National Park Service US Department of Interior

Wilderness Stewardship Division Visitor and Resource Protection Directorate 2018 Wilderness Report Wilderness Stewardship Program 2 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT

The National Park Service will manage wilderness areas for the use and enjoyment of National Park Service Management the American people in such a manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and Policies 2006, Chapter 6: Wilderness enjoyment as wilderness. Management will include the protection of these areas, the Preservation and Management preservation of their wilderness character, and the gather and dissemination of information regarding their use and enjoyment as wilderness. The purpose of wilderness in the national parks includes the preservation of wilderness character and wilderness resources in an unimpaired condition and, in accordance with the , wilderness areas shall be devoted to the public purposes of recreational, scenice, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use.

Cover Photo: Shenandoah Wilderness, Shenandoah National Park. Photo Credit: NPS 3

Table of Contents

Message from Division Chief ...... 4

2018 NPS Wilderness Champions ...... 5

StewardShip & Science ...... 7 training & development ... 10 communication & collaboration ...... 12 Park-Based Wilderness Character Preservation of Wilderness Character Preservation Efforts Trainings Upcoming NPS WIlderness Interpretation Wilderness Character Monitoring Guidance Park-Specific Wilderness Workshops and Education Strategy Exploring the Nexus Between NEPA and US Border Patrol Wilderness Training Wilderness Resource Brief Library Minimum Requirements Analysis Collaboration with the Arthur Carhart NPS Wilderness Communication Resources Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship Self- National Wilderness Training Center Region-Specfic Wilderness Pages on Assessment Interagency Trainings InsideNPS Wilderness Stewardship Datasheet Wilderness Stewardship Certificate Program Wilderness Websites and Collaborative Updates from the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Wilderness Management Distance Education Digital Communication Efforts Research Institute Program Semi-Annual National Wilderness Update Historic Preservation in Wilderness Training (Newsletter)

2018 Training Summary Table Interagency Wilderness Explorers Activity Booklet Regional Wilderness Highlights APPENDICES National Wilderness Leadership Council A. Wilderness Stewardship Division Organizational Chart & Staff Information ...... 18 Interagency Wilderness Advisory Groups B. Designated Wilderness Summary Table ...... 19

Note: Links to all referenced documents in this report are avaliable by email ([email protected]). 4 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT

Message froM Chief of Wilderness steWardship

On behalf of the Visitor and Resource Protection Directorate and Wilderness Stewardship Division, I am pleased to share the National Park Service (NPS) Wilderness Program Report for 2018. This report serves as a comprehensive summary of key accomplishments in NPS wilderness stewardship and management during calendar year 2018. The Wilderness Stewardship Division is one of the smallest in the NPS, yet one of the most productive, thanks to the dedication of Erin Drake (Wilderness Communications and Outreach Specialist), Tim Devine (Wilderness Training Specialist) and Thomas Garcia (Administrative Assistant), so it’s quite fitting to use this forum to extend my respect and appreciation for their commitment to NPS wilderness (see page 18 for staff bios). This annual report provides a great platform to acknowledge wilderness stewards throughout the NPS who have contributed their expertise, time and energy to meet the legal mandate and/or policy requirements to preserve wilderness character. The report also demostrates wilderness accomplishments supporting the Secretarial priorities of If you know wilderness in the recreational access and active management on NPS wilderness lands. way that you know love, you would be unwilling to let it go. The members and liaisons who serve on the National Wilderness Leadership Council (NWLC) deserve special ... This is the story of our past recognition for their commitment to wilderness stewardship. In particular, I’d like to thank Adrienne Lindholm and it will be the story of our (outgoing Chair) for her service during 2018/2019 and express my appreciation to Woody Smeck (incoming Chair) future. and Jennifer Flynn (incoming Vice-Chair) for their willingness to accept leadership roles in the NWLC. The transition to Terry Tempest Williams, new leadership will occur during the NWLC annual meeting in August 2019. Author and Conservationist The Wes Henry “Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship” Awards have long represented the most prestigious level of recognition for NPS wilderness stewards and champions. It’s an honor to highlight the achievements of the 2018 award recipients in the individual, team and external partner categories on page 5. These awards will be presented in Washington, DC in August 2019, during a ceremony hosted by the National Parks Foundation.

