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. : •'.. • ' r & ': T r I; r r,•' • c i r ..- t Dl L Finding Recommendations& s contents page General Description ...... D4 Wild & Issues & Concerns ...... D6 Findings & Recommendations Scenic (General) ...... D9 Summary of Scenic Resource Values . . • • D9 Road Management Theme ...... D10 Scenic Resource Management Goals •• ... Dll Implementation: Land Ownership and Management Responsibilities ••••••D11 Road Improvements ••••••••••••• Dl 2 Land Use and Development ••••••••• D14 Turnouts and Other Roadside Facilities ...... D16 Right-of-Way Management. ••••••••• D21 Greenbelts •.••••••••••••.. D22 Material Sites ...... D23 Finding Recommendations& s (by Management Units) ..... D25

1. Cantwell ••««...... 6 .D2 2. Reindeer Hills and Pyramid Peak ...... D34 3. Nenana Rlver-Monahan Flat ••••••»••2 •D4 4. Susitna River Crossing ••••••••••4 •D5 5. Clearwater Mountains Foothills ...... D64 6. Clearwater and Osar Creeks ...... D72 7. Maclaren River to Mac la re n Pass ...••••• D80 8. Tangle Lakes •.«...... •«•••0 •D9 9. East End-Denali Road ••...... ••D96 10. Paxson Junction ...... D10• • 2• .• D3 CantwellT /.O)

ICantwell Area 2 Reindeer Hills & Pyramid Peak

General Description The Denall Highway, a 135-mile long road across through esker d morainean s s make e drivinth s g the hear f Alaskao t , link e smalth s l towf o n experience a lesson in glacial geology. Climbing Cantwell on the Parks Highway with the community to Maclaren Summit, travelers enjoy a broad pano- of e RichardsoPaxsoth n o n n Highway. Completed e riveth ram r f o adramatice valleth d yan , glaci- in 1957, it was for many years the only road con- ate dAlaske peakth f ao s Range Amphitheatee Th . r nection to Denali National Park (Mt. McKinley). Mountain e backdro e alpinth th e o ar st ep tundra In fact e roath ,d take s namit se froe mounth m - landscap Maclaret a e n Summit n additionI . , there tain's original Athabaskan name meaning "Great are outstanding views of the Range and One". Today, the Denali Highway offers an adven- even occasional glimpses of the Wrangell Moun- turous wilderness driving experience through some tains to the southeast. East of the summit, the of Alaska's most scenic and diverse landscapes. Denali Highway follows the Amphitheater Mountains From Cantwell, the road parallels the snow throug e tundrth h a landscape highlighte y viewb d s covered peakd expansivan s e glaciere th f o s of Landmark Gap, Tangle Lakes, Summit Lake, the n cleaO . r days . McKinley,Mt e ,th Alaska Range, and the rugged Wrangell Mountains. highest pea n Norti k h Americ t 20,30a 0 feets i , visible from the western end of the road. The Denale th Mos f io t Highwa a roug s yi h gravel sur- Monahan Flat area provide spectaculaa s r panorama faced road tha s impassabli t e durin wine gth - . DeboraMt . Hesd oMt fan hs wite glacierth h s ter months. Only a 20 mile long portion of the that give birth to the . road connecting Tangle Lake o Paxsot s s pavedni . The rough gravel surface keeps travel speeds low, First parallelin e Susitnth g a River e roath , d a resul ans Denale a d th t i Highwa uses i y d almost then crosses the river into the broad glaciated solel r recreatiofo y n purposes. Traffic volume e Maclareth valle f o yn River, skirtine th g is also low. The little development that exists southern flank of the Clearwater Mountains. Here is primarily related to recreation and mining. D4 the undulating topograph e roath d s a windy s There are some scattered cabins and residences, Management Units - Denali Wild & Scenic Road (West Half)

3 Nenana Rivcr- Monahan Flat

4 Susitna River Crossing

5 Clearwater Mountains nr. Foothills

D5 but they are generally concentrated in a few locations such as Cantwell, Denali, the Susitna Issues & Concerns River crossing, and Tangle Lakes. Thus, travelers have opportunitth e o experienct y a e •Powerline Intertle Route Alignment predominantly pristine wilderness environmend an t observ e diversth e e wildlife populations that The Alaska Power Authority plans to locate the inhabit it. There are a minimal, but adequate, 100-foot high Anchorage to Fairbanks powerllne numbe f commerciao r l services availabl o meet e t crossing near Cantwell. This alignment could traveler needs. These establishments are spaced make powerlinth e majoa e r visual distractios a n at convenient intervals along the length of the it crosses Reindeer Hills. The Powerline road. Intertie crossing is discussed in Management Unit 1.

7 Maclarcn River to Maclaren Pass

5 Clearwater Mountains Clearwate6 r& Foothills Osar Creeks Clearwater Mountains

D6 •Access Rout Susitno t e a Hydroelectric Project ness characte y increasinb r g traffic speed an d volume, adding industrial use, and creating a The western portion of the Denali Highway has straighter, wider alignment. been suggested as one of the alternative access o providroutet r fo se e Susitnaccesth m o t sDa a • Road Junction Information Turnouts project. If selected, the Denali would require significant realignmen d upgradinan t g froe th m Because there is little development along its Parks Highway junctio o approximatelt n y Milepost length, there is a need for travel information at 41, wher accese th e s road would turne soutth o t h the entrance Denale th o it s Highway. This infor- dam site. If implemented, this costly project mation should cover road conditions, available would detract froroad'e th m s natura d wilderlan - services, the nature and speed of the driving

Management Units - Denali Wild & Scenic Road (East Half)

