jonah Posted October 24, 2006 Posted October 24, 2006 The Park Service is conducting public meetings to get input about its new management plan affecting the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Currently, there is a voluntary moratorium on new climbing in the area, because of the Highway 20 washout a few years back. The Ross Lake area holds some great climbs, and has the potential to be one of the best climbing areas in Western Washington, if we are allowed to start putting up routes again. Come to the meeting Thursday, October 26 at the Mountaineers in Seattle and let the Park Service know any management plan should include continued climbing access and allowances for new routes. See the Park Service's flyer below for details. September 28, 2006 For Immediate Release Contact: Charles Beall, Acting Chief Interpreter, 360-856-5700 x.365 PARK SUPERINTENDENT REQUESTS PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT FOR FUTURE OF ROSS LAKE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA Superintendent Bill Paleck announced that the National Park Service, together with its visitors, neighbors, and partners, is beginning the process of crafting a vision for the future of Ross Lake National Recreation Area (NRA). This vision will be contained within the form of an updated General Management Plan (GMP) for Ross Lake NRA. The GMP will be a broad-based plan that articulates and charts a course of action for Ross Lake NRA?s management for the next fifteen to twenty years. Ross Lake NRA is the most accessible part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Ross Lake NRA protects 118,000 acres, is the corridor for scenic Washington State Route 20, the North Cascades Highway, and includes three reservoirs: Ross Lake, Diablo Lake, and Gorge Lake -- water gateways to more remote areas. Ringed by mountains, most of this area is designated wilderness and offers many outdoor recreation opportunities along the upper reaches of the Skagit River, and between the north and south units of North Cascades National Park. The National Park Service strives to protect Ross Lake NRA?s diverse resources and to provide today?s visitors and future generations with the opportunity to enjoy those resources. ?To succeed,? says Mr. Paleck, ?we must first have a vision for the future and then plan and act to ensure that our vision is achieved. We are reaching out for the public?s help and ideas as we develop an updated GMP for Ross Lake NRA.? In October 2006, the National Park Service is hosting seven workshops in the local North Cascades area, British Columbia, and Seattle. At these workshops, the public will learn more about the general management planning process and be encouraged to share ideas, concerns, and thoughts about Ross Lake NRA. These public workshops are the first step in a three year process to develop the updated General Management Plan, and the public?s ideas are an essential component to the planning process. Workshops are scheduled as follows: Tuesday, October 17 Concrete, Washington 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Concrete Senior Center 45821 Railroad Street Wednesday, October 18 Marblemount, Washington 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Marblemount Community Club 60099 State Route 20 Thursday, October 19 Sedro-Woolley, Washington 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. North Cascades National Park Service Complex Headquarters 810 State Route 20 Monday, October 23 Bellingham, Washington 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Bellingham Senior Center 16315 Halleck Street Tuesday, October 24 Surrey, British Columbia 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Hosted by the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission Surrey Community Services 9815 140th Street Wednesday, October 25 Chilliwack, British Columbia 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Hosted by the Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission Chilliwack Arts Council Lounge 45899 Henderson Avenue Thursday, October 26 Seattle, Washington 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Seattle Mountaineers Olympus Room 300 Third Street West The public is also encouraged to visit http://parkplanning.nps.gov/rola to learn more about the Ross Lake National Recreation Area General Management Plan, to submit comments, and to sign up for the General Management Plan mailing list. The public can also call 360-856-5700, email noca_superintendent@nps.gov, or write: Bill Paleck, Superintendent North Cascades National Park Service Complex 810 State Route 20 Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 Quote
Blake Posted October 25, 2006 Posted October 25, 2006 dang... did anyone go to any of these? What kind of climbing is there a "moratorium" on? Bolting within a certain area? Quote
marylou Posted October 25, 2006 Posted October 25, 2006 Anyone planning to show up? I've been to scoping meetings before and it's the best place to put your ideas straight into the ears of the people who will write up the different alternatives laid out in the DEIS. I will be at the Seattle meeting tomorrow fo' sho'. Quote
goatboy Posted October 30, 2006 Posted October 30, 2006 Any report available from folks who made it to these meetings? Quote
MPaul_Hansen Posted February 17, 2008 Posted February 17, 2008 (edited) RE: Ross Lake Nat. Recreation Area GMP- General Management Plan NPS just sent out a flyer on the above. The link is: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/rola NPS staff contact is: Anna_Tamura@nps.gov (206)220-4157 Apparently public comment is still being taken on at least one document. And later on an EIS or EA.? There is a Seattle meeting at the Mountaineers, Olympus Room March 5 6-8 pm 300 Third Ave. West. Meetings also scheduled for Concrete WA on Feb. 25, Sedro-Wooley on Feb. 26, Bellingham WA on March 4. Under Summary of Alternatives page 8 it states: "no action alternative - Maintain existing climbing opportunities "Alternative B [& others] - Establish Climbing Management Areas" Edited February 17, 2008 by MPaul_Hansen Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.