I hope you enjoy reading this annual report and invite you to reach out if you have any wilderness stewardship-related questions or concerns that you would like to discuss. In closing this introduction, I encourage all NPS staff (and your families) to find some time to immerse yourself in wilderness, whether it be for a few hours or several days. I think you will find both tangible and intangible values that are sure to refresh the human body, mind, and spirit. Sincerely, Roger Semler 5

2018 nps Wilderness ChaMpions

NPS Director’s Wes Henry Excellence she brought the first ever wilderness training to Team Award: Fire Island in Wilderness Stewardship Award the Alaska Leadership Council (ALC). NS Breach Management Recipients In her ongoing role as Regional Wilderness Plan Team Coordinator, Adrienne has raised the level of In 2012, Hurricane Sandy The NPS Director’s Wes Henry Excellence in awareness and understanding throughout impacted a wide swath Wilderness Stewardship Awards are the NPS’s Alaska by coordinating the Backcountry and of New York and New annual recognition of outstanding contributions Wilderness Advisory Group, regularly engaging Jersey, including Fire Island National Seashore. to wilderness stewardship by an individual, a the ALC on wilderness issues, and fostering The hurricane created a breach in the barrier group/team, and non-governmental partner, interagency relationships. She has played island within the Otis Pike Fire Island High including those involving interpretation and an important role in every backcountry and Dune Wilderness, and the NPS was called education; management of natural, cultural, wilderness plan in the Alaska Region, including into action to determine how to manage it. and social resources; planning; protection; and serving as a core team member/author of the Accordingly, in 2016 the NPS prepared a draft maintenance operations. Award recipients are Denali and Lake Clark National Parks & Preserves Fire Island Wilderness Breach Management Plan nominated by fellow NPS staff and selected by plans (both GMP amendments). Adrienne and Environmental Impact Statement, which an interdisciplinary panel. The following award spearheaded the development of several evaluated three alternatives: (1) closure with recipients will be recognized during an awards compliance tools that foster open dialogue mechanical process; (2) non-action/natural ceremony in August 2019. about projects in wilderness, including the processes; and (3) no human intervention unless Minimum Requirement Analysis ‘Short Form’ criteria are exceeded. Individual Award: Adrienne as well as the development of a framework Lindholm to evaluate commercial filming requests. She Adrienne Lindholm, Wilderness engaged the regional GIS team and initiated: (1) Program Coordinator for the a 7-year project to accurately depict eligible and Alaska Region, has made designated wilderness boundaries for all Alaska outstanding contributions to wilderness parks and (2) a database of all installations in stewardship at the park, regional, and national Alaska parks. levels for almost 20 years. She has proactively Adrienne champions wilderness stewardship brought tailored wilderness trainings to and wilderness character preservation in Alaska’s staff throughout the region, including the wilderness parks and has been an integral team Fire Island Wilderness Breach. Photo credit: Dr. Charles Flagg, SUNY Stonybrook development of a new MRA training for park member on national wilderness work groups and and regional staff and an annual ANILCA course. currently serves as the Chair for the NPS National During the public review and planning process, Adrienne collaborated with the Arthur Carhart Wilderness Leadership Council. Adrienne there was both support for and opposition to National Wilderness Training Center to develop continues to go above and beyond her expected closing the breach. As time went on, and more several online wilderness courses, and in 2018, duties to enhance wilderness stewardship across science became available, concern on flooding the National Wilderness Preservation System. eased, while support for allowing the breach to 6 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT

remain open stayed steady. The third alternative convened in to form an independent Leave No became the NPS preferred alternative in the Trace organization -- establishing LNT in 1994. final EIS, released in December 2017, and This same year, In 1994, LNT entered into the first ultimately the selected alternative in the Record of a series of Memorandums of Understandings of Decision, signed in July 2018. (MOUs) with the NPS, BLM, USFS, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. NPS continues to maintain The seashore’s Breach Management Plan Team this formal relationship as one of the longest in worked over a period of six years, shepherding NPS history. the Plan through planning, public comment, compliance processes, and ultimately to a Today, LNT reaches over 15 million Americans and Record of Decision by the agency. This strong dozens of countries each year with conservation interdisciplinary team worked collaboratively initiatives, education, training, research, and to achieve the NPS mission while navigating outreach. LNT conducts important research difficult questions around ecology, wilderness that helps managers and visitors to public lands stewardship, wilderness character, naturalness, reduce their impact and support conservation and management objectives. The team engaged and preservation efforts. Corporate partners, staff engaging staff at the park, region, and individual members, foundation support, and national levels and deserve kudos for their the sales of LNT educational materials provide abilities, dedication, resourcefulness, and positive the primary support for the organization. In the impacts on park resources, including wilderness. past few years, LNT has worked closely with the NPS to cultivate a sustainable, thoughtful Non-Government Partner outdoor ethic and inspire park visitors to practice Award: Leave No Trace the seven principles of LNT. Specific programs Center for Outdoor Ethics initiated in NPS sites include the “Hot Spot” The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics program, the “Travelling Trainers” program, the “Leave No Trace in Every Park” program, and the (LNT), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has Staff from Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. made highly significant and positive effects on “Zero Landfill” program. Photo Credit: LNT preserving wilderness character throughout the In 2019, LNT is celebrating their 25th anniversary NPS and the National Wilderness Preservation of promoting and inspiring responsible outdoor System (NWPS). In 1987, a “no trace” program recreation on America’s public lands. Thanks was formed for wilderness and backcountry to the dedication and commitment of LNT travel. The US Forest Service (USFS), Bureau of and its supporters, preservation of wilderness Land Management (BLM), and NPS cooperatively character has been enhanced in wilderness areas distributed a pamphlet entitled “Leave No Trace administered by the NPS and throughout the Land Ethics.” In 1993, an Outdoor Recreation NWPS. Summit with land management agencies, NGOs and members of the outdoor industry NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT 7 Stewardship & Science

Assessment Efforts Support The Wilderness Character Baseline Assessment Wilderness Character Preservation in identifies relevant measures for monitoring to Designated Wilderness establish baseline conditions for the status of each tangible quality of wilderness character The Wilderness Character Building Blocks, as in a wilderness area. The baseline assessment outlined in the 2014 NPS Wilderness Character also sets the stage for ongoing monitoring to Integration User Guide, provide the foundation track trends in wilderness character over time. In for effectively integrating wilderness character 2018, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Congaree into planning, management, and monitoring by National Park, and Natural Bridges National breaking down the components of outstanding Monument completed baseline assessments. As The NPS Wilderness Stewardship wilderness stewardship into achievable and of 2018, a total of 27 national park units have Program is responsible for the meaningful steps. The Building Blocks establish a completed baseline assessments. shared understanding of what is most important stewardship of over 44 million acres Integrating wilderness character into about each wilderness area and articulate those of designated wilderness. management and operations includes values for inclusion in a wilderness character implementing best practices like the proactive framework. There are three Building Blocks: Using the best available science use of Minimum Requirements Analyses and to inform sound decision-making, • Wilderness Basics establishing a park interdisciplinary wilderness the NPS Wilderness Stewardship committee. • Wilderness Character Baseline Assessment Program strives to preserve • Integrate Wilderness Character into Each park containing wilderness is at a wilderness character and ensure different stage in developing wilderness-related Management and Operations the protection of the wilderness plans, monitoring programs, and operational The Wilderness Basics is a concise document guidelines. The Building Blocks approach resource for current and future summarizing fundamental information about a provides maximum flexibility for staff to begin generations. wilderness. It can provide the substance of the this work in the order that best suits park needs, first chapter of a Wilderness Stewardship Plan resulting in greater efficiency and effectiveness and be integrated into other park plans. The of wilderness stewardship. totemical component of the Wilderness Basics is the Wilderness Character Narrative, a qualitative description of what is unique and essential Work Group Progresses on Wilderness about a wilderness area, organized by qualities Character Monitoring Tools and of wilderness character. In 2018, Carlsbad Guidance Caverns National Park and Natural Bridges National Monument completed narratives. As Identified as a 2018 work group by the of 2018, a total of 47 national park units have NPS Wilderness Leadership Council, an completed narratives. interdisciplinary group of NPS staff began drafting a set of measures for wilderness 8 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT

character monitoring that are vetted by subject Management Policies 2006 and Director’s Order NPS Wilderness Stewardship matter experts and likely apply to many parks 41 and 2) describe how to integrate these Datasheet Tracks on Key Wilderness -- deemed ‘strongly encouraged measures.’ As concepts into National Environmental Policy Act Information the name implies, parks with wilderness would (NEPA) processes and documents. Developed be encouraged to use this set of measures where in response to conflicting interpretations of the In 2018, the NPS National Wilderness applicable. The set of strongly encouraged requirements for addressing wilderness actions Stewardship Datasheet continued to be measures is not required and does not preclude in NEPA documents, this guidance will be further populated and validated by the Wilderness a park from using some or all identified while refined in 2019 before finalizing. Stewardship Division in collaboration with also using park-specific measures not listed in parks and regions. This datasheet serves as the set. Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship the single comprehensive repository for critical wilderness data, including wilderness status, The work group’s efforts to describe and define Self-Assessment Tool Now Available acreages, stewardship tracking, and contacts. the measures, rooted in relevant national The Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship The datasheet is available for reference by all datasets and nationally-agreed upon parameters, Self-Assessment Tool was developed by the NPS staff when needing to provide accurate and means time saved for the park and more National Wilderness Leadership Council and up-to-date information about wilderness areas in consistency in wilderness character monitoring the Wilderness Stewardship Division to help the national park system. across the NPS. A draft of the strongly wilderness managers assess the overall status encouraged measures will be made available for of wilderness stewardship in their respective Updates and New Research from the servicewide review in 2019. park. The self-assessment tool is comprised of Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research 25 questions that reflect high priority standards Work Group Drafts Guidance for of excellence and best practices that are Institute Nexus Between NEPA and MRAs fundamental to meeting the NPS legal and policy The Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research mandate to preserve wilderness character and Institute (ALWRI) conducts diverse scientific In 2018, the National Wilderness Leadership to integrate wilderness stewardship into park projects related to biophysical, social and Council work group charged with developing planning, compliance, and operations. cultural sciences. These efforts include research guidance for completing Categorical Exclusions projects, syntheses, expert panels, inventory (CE), Environmental Assessments (EA), and These questions identify the most fundamental and monitoring programs, consultation, and Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for of wilderness stewardship actions, helping to management tools. ALWRI is an interagency NPS actions that occur within proposed, streamline and clarify what’s most important center stationed in Missoula, MT, and welcomes recommended, eligible, potential and designated for parks considering what to do next in collaboration with managers from all levels of wilderness made significant progress. The wilderness stewardship. The self-assessment the National Wilderness Preservation System upcoming guidance will: 1) clarify the Minimum results encourage wilderness managers to take (NWPS) agencies. Further information, including Requirements Analysis (MRA) and Minimum affirmative actions to improve overall wilderness science highlights, can be found at Requirement Concept as discussed in NPS stewardship while providing consistency throughout wilderness in the NPS. leopold.wilderness.net. 9

A key 2018 research project coordinated by ALWRI examined the nexus between habitat conservation within protected area lands, including NPS wilderness, and large groupings of vertebrate species. Few previous studies have analyzed the effectiveness of US protected lands in safeguarding habitat for large groupings of vertebrate species. Using newly released species habitat data and protected lands data from the US Geological Survey, these patterns were further investigated. Researchers analyzed the predicted habitat for more than 1,700 species of mammal, bird, amphibian, and reptile across the continental United States’ protected areas on federal, state, and municipal lands. Results of this analysis are synthesized into tabular summaries and raw data are loaded into the database. This database is connected to an draft interactive map, giving users the ability to explore results and ask detailed questions about specific species on specific blocks of land, such as targeted species found within a particular habitat of a NPS wilderness area. For example, a user could query the map for information specific to Olympic National Park’s Daniel J. Evans Wilderness, with results showing the area and a list of the top species of mammal, bird, amphibian and reptile occurring within the park’s wilderness. In 2019, the interactive map will be finalized and available for use. Climate change estimates will be added to the map, allowing managers to see how habitat for species will be shifting in the Bald eagles fly above the surf of the Daneil J. Evans Wilderness, Olympic National Park. future. Photo credit: NPS/Molly Travis 10 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT Training & Development