Eas9 t End- \ Glacier I Denali Road _ L vr< Tangl8 e Lakes Area

10 Paxson Junction D7 experience, and available recreation opportun- occurs can significantly enhance or detract from ities. Information turnouts are discussed in the roads high scenic quality. See Denali High- Denali Highway - Findings and Recommendations and way - Findings and Recommendations (Land Use and Managemenn i . 10 t Unitd an 1 s Developmen d Greenbeltsan t d Managemen)an t Units 1-10. Roa• d Surfacing DOTP• F Proposed Road Realignments Pavin Denale th g i Highwa n importana s i y t visual resource management Issue becaus e roath ed sur- DOTPF Is planning a number of road realignments face directly Influences the quality and char- to smooth curves, avoid eroding banksd an , acter of the driving experience and the volume Improve roadway conditions. The Implications of and typ roaf o e d use. This issu s addressei e n i d these proposals Include Increased travel speed,a Findings and Recommendations for the Denali High- less visually interesting driving experience, way. increased traffic volume d additionaan , l land- scape alteration. This study addresses specific • Roadside Management realignment proposal n Findingi s d Recommenan s - dations and in Management Units 1-10. e right-of-waTh s generalli y y manage o promott d e highway visibility and convenient road mainte- Materia• l Sites nance, and the choice of management practices has a significant effect on the landscape's scenic While necessar r roafo yd maintenance, numerous quality. Existing practices on the Denali High- material sites located within fule l th vie f o w way range from very good to highly disruptive. road constitute a visual resource management pro- See Denali Highway - Findings and Recommendations blem alon Denalie th g . Thes estarn i site e kar s and all management units under Right-of-Way contrast with surrounding landform d surfacessan , Management, Greenbelts, Turnouts d Materiaan , l and detract from the areas otherwise natural Sites. scenic qualities e FindingSe .d Recommenan s - dation Managemend an s t Units 1-10. lan• d Developmend Usean t Denal• i Highway Information Flam The lack of development along the Denali is an importan s charactert It par f o t t therye e , ar e A 1976 document prepared for BLM, the Denali pressure growthr fo s . Near Cantwell, where there Highway Information Plan, studied the opportun- e privatar e landholdings e deman,th d existr fo s ities to provide interpretative information about homesites and recreational cabin sites. BLM is the natural features alon e Denalth g i Highway. also planning to open federal lands along the The 18 recommended sites were evaluated in this Denali for mining, mineral leasing and settlement study for their scenic resource values and appro- to meee government'th t s multiple-use mandate. priateness as turnouts. See Denali Highway - While some development alon e Denalth g i Is both Findings and Recommendations and Management Units D8 appropriate and desirable, how and where it 1-10. tangl• e Lakes Highway. Plans to upgrade the access road have raised concerns regardin e scenith g c impactf o s Providing opportunitie r fishingfo s , rafting, this development Managemene Se . t Uni. 4 t canoeing, camping and hiking, the upper Tangle Lakes area is a popular recreation destination. Some additional recreational developmene b y ma t appropriate here, but local topography and land- cover dictate that any new development will be located close to the road and highly visible. Findings & See Denali Highway - Findings and Recommendations and Management Uni. 8 t Recommendations • Susitna River Crossing Summar Scenif yo c Resource The Susitna River crossing is a popular recre- ation node. While facilities development would Values______help accommodate the increasing use demand, river bank development would be visible for miles and The Denali Highway has very high visual resource values due to the distinctive landscape features could detract from the drama of the river along its length and the constantly unfolding crossing. See Denali Highway Findings and Recom- views expressive of the full range and diversity mendations and Management Unit 4. of the five landscape character types» At the e roadth ,westerf o view d en ns across forested • Landmar Trailheap Ga k d e Nenanuplandth o t a s River encompase th s Talkeetna Mountains and the Alaska Range, The Landmark Gap Trail begins at mile 24.6 of the including the glaciated peaks of Mt, McKinley, rr Denali Highway materiae th e trai Th d .an l l site Mt. Deborah, Mt. Hess and Mt. Hayes. The Susitna which s staginserveit d parkins a an sg g area River dominates a broad valley landscape enclosed receive considerable off-road vehicl e whicus e h e Alaskbth y a Range, Talkeetna Mountaine th d an s has created some site disturbance and conflicts Clearwater Mountains. Expansive vistas across with other trail uses. Potential impacts on the glacial topography with associated featuref o s scenic driving experience are also cause for con- moraines, eskers, kettle lakes and pingoes are cernManagemene Se . tDenald Unian 8 ti Highwa- y bordered by mountain ranges, including the Clear- Findings and Recommendations. water, the Amphitheater and glimpses of the more distant Wrangell mountains. • Denali Townsite Road Improvement e roaTh d alignment generally conform e surth -o t s The mining community of Denali and its access rounding topography so the route provides contin- e roavisiblar d e acros e Susitnth s a River from ually changing viewd orientationan s s that approximately mile 78 to mile 85 of the Denali include the full range of landforms, waterforms D9 t r

