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Friends of Glacier Bay Annual Meeting 2008
The meeting was a big success and was well attended. Cherry spoke on well over a dozen issues and took questions for about a half hour. We are grateful for her sharing some time with us.
Here are the minutes. (Thanks Nate Borson!)
9/1/08 Gustavus School
About 19 people in attendance
Sean Neilson called the meeting to order and read the FOGB mission statement and statement of purpose revised and approved on last year's annual meeting after its original formulation 29 years ago.
Glacier Bay National Park superintendent Cherry Payne addressed the group.
l Staffing changes – New administrative officer Sharyl Cyphers succeeds Sheri Barry. RM Chief Craig Smith succeeds Susan Boudreau. A base funding increase is expected to fund a cultural resources specialist. Rusty Yerxa has been changed from a writer/editor to a museum specialist, including oversight of the library. Interpretive supervisor Tracy Ammerman is moving to Midway Atoll. There will also be another supervisor hired. Both maintenance foremen are moving on – John Javor has retired and Robin Leatherman is transferring. An offer has been made to fill the law enforcement ranger position vacated by Maya Seraphin. Sue Masica is the new Alaska regional director and brings a lot of experience in the system. She has already been to the park to visit.
l Environmental Achievement Award given to Glacier Bay: honorable mention in green design and sustainable building category. Recognized for excellent diversion rate in recycling program and collaboration with local community. Also energy efficiency, green purchasing. We still have a ways to go, but are very proud of our accomplishments.
l Safety program has been a focus. There has been a great reduction in lost-time accidents since a high in 2003. The maintenance division has now gone for over a year with no lost-time accidents.
l Centennial Challenge/Initiative – NPS centennial is in 2016 and there has been much discussion about what will be doing that year. There was a 10-year “Mission 66” program for the 50th anniversary designed to create infrastructure and programs to accommodate burgeoning use, including construction of Glacier Bay Lodge. A focus of this centennial is on reaching out to minority audiences and kids, addressing “nature deficit disorder.” Initiative to get “boots on ground” has already resulted in 20 new positions at Glacier Bay (17 seasonal, 3 subject to furlough) in maintenance, rangers, and interpretation. This is annual funding so there is no guarantee of continuance after the initiative is over. There is also a centennial challenge. The Glacier Bay project under this program is a Tlingit long house as envisioned in the Bartlett Cove Development Concept Plan. For the project to move forward there will need to be a private partner matching NPS funds.
l Ken Burns series on national parks – 12-part PBS series scheduled to air in September or October of 2009 talks about early days of NPS, development of the parks. They have filmed in Glacier Bay and every other national park. Theme: “national parks are evocative of the democratic ideal.” Reserves for the public, not private reserves.
l National parks second century commission National Parks and Conservation Association (NPCA) has been thinking a lot about the centennial and has established a national parks second century commission chartered to examine national parks today and chart a course for the future. Has some big names.
l State of the Park report On September 10 NPCA will release Glacier Bay state of the park report. 58 pages on situation of natural and cultural resources. Still in draft but ranks cultural resources as “fair” (66/100). Natural resources 89/100 are high end of “good.” One natural resources issue is ORV use in Dry Bay which has been addressed by a plan. Look for the report on the Glacier Bay web site.
l Library Rusty and Sharyl Cyphers have been working on a position description. FY09 budget is unknown so this is not a commitment but are hoping to fund a librarian for at least a couple of months. Rusty is also working on other funding through cultural resource projects. One project is to catalog archives.
l Native Allotments are lands where individual Hoonah Tlingit people had traditional use. Some are now inholdings, private land owned by the descendants of those people. NPS (especially Wayne Howell) working very closely with owners of allotments in Berg Bay – NPS would like to buy the allotments but issue an easement for continuation of traditional uses including a smokehouse and cabin. Two allotments in Berg Bay; one party interested in NPS proposal; not much discussion with the other yet. There is also an allotment at Point Carolus, negotiating for purchase of that one as well. Another allotment in Hugh Miller Inlet was subject of attention a few years ago but not much as been heard about that lately.
l Sealaska – bill in house calls for extraction of federal lands mostly from Tongass but also some parcels from Glacier Bay National Park to use for economic development as well as tourism and interpretive activities. Department of Interior testified in opposition to the bill. Cherry asked Sealaska what their concerns were. They responded:
Access to lands
How lands were being interpreted
Protection of the land
After Cherry worked with Sealaska on this matter, it turns out many of the concerns apply mainly to Tongass lands. Senate version of the bill now calls for cooperative management of the parcels in Glacier Bay National Park. Cherry has stated to Seaalaska there is already a suite of laws and regulations that requires traditional access, consultation, and use for HIA and other native entities as well as Sealaska. NPS position is no legislation is needed to achieve access, cooperation, and protection for sites in Glacier Bay National Park. Cherry is actively engaged with Sealaska on this matter.
