http:www.nps.govglbaindex.htm

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http//www.nps.gov/glba/index.htm
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Glacier Bay National ParkA Brief Survey

• This presentation will explore the unique
  aspects of Glacier Bay National Park while
  identifying the history, attractions, visitor use
  and inherent human and biological issues of such
  a distinct world heritage and wilderness site.
• - Laura A. Mease

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Data Collection

• The following sources were used in an effort to
  present reliable and thoughtful
• Information
• 1. Doherty, J.L. and C.M. Gabriele (2004).
  Results of humpback whale population monitoring
  in Glacier Bay and adjacent waters2004. Report
  the National Park Service, Glacier Bay National
  Park and Preserve, Gustavus, AK.26 p.
• 2. Glacier Bay General Management Plan. US Dept
  of the Interior. National Parks Service. 1984,
  September.
• 3. Selected Images http//images.search.yahoo.com
  . Yahoo Search Engine. Netscape Navigator.
• 4. Selected NEPA Cases 1999-2001. National
  Parks and Conservation Association v. Babbitt,
  241 F.3d 722 (9th Cir. 2001).
• 5. The National Park Service, Glacier Bay.
  http//www.nps.gov/glba. Yahoo Search Engine.
  Netscape Navigator
• 6. The Public Broadcasting System.
  http//www.pbs.org. Yahoo Search Engine. Netscape
  Navigator
• 7. US National Parks Net Glacier Bay National
  Park. www.glacier.bay.national-park.com. Google
  Search Engine. Netscape Navigator.

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I. Introduction To The Park
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Glacier Bay Mission Statement
We will achieve, maintain and communicate Glacier
Bay National Park and Preserve's status as a
superlative Park, Biosphere Reserve and World
Heritage Site. Through effective leadership,
enhanced scientific research, information-based
preservation actions, and stakeholder
partnerships, we will manage uses to provide a
unique, inspirational visitor experience while
protecting the Park's marine, glacial and
terrestrial ecosystems. We will recognize and
perpetuate the Park's intangible values,
including those values associated with the
Tlingit homeland, wilderness, and solitude.
The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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Locating Glacier Bay
http//images.search.yahoo.com/
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Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve P.O. Box
140Gustavus, AK 99826-0140
http//www.nps.gov/glba/pphtml/maps.html
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Glacier Bay Designations
President Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir
http//images.search.yahoo.com/
The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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History of Human Use

• 1742-1780 Russian fur hunters probably access
  the outer Pacific coast.
• 1796 An English shipbuilder named Shields
  employed by Alexander Baranov gathers 1800 sea
  otter skins from Lituya Bay.
• 1799 Baranov establishes Sitka as a white
  settlement and capital of Russian America.
• 1877 Lt. Charles E.S. Wood climbs northeast
  of Mt. Fairweather. Probably the first white man
  in Glacier Bay.
• 1879 John Muir records his "discovery" of
  Glacier Bay.
• 1880 Captain Lester S. Beardslee, US Navy,
  names Glacier Bay, charting its ice-free waters
  for the first time.
• 1883 Eliza Scidmore, an early visitor,
  reports a salmon saltery, store and trading post
  at Bartlett Cove.
• 1884 Captain Carroll builds a boardwalk
  across the moraine to Muir Glacier for tourists.
  Tours to the glacier last until the 1899
  earthquake.
• 1890-1899 Sporadic placer mining takes place
  in Lituya Bay area. 1896 is the banner year.
• 1898 The Klondike Gold Rush is underway in
  Alaska and the Yukon.
• 1915 James Todd Huscroft is the only
  human to permanently inhabit the 150 mile-long
  coastline from Cape Spencer to Yakutat.
• 1924 Joe Ibach stakes two gold mining
  claims near Reid Inlet.
• 1960s Cruise ships are now entering
  Glacier Bay regularly.
• 1995 The National Park Service and
  Hoonah Tlingits establish a working relationship.
• 1998-1999 Congress passes legislation
  regarding the management of commercial fishing
  activities in Glacier Bay National Park.
• 2003 About 350,000 people visited
  Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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Management Goals and Objectives
Manage Glacier Bay National Park and its use in
such a manner as to conserve this extraordinary
segment of Alaska and its continuing natural
succession processes in a natural condition, as
a backdrop for use, understanding, and enjoyment
by the public and provide a base for scientific
inquiry into glaciology and related ecological
succession. Manage Glacier Bay National Preserve
in recognition of its values relative to the
protection of the Alsek River and regional
wildlife patterns, and properly manage ongoing
consumptive uses of resources such as fisheries
and wildlife to provide for visitor enjoyment
while preserving the basic natural ecological
purposes.
The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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Glacier Bay Staff
Park Headquarters