and landcover element n eaci s h unit. While some to screen e qualitieTh . s which help create th e areas alon e Denalth g i have truly superlative scenic diversity also increase the visual sensi- L scenic qualities, the entire highway is a rich tivity, since poorlon e y designe r o sited d scenic experience. developmen n affecca t a tlarg e area o retaiT . n the truly high quality of these resources, they r The diversity of views is also due to the open- must be carefully managed. e landscapeth nes f o s . Alon e highg th mos f -o t * ' *** • " ° ' "••' ' • " '-vi ' ••*'• ••_'';., '...,-..*-.• e wayvegetatioth ,w bruslo r tundro s hi n a with v r w treefe o obscurt s e vistas n additionI . e th , Management Theme ^ fla o rollint t g glaciated valleys yield broad panoramas that reach from horizon to horizon, The Denali Highwa a rar s ei y resource e roaTh d . addin a gfeelin f immensito g e landscapeth o t y . passes through some of Southcentral Alaska's most Thus e visuath , l absorption capabilite th f o y spectacula d awe-inspirinan r g natural land- road is very low: everything is visible. Intru- scapes. Range after range of rugged mountains sions upon the landscape, such as clearing for a dominate the skyline as the road parallels some t material site or lodge development, are difficult of the state's major rivers or crosses open tun- dra that stretches undisturbed for miles. It is hom o t diverse e wildlife populations whicn ca h r ofte e observeb n d froe e almosroadth mTh . t total absenc f developmeno e t create a senss f o e remoteness and makes travel an adventure in it- self. ' ' ;, • •- -r, .- • -rp*-* ••--. .-.•..-.-'. •- • ~. L • f «V ••' -.•K-.tl-,f',i'fS$p>.. .•:,;". .-:,{..•?$ ..'i-... •'•* This is one of the road's most valuable features: it is pristine and remote but at the same time it L is accessible. Anyone can choose to take this road and experience first hand the wilds of Alaska n additionI . , traveler t thein se ow rn ca s pace and select the views they want to savor or L the activities they want to participate in: fishing, hunting, camping, etc. In this sense, the Denali Highwaa linea s i yr extensiof o n Denali National Park. e qualitieTh f wildneso s r remotenesso s , spectac- L ular expressions of Alaska's diverse landscapes, and easy accessibilit e criticaar r o ca t l y b y Open, Tolling terrain bounded snowby covered maintaining the special character of the road. mountains hallmark Denalithe the is of Highway These features exist nowhere else in the study L D10 landscapes. area r indeed,o , Alaska, witpossible th h e excep- L e Hauth tiol f o Roadn . Thus e studth , y recom- maintain the unique "wild and scenic" character mends thae Denalth t i Highwa e designateb y e th d e drivinoth f g experience. Four primary goals "Denali Wild Scenian d c Road d thae folan "th t - provide directioe generath d r specifian lfo n c lowing themes guide all resource management prac- management recommendations that follow: tices along the road:

• To retain those qualities of the road which Wild contribute to Its wild character, both as a wild environment wher e visuath e l Impac f humao t n use e roaTh d traverses rugged wilderness landscapes and development is minimal, and as an adventurous which contain few human developments and Inspire driving experience. a feeling of solitude as well as provide frequent To take appropriate actions which respond to the opportunities to view wildlife. Wildness is also particularly high scenic resource values; actions e experiencrelateth o t d d adventuran e f o e which enhance the quality of the experience and driving the road. the understanding and appreciation of the land- scape, retain desirable features d mitigatan , e the impacts of previous actions which were Insen- Scenic sitiv o thest e e scenic resources. The driving experience offers spectacular views To consider recreation as the primary use of the road corrido d encouragan r e developmenth e f o t of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, rivers, additional recreational opportunities. lakes, glacial landforms, and a colorful variety of landcovers. Scenic resource e diversear s , o develoT p road maintenance practices that pro- mote desireth e d "wil d scenican d " character. unique, and beautiful. Road Implementation: Land The Denali is not a "highway": it is not a modern thoroughfare designed for high speeds and Ownership & Management moving large volumes of people and goods. Instead, it is a transportation route where there Responsibilities______is little traffic and recreational enjoyment is a Most of the land along the Denali is publicly high priority. It is a low speed route that con- forms with the landscape contours and is more owned. Therefore, federal and state agencies appropriately called a "road." have the responsibility for maintaining the road's high sceni d recreationaan c l quality through policies, plans, and management prac- Scenic Resource tices . Management Goals The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages most of the land within the road corridor e managemenTh f scenio t c resources alone th g e viewshedanth d . Until recentlyn ,i lane us d Denali Wild Scenian d c Road" should attempo t t this ares guidewa a y BLM'b d s Southcentral Land Dll Use e PlanAlaskTh . a National Interest Lands retains its natural character. The Department Conservatio t (AN1LCAAc n ) then directed that can develop and implement standard maintenance federal lands be analyzed for potential mineral procedures that guarantee sensitivity to scenic leasing. The Secretary of the Interior then resource values in day-to-day management deci- expande e possiblth d e use o includt s e minind an g sions . settlement r thiFo sc area, calle e "Denalth d l Planning Block," BLM intend o opet l sland al n s A relatively small numbe privatf o r e landholdings outsid e scenith e c corridor studo ytw ared an a e scatterear d alon e roadth g , wite greatesth h t d wilscenian d c river corridor o t mineras l concentration near Cantwell. While o n ther e ar e leasin d minings retainini an g M BL e .optio th g n established mechanisms to apply scenic resource to develop a management plan and development management practices to private lands, landowners guidelines to protect the scenic and recreational n choosca o develot e p their a landmanne n i s r e corridovalueth f s equallo si rt i lands yt Bu . that maintain hige th sh scenic quality factn I . , important for BLM to recognize that scenic this will often be in their own best interest. resource management concerns should alse b o Private owners shoul e Informeb e dmerit th f so d applie o uset d s e miloutsidon ee width e e cor- of voluntary cooperatio e maintaininth n i n d an g ridor e landscapTh . e alon Denale g th mos s f i o t enhancin f scenio g c resource values alone th g open, predominantly flat tundr almos- a usel al ts Denali Wild Scenian d c Road. are visible for miles from the road. Sensitive d developmenan lane us d t practices should guide w thesho e activities take plac wels a es theila r location. The location and alignment of access roads serving uses outsid e corridoth e e ar r equally important concerns. In general, other than recreation related development n selectei s d Road Improvements locations, settlemen encouraget no s i t d alone th g Denali Roado The gravel road surface significantly contributes to the wild and natural character of the Denali. The Stat Alaskf o e a should also incorporate simi- Moreover, because travel is slow, there is more lar scenic resource management policie pracd san - timo appreciatt e e spectaculath e r landscape. tices in plans for state land. The Department of Unfortunately, the road bed Is poorly maintained; Natural Resources manages some parcels at the roat holepo d s also captur e driver'th e s atten- e roadth easter .f o d nen tion. In fact, many people avoid driving the Denali Road due to the noisy. Bumpy, and dusty A s0 foo manage30 t a right-of-waf o r d numeran y - ride and the unpredictable road conditions. ous material sites, the State DOTPF will directly Paving additional sections of the Denali Wild and effec e e drivinqualitth th t f o gy experience. Scenic Road to increase the driving comfort was How they handle the need to provide roadway visi- considered during this study. Some implications bility, clearing, and road maintenance and of both paved and gravel road surfaces are out- D12 grading will determine whether or not the Denali lined below: A Gravel Surface:

• Leads to slower travel speeds,

• Provides more opportunities to appreciate the landscap d observan e e wildlife,

• Offers a more wild and rugged driving adventure, Is less expensive to maintain, but requires more

regular attention, and

• Discourages some use because of the long, rough and dusty drive.