· Gull egg collection traditionally took place in the park. Legislation directs NPS to conduct an EIS to study reinstating that use. Mary Beth Moss has written a draft of that EIS and it is moving forward. If there is a finding of no significant impact NPS would draft law and regulation to allow the practice under a very structured framework. Very unlikely this would happen in 2009.
l Invasive plants management plan EA has been released and is available on-line (PEPC). Decision tree sets protocols for when herbicides could be used. Under the draft several infestations in Glacier Bay could be targeted for treatment with herbicides including perennial sowthistle, reed canary grass, and dandelions. Public comment is solicited.
l Halibut is high on radar screen, will be at top of Craig Smith's agenda when he gets here. Local depletion question has not been unequivocally answered. Appears to be increased fishing effort and harvest over last few years but not declining fish size. Increase in catch rates counter to concept of local depletion. However, FOGB noted that anecdotes suggest fishing patterns have changed with people going farther and fishing deeper. Options for NPS management may be limited; may require a larger effort. This matter is under intense scrutiny by NPS however. FOGB concern over depletion in Glacier Bay revolves around increasing fishing pressure in unregulated shoulder season; would like to act before there is the same kind of local depletion in Glacier Bay that (may have) taken place in Icy Passage and Icy Strait. Proactive regulation could prevent the kind of boom and bust that has taken place in Homer.
l Outer coast patrols – Centennial seasonals did allow Glacier Bay to conduct a couple outer coast patrols this summer. Almost weekly patrols in Taylor, Dundas bays and Excursion Inlet this summer. Working on a MOU with state troopers, joint patrol with them this summer resulted in citations including a charter operation conducted in park without permit. Patrol to Lituya Bay looking for a historical plaque (not found). NPS recognizes need for more patrols on outer coast; logistics are a challenge given NPS no longer has the Nunatak or a replacement vessel of that size.
l Back country management plan – started with Denali. Huge issues over access and ANILCA put back country planning efforts region-wide on whole. Moving at a very slow pace; hope by spring to finish up purpose and need.
l Tatshenshini/Alsek Rivers Management – Dave Nemeth reports no pressure to increase either length or size limits for commercial trips. Barely half of commercial days used, a big reduction from prior years. Some commercial operators would like to increase group size from 15 to 16. There are still 12 large groups authorized, grandfathered in. Only two groups over 15 last summer. Overall river use significantly down. On Cherry's trip down river visiting 18 sites only one showed signs of significant impacts (rock rings). Other sites were obviously used but not a concern. Invasive plants: common dandelions on first two days of travel, nothing downriver.
l Commercial Services Planning – lodge contract ends 2013, need to decide future of Glacier Bay Lodge. Will start planning effort this winter for lodge and charter sport fishing services. Are these necessary and appropriate services and if so what should they look like? Lodge was full most of August but this was different from last few years. More people coming in on cruise ships.
l Cruise ship contracts 2010-2019 – Six cruise lines submitted proposals by deadline, panel will convene to evaluate.
l Southeast Alaska science symposium, Fall 2010 – EIS for VQOR directed NPS to establish science advisory board which has developed a list of studies that should be conducted. Expect results from those studies by fall, 2009. How to integrate FOGB into Fall 2010 symposium planning?
Q&A for Cherry
l Rusty – local hire freeze – ANILCA gave government “local hiring” authority to limit hiring to candidates from local area vs standard competitive hiring open to all geographic areas. Started 1980. OPM says NPS never consulted with them and has been using local hiring authority illegally and put freeze on that hiring authority. This is a huge deal for us affecting our recruitment efforts. DOI asserts NPS did meet requirements (and produced paperwork to that end) and is in “negotiations” with OPM. This affects future hires in a big way. Definitely outside scope of Cherry's authority. NPS head of personnel and DOI are on our side.
Lunch
Q&A (continued)
l Rusty: What were the social conditions on Tat/Alsek rivers on your trip? Cherry: Biggest impact was planes flying over. Didn't meet anyone until getting to Dry Bay. Saw some footprints at campsites. Rusty observes this is similar to 10 years ago.
l Bill: NPCA gave you a bum rap with “fair” rating on cultural resources. We have very limited physical cultural resources to maintain or preserve; what we do have is living culture and that is handled with a great deal of sensitivity in recent years getting Hoonah people out, identifying sites and place names and stories. Cherry: The report does celebrate these ethnographic activities. Structures, cultural landscapes, archeology suffer. Rusty: one metric is budget spent on culture which is little to nothing as there is no cultural resource manager (yet).
l Dan: New brochure has more on cultural landscapes; why haven't we seen that out yet? Cherry – we're working on it. Weren't happy with writing from West Virginia so threw it out and hired Kim Heacox to write the text. Are happy with that, now looking for photos, but the false start slowed the new brochure down.
l Judith: Cultural history is more than Tlingit. Cherry: The Tlingit history is an important story that must be told. There are other stories as well such as the one of Glacier Bay Lodge. Affects decisions such as vegetation management.