• Total Employees 82
• Tomie LeeSuperintendent
• Chuck YoungChief Ranger
• Susan BoudreauChief, Resource Management
• Kris NemethChief, Interpretation
• Sharon BerryChief, Administration

Tomie Lee
The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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Glacier Bay Flora

• PLANTS
• Horsetail
• Fireweed
• Blueberry
• Alder
• Willow

Horsetail
TREES Cottonwood Sitka Spruce Lodgepole Pine
Western Hemlock Mountain Hemlock
Sitka Spruce
http//images.search.yahoo.com
US National Parks Net Glacier Bay National Park
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Glacier Bay Fauna

• Alaskan Brown Bear
• Bald Eagle
• Harbor Seal
• Humpback Whale
• Sockeye Salmon
• Steller Sea Lion

Harbor Seal
Bald Eagle
http//images.search.yahoo.com
The Public Broadcasting System
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II. Visitor Attractions and Use
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Visitor Statistics
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The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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Visitor Attractions

• 65-mile-long bay with six major fjords
• 12 tidewater glaciers
• Abundant wildlife (particularly whales, sea
  otters, porpoises and coastal seabirds)
• An outer coast facing the Pacific Ocean extending
  more than 100 miles north to south
• Snow-capped Alpine mountains

http//images.search.yahoo.com
US National Parks Net Glacier Bay National Park
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Visitor Activities
http//images.search.yahoo.com/
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Backcountry Designation
Backcountry
Front country
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Backcountry Designation
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Visitor Concentration

• In and around Bartlett Cove (Visitor Center,
  Park Headquarters, campgrounds, Glacier Bay
  Lodge)
• Open beach (shoreline) areas
• Additionally, some of the more heavily used
  campsites are areas near tidewater glaciers and
  kayaker/camper drop-off locations.
• Use is further concentrated as visitors are
  mostly attracted to the upper bay to view
  glaciers.

The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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Visitor Profile

• Based on survey, backcountry users are typically
  young, well-educated and do not live in Alaska.
• They are seeking a wilderness experience and also
  the opportunity to see tidewater glaciers.
• Over 75 percent of the visitors said they had at
  least an excellent backcountry trip and only 2
  percent had a fair to poor trip.

http//images.search.yahoo.com/
Glacier Bay General Management Plan
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Seasonal Use

• Park headquarters at Bartlett Cove and the
  community of Gustavus, in the province's
  southeastern corner, are the only permanently
  settled localities. At the peak of the summer
  season, they may together have a resident and
  visitor population of perhaps 1,000 people. The
  great majority of park visits is via cruise
  ships, which do not disembark passengers on land
  in the area.
• Virtually all backcountry use occurs between May
  and September, with more than half occurring in
  July and August. There are few people who visit
  the backcountry between October and April.
• Seasonal Peak Mid May- Mid September.
• Heaviest Month July
• Visitor use is greatest during these months due
  to the mild temperature.

http//images.search.yahoo.com/
The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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III. Visitor-related Problems
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Bio- Physical Problems

• Cruising Industry Impact
• Wildlife-
• Humpback whales, endangered Steller sea lions,
  and other species of marine mammal experience
  increased disturbance as a result of increased
  vessel traffic.
• Potential effects on bird populations, including
  waterfowl, marbled murrelets, and bald eagles
• Water Quality-
• Increased risks of vessel accidents and fuel
  spills.
• Air Quality
• Air quality degradation by the increase in cruise
  ships stack emissions
• Impact concentrated on both the bay and
  shoreline.

http//images.search.yahoo.com/
Selected NEPA Cases 1999-2001
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Bio-Physical Problems, Contd.