A Paved Surface:

• Provides a smoother, quieter and more comfortable - • drive• Encourages additional use, but at faster travel '

speeds, D.O.T.P.F. proposed realignments would straighten winding portions road,the one of the such as • Detracts from the wild and adventurous driving shown here, eliminating changes in point of experienced an , view and decreasing the sense of anticipation for .I • Costn s mor construco t e maintaind an t . light of thesthee viewconsiderations around the, nexta compromis bend. e solutio s offeredi n e DenalTh . i shoul e paveb d d leaving curve d gradesan s intact e paveTh .d road from Cantwell to the Susitna River crossing. should be designed for a a 35 mile per hour Paving this portion of the road would provide , travel speed with this speed limit posted. easy driving access to some of the most scenic Also, the width of the pavement should be narrow and recreational landscapes on the west half of (18-20 feet n ordei ) o minimizt r e visuath e l the roawould an d d shorte unpavede th n , slow por- impact of the road and discourage fast driving tion of the drive. It would continue to deter speeds. the Denali from becoming a fast thoroughfare and avoi e mosth dt f pavino difficul e on g t road seg- The gravel surface should be retained on the ments. remainder of the Denali Wild and Scenic Road - froSusitne th m a River crossin Tanglo t g e Lake- s Paving practices should be governed by strict to protec e wild remotth an td e driving adven- standards. To maintain the wild character of the ture. Frost-heaving would pose major maintenance road, the existing alignments should be followed, problem a pave r dfo s road across this arean I . D13 addition, paving here would encourage high-speed Developmen n publio t c lands, including recre- through traffic and thus diminish the entire ational facilities, shoul e locateb d n areai d s road's wild quality e graveTh . l road should, with screening potential. Land disposald an s however e gradeb , d maintainean d d more regularly permanent development should occur outside green- ano highet d r standards o creatt , a smoothere , belt n areai s t visiblsno thae ar et froe th m safer, and quieter drive. Turnout entrances and road. Major developments visible froe roath md turnouts should be graded even with the roadbed should comply with the adjacent greenbelt regu- for safe and easy access. Currently gravel lation d responlandscape an sth o t d e characten i r ridges created because graders ignore turnout site locatio d desigan n n developmend an t entrances make many of them difficult or imposs- construction. ible to use.

e DOTPTh F propose o realigt s n portione th f o s BLM is discouraged from opening the Denali Block Denali Wild Scenian d c Road. Mos f theso t e lan settlemento t d . They should alst scenise o c realignment e designear s o straightet d n curves. resource management guidelines for mining and A few call for major changes to relocate the road activities related to mineral leasing if within on a better foundation so it will be easier to the road viewshed. Special guidelines should be maintain. This study recommends that existing develope e locationth r fo d , clearing d alignan , - realignment e retaineb s d where possibl o prot e - ment of access roads from the Denali Road to tect panoramic views, frequent change n poini s t these sites. oe foveral th view d lan , recreational driving experience. Because of the unique qualities of the Denali Wild and Scenic Road, private landowners should Development___Lan& e dUs _ be made aware of how they can maintain the scenic resource value n theio s r land. This information e distinctivth f o e On e qualitie e Denalth f io s cae conveyeb n a shor n i dt manual . "Desigie : n Wild and Scenic Road is its undeveloped char- and Land Management on the Denali" prepared for acter. The few commercial establishments that distribution by the Cooperative Extension Ser- presently exist, however, are adequate in number vice, alternativelyOr . , presentation t coma s - and locatio o meee t travelersn th t ' needsn I . munity workshops or a statewide television spe- general, new development along the road should be cial could be used. Gaining the support and discouraged, with two exceptions. First, addi- involvemen f privato t e landowner d residentan s s tional recreational development is appropriate in along the Denali is critical. Although the over- selected locations where use presently exists and all landholdings are small, they are concentrated the visual impacts will be low. Second, com- in strategic locations. mercial and residential expansion can occur, but should take place near existing development at J Cantwell, the Susitna River crossing, Maclaren Private owners are encouraged to adopt the fol- D14 River, Tangle Lakes Paxsonr ,o . lowing development practices: * Select development locations e thaclosar o tt e facilite Cantwelth y b yl Village Corporation. existing communities See Management Unit 2. * Select sites s pracwhic a e se r tar h- fa bac s a k tical froe roath md edge, preferably outside th e Susitna River Crossing; The crossing is a high greenbelt e recreatious n node wher w facilitiefe e w no s * Retai s muca n h natural vegetatio s possibla n e exist except a small boat launch. Better launch within the greenbelt. facilities, a campground and a picnic area would be welcome additions; however, they shoule b d * Utilize topograph d vegetatioan y o screet n n carefully site d designean d o minimizt d e impacts development from road traffic and dust e rive oth e ndramati th r n edg o s wela ces a l * Limit the number and visibility of access roads visual experienc f crossino e g this major land- scape feature. The various facilities could be disperse o decreast d e developmenth e t scald an e create a more intimate recreation experience. See Management Unit 4. Recreation Development Maclaren e MaclareRiveTh r£ n River a Lodg s i e Today, recreation-fishing, hunting, camping, jumping off point for hunting and fishing trips boating, hiking—i Denale th primare f io sth e us y up the river. Nestled in hummocky glacial Road, and it is likely that it will continue to topography, it is a prime location for a recre- be the popular and predominant use well into the ation facility, and there is room for additional foreseeable future„ Presently, public facilities development for picnicking and possibly camping. are inadequate to meet recreation needs during See Management Unit 7. the peak summer season. Tangle Lakes Area: Probabl e mosth yt popular Four areas have been identifie r theifo d r poten- area along the Denali, Tangle Lakes offers camp- tial to provide additional public recreation ing, fishing, boating, hiking, and picnicking opportunities: (1) the Nenana River area near opportunities, in addition to two lodges (one is Cantwell, (2) Susitna River crossing, (3) closed) and other roadside services. The wide r Maclare n) TanglRiver(4 d e, an Lakes area. Short variete possibilitiesus f o y , area accessibility, e recreatious I. .y da ter r no m activitie d resan st and the screened location in rolling glacial areas are discussed in the Turnouts section. topography make thi a prims e locatio r addifo n - s tional recreation expansion. Day use recreation Nenana River Area; There are only limited recre- opportunities exist nearb Tenmilt a y d Octopuan e s L ation opportunities near Cantwell area'e th t s,bu lakes. Trails coul e developeb d d ther d neaan e r many lake d riversan higd an sh scenic values make Landmark Gap. This are s alsi a o suitablr fo e additional development for boat launching, camp- some scattered recreation homesites. Along with grounds d recreationaan , l homesites highly the Susitna River, Tangl ee priorit th Lake s i sy desirable. These facilities could be publicly site for recreational use and development on the developed, or developed and operated as a private Denali Road. See Management Unit 8. D15 of-way. Avoie commoth d n situation where th e entire road frontage become n a opes n gravel L parking lot.