l Justin: What is relationship between park and science advisory board after present studies are completed? Cherry: Read their report and matrix of studies. Would like to continue that relationship. Have not yet engaged with that group. Consists only of federal staff because advisory board can only be federal scientists unless there is legislation. Challenge of manager is ambivalence of scientists always needing more data and never wanting to make a management recommendation. Park has a legacy of science and that needs to continue and having an advisory body is helpful to management. Cherry will task Craig Smith with defining what the science needs of the park are.
l Sean: Commercial services plan – will that address charter fishing in the bay and what will be the development process of the plan? Cherry: would ideally look at all commercial services in the park but that is huge so will focus on lodge and charter fishing. Are these necessary and appropriate? Consider legislation and NPS policy, what would happen if these were eliminated? Affects on visitor experience, community. Process will follow standard planning with scoping, development of alternatives and a draft, and another round of public comment before the final document and decision. May contract out the drafting of the plan. Need to have done by 2012 or earlier when prospectus would be issued for lodge operation.
l Lewis: What is current status of commercial mountaineering and will that be in commercial services plan? Cherry: Currently limited to 2 climbs/year and there hasn't been much demand. Currently not planning to put this in the CSP because it is not a burning issue.
l Bonnie: State of parks report says that when phasing out commercial fishing was requirement for joint fisheries management which has not been funded. Is that still happening? Cherry: is on my to-do list to visit with state about this. According to Tomie, state has bigger issues, but that was also under a different governor.
l Dan: How does Icy Strait Point development and activities factor into the commercial services plan, especially overflights and Beartrack river rafting? Cherry has not heard about this but will look into it. Overflights over Gustavus were a concern and are being offered but have not been a problem so far. However, Justin points out that there is almost always a plane in the air over Johns Hopkins Inlet. Rusty and Bonnie say number one complaint from kayakers in back country surveys was air traffic. Most came from Haines and Skagway. Bill: Denali has worked successfully with airlines on voluntary restrictions. Rusty – one year NPS traveled to Haines and Skagway to present best flight seeing practices but has not been repeated. Two companies in Skagway just do flight seeing with a focus on Glacier Bay.
Business Meeting
Board Elections
Sandy Milner has resigned. It's nice to have five members on board. Dave Sholar is under consideration. No action taken. Current members are now Sean Neilson, George Jensen, Bonnie Harris, and Dan Lesh.
May be some restrictions on NPS employees from government ethics and/or FOGB bylaws.
Financial Report
Money is finally invested, has lost some value but is long-term. This is $47,000. See more complete printed financial report.
Issues
Halibut
This is a big priority for Glacier Bay and was top concern in state of the parks report.
Board decided earlier to spend $1,000 for position paper on local depletion of halibut.
l Lewis: need to be very clear about the point you are making and need to be closely linked to the park. Gustavus dock is related but separate issue.
l Point is that local depletion is a possibility but does not need to be demonstrated to take preventive action.
l Question for paper: Given current management and what is known about halibut, what is likelihood of local depletion in Glacier Bay and if so what would be the most effective conservation actions?
Science Symposium
NPS Alaska regional science advisor has taken FOGB's original science symposium idea and used it as model for NPS-sponsored symposiums in regions within the state. This year is Denali and central Alaskan parks. Basically, idea of symposiums has been appropriated by NPS Alaska regional office which is good in that NPS has staffing and money to do the organization. What should FOGB role be? Cherry would like FOGB to be involved but NPS might want FOGB to do some of the grunt work that we don't really want to do. Maybe a poster, brochure, donation box.
Long House
Should FOGB support this project? Can ask for money even though we do not have the resources to contribute ourselves. This is a big project. FOGB could endorse it without spending a lot of time on it.
Commercial Services
This is a big deal and Sean is personally committed to it.
Bonnie suggests closing Glacier Bay Lodge might make it easier for a developer to get financing for building a lodge on an allotment.
Outer coast patrols
Last year, FOGB members expressed concern that more park presence needed for law enforcement on outer coast and Glacier Bay. NPS has stepped up their presence and enforcement.
Lewis and Hank have asked that outer coast be commercial-free zone. Exact definition? Could be guiding only, could be anything that requires a commercial use permit, including air taxi, for example.
There has also been a desire to limit wheeled plane landings in order to protect the wild nature of that coast.
Back country use limits
Actual back country use may or may not be declining. Use limit not in compendium?
Fuel cost
Whitney is concerned doubling and tripling of diesel prices will cut into other NPS operations. Need alternative energy source. Tie-in with Gustavus hydro? Some demonstration project? Use centennial initiative?
Priorities
Things the board has been working on
l Re-doing brochure
l Web site
l Dollar-a-day program
l Oystercatcher newsletter – twice/year, shorter more frequent
l Park library – want someone with library science skills to properly organize that archive.
Meeting Adjourned 13:19. |
Mission