Date: June 1, 2007
Contact: Meg Jensen, Superintendent, 907-822-7200
In implementing a recent agreement which settled a lawsuit regarding the recreational use of off-road vehicle (ORVs) in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the park will be restricting permits for three trails.
Permits will not be issued for the Suslota Lake Trail, Copper Lake Trail past the Boomerang Lake turn off, and Tanada Lake Trail. This will remain the case until fall or early winter when park staff certifies that the ground is frozen. This condition was one of the terms of the settlement of a lawsuit filed last summer against the National Park Service by the National Parks Conservation Association; Alaska Center for the Environment; and The Wilderness Society. The lawsuit asserted the NPS had improperly managed ORV use on nine trails, all of which are in the Nabesna Road area of the park and preserve.
The following trails are still available for recreational ORV use: Caribou Creek trail, Trail Creek Trail, Lost Creek trail, Soda Lake trail, Reeve Field trail, Kotsina trail, and Nugget Creek Trail. Most recreational ORV use of these trails is in the fall and is associated with sport hunting in the preserve. The NPS issues about 200 permits per year for recreational ORV use. “The NPS is pleased that this agreement allows for continued recreational use of the six trails along the Nabesna Road while we undergo a planning process,” says Superintendent Meg Jensen.
The summer restriction only applies to recreational ORV use on three trails. Subsistence use of ORVs on all trails by local rural residents or individuals with a valid permit (under 36 CFR 13.440) is not affected. Access to inholdings along these nine trails is not restricted as well.
All trails remain open to the public, and can be used by alternative transportation methods, such as foot and horseback.
The planning effort agreed to as part of the implementation of the lawsuit settlement, will include a $1.2 million environmental impact statement and study of the nine northern trails. The project is expected to be finished in 2010.
To obtain a recreational ORV permit for an authorized trail, contact the Slana Ranger Station at: (907) 822-5238.