• Encourage commercial establishments to store sup- plies insid a structuree o screet r o ,n suppld an y r storage areas from the road.

• Take advantag vegetatioe th f o e n screening poten- tial and/or local landform o screet s n development from the road.

• Site access road theo s s y confor naturao t m l con- tours and topographic features. • Locate recreational cabin d homesitean s s back e froroadth m , retaining natural vegetation betweee structureth e road th n an d f possible I . , locate them outside the greenbelt. Buildings need not be totally hidden from view. If some- r what distant from the road and well-designed, they can be visual amenities.

• Site trailhea othed an dr recreationa parkine us l g The road winds through rolling glacial topography t visiblareano o thes e s ar ey froe roadth m . near Tangle Lakes making possibleit siteto and Encourag• e commercial development welle us -o t s screen additional recreation developmentthe in designed signs for advertising. Avoid flashing area. neon or large oversized signs typical along many highways. Small signsy b painte t li n wood o d an d incandescent bulb e preferredar s .

• Locate power generators away from campgrounds and recreatio e areasus n . Buffer sounds with sound e followinTh g guidelines shoul e appliee b d th o t d absorption baffles, berras r otheo , r appropriate means. , ...... , design and development of roadside recreation f rv facilities: - - -•-• • Take advantage locath l f o microclimate n i e designing recreation facilities. Site recreation developments on warm, south facing slopes which • Locate campgrounds at least 1/8 mile away from are sheltered from winds d avoian , d exposed high ridge d opean s n river bostons. r the road and retain vegetation as a natural buf- fer. • Control creek or river access near bridges so Turnout Othes& r Roadside campsite otheand s r river recreation uses focus on only one bank. Locate them at least 300 feet from the bridge. Facilities______

• Use a single or loop access road for commercial recreation developments retaining natural vege- Prior to this study, recommendations for road D16 tation betwee e e rightth facilitth n d -an y turnouts were identified in a document prepared Denali Highway Visitor Informatio Pointn& s of Interest Evaluation from: The Denali Highway Information Plan

Mgt.Unld an t Study MgC .Unit, and Study Site Site Location Recommendation Site SiteLo cation te commendation

1. Visitor Information Cen- Unit 9 No 11. Wildlife Point of Inter- Unit 6 Not evalu- ter Site: T-2 - esWaterfowt d an l ated Shorebirds . Wrangel2 l Mountains View- Unit 8 Yes point -Views of Mt. Drum Site: 12. j Geologic Point of Inter- Unit 6 Yes . SanforMt d dan Rec-1 est - Esker Site: T-2

3. Landmark Gap Viewpoint Unit 8 Yes . Geologi13 c Poin f Intero t - Unit 4 No Site: R-6 est - Talus Slopes Site: T-4 4. Alaska Range Viewpoint Unit 7 No 14. Denali Viewpoint - His-Unit 3 Yes 5.;Maclaren River View- Unit 7 Yes torical/Landscape Inter- Site: poin include- t s nearby Site: pretation T-14 pingoes, several vege- Rest-1 tation types 15. Wildlife Point of Inter- Unit 3 Yes - Waterfow t d es an l Site: 6. Geologic Point of Inter- Unit 7 Yes- But no Caribou T-12 Pingoe— t es s Site: T-4 parking location 16.. Botanical Point of Unit 3 Yes, 7. Geologic Point of Inter- Unit 7 Yes Interest - Effects of Site: slightly t —es Sinkholes Site: T-3 permafrost, climate, T-2 different altitude, and aspect on location S.Maclaren Glacier View- Unit 7 Not evalu- plant growth point ated l7.Nenana River Viewpoint Unit 3 Not evalu- 9. Geologic Point of Inter- Unit 7 Yes ated es - Crazt y Notch Site: T-l IS.Visitor Information Cen- Unit 2 No as ter Site: info, cen- 10. Wildlife Poin f Intero t - Not evalu- Unit 6 IT-1 s a s terye , t -Beaveres s ated viewpoint D17 by consultant BLMo e Denalt sTh . i Highway Infor- mende t bota d e Denalh th end f e io s th Road t A . mation Plan (1976) identified 18 turnouTsto" Parks Highway junction, there are two alter- interpret natural features visible along the natives. One is a series of three separate road, emphasizing geologic features. The DOTPF information turnouts, accommodating travelers also identified potential turnouts as part of a arriving from the north, south, and east, respec- recent highway improvement proposal« Mosf o t tively,, The second option consists of a single these sites are cleared and graded areas that turnout locatee junctionth t a d . Management Unit were created during road construction which DOTPF 1 discusses these proposal n mori s e detail. now plans to retain and enhance. The BLM and DOTPF sites were evaluated along with existing At the junction, a single turnouts and other potential sites identified turnout is recommended on the east side of the during field work. Recommendation eacr fo sh site crossing. This turnou s locatei t d are discussed in detail in each management unit. close to the junction so signs will direct Factors taken into consideration when evaluating travelers arriving frol directional m. it o t s the existing,, proposed and potential turnouts Information related to this turnout may be found include s in Management Uni. 10 t

• Safe entrexid tan y Best Areas • Adequate size to accommodate anticipated use The four rest areas recommended on the Denali • View potential sitfroe eth m Wild Scenian d c a systeRoae par f ar do f t o m « Suitable site conditions for cost effective roadway rest areas that encompasse e Parkth s s development and maintenance Highway and the other segments of this study cor- • Potentia interpretivr fo l e opportunities ridor (the Central Richardson Highway and the Edgerton and McCarthy roads). One rest area is • Visual impacts of site development recommende n eaci d h landscape character type, those large areas which have similar geologic, This study recommends three general types of geomorphic d ecologian , c characteristicse Th . turnouts: Roadway Information Turnouts located Denali Road crosses five character types: Broad near highway junctions, Rest Areas d Generaan „ l Pass Depression, Upper Nenana River, Upper TurnoutSo Susitna River, Clearwater-Amphitheater Mountains, e Gulkananth d a Uplands. Site specific infor- mation is contained in the appropriate management Roadway Information Turnouts units.

Roadway Information Turnouts respond to General Turnouts travelers' needs for information on road condi- tions, emergency services, commercial services, General Turnouts respon a multiplicit o t d f o y recreational opportunities d othean , r special travele e roarar d needs e wideningTh . s which D18 road features. Information turnouts are recom- provid eplaca o leavt e e traffi a variet r fo cf o y Rest Area/Interpretive Sites Landscape Mgt. Location Character Type Unit Description

Site is used for gravel extraction and would need Assessment Unit D-19: Upper Nenana River considerable reclamation n .excellena s i It t East of Canyon Creek viewpoint with a nearby lake that provides a good expression of the forested landscape dominated by near and distant mountains.

Located a a former material site close to the Assessment Unit D-26: Upper Susitna River Susitna River crossing e developeb e sitn th ,ca e d Eas f o Susitnt a River e resus t y area/interpretivda a s a e centers a , crossing well as a campground. Construct a boardwalk to the northeas e triverfooa th ban d tf ,o kan trai l e soutth hn p eskea poina u sid o f t ro te with e Alaskth view f ao s Range, Susitna Riverd an , Talkeetna Mountains. This viewpoint should also Include a small roadside parking area and an Interpretive sign.

Site is now a large turnout with a litter bar- Assessment Unit D-56: Clearwater/Amphitheater t offerI rel . a spectaculas r panoram f thoso a e East of Maclaren Summit Mountains elements characteristic of this landscape: the expansive Maclaren River Valley, snow-capped e Alaskpeakth f ao s Rang d Clearwatean e r Moun- tains, and associated glaciers. This site was identified both in the BLM Denali Highway Infor- mation Plan and by DOTPF. A short hiking tail to view small lakes and pingoes could be developed.

In addition to the rest area recommendation, the Assessment Unit D-l: Broad Pass Depression site was Identified for a turnout by DOTPF and a Near Cantwell visitor cente e rDenal th sit n i e Highway Infor- mation Plan. Mt. McKinley is visible from here along with development around Drashner Lake and Cantwell. Because of the openness of the land- scape, sensitive site design is required and a 300 foot greenbelt should be established around the perimete e siteth A traif .o r l lin o Jact k k River could be developed from the rest area.

D19 purposes: photography, wildlife observation, used for roadside target practice, and soon look exercise, eating, turning around, etc. Portions derelict n additionI . , e thee placeth ar y n i d e Denalth of i Road currently hav n adequata e e center of the turnout, becoming an unattractive numbe f turnouto r o comfortablt s y meet travelers' centerpiece for an otherwise panoramic view. needs while other portions need more safely These problems are more acute when the litter accessible and appropriately sited turnouts. e onlbarreth y s r milei lsig fo f humao nse us n Turnout recommendations found in each management along the road. unit fall into the following general classes: Better litter barrel desig d sitinan n g will help • Existin proposed an g d turnouts which mighe b t maintain the scenic quality of the Denali Wild suitable for interpretive information. Of the 18 and Scenic Road. The following design guidelines information turnouts propose e B1th M y Denalb d i a re re comme nded: Highway Information Plan, ten of these were determine e suitablb o t r ddevelopmen fo e s a t small, interpretive turnouts (Three sites were • Design and use a more attractive litter barrel not evaluated in the study.) that incorporates or blends with natural • Scenic turnouts with distinctive panoramic views. material d colorsan s . Wher• e drum stile usen ar si l , paint them brown, • Turnouts in areas presently lacking adequate green, alternatrustn a r ,o e color that blendn i s turnout opportunities and where development costs wite surroundinth h g landscape. w (suc lo wouls nearla he b d y level, abandoned material sites). • In open landscapes where the vegetative cover is • Potential turnouts where proper access muse b t r non-existeno w lo viewr o topene sar , consider: provided. Buryin e tras n th leveg ca h l witd an h d Itli s • Existing turnouts where, for one reason or mark the location with a sign, or another, access should be blocked and the site Providing several lidded, shorter receptacles reclaimed. so the size is not so out of scale with the • Existing turnouts where the visual impacts of surroundings turnout desig r maintenanco n e shoul e reducedb d . • Avoid placing barrel centee s th f turnio nr - outs.

Where there is little screening potential, site Litter Barrel Siting and Design barrels at the corners of the turnout, near the road to avoid interrupting the view

Commonly provided at turnouts, litter barrels Locate the barrel close to natural landforms or encourage peopl o dispost e f traso e h properly. vegetation where they exist n ordei , o takt r e However, in many cases, the trash receptacles advantag f partiao e l screening throug juxe th h - become element f visuao s l clutter e typicaTh . l taposition of forms orang l drumoi e s sharply contrast wite coloth h r • Replace "shot-up" barrels as a part of regular e naturaoth f l surroundingsr o w n arealo I .f o s road maintenance activities, and encourage the non-existent vegetation, the three-foot high bar- State Patrol to enforce fines for those caught vandalizin e facilitiesth g . D20 rel appears out of scale. Often the barrels are Right-of-Way Management____ e curvth d leav edg e an f eoutsido th e e edge vegetated.

DOTPF's management of the 300 foot right-of-way • Where vegetation clearin s i neededg , e varth y alon e Denalth g i Road, together with road design o t avoi t deptdcu creatinhe th of a glinear , and upgrading practices, will have greatesth e t hard-edged swath alon e roadth g . influence on maintaining the road's wild and • In areas of high brush and trees, clear selec- scenic quality. Management actions designeo t d tively. Cuttin n takca ge place In phases. Some restor enhancr o e e roadside visual resource qual- trees can be cut, leaving adjacent areas e itgenerallar y y directee right-of-wath t a d y untouched for several years. and those lands immediately beyond. At the • Remove all slash from cleared areas. moment, right-of-way management along this road • Revegetate cleared road edges bruswitw r lo o hh includes gravel extractio r roafo nd maintenance, other plant o creatt s a enatura l appearing edge. roadside brush control, road gradin d edgan g e maintenance, and water drainage. Gravel extrac- tion concerns are addressed in the material sites discussion. Grading Practices

e followinTh g recommended management practices Roadside grading practices cause two common are designed for use by DOTPF field maintenance problems: (1) surface grading creates relatively crews. In addition, a landscape architect should tall ridge f looso s e gravel alon e roath gd edge, be employed to work with the maintenance super- t i disturb e ) right-of-wath (2 ansd y b y visor in developing one or two year roadside developing gravel extraction sites, turnarounds, management action plans. and equipment parking and storage areas. Roadside Brush Control Roadside ridges result when grader alonn e ru s th g In general, brush control alon e Denalth g i Road road without taking care als o gradt o e turnout is minimal and is in keeping with the wild and entrances. This careless practice restricts scenic nature of the driving experience. Future vehicle access to many turnout sites, visually actions should respond to the following consider- accentuate e roath sd edge d restrictan , s surface ations: drainage n somI .e cases, however,where vehicular access should be intentionally restricted— Encourage/allow native vegetation to grow as particularly where gravel extraction sites are r~ close to the road edge as possible so the road being reclaimed—the gravel ridges serv usefua e l I right-of-way blends wite landscapeth h . function. Gravel extraction within the right- Allow brus d othean h r scrub vegetatio o grot n w In of-way should not be permitted and equipment ditches and drainageways, so long as water flow operator se mor b nee eo t dcarefu w thee ho us y n i l is not Impeded. the right-of-wa r routinfo y e maintenance oper- n areaI s where high brus d treey blocan hma sk ations imprompta r o s u source f materialo s s along views around road bends!, clear onle Insidth y e e edge th f roao s d cuts. D21 Water Drainage The usual imaga greenbel f o ea narrow s a t , con- tinuous strip of trees is inappropriate along the Culverts and ditches are the primary methods of Denali Road. First, most roadside vegetation is roadside drainage. Their visual impacts are low growing tundra which has little potential for generally low except in a few specific screening or buffering. Second, the open, expan- instances. Ther e severaar e l locations alone th g sive views characteristi e landscapth f o c e mean road where culverts are improperly sized and that narrow management strips woul e completelb d y Iocated9 leadin o erosiot g n aroun e culverth d t inadequat o protect e t resource qualityo T . and road settling. While these areas shoule b d accommodate these special conditions, three repaired „ care should als e takeb o n when placing greenbelt categories are recommended along the new culverts to avoid creating similar problems. Denali Road:

In some areas, drainage ditches can be designed 25 to 100 foot wide greenbelts; In some areas, to blend with adjacent landforms by varying the particularlyalongthewestern-most portiof o n e ditcth slop hf o emargin d allowinan s g vege- e roadth , onl a ynarro w stri f lan o ps neede i d d tatio o grot n w inside. Culvert ende oftear s n to protect scenic resource values because the existing vegetation is dense and the topography visually prominent because of their reflective s relativeli y steep. surfaces and absence of vegetative screening. They could be painted a dark earthen color to o 100t 0 0 10 foot wide greenbelts n manI :y areas the open terrain dictates that a wider greenbelt reduce visual contrasts. is necessar r effectivfo y e scenic resource managemento Generally, this setback width will Greenbelts be adequate for most land uses and developments. Vlewshed greenbelts: Finally, a numbether e ar er of very open areas with particularly high scenic Ascenia s c resource management tool ,greenbela t resource values along the Denali Wild and Scenic ia stris f lano p d beyon e right-of-wath d y where Road. In such areas, even a 1000 foot wide additional visual resource considerations are greenbelt is inadequate because everything is visible n thesI . e locations e entirth , e viewshed t necessarilno s appliedo i touch"n t I a y" . becomes a greenbelt management area. While area, although it is most often kept in a natural developmen te prohibitedb woul t no d l proposeal , d conditio d landscapan n e alteration minimized. land uses shoul e evaluateb d d with respeco t t Developmen r landscapo t e modificatio y takma ne their visual impacts. place in a greenbelt if it follows guidelines and performance standards. For roads and highways, the most effective scenic resource management Important guideline d objectivean s s associated occurs e foregroundIth n e right-of-wath , d an y with each typ f greenbelo e e describear te th n i d the lands immediately adjacen . Greenbeltit o t t s individual management units. can complement right-of-way management practices, or alternatively, can serve as a second line of Alon Denale th g i Road, public agencies, primarily defens r inappropriatfo e e activities withie th n BLM, and private land owners will be responsible D22 right-of-way. for implementing the greenbelt recommendations. r r On public lands, agencies can officially desig- nate greenbelt d specifan s y scenic resource guideline d performancan s e standard r lane fo sus d actions n privatO . e lands outsid f borougho e r o s other local government jurisdictions, no effec- tive implementatio r controo n l measures exist. Here there are two principal implementation options. First, individual land e b owner n ca s encourage o follot d w examplen adjaceno t se s t public lands. Public agencies should make a con- certed effort to educate private landowners about greenbelts and scenic resource management—the rational r theifo e r designation, associated L management practices, and the resultant benefits to landowners and the public could be part of a more comprehensive public information/education program for scenic resource management. Second, [ private landowners with large land holdings next to the road, such as village and regional Native Material extraction immediatethe in right-of- corporations, should be encouraged to incorporate way is unsightly and detracts from the wild, the greenbelt management recommendations in their natural character road.the of Gravel pits land sales, leases, and other developments. should be sited away from the road and screened from view. r Material Sites

Perhaps the most unattractive features associated and secure permits and/or leases, administrators with driving the Denali Wild and Scenic Road are who develop and adopt policies relating to the numerous, highly visible material sites loca- material site location, and field crews who per- e right-of-wath n tei d n stari y k contrast with form routine road maintenance and develop the surrounding landforms and landcovers. However, sites. L with some planning and sensitivity to scenic resource values, these essential facilities can Management recommendations are directed to three t no e siteo b d o thee s d conveniend ar an y e us o t t situations w sitesne : , active material sites, L detract froe road'th m s scenic quality n ordeI . r and exhausted material sites. to encourage proper location and use of material sites, educational and training programs should New Sites L be directed at those in DOTPF concerned with selectin d operatingan g these sites. This must All new material sites should be located outside include planner o identifwh s y potentia w sitene l s the road right-of-way. DOTPF should work with BLM D23 e adjacenath s t landowner o identift , y appro- reflect nearby landforms and they should also be priate site d securan sy necessaran e y permits, revegetated so they blend in with surrounding The selection process should identify sites that: landcove e extenth o t r possible. Equipment storage, structures, and access roads should all be located to minimize visibility. Can be adequately screened by topography and/or vegetation Management recommendations and actions also Have reasonably convenient access e site addresth n caseI .f e o futursth se us e Are located In the opposite direction from gen- wher e visuath e l impac s higi d teffectiv an h e eral viewer orientatio d awaan ny from recreation screening impossible, recommendation y calma sl e areaus s suc s turnoutsa h , rest areas, camp- immediatele b e sitfo th o rt e y reclaimed. Other- grounds , or lodges e sitwisth ee, shoul e manageb d d for long term r roafo d e maintenanceus , materials storager o , In addition ,a syste f smalleo m r sand gravean d l continued material extraction. storag ee develope b area n ca s d betwee e prith n - mary sites where convenient access to materials Exhausted Material Sites is needed. These sites should use surrounding The numerous abandoned material sites alone th g landform helo t s p provide proper screening. Denali Wild and Scenic Road require treatment to reduce their visual impact. Possible approaches Active Material Sites include the following: Fro a visuam l management perspective, there ar e several problems associated with existing sites. • Complete reclamation. Attempt to return the site These include proximity to the road, clearing and naturas tit o l conditio e whicon r hno blends with unnatural contours that contrast with the sur- the surroundings. rounding environment d equipmen,an d structuran t e • Active reclamation for a new use, such as a turn- visibility and dominance in an otherwise natural out, rest area, or campground. landscape. • Screening with berms or vegetation to reduce There are two strategies for mitigating these adverse visual impacts. problems: 1) reduce the visual impact of the • Limiting access. Close the site to vehicular existing activity and 2) prepare for future use access and let time and nature heal the scars. e siteoth f . Sinc e eDenal th mos f o it Roas i d above treeline, it is difficult to screen existing gravel extraction sites with vegetation; Complete reclamation is extremely costly and is therefore, constructing a berm is often the only recommended onl n thosi y e situations where th e solution. This is easier at existing material impact is severe and the site detracts from the sites where heavy equipment is already avail- area's recreational and scenic values. In some D24 able. The berm shapes and contours should cases, reclamatio s recommendei n o convert d e th t site to another use, such as inexpensively created turnouts, rest areas r o viewpoints, . Screening and other visual impact reduction measures are the most common recommendations. Some possible actions include:

Establishing roadside vegetation and/or berns, eithe n thi re right-of-wa r adjaceno e y th o t t site. Directing viewer orientation away from the site. Controlling access to minimize future disturbance d allowinan e anus gd natural revegetatloo t n occur.

Becausquantite th f o emateriaf o y e l th site d an s extent of the problem, many sites were not specifically identified. The general recom- mendation for these sites is to allow natural revegetation to occur. Due to the harsh climate and poor soils, revegetatio a slo s wi n process. The following measures have been identified to aid the revegetation process:

Control access to eliminate site disturbance. e b accomplishe n Thica s y b usind g roadside gradin o creatw bert glo m a ewhic h will prevent vehicular entranc d closinan e e sit o heavth gt e y equipment storage, staging, or parking use.

Refrain froy brusan m h control withi r adjaceno n t to disturbed areas.

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