Ross Lake National Recreation Area General Management Plan

North Cascades National Park Service Complex is pleased to announce the completion of the Ross Lake National Recreation Area General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (GMP/EIS) - a plan that articulates a vision and management philosophy for guiding decision making in Ross Lake NRA for the next 15 to 20 years. A 30 day "no action period" will begin in mid-December after the publication of a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

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Invasive, Non-native Plant Management

The Environmental Assessment (EA) for Invasive, Non-native Plant Management in North Cascades National Park Service Complex is now available for review and comment. The NPS proposes to implement an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program to control invasive, non-native plants, restore impacted areas, and detect and prevent new infestations.

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Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan

The National Park Service is proud to announce the publication of the Draft Stehekin River Corridor Implementation Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. In response to several severe flood events over the past 15 years, this draft plan outlines a specific implementation plan for managing and reacting to flooding and erosion threats within the Stehekin River floodplain and its surrounding built environment. In conjunction with this implementation plan, the Land Protection Plan has been revised to reflect the new river channel and flood conditions along the Stehekin River and new criteria for prioritizing land acquisition have been developed in response to these conditions.

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Draft North Cascades NPS Complex Foundation Statement

The draft Foundation Statement for North Cascades National Park Service Complex is now available for public review. The National Park Service relies upon a Foundation Statement to guide planning activities by identifying the park's purpose, significance, special mandates and most important resources and values. This draft Foundation Statement is based on the enabling legislation and other relevant legal mandates for North Cascades National Park, Ross Lake National Recreation Area and Lake Chelan National Recreation Area. The draft Foundation Statement reflects the National Park Service's current knowledge and understanding of the park purpose, significance, fundamental resources and values and primary interpretive themes. The Foundation Statement is intended to be updated periodically as new scientific and scholarly information is gained about the natural and cultural resources and human values of the North Cascades. This Foundation Statement is open for public comment through September 30, 2010. This review process is occurring concurrently with the Ross Lake National Recreation Area Draft GMP/EIS; however, comments on the Ross Lake NRA Draft GMP/EIS should be made separately. Public comments will be reviewed and considered, and the final Foundation Statement for North Cascades NPS Complex will be available in 2011.

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Upper Stehekin Valley Road

Record flooding of the Stehekin River in October 2003 severely damaged the Upper Stehekin Valley Road from Car Wash Falls (mile post 12.9) to Cottonwood Camp (mile post 22.8). The National Park Service in May 2005 prepared an Environmental Assessment that evaluated four management alternatives for road management. The National Park Service in summer 2006 selected Management Alternative B (the Environmentally Preferred Alternative) for implementation.

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Mountain Lakes Fishery Plan

North Cascades National Park Service Complex completed the multi-year planning and Environmental Assessment process for the Fishery Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement.

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Agreement Regarding Establishing New Rock Climbing Routes in the Skagit Gorge Area

The National Park Service and the Washington Climber's Coalition have signed an interim agreement regarding route development within Ross Lake NRA. The agreement lifts the voluntary moratorium on new climbing route development at the "Newhalem Crags" within the Skagit Gorge. The agreement outlines the terms and conditions for new climbing route development at the Newhalem Crags, and is specifically intended to provide temporary guidance to climbers regarding access and route development in the area. Long-term guidance regarding climbing and route development is currently being developed via the Ross Lake General Management Plan (GMP) process.

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