• Backcountry Impact
• Human presence vegetation impacts, trailing
  evidence of human waste/trash and creation of
  problem bears from overexposure to native
  habitats
• Equine presence soil compaction, denudation,
  trail erosion, excrement deposition and
  introduction of exotic species from horse feed
• Aircraft presence interference of use and park
  enjoyment with adverse effect on wildlife
• Motor vehicles impact to both terrestrial and
  marine wildlife

http//images.search.yahoo.com/
Selected NEPA Cases 1999-2001
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Social Problems Crowding

• According to information gathered from
  backcountry camping permits, the level of
  backcountry use has risen 65 since 1991.
• Because some areas of the parks backcountry are
  more camper friendly then other areas, visitors
  tend to frequent the same campsites. In these
  areas, they are possibly exceeding the thresholds
  set forth by the park management plan.
• Administrative closures of certain beaches due to
  bear concerns or for wildlife protection have
  added to camper congestion on the remaining
  suitable beaches
• 83 percent of backcountry visitors have noted
  crowding in areas as a result of nearby vessels.

The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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Social Problems User Conflict and Behavior

• Prohibition of most forms of commercial or
  extractive activities have created inevitable
  conflicts with local people, both native and
  white
• Value differences can create problems between
  purist kayakers and motorized boaters
• Tension caused by aircraft noise in and around
  the park decreases the comfort level of guests
• Snow-mobile noise, speed and occasional intrusive
  behavior can irritate those on the ground nearby

http//images.search.yahoo.com/
US National Parks Net Glacier Bay National Park
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Other Relevant Issues International Pressure

• Unfortunately, increasing public and commercial
  interest, and economic development in the
  Tatshenshini-Alsek drainage has recently
  increased pressure upon this area from outside.
  The Alsek river, being a primary feed to the
  Glacier Bay area. One potential threat is the
  development of the proposed Windy-Craggy open-pit
  copper mine in British Columbia. Located 24km
  from the park, this project has the potential to
  affect water quality in the Tatshenshini/ Alsek
  River system, riparian ecosystems and fisheries,
  and migratory bird populations in Canada and the
  United States. A thorough environmental
  assessment and review is currently being
  conducted by the Canadian federal government.
• As a border state to a foreign country, Glacier
  Bay National Park most also figure into their
  plan threats from upstream sources. Policies in
  British Columbia could greatly affect
  environmental conditions in the area. Diplomacy
  must be used between both countries to ensure the
  promises of conservation.

The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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IV. Park Management Response
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Issue Protecting the Humpback Whale

• Past Problems
• Before federal designation in 1973, the
  population of the humpback whale saw great
  decline due to commercial whaling. By the end of
  the 1965 hunting season, when the International
  Whaling Commission instituted a moratorium on
  commercial hunting of humpbacks, their worldwide
  population had dwindled from more than 125,000
  before exploitation to an estimated 10,000.
• The Need for Management
• Despite having eradicated hunting from the
  Glacier Bay area, new problems ensued with
  growing public interest. Biologists overall
  concern is that disturbed whales using energy in
  reacting to cruise ships, are diverted from
  previous activity (in Glacier Bay, mainly
  feeding) and may temporarily move away from
  preferred habitat or prey patches. As soon as
  this vessel traffic presented enough of an
  increase to endanger the whales, marine
  management became a central focus of park
  administration.

http//images.search.yahoo.com/
The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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Humpback Whale, Contd.

