PS Climbing plan HWY 20

[Billygoat]

Did anyone catch this? It's a little late but:

 

National Park Service Requests Public Input for Frontcountry Climbing Management Plan, Ross Lake National Recreation Area

 

CONTACT:

Roy Zipp

Roy_Zipp@nps.gov

Prepared November 17, 2003

 

The National Park Service would like suggestions on issues and concerns that should be addressed in a management plan for climbing in the frontcountry of Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Rock climbing is becoming increasingly popular in parts of the recreation area readily accessible by road. Park Superintendent Bill Paleck said that, “We’ll be writing a management plan and an environmental assessment to ensure the preservation of park resources while accommodating this relatively new use in acceptable ways.” Rock climbing is becoming increasingly popular in parts of the recreation area readily accessible by road. Park Superintendent Bill Paleck said that, “We’ll be writing a management plan and an environmental assessment to ensure the preservation of park resources while accommodating this relatively new use in acceptable ways.”

 

Rock climbing has grown rapidly in recent years where cliffs are close to the North Cascades Highway in Ross Lake National Recreation Area, particularly in the Skagit River gorge between Newhalem and Diablo. National Park Service management policies permit rock climbing subject to planning for the specific park and its particular resources and potential resource impacts.

 

“Right now we’re requesting public input,” Paleck said, “to identify issues and concerns regarding recreational climbing in Ross Lake National Recreation Area. These will help us develop alternatives to be evaluated in the required environmental assessment.” The park staff has compiled this preliminary list of topics to be addressed:

 

· Fixed anchors

 

· Informal paths to climbing areas

 

· Removal of vegetation from climbing routes

 

· Human waste

 

· Cultural resources

 

· Safety

 

· Development of new climbing routes

 

To proceed with writing the environmental assessment in a timely way comments regarding issues and concerns need to be received by December 5, 2003. Address them to:

 

Superintendent

 

North Cascades National Park Service Complex

 

810 State Route 20

 

Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

 

Comments may also be sent via e-mail to: NOCA_Superintendent@nps.gov

 

Or by fax: 360/856-1934

 

If you have questions, please contact Roy Mason Zipp, Natural Resources Specialist at (360) 873-4590 extension 31 or e-mail roy_zipp@nps.gov.

 

 

[mattp]

There was a thread on this in the "Access Issues" forum.