Preservation of Wilderness Character National Seashore and Black Canyon, Guadalupe Training Mountains, Joshua Tree, Kenai Fjords, Rocky Mountain, and Saguaro National Parks. The Preservation of wilderness character is the offices for the NPS Natural Resource Stewardship central mandate of the Wilderness Act. To help and Science Directorates and NPS Alaska managers interpret and successfully implement Leadership Council also received training. this mandate, two national Preservation of Wilderness Character Trainings were offered Workshop topics include a comprehensive in May and September. Staff from across the review of the Wilderness Act and NPS wilderness country attended, ranging from biotechs policy, discussion about wilderness character and and park partners to chief rangers and the Minimum Requirements Analysis concept, superintendents, with 47 people receiving the and park-specific topics of interest. Attendees Wilderness stewardship and training in 2018. appreciated the place-based focus of the training management is highly dynamic and the opportunity for an interdisciplinary The training, hosted by the Wilderness dialogue. and always evolving. In order to Stewardship Division and supported by a grant ensure that wilderness practitioners from the Mather Training Center’s Learning and Wilderness Training for US Border and interdisciplinary partners Development Program, focused on wilderness- Patrol are managing most effectively, related law and policy, wilderness character the NPS Wilderness Stewardship integration into planning and monitoring, Cooperation between the US Border Patrol minimum requirements analysis, public outreach, Program promotes opportunities for and NPS has been ongoing for many years. and more. Upon returning home, participants An example of this partnership is providing wilderness training and professional were charged with facilitating further discussion NPS wilderness training at the Public Lands development. around wilderness character preservation Liaisons Agent annual meeting. Border Patrol and integration with fellow NPS staff - of all participants in the 2018 training included agents disciplines - as well as partners and the public. from all sector and national offices. Agents As one participant commented, this training use this information to do place-based training “increased my understanding of the concept at their offices. This training has also assisted and ‘practice’ of wilderness and expanded in providing more effective Border Patrol and my awareness of potential applications and NPS collaboration during the surge of NPS law interactions.” enforcement along the southern border.

Park-Specific Workshops Grow Collaboration with the Arthur Carhart Wilderness Stewardship Awareness National Wilderness Training Center Ten park/office-specific wilderness workshops The interagency Arthur Carhart National were conducted in 2018 at Cumberland Island Wilderness Training Center (Carhart) provides 11

a variety of interagency wilderness trainings, assignments. including face-to-face classroom instruction, 2018 Training Summary online courses, blended learning opportunities, The Wilderness Management Distance Education and webinars. Tim Devine, NPS Wilderness Program (WMDEP) is offered by the University of NPS Staff Stewardship Division - Branch Chief for Training Montana in partnership with the Arthur Carhart Training Type and Development, is stationed at Carhart in National Wilderness Training Center. WMDEP Trained Missoula, MT. Online training resources are offers the only undergraduate and graduate available at carhart.wilderness.net. Certificates in Wilderness Management in the NPS Preservation of 47 country. Wilderness Character Trainings Interagency Trainings Build Wilderness Stewardship Awareness Executing an Historic Preservation Project in NPS Park-Specific Wilderness Wilderness Training 251 Each year, Carhart offers a tailored suite of Workshops online and classroom trainings to help address There is a longstanding perceived conflict NPS Historic Preservation In wilderness stewardship throughout the between cultural and wilderness laws and 12 interagency National Wilderness Preservation stewardship. To help alleviate this perception Wilderness Training System. In 2018, Carhart provided: the NPS Vanishing Treasures Program partnered Carhart Interagency National • Two regional trainings in NM and MT with the interagency Arthur Carhart National 11 Wilderness Training Center and the NPS Wilderness Leadership Training • One national leadership training in MT Wilderness Stewardship Division to develop Carhart Interagency Regional • Two webinars (wilderness and accessbility; and host “Executing an Historic Preservation Wilderness Stewardship 17 sustainable camping on the Pacific Crest Project in Wilderness.” Taught workshop-style, Trainings Trail) the course presents an overview of law and policy, illuminates the historical context for the Wilderness Blended Learning Opportunities Carhart Online Courses pertinent court cases, showcases traditional skills (users with NPS email addresses) 247 The Wilderness Stewardship Certificate often required to execute historic preservation Wilderness Management Program (WSCP) is a collaborative project projects in wilderness, and provides an 18 between the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness opportunity for robust discussions. The 2018 Distance Education Program Training Center, Eppley Institute for Parks and workshop was hosted at Bandelier National Wilderness Stewardship Public Lands at Indiana University, and the Monument. 3 Society for Wilderness Stewardship. WSCP is a Online Certificate Program professional development program that builds Data not credentials and increases capacity in individuals, Carhart Webinars available agencies, and organizations working with the National Wilderness Preservation System. Total NPS Staff Trained: 606 Certificates combine self-paced online learning with professional mentorship and field-based Total US Border Patrol Staff Trained: 25 12 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT Communication & Collaboration

