News Release

Temporary Closures for Peregrine Nesting

Date: February 28, 2019
Contact: Denise Shultz

The established climbing management areas identified below are closed to all public use from March 1, 2019 to July 15, 2019 to protect peregrine falcon nesting aeries.

• Newhalem Crag East

• Newhalem Crag West (Ryan’s Wall)

Nest sites will be monitored to ensure reopening of these areas once the young falcons have fledged or if nesting did not occur on a specific wall during this period.

The peregrine falcon is a federally-protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and is a special status species in North Cascades National Park Service Complex due to its sensitivity to disturbance during the nesting season.

Sport climbing outside the four established climbing areas (Diablo Crag, Newhalem East and West, and Town Crags) within North Cascades National Park Service Complex is prohibited.

“Resource damage in non-climbing management areas, including a bolted route directly through a recently used peregrine nesting site, has caused concern,” said Park Superintendent, Karen Taylor-Goodrich. “We are seeing expanded use of sport climbing activities outside the established climbing management areas and are reviewing the effects on the natural and cultural resources in the park.”

As outlined in the Ross Lake National Recreation Area General Management Plan, sport climbing is only allowed in designated climbing management areas and park staff will review proposed new climbing management areas.  Currently, NOCA staff are reviewing a proposal to include Space Wall, east of the town of Newhalem, WA, as an established climbing management area.
 

 www.nps.gov/noca