking lot and it began operating this week. Similar to the electronic fee stations installed in some downtown Anchorage parking areas, the fee station accepts major credit cards. It will not accept cash. Payment can be made for up to seven consecutive days. If operating the fee station proves to be practical and cost effective, it will be maintained for year-round service.

Park officials are also making final preparations to go online with two webcams that will allow potential visitors to view the Glen Alps trailhead via the Internet. One webcam will be pointed at the parking lot and the other will face eastward up the South Fork Campbell Creek valley. The webcams' main purpose is to help visitors assess how crowded the trailhead is in real time before having to venture all the way up Toilsome Drive. Other options for hiking nearby are available at the park's Upper Huffman and Prospect Heights trailheads. Keep a watch at: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks for a future link to the Glen Alps webcams.

If you have any questions or comments, call Chugach State Park at 345-5014 or send an email to csp@alaska.gov.

New Guidelines for Integrated Business System / Alaska Heritage Resources Survey (IBS/AHRS) Access

Beginning July 1, 2011 the Office of History and Archaeology has new guidelines for Integrated Business System / Alaska Heritage Resources Survey (IBS/AHRS) access.

Please see: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/ahrs/ahrs.htm for details.

All users must complete all the applicable forms found at the above web site to continue accessing the IBS/AHRS.

An OHA Litigation Disclosure Form and an AHRS Data Request Form must be completed for each project; the user agreements are renewed annually.

In addition, non-agency personnel and contractors are required to:
(1) demonstrate a legitimate business or research need,
(2) attend an IBS/AHRS training course,
(3) submit proof of completion of a B.S. or B.A. degree in archaeology, and anthropology, architectural history, history, or historic preservation.

Please note that contractors working for a federal, state, or local agencies are not considered agency users.

The IBS/AHRS Orientation Workshop is a half day training that is offered at OHA on the second Thursday of each month. For individuals outside Anchorage training is offered via the web as needed. The training provides IBS/AHRS users with the basic skills needed to effectively and responsibly use the digital and paper resources of the Office of History and Archaeology.

Bird Creek Campground Closure

(Anchorage, AK) – The Bird Creek Campground and its immediate vicinity located south of the Seward Highway and to the north of the Indian to Girdwood National Recreation Pathway is closed by Directors Order to the public as of 20 May, 2011.

Dangerous conditions exist due to the substantial stands of dead and dying spruce trees which may fall or unexpectedly snap off and drop without warning. To protect the health and safety of the public and implement management responsibilities, this area (see attached map) is being closed to the public until the hazard is abated.

Additionally, the Bird Creek Campground is scheduled for a rehabilitation project during the summer of 2011. The campground and its immediate vicinity will remain closed until completion of the rehabilitation project. It is anticipated that this closure will conclude on or about December 31, 2011.

Proposed South Denali Visitor Center revenues expected to greatly exceed operating costs, study says

(Anchorage, AK) – The proposed South Denali Visitor Center Complex in the southern portion of Denali State Park would bring in $1.2 million in surplus revenue in the first year of operation and up to $2.8 million annually by 2023, according to estimates in a recent feasibility study.

The University of Alaska Center for Economic Development conducted the study using a modest assumption of 3 percent annual visitor growth. The study predicts initial revenues of $2.4 million from a $10-per-visitor entrance fee. Additional revenue from campground fees and from concession receipts for food, gifts and books, and contract tour operations is estimated at $770,000 a year.

"I am extremely pleased the center used a very conservative approach in their study," said Ben Ellis, director of the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. "In using the 3 percent growth in annual visitors, we could see surplus revenue exceeding $2 million in eight years."

The Center for Economic Development also completed an economic impact analysis which forecasts visitor-related direct spending to exceed $18.4 million and indirect spending to reach $30 million annually.

"The projected sustainable financial impact this project could have on borough residents makes it even more appealing for potential State or Federal funding," said Eileen Probasco, the Matanuska-Susitna Borough's Chief of Planning, "Any cooperative effort from the borough for operations or maintenance of the facility is obviously time and money well spent on highlighting the Mat-Su Borough as premier visitor destination. It will also provide additional recreational opportunities, and jobs and business opportunities for borough residents."

