Cows no longer graze among the grasses and wildflowers at
Paradise and campers no longer drive Tin Lizzies across the
vegetation to park in front of rented tent cabins, however, Mount
Rainier’s delicate subalpine meadows still face many
challenges to their survival beyond those caused by harsh
environmental conditions.
The most serious threat comes from the concentration of people
who gather in a few, easily accessible subalpine areas. Recent
scientific studies have shown that as few as fifteen people
walking the same route through a subalpine meadow can cause
noticeable damage to soils and vegetation. The subalpine areas
are especially vulnerable during late spring and early summer
when hidden shoots of young plants are starting to grow under the
thinning snowpack. When these young plants first appear along a snowbank's retreating edge or through a thin place in the
snowpack, the plants are vulnerable to many a careless
hiker's boot and can be crushed before being seen.
The flagging, yellow or brown rope, and "Closed--Meadow
Repair" signs that hikers see when the meadows are still
partially snow-covered are all methods that resource managers use
to help define the trails and protect the meadows from crushing
footsteps. Staying on the melted trails where possible and
following flagging where trails are still snow-covered will
demonstrate your appreciation for the beauty of this park. To
enhance protection of the most vulnerable subalpine areas
(Paradise, Sunrise and Tipsoo Lake) the National Park Service
REQUIRES that people stay either on constructed trails or on
continuous snow cover while visiting those meadows. Avoid the
temptation to leave the trail to reach snow patches. If you wish
to play in snow, keep hiking until you reach a snow patch that
intersects the trail. Violators may be cited.
In 1986, Mount Rainier National Park initiated a large scale
restoration program to document and repair human-caused damage in
the Paradise meadow. Resource managers identified and prioritized
913 sites needing repair. Many of those sites around Panorama
Point, Golden Gate, Glacier Vista and First Hill have already
been repaired while restoration work continues this summer at
sites near the Pebble Creek/Skyline Trail junction and along the
Skyline Trail near Sluiskin Falls. In addition to meadow
revegation efforts underway at Paradise, work continues at
Sunrise, Tipsoo Lake and Spray Park.
Even though the National Park Service actively attempts to
protect and revegetate areas damaged by concentrated use and
off-trail trampling of fragile vegetation, our abilit
y to repair such damage is limited. YOUR cooperation
and support is needed! Your caring attitude and responsible
actions WILL make a difference! Encourage others to help protect
the meadows by wearing a "Don’t Be a Meadow
Stomper" resource awareness button. Buttons are available
for a 50-cent donation in the visitor centers at Paradise and
Sunrise.
Paradise Meadow Restoration
Description and Background
The Paradise meadows encompass approximately 1,000 ac. (389 hectares)
and extend from 5,400' to 7,400' (1,646 to 2,256 m) in elevation. The area
is easily accessible by the main park road and is a popular destination
for dayhikers and climbers. The area receives over 1.08 million visitors
annually and has been heavily used since the early 1900s.
Many of the visible impacts have resulted from activities no longer
permitted in the meadows: a tent camp (1890-1930's), horse concession (1908-1965),
golf course (1931), and ski concession (1934-1975). Horse travel resulted
in trails 2-4 m wide and up to 0.6 m deep. Tent platforms and roads from
the pre-existing tent camp are vegetated but still remain below grade and
are easily recognized by topographic or vegetation differences from adjacent
areas.
In 1986 the park initiated a large scale program to repair human-caused
impacts in the meadow. The first step of the program was to form an interdivisional
committee to write a plan for protection and restoration of the meadow.
The Paradise Meadow Plan Committee included two Visitor Protection Rangers,
an Interpretive Ranger, the Landscape Architect, the Trail Crew Foreman,
the Botanist, and a Natural Resource Specialist (all Mount Rainier National
Park employees). The plan was developed over a 3-year period. Steps in
the plan's development included field surveys of impacts, sociologic surveys
regarding noncompliance and optimal control methods, and development of
a method to rate and rank impacts for restoration. In 1994, Park Superintendent
William Briggle revised the committee by expanding its scope to include
all frontcountry meadows (Paradise, Sunrise and Tipsoo Lake). The current
committee is still interdivisional and retains a membership of field personnel
and management.
Current Meadow Restoration Program
Paradise is just one component of the Mount Rainier National Park's
parkwide restoration program. Paradise has the highest visitor use within
the park and consequently the most severe human impacts. Because of the
diversity of impacted sites at Paradise and its accessibility, it serves
as our model for all other areas. Restoration methods and techniques are
refined in Paradise and then used to improve projects in other areas.
Restoration of individual impacts involves 6 steps: scarification, stabilization,
filling, revegetation, site protection, and monitoring. Many sites have
become compacted and must be scarified to enhance root penetration and
water percolation. Impacts deeper than 3 cm require stabilization to impede
downhill movement of soil. Wood or rock silt bars are installed as subsurface
erosion control structures. Following stabilization, the site is filled
to the grade of the adjacent undisturbed area. Fill material consists of
3 components: rock, gravel, and topsoil. All topsoil is purchased from
outside the park but specifications require it to be approximately the
same soil texture, pH, and organic matter content as that of native soils.
Soil is steam sterilized to prevent importation of exotic seeds. Once the
site has been filled to grade it is revegetated. Three revegetation techniques
are used: seeding, transplanting, and natural revegetation. 
Most
sites in Paradise are seeded and planted rather than allowed to revegetate
solely by natural means. All seeds are collected as close to the impacted
site as possible to maintain the genetic integrity of the site. Transplants
are either salvaged from within the impacted site prior to filling or grown
in the park's greenhouse from seeds or plant stock collected in close proximity
to the impacted site.
In 1984, the park's greenhouse program was started in a 312 sq. ft.
greenhouse. Over the next decade, the shade houses were added and plant
production was slowly increased from a first year production of 2,700 plants
to 20,000 plants in 1994. In 1994, with the addition of a 864 sq. ft. cold
frame, production increased to 34,000 plants. Also, in 1994 we received
a private donation for a 1,800 sq.ft. greenhouse which was completed in
1996. Plant production increased to 40,000 in 1996. We are hoping to increase
plant production to 50,000 to 60,000 plants annually while expanding our
volunteer planting program.
Program Accomplishments
Since 1986, approximately 90 (of the total 913) impacts in the Paradise
meadows have been stabilized and filled to grade (71,461 sq. ft. of a total
of 516,709 sq. ft.). Additionally, 15 (6,681 sq. ft.) of the 90 have been
revegetated to the point that we feel we have completed active revegetation
(i.e. planting and seeding).
Development of a Restoration Rating Criteria for determining park-wide
restoration priorities.
Improved and expanded visitor education program on fragile, high-elevation
ecosystems and impacts of human use (visitor center displays, daily slide
program on Paradise use and restoration, installation of interpretive signs
in the meadow).
Improved resource protection programs: Don't Be A Meadow Stomper, daily
roves by park Interpretive Rangers, improved sign wording, and roping off
of sensitive areas.
Addition of rest stops and benches in the meadows.
Future Program Refinements
Improve soil mixtures
Revise seeding and planting methods with regards to species composition
and volumes
Expand our Volunteer (link to volunteer page) program
Program administered by the park Botanist, Restoration Biological Technician,
and Horticulturalist.
Sample Site
Glacier Vista Site - 01 (9,853 sq. ft.)
stabilized, filled and partially planted - 1992 continuation of planting
- 1993, 1994, 1995 total cost as of 9/95 - $54,745 total work hours - 4,010
total fill material used - 460 cu. yds. plants - 19,500 seeds - 40 cups
(1992) Highlight: Transplants have high survival rates and are in good
condition. Plants at the bottom of the impact were planted randomly in
groups of 2-3 plants. Plants at the top of the trail were planted in larger
groups of 10-20 plants. Note that there are only a few seedlings, seeding
was minimal for the site and focused on the middle section, away from maintained
trails.
(Captions for before and after pictures:)
Glacier Vista Site #1 - photo taken in 1986, prior to any restoration
activities.
Glacier Vista Site #1 - photo taken in 1995, after significant work.