Interdisciplinary Work Group Begins accessible language that emphasizes key points Work on Strategy for Wilderness for consideration, citing relevant law and NPS Interpretation and Education policy where applicable. Each brief also includes links to supplemental digital resources and Identified as a 2018 work group by the NPS contact information to learn more. The resource National Wilderness Leadership Council, a brief library continues to grow as new topics are group of seven NPS staff with expertise in identified. Briefs developed in 2018 include: The NPS Wilderness Stewardship interpretation, education, communications, and • Wilderness in the NPS Program is comprised of the wilderness began development of a national Wilderness Stewardship Division, Wilderness Interpretation and Education • NPS National Wilderness Leadership Council Regional Wilderness Coordinators, Strategy. This Strategy will give wilderness parks • Minimum Requirements Analysis a consistent starting point to communicate Park Wilderness Managers, the • Wilderness Character about NPS wilderness and develop interpretive National Wilderness Leadership and educational content for programs, websites, • Wilderness Character and Fire Council, park/program and social media, and other non-personal services. • Wilderness Recreation interagency partners. The Secretarial priority of recreational access is addressed in this Strategy. The interdisciplinary nature of The Wilderness Stewardship Division was also NPS Wilderness wilderness stewardship requires a member of the NPS National Council for Communication Resources ongoing collaboration and dialogue Interpretation, Volunteers, and Education to help with these different stakeholders. ensure this Strategy complements current and Wilderness Stewardship Resource Additionally, meaningful outreach anticipated future interpretation and education Brief Library best practices. to diverse public audiences ensures NPS.gov/wilderness (Subject Site) that wilderness remains relevant in A draft of the Strategy will be made available the 21st Century. for servicewide review in 2019 and finalized in NPS.gov/WSD (Organization Site) early 2020. This Strategy will replace the 2002 Wilderness Education and Partnership Plan. Wilderness Stewardship Intranet Site [viewable by DOI only] Wilderness Resource Brief Library Available for Servicewide Use Common Learning Portal: Wilderness Stewardship The Wilderness Stewardship Division developed a series of topic-specific resource briefs to serve National Wilderness Update: as a succinct reference for meetings, briefings, Summer-Fall 2018 and outreach. Available servicewide, these briefs address topics in wilderness stewardship through Interagency Wilderness Explorer Activity Booklet 13

NPS Wilderness Websites and Webinars Bring Current Wilderness Interagency Wilderness Explorers Servicewide Communication Information to NPS Staff Servicewide Activity Booklet Use Grow Collaboration Grows The Wilderness Stewardship Division (WSD) The Interagency Wilderness Explorers Activity The Wilderness Stewardship Division (WSD) hosted two national webinars in 2018: 1) An Booklet, similar to the NPS Junior Ranger continued content creation and maintenance introduction to the interagency Aldo Leopold series, invites participants ages eight and up of four websites in 2018: Subject and Wilderness Research Institute and 2) An review to complete a series of printed activities to Organizational sites on NPS.gov, the Wilderness of the draft Framework to Evaluate Ecological learn more about wilderness in the National Stewardship intranet site, and Wilderness Intervention Proposals in Wilderness (developed Wilderness Preservation System. With its Stewardship on the Common Learning Portal. by the NPS National Wilderness Leadership intentional design that does not require an in- Each serving a distinct need, ranging from the Council). With more than 60 NPS staff attending person visit to a wilderness park, participants can general interest in wilderness to management- these webinars, participants learned about both learn about wilderness through the activities and related inquiries and online training, this website of these topics with real-time information and linked resources, and submit the completed book portfolio offers content tailored to different opportunities to exchange questions and ideas to either a park or the Wilderness Stewardship audiences. directly with webinar panelists. Given the success Division. More than 350 people completed the with these webinars, WSD intends to offer more booklet at home in 2018, with more having WSD also partnered with the NPS Office of webinars in 2019. completed them in parks. Communications to promote wilderness during specific communication initiatives throughout 2018. Wilderness content for social media and NPS.gov was developed during National Park Week, International Day of Women and Girls in Science, NPS Natural Resources Stewardship and Science mini-campaigns, and the 54th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.

