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The National Park Service today accepted the donation of five acres
with important fish and wildlife habitat and public use opportunities
in Lake Clark National Park & Preserve.
The Priest Rock property, on the western shore of Lake Clark, contains
and adjoins prime red salmon schooling and spawning habitat at the
mouth of Priest Rock Creek, and is important brown bear habitat,
including both established bear trails on the shoreline of Lake
Clark and shallow pools that bears use for catching salmon. The
property also contains pre-historic house pits and underground storage
caches. The mouth of Priest Rock Creek provides fine sport fishing
for grayling, which is now assured to be available for continued
visitor use.
"This donation was made possible by the cooperation of Al
Woodward, who owned the property for many years, and by the Gordon
and Betty Moore Foundation. Al's love of the Priest Rock property
and his interest in seeing it permanently protected led him to sell
it to The Conservation Fund for transfer to the National Park Service.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation generously provided the funding
that allowed for purchase by TCF," said Brad Meiklejohn, Alaska
Director for The Conservation Fund.
"By this donation, this beautiful property is assured of permanent
protection as part of Lake Clark National Park and the enjoyment
by the visitors from all over the world," said NPS Alaska Regional
Director Marcia Blaszak. "We deeply appreciate Al Woodward's
intentions and the work of the partners to bring this agreement
to fruition."
The Conservation Fund has been a valuable partner with the NPS
in Alaska for more than 10 years. In the mid-1900s, TCF facilitated
the Park Service's purchase of the historic Kennecott mill and mines
in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Additional purchases
and donations through TCF have taken place in Lake Clark, Katmai,
and Kobuk Valley National Parks.
"The partnership with TCF has made possible the protection
of key, significant resources in the National Park System units
in Alaska. We are very thankful for their good work and look forward
to many more successful projects together," Blaszak said.
Lake Clark National Park and Preserve was established in 1980.
The donated property, in the southwest end of the park, is about
150 miles southwest of Anchorage.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Click below to download NPS public domain photos:
File Name: (laclland.jpg)
Left to right: Brad Meiklejohn, Alaska Conservation Fund, Marian
and Al. Woodward, and NPS Regional Director Marcia Blaszak. Blaszak
accepts the generous donation the Al Woodward property within Lake
Clark National Park and Preserve.
File Name: (lacloverview)
An aerial view of the donated property that contains and adjoins
prime red salmon spawning habitat, important brown bear habitat,
and pre-historic house pits and caches.
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Author:Jane
Tranel
Last modified on: December 12, 2003
www.nps.gov/akso
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