The proposed visitor center, to be located below Curry Ridge at milepost 135 of the Parks Highway, is a partnership project between the State of Alaska, the National Park Service, and the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The three agencies have worked cooperatively on all stages of project planning to date, including an extensive public outreach program for surrounding communities.

The visitor center project has so far secured $10 million of its estimated $39.8 million cost. Governor Sean Parnell's current budget includes $3 million for design and the remainder is expected to be requested in the Governor's budgets over the next two years.

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation contracted with the Center for Economic Development to produce the feasibility study. The center's analysis was based primarily on estimated constructions costs and operational revenue, as well as cost data provided by Denali National Park, Princess Tours, Alaska Geographic Inc., and visitation modeling for similar park sites located throughout southcentral Alaska. The economic impact analysis of the development summarizes estimates for construction spending on the visitor center complex, increased spending and employment from support activities and related businesses, and increased income that households spend for goods and services.

The Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation recently agreed to incorporate interpretive activities at the South Denali Visitors Center that highlight visitation opportunities along the George Parks Scenic Byway, which begins at the Chulitna River Bridge and extends to Fairbanks.

A $1 million land donation agreement was also reached recently allowing the Alaska Department of Natural Resources to receive 130 acres of private land within the park to provide a safe and scenic access route to the visitor center. The donation is a public-private partnership with United Companies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sea Lion Corporation, the village corporation for Hooper Bay.

For more information, contact David Griffin, Project Coordinator for the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation at (907) 269-8696 or david.griffin@alaska.gov

Land Donation Agreement Between United Companies, Inc., and the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation

(Anchorage, AK) - An important step in the continued development of the multi-agency South Denali Visitor Center project is a recent agreement allowing Alaska Department of Natural Resources to receive a 130-acre private land donation located within Denali State Park.

The donation is a public-private partnership with United Companies, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sea Lion Corporation, the village corporation for Hooper Bay. The $1 million UCI land donation will provide two critical features for the development of the proposed visitor center located near Mile 134 of the Parks Highway, according to Ben Ellis, director of the state's Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. It will provide a safe and scenic access route to the South Denali Visitor's Center, as well as ensure private development does not negatively impact the visitor's experience in the area.

"It is another concrete step in bringing the vision of the visitor center into reality," Ellis added. "When completed, the center will serve as a gateway to this remarkable area and serve as an economic stimulus for the surrounding communities."

Gov. Sean Parnell has included $3 million in his capital budget to advance the planning for the South Denali Visitor Center.

Under the land agreement reached in November, UCI will donate 130 acres of a 160-acre parcel it owns within the park. The State and UCI have agreed for the use of the remaining parcel as a hotel site, and have agreed to cooperate for the advancement of this land use. This parcel will have restrictive covenants, held by the Department of Natural Resources, that guarantee any potential future development is compatible with the visitor center and surrounding parklands.

The South Denali Visitor Center is a critical component of the George Parks Highway Scenic Byway which was designated as a National Scenic Byway by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation in October 2009, said Ellis. This Scenic Byway establishes a comprehensive experience for travelers that include Fairbanks, Anchorage and the George Parks Highway corridor which connects the two communities. Other components of the George Parks Highway National Scenic Byway include facilities in Nenana, Denali National Park, Talkeetna and other locations along the corridor.

"We are excited to see this project moving forward, as it will serve as a compliment to the existing facilities in Denali National Park & Preserve," said Paul Anderson, Superintendent of Denali National Park.

The proposed visitor center is a partnership project between the State of Alaska, the National Park Service and Matanuska-Susitna Borough. The three agencies have worked cooperatively on all stages of project planning to date, including a thorough public outreach program. An economic impact study commissioned in 2008 by the Mat-Su Borough indicated the projected economic impacts to the borough would be substantial. Among other economic drivers, the study projects approximately $30 million of private sector investment to occur in the vicinity of the new visitor center.