• Park Response
• Due to the evidence of declining numbers in bay
  population, park management set out to both
  observe and track whale behavior, implementing
  new programs to decrease impact.
• Enforced Regulations
• In areas designated as "whale waters," all motor
  vessels over 18 feet in length must maintain a
  distance of at least one nautical mile from
  shore, or in narrower areas, navigate a
  mid-channel course.
• Boaters must navigate through whale waters at a
  speed of no more than 20 knots through the water,
  and the superintendent may also impose a speed
  restriction of 10 knots.
• All vessels, including kayaks, must NOT
• Operate within 1/4 Nautical mile of a humpback
  whale
• Pursue a humpback whale by altering course or
  speed in a manner that results in retaining a
  distance less than 1/2 nautical mile from the
  whale
• Maintain regular patrols in whale water May 15-
  Sept 15.

The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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Humpback Whale, Contd.

• Projects of Interest
• Photo Identification Scientists, using the
  whales back fin, or fluke, to act as a
  personal fingerprint, can track specific whale
  movement.
• Sound Research Underwater ambient noise is
  recorded in an effort to measure the degree of
  noise violation to the animal.
• Current Success and Projected Progress
• For the second year in a row, we have
  documented a record number of
• whales in Glacier Bay and in the study area as a
  whole. This increase is only
• partially attributable to a record high number
  of calves. Overall the
• humpback whale population in southeastern Alaska
  is growing. Between
• 1979 and 2000, the annual population growth rate
  in this region was
• estimated to be 8.8.

Doherty, J.L. and C.M. Gabriele (2004)
The National Park Service, Glacier Bay
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Statistical Evidence
Doherty, J.L. and C.M. Gabriele (2004)
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V. Summary and Conclusion
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Presentation Review

• Discussion Summary Information Covered
• Introduction
• Park Mission Statement
• Location of Glacier Bay National park
• Park Designation and Historical Timeline
• Management Goals and Objectives, Park Staff
• Survey of Native Flora and Fauna
• Visitor Attractions and Use
• Number of Annual Users
• Major Visitor Attractions
• Visitor Activities
• Designation of Front and Backcountry
• Major Points of Visitor Concentration
• Visitor Profile

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Presentation Review, Contd.

• Discussion Summary Information Covered
• Visitor-Related Problems
• Biophysical Problems
• Cruising Industry Impact
• Backcountry User Impact
• Social Problems
• Crowding
• User Conflict/Behavior
• Other Relevant Issues
• Park Management Responses
• Identification and History of a Park Issue
• Management Response and Projects of Interest
• Research and Results

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Research and Further Readings

• Research for this project was conducted by a
  thorough review of both federal documents and the
  National Parks System. Although most findings are
  current, some have carried over from past
  decades- generally attributed to the remote
  nature of Glacier Bay. Research continues to be a
  focal point for the park, however it is too soon
  to know the lasting effects of human presence on
  the area.
• To further explore some specifics of the park,
  the following readings are recommended
• Cruise Impact
• Out with the old - forever. (Glacier Bay Tours
  and Cruises Inc.) An article from Alaska
  Business Monthly HTML. Ron Dalby. Alaska
  Business Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN
  B00096PO06 (December 1, 1996).
• Native Tribes
• Inhabited Wilderness Indians, Eskimos, and
  National Parks in Alaska (New American West
  Series). Theodore Catton. University of New
  Mexico Press (November 1, 1997).
• Humpback Song Research
• The occurrence and significance of Humpback
  whale songs in Glacier Bay, Southeastern Alaska.
  An article from Arctic Research of the United
  States HTML. Christine Gabriele, Adam Frankel.
  U.S. National Science Foundation ISBN
  B00082QUP4 (September 22, 2002)

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Concluding Thoughts

• The inability of man to alter whether a glacier
  would advance or recede, forces the mind to
  accept a state of humility and grace. Even so,
  Glacier Bay National Park is an outstanding
  example of how a wilderness area can exist by
  freedom and diligent conservation. The diversity
  of life can be shared by both human and animal,
  offering a peaceful exchange few places can
  offer. The experience is extraordinary and the
  memories even more so.
• - Laura A. Mease

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Great things are done when men and mountains
meet. -William Blake