‘National Wilderness Update’ Connects Staff and Partners with Important Wilderness Information The Wilderness Stewardship Division continued to offer the semi-annual NPS Wilderness Update in 2018. This national newsletter conveys timely updates, upcoming initiatives, availability of new support resources, and training opportunities to internal and external stakeholders. The

Wilderness Update is published twice a year and Camp is set-up in the high country of the Stephen Mather Wilderness, North Cascades NP. shared with over 300 NPS staff and partners. Photo credit: NPS 14 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT regional highlightS

Six of the seven NPS regions have designated wilderness and other lands managed as wilderness. Each region’s identified Regional Wilderness Coordinator assists parks with wilderness stewardship issues and landscape- 6 7 scale coordination. 3 5 The 2018 Regional Wilderness Coordinators are: 8

• Alaska - Adrienne Lindholm • Midwest - Chris Holbeck 4 10 • Pacific West - Alan Schmierer • Northeast - Jon Meade + Mike Bilecki 11 • Intermountain - Melissa Trenchik • Southeast - Mark Kinzer

1& 2 The Alaska Leadership Council approved the use of the Alaska 9 Region Minimum Requirements Analysis Short Form as a way 1 to streamline compliance for simpler projects while encouraging interdisciplinary teams to give adequate thought to preserving wilderness character. Additionally, the Alaska Region advanced the preservation of wilderness character by developing new interactive wilderness training curriculum and bringing it to the Alaska Regional Directorate, Kenai Fjords National Park, and other park and regional teams. Denali National Park & Preserve finalized its Wilderness Character Narrative.

Wendy Artz was selected to receive the 2018 Alaska Region Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship Award for her commitment to wilderness at Katmai National Park & Preserve. Her work includes improving the park’s commercial filming permitting process, supporting wilderness research 2 activities, and voluntarily supervising the interpretive wilderness rangers as part of her program.

Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks partnered with American Rivers to inventory and protect ecological and hydrological function of historically-grazed and now-degraded mountain meadows in the parks. This effort, funded through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, aims 3 to restore wilderness character and increase resiliency to climate change by improving wetland and fen function. To date, American Rivers (in partnership with the University of California - Davis and the US Forest Service) has performed a rapid condition assessment on 50 meadows that were identified as restoration candidates by the parks’ Soil and Moisture Conservation Crew between 1948 and 1981. Wilderness-appropriate restoration techniques were crafted through a meadow pilot study. Log Meadow, an 18-acre wilderness meadow degraded by headcuts and gullies, is easily accessible and a prime location to hone hand-labor techniques to be applied in future wilderness meadows. This initiative will help accelerate many wilderness meadow restoration efforts and improve the Natural Quality of wilderness character in parks and forests across the Sierra Nevada region - comprising the source of 60% of drinking water in California.

The Intermountain Region has completed all but one Wilderness Character Building Blocks Report for the region’s parks with wilderness. These reports contain a park’s Wilderness Basics and Wilderness Character Baseline Assessment. Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Grand Canyon National Park 4 hired Wilderness Fellows to complete their Building Blocks Reports in 2018, and work continues at several wilderness parks to complete five-year wilderness character monitoring, following the initial baseline assessments. 15 regional highlightS (continued)

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park completed a GIS-based approach to depict threats to wilderness character in the park. Maps were generated for selected weighted measures of wilderness character and then added together to produce a composite map of threats to wilderness character. 5 The maps will be used by park staff to analyze the potential impacts of different management actions on wilderness character, inform decision-making and support new management plans, and improve internal staff communication and external public communication about wilderness.