For more information, contact David Griffin, Project Coordinator for the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation at (907) 269-8696 or david.griffin@alaska.gov.

State Parks Seeks New Advisory Board Members

(Fairbanks, AK) Alaska State Parks is currently seeking new advisory board members to fill several positions. Each member's term is three years, with an option to renew. Board members are recruited from the community at large to represent the various recreational, historical, and cultural resource interests in a balanced manner for the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation.

The Citizen Advisory Board members fulfill an important role of communication between Alaska State Parks and the community it serves. Most recently, the board considered issues such as the proposed Stampede State Recreation Area, the Mastodon Trail in Chena River State Recreation Area, and year-round maintenance of bathrooms at highway rest stops. This year the board issued letters of support for funding the Federal Recreation Trails Program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and capital improvement projects here in the Northern Area. Each fall the board hosts a legislative briefing for the Interior Legislative Delegation.

Board meetings are held September through May, on the second Wednesday of each month, at the Alaska Department of Natural Resources office in Fairbanks. Members from outlying areas can attend meetings telephonically. The board welcomes the public to attend their monthly meetings.

Applications are available at the state parks office at 3700 Airport Way or on-line application. For more information, contact the Park office at 451-2695.

2011 Recreational Trails Program Grant Awards

(Anchorage, AK) – The Alaska Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2011 Recreational Trails Grants. The Recreational Trails Program is a federally funded reimbursable trail grant program. Funding is available for development and maintenance of recreational trails and facilities, acquisition of trail right-of-way, and development of trail safety and education programs. This year’s awards go to the following projects:

SOUTHEAST ALASKA

Upper Dewey Lakes Trail Restoration - Phase III: Project funds will be used to address deferred maintenance needs and remedy rutted, dangerous sections of the trail. The proposed work will involve reconstruction of impacted trail tread through use of paid professional stone masonry contractors. The Municipality of Skagway was awarded $37,385 for this project.

Skaters Lake Trail Project: Funds will be used to resurface and extend an existing trail around Skater's Lake utilizing the Annette Islands School to Work Youth Program, which is composed of local community members and volunteers. This project will create a one mile trail to fulfill health and wellness goals for the community and include interpretive signs to enhance awareness of local plants and wildlife, as well as cultural values. The Metlakatla Native Corporation was awarded $50,000 for this project.

SOUTHWEST ALASKA

Kanatak Trail: Project funds will be used to restore the Kanatak Trail, a historic route, intended to be developed for use by visitors of the Alaska Peninsula/Becharof National Wildlife Refuge. This will be the first developed trail within the Refuge. Once completed, the alignment will provide a link for visitors which will take them from the Pacific Ocean to Becharof Lake. The Becharof National Wildlife Refuge was awarded $21,568 for this project

KENAI PENINSULA

Peninsula Sled Dog Racing Association Trail Grooming: Project funds will be used to groom and maintain 30 miles of existing year round trails for multi-purpose, non-motorized use. In the winter the trails will be used for dogmushing, skijoring, snowshoeing and x-country skiing. During the summer the trails will be used for hiking and horseback riding. The Peninsula Sled Dog Racing Association was awarded $12,408 for this project.

SOUTHCENTRAL ALASKA

Archangel Road Trail Brushing: Project funds will be used to reconstruct approximately 800 feet of motorized trail destroyed by stream erosion. The Mat-Su Trails Council was awarded $4,566 for this project.

Archangel Snowmobile Trail: Project funds will be used to develop a snowmobile trail that will run parallel to the east side of the Archangel Road Ski Trail. The new snowmobile route will be 2.4 miles in length and begin at Fishhook Road and connect to the multiple use ski/snowmobile trail beyond the Reed Lakes trailhead. The new trail alignment will alleviate congestion in the popular Hatcher Pass State Management Area and mitigate snowmobile and skier conflicts. The Alaska State Parks, Mat-Su Area Office was awarded $50,000 for this project.

Nancy Lake State Recreation Area Snowmobile Trail Corridor: Grant funds will be used to build a trail near the south side of Nancy Lake Parkway from the park boundary to the winter trailhead at mile 2.2 of the Parkway entrance. Construction of the trail will require brush and tree removal and a small amount of trail grading. The trail will be groomed regularly by Alaska State Parks staff. The Alaska State Parks, Mat-Su Area Office was awarded $43,765 for this project.

Napaimute Trail Marking Project: The Napaimute Trail Project will use wooden markers with reflective tape to mark a winter trail from crooked creek to Kalskag, linking the Middle and Lower Kuskokwim Trail Systems. The markers will aid in day and night navigation for recreational purposes as well as for public transportation. The Napaimute Native Corporation was awarded $49,811 for this project.

Cambell Creek Estuary Trail: Funding will be used to construct a one (1) mile ADA compliant gravel trail on the upland portion of the newly acquired Municipality of Anchorage, Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area. The trail system will provide access to the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge and provide stunning views from the bluff. The Alaska Great Land Trust was awarded $50,000 for this project.

Copper Center Interpretive Trail: Phase II of the Copper Center Interpretive Trail will complete work on a system of trails located on school grounds. The amount of deadfall from the initial tree clearing calls for wood removal and chipping. Woodchips will be used for the surface of the trail. Additionally, ortho-based trail maps and trail signs will be implemented into the trail system to help orientate trail users. The Copper Valley Development Association was awarded $12,000 for this project.

Girdwood Nordic Ski Trails: In 2010 the Girdwood Nordic Ski Club developed a 5 kilometer trail system in Girdwood Valley for year-round use. A portion of that project was funded by the Recreational Trails Grant Program. The second phase of construction will begin in the summer of 2011 to smooth trail grades, compact tread and re-vegetate the corridor. The Girdwood Nordic Ski Club was awarded $50,000 for this project.

Chugach State Park Trail Crew Equipment: Funds for this project will be used to purchase equipment for the Chugach State Park Trails Program. This equipment will allow park staff to outfit the third of three 2011 field crews with necessary trail construction/rehabilitation tools. It will also allow staff to maintain and rebuild the Chugach State Park trail system to sustainable standards. Chugach State Park was awarded $42,331 for equipment purchases.

Kincaid Singletrack Trail: Singletrack Advocates (STA) in partnership with Alaska Trails propose to construct a network of soft-surface, narrow trails that are sustainably built for mountain bikes and other non-motorized trail uses in Kincaid Park. The project will create linkages among existing singletrack trails to form a continuous network of approximately 9 miles. Alaska Trails, Inc. was awarded $50,000 for this project.

Mile-16 Trail: Funding for this project will be used to design and construct a 1.25 mile summer mountain bike/winter ski and snowboard access trail along the top of the 16 mile ski run within the Hatcher Pass State Management Area. Additionally, a 2.25 mile summer mountain bike trail will be designed and constructed from top to bottom of the Mile-16 ski run. The Alaska State Parks, Mat-Su Area Office was awarded $49,835 for this project.

Archangel Road Trail Brushing: Project funds will be used to brush the overgrown Archangel Road/Trail and the East/West Access Corridor. The Mat-Su Trails Council was awarded $4,623 for this project.

INTERIOR ALASKA

Stiles Creek Extension:This grant will re-align approximately 4 miles of steep dangerous trail onto a sustainable curvilinear route with 8% grades. The new alignment will be cleared and prepped for mechanical construction along with hardening the first 1/2 mile of trail from the trailhead across the valley to the hillside. The Alaska State Parks, Northern Area Office was awarded $39,830 for this project.

Tanana Lakes Non-Motorized Trail: Project funding will pay for the construction of a 3,400 foot section of non-motorized trail within the Tanana Lakes Recreation Area. The trail will follow the shoreline of Goose Island providing vistas of a shallow lake which is managed for its migratory bird habitat values. Boy Scouts will be used to brush the corridor. The Fairbanks North Star Borough was awarded $41,940 for this project.

Mastadon Trail: Project funds will be used clear 10.5 miles of trail corridor to a 6 foot width. Once cleared, grades will be re-shot and flagged with a tight flag line to include the critical edge. All work will be done in preparation for mechanical construction to harden, cap and crown sections of trail with gravel where needed. The Alaska State Parks, Northern Area Office was awarded $45,975 for this project.

SAFETY AND EDUCATION

Youth Employment in Parks (YEP) Trails Curriculum: Funds for this project will be used to develop an advanced trail-building education curriculum to address urban trail sustainability and natural resource restoration needs within the Municipality of Anchorage area. The curriculum will be specifically designed for Anchorage area youth (ages 10-19) and delivered through hands-on workshops, trail-building seminars and youth led trail safety trainings. A specific definition of "urban trails" will be created that pertains to Anchorage trails, with extensive input from Anchorage youth environmental and outdoor groups including the Youth Employment in Parks program. The Municipality of Anchorage was awarded $18,300 to develop this curriculum.
Alaska Trails Survival: Project funding will be used to provide wilderness survival games to teach important life-saving skills while travelling on Alaska’s trails. Delivered in a fun, interactive format, main topics covered in the program include hiking, wildlife and plant awareness, water crossing, shelter building, knot-tying, Leave-No-Trace ethics, wilderness medical care, and more. The North American Outdoor Institute was awarded $42,383 to provide these programs.

To obtain more information regarding the Recreational Trail Grant Program, visit the program's website at www.alaskastatetrails.org or contact Darcy Harris, the State Trails Coordinator, at darcy.harris@alaska.gov or (907)269-8699.

Snowmobile Trail Grants Awarded for 2011

(Anchorage, AK) –The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Snowmobile Trail Grant and Grooming Pool awards. The Snowmobile Trail Program is a competitive and reimbursable matching grant. Grants are available for developing and maintaining public snowmobile trails and related facilities and for safety and educational projects. The Snowmobile Trail Program’s Grooming Pool provides funding for trail grooming, marking and signage for snowmobile trails.

Grant applications were reviewed and evaluated by SnowTRAC, a statewide citizen advisory committee appointed by the Director of the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation to promote safe snowmobiling and development of facilities statewide. These grants are made possible by snowmobile registration fees paid to the State by snowmobile owners. Continuation of this grant program is dependent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature of snowmobile registration fees.

Mid-Valley Trail Maintenance Project, submitted by the Mid-Valley Trail Club. The Mid-Valley Trail Club grooms and maintains approximately 60 miles of winter trails and trailheads within the mid-valley section of the Susitna River.  The funds requested will provide the club with a four-stroke snowmobile dedicated to the grooming effort.  Mid-Valley Trail Club was awarded $11,672.   

South Fork Montana Creek Trail Safety Improvements, submitted by the Montana Creek Motor Mushers. The proposed project will fund the rental of a small dozer to correct site distance problems to improve safety on the trail. Additionally the trail we be widened along portions that have been narrowed into a tight gully due to erosion. The Montana Creek Motor Mushers were awarded $4,000.

Alaska Snowmobile Safety, submitted by the North American Outdoor Institute. Host a workshop with snowmobile stakeholders to review and comment on the safety curriculum developed from past projects and intended for use with this project. The final curriculum will be posted on the web and followed by a minimum of four live training sessions in southcentral and northwest Alaska.  Participants will be eligible to purchase a discounted snowmobile helmet.  The North American Outdoor Institute was awarded $15,000.

Grooming Pool Administrative Snowmobile, submitted by Alaska State Parks. This funding would allow the state snowmobile trails administrator access to the statewide snowmobile trail system through the purchase of snowmobile. The snowmobile would be used to conduct trail site visits for a variety of purposes including to identify access issues along trail, inspect trail systems for proper maintenance, distribute trail resources such as signs, make public contact to discuss trail related issues, etc.  Alaska State Parks was awarded $8,000.

Repairs and Maintenance to Snow Cat, submitted by the Lake Louise Snowmachine Club. This funding would allow the Lake Louise Club to purchase parts needed in order to repair their Bombardier 400 Snow Cat used for grooming area trails. Lake Louise was awarded $10,920.

*Note: These are approximate funding allocations. Actual funding amounts will be distributed based on weather conditions and snowfall. To view a more detailed list of grooming allocations per area, please see the spreadsheet attached to the meeting minutes at our website.

To obtain more information regarding the Snowmobile Trail Grant Program visit the program's website at www.alaskastatetrails.org or contact Justin Wholey at (907) 269-8698 or justin.wholey@alaska.gov

Alaska Trails Initiative Project Selections – 2009/10

The following projects have been tentatively selected by the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation to be funded with FFY 2009 Alaska Trails Initiative (ATI) dollars. In total, the State of Alaska will receive 1.9 million dollars from the 2009 Omnibus Appropriation. Upon transfer of ATI funding from Congress and successful completion of NEPA evaluation, project dollars will be allocated to the listed organizations. Overall project review and approval will be conducted by the Western Federal Lands Office, which provides general compliance and program oversight. All projects have been previously funded in subsequent cycles of ATI funding. The intent of this round of funding is to complete projects or carry them to the next phase.

**These projects are in accordance with congressional intent language for the Public Lands and Highway Discretionary (PLHD) program, which states that projects must be: ’within, adjacent to, or provide access to Indian reservations and/or Federal public lands, including national parks, refuges, forests, recreation areas, and grasslands’.

PROJECTS:		ESTIMATED COST:
Juneau Nordic Trails, Juneau Nordic Ski Club		$133,180
	Funds will be used to complete the trail linking the Eaglecrest Lodge to the beginning of the Treadwell Ditch.
	Provides access and is adjacent to the Tongass National Forest.
Sitka Cross Trail, Sitka Trail Works, Inc.		$333,000
	Funds will be used to complete a one-mile segment of trail and an 80’ bridge, linking a new neighborhood subdivision with the existing multi-use pathway (the Sitka Cross Trail).
	Provides access and is adjacent to the Tongass National Forest.
World War II Causeway Trail, Sitka Trail Works, Inc.		$80,000
	Funds will be used toward the clean-up expense of the World War II Causeway trail, which includes the removal of coastal debris and hazardous structures.
	Provides access and is adjacent to Bureau of Land Management causeway lands, which connect the islands of the historical site.
Iditarod Easement Adjudication, Iditarod Trail Committe		$359,674
	Funds will be used to support two positions to complete trail easement adjudication for two years.
	Project crosses Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Chugach National Forest lands.
Perseverance Trail Enhancements, Trail Mix		$100,000
	Funds will be used to continue the widening and upgrade of the existing historic trail and pay for the construction of a 50’ bridge over Gold Creek.
	Provides access and is adjacent to the Tongass National Forest. Under Thunder Trail, Trail Mix, Inc.
Under Thunder Trail, Trail Mix Inc.		$200,000
	Funds will be used to complete the construction of trail between Jennifer Drive and the existing “Powerline Trail” leading to the U.S. Forest Service’s Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
	Provides access and is adjacent to the Tongass National Forest.
ADF&G Wildlife Trail Development, ADF&G		$112,675
	Funds will be used for signage, educational materials, and brochures for the Kenai Wildlife Viewing Trail and Alaska Coastal Wildlife Viewing Trail.
	Materials and signage will be used within the Kenai Wildlife Refuge.
Iditarod Trail, United States Forest Service		$75,000
	Funds will be used to construct 1.1 miles of trail that will connect the Winner Creek Gorge trailhead to the Girdwood Elementary School.
	Provides access to the Chugach National Forest.
Spencer Lake Trail, United States Forest Service		$100,000
	Funds will be used to complete an additional trail to a cabin site which includes the construction of 30’ bridge.
	Project is located within the Chugach National Forest
Nugget Falls Accessible Trail, United States Forest Service		$63,200
	Funds will be used to complete the final section of the Nugget Falls trail which leads hikers to a waterfall and the Mendanhall Glacier view point.
	Project is located within the Tongass National Forest.
Auke Lake Trail, University of Alaska, Southeast (UAS)		$123,982
	Funds will be used to create an interconnecting trail from the Auke Lake trailhead parking area to the UAS campus.
	Project crosses NOAA Land and provides access to the Tongass National Forest.
White Mountain Ski Trails, City of White Mountain		$31,289
	Funds will be used to improve existing ski, cross-country running, and subsistence trails that lead out of the village of White Mountain.
	Project is partially within and adjacent to the White Mountain Native Corporation lands.
Tsalteshi Trail Improvement, Tsalteshi Trail Association		$74,000
	Funds will be used to install 2.5 kilometers of trail lighting and signage; and will contribute to the purchase of maintenance equipment.
	Project is adjacent to the Kenai Wildlife Refuge.
Administrative Overhead (6%), Div. of Parks and Outdoor Rec.		$114,000
		Total = $1,900,000
Pass-through funds for the WWII Causeway Tr., Sitka Trail Works		$187,200
This funding is a final payment that comes from the Safety-Lu Transportation Bill for the WWII Causeway Project (original funding from this Bill was a line item of $850,000 for the WWII Causeway and Multi-Use Trails).
		Grand Total = $2,087,200

For more information regarding this round of Alaska Trails Initiative funding, please contact:

SnowTRAC Survey Posted

The Snowmobile Trails Advisory Council (SnowTRAC) needs your help to decide where your snowmobile registration dollars should go. Please take a moment to fill out the quick two page survey. Your responses will allow us to put grooming dollars where you, the riders, want them.

Chena River State Recreation Area Wood Cutting Controls and Permits

Because of increased energy costs throughout the interior, illegal wood cutting has become a more frequent occurrence in the Chena River State Recreation Area (CRSRA). CRSRA is the only State Recreation Area that is legislatively directed to allow any form of wood collection and removal. It is only allowed through Alaska Administrative Code, Title 11 (11 AAC 18.010 (a) (11) in the form of a Special Park Use Permit which is required for wood collection and removal within CRSRA.

The Special Park Use Permits cost $50 and are issued through the Alaska State Parks Northern Area office at the Department of Natural Resources building located at 3700 Airport Way in Fairbanks and must be obtained prior to collecting and removing any wood within the CRSRA.

The permit includes several special stipulations for firewood removal. It is important for the permit holder to read and understand these stipulations and how they apply to their operations before collecting and removing wood from the area. Failure to comply with any provision or requirement may result in a citation being issued to permit holder (or non-permit holder), possible suspension or revocation of permit, and possible payments due to the State for cleanup, repair, and/or legal costs associated with illegal wood removal.

The special stipulations include:

AUTHORIZED TREES: Only down or burnt timber may be cut and removed from recreation area lands. Only standing trees killed by fire may be felled, or removed.

CLOSURE NEAR DEVELOPED FACILITIES: No wood, timber, or other vegetation may be cut or removed from within 1/4-mile of a developed campground, trailhead,picnic area, cabin, or Twin Bears Camp, unless trees have been specifically marked by Division employees for removal.

COMMERCIAL USE PROHIBITED: This permit allows only for the personal, non-commercial use of trees for firewood. Wood gathered in the area may not be sold, bartered, or traded.

OBSTRUCTION OF ROAD: The permitted party agrees to not engage in activities which may pose a hazard to other recreational users, or obstruct vehicles on Chena Hot Springs Road or any other road or trail in the area; and further agrees to park all vehicles with hazard lights on in a safe manner and in compliance with State law.

PERMIT CORD LIMIT: The total household limit which may be gathered under this permit is five (5) cords. Multiple permits may not be issued to increase this amount.

REMOVAL OF SLASH: The permitted party agrees to clean up and properly dispose of all slash (branches, tops, and other tree debris) within 100 feet of the road surface. Slash may be hauled into the woods and left beyond this distance. Slash may not be deposited in water or left where it might enter the water.

SPARK ARRESTERS AND ENGINE MUFFLERS: A muffler and spark arrester satisfactory to the grantor must be maintained on the exhausts of all vehicles, saws and other internal combustion engines used in connection with this permit.

Alaska State Parks will continue to enforce the requirement to possess a permit for wood collection and removal, as well as the special stipulations associated with the permit. Thank you for your cooperation and support in allowing this program to continue and be successful.