An additional 22,000 acres of prairie will be available for bison to graze within the Badlands Wilderness through a land exchange that provides a corridor between the Sage Creek and Conata Basin Units. The park’s herd of ~800 bison have historically been confined to the Sage Creek Unit but 6 through the land exchange between a local rancher, Buffalo Gap National Grasslands, and the NPS, bison will have access to the Canata Basin where they have been excluded for more than 100 years. Bison are a keystone species in prairie ecosystems as they drive vegetation composition, affect nutrient cycling, and benefit wildlife like prairie dogs, which in turn support foxes, ferrets, and raptors. This land exchange benefits the public by providing wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities for park visitors and benefits wilderness by improving the natural quality of wilderness character. The National Park Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, Defenders of Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy all played a part in making this possible.

The Record of Decision was signed for the Fire Island National Seashore Wilderness Breach Management Plan in 2018. The NPS will continue to monitor the breach and allow for the evolution, growth, and/or closure of the breach to be determined by natural barrier island processes. The approved 7 management strategy calls for human intervention only “to prevent loss of life, flooding, and other severe economic and physical damage to the Great South Bay and surrounding areas.” The strategy requires continued monitoring of the natural ocean-to-bay channel, an effort that has been underway since it formed during Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Starting in 2018, Shenandoah National Park began exploring a project aimed at restoring a portion of the Meadow Run Watershed, which falls largely within the Shenandoah Wilderness, in the southwest portion of the park. The park leadership team is working with NPS experts and external consultants 8 to understand options for improving the underlying soil pH of the watershed through restoration efforts including liming applications. In 2019, public outreach and engagement will begin to gather feedback from stakeholders. This engagement will help inform the project, which will be analyzed in an Environmental Assessment for decision-making.

Everglades National Park made additional progress on its Wilderness Stewardship Plan in 2018. A workshop held in July looked at strategies for enhancing the park’s wilderness character through targeted management actions. Ideas were generated on the following topics: visitor use and experience; 9 management of natural resources/ecological restoration; recreational and navigational facilities; administrative uses for research activities; management of cultural resources; and education and outreach.

Cumberland Gap National Historic Park continued to move forward with its newly-established internal wilderness committee. The committee reviews and assists with management actions that may affect wilderness stewardship. A current focus of the committee is existing infrastructure in wilderness and 10+11 possibilities for enhancing the undeveloped quality of wilderness character. Congaree National Park completed a minor boundary modification in 2018 that added 100 acres to the park’s roadless area. This area, together with 4,600 acres added to the park in 2003, will be assessed for wilderness eligibility. Congaree currently has 21,700 acres of designated wilderness. 16 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT

2018 COUNCIL Superintendent wilderneSS leaderShip council Dan Brown, Gulf Islands NS Jennifer Flynn, Shenandoah NP Philip Hooge, Glacier Bay NP&Pr The NPS Wilderness Leadership Council (NWLC) serves an advisory council to the Director on all Bruce Noble, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP matters pertaining to wilderness. The council strives to enhance the agency’s ability to address critical Woody Smeck, Sequoia-Kings Canyon NPs (Aug-Dec Vice Chair) wilderness stewardship issues. Comprised of park, regional, and national staff, this interdisciplinary Park Wilderness Manager council represents perspectives from a variety of positions and management levels. Each council Ruth Scott, Olympic NP PJ Walker, Everglades NP member serves a three-year term, with staggered rotation occurring each year. The following Visitor & Resource Protection summaries highlight three of the nine work groups for 2018: Ray O’Neil, Saguaro NP (Jan-Aug Chair) Scott Brown, SE Utah Parks Group While ecological interventions are actions that degrade the untrammeled ECOLOGICAL quality of wilderness character, they are usually proposed to restore or Cultural Resources Blair Davenport, Pacific West Region INTERVENTIONS IN improve the natural quality of wilderness character. This work group, chaired by Adrienne Lindholm and Jack Oelfke, drafted guidelines and an evaluation Natural Resources WILDERNESS Linda Mazzu, Bryce Canyon NP framework to help staff review and evaluate proposals for ecological intervention in wilderness. In 2018, a webinar on this topic invited Servicewide Interpretation & Education review of the draft framework, and began incorporating all of this feedback Kevin Sweeney, Lassen Volcanic NP into a revised evaluation framework. The work group aims to release the final Facilities Management guidelines and evaluation framework in 2019. Kirk Barrett, Lassen Volcanic NP At Large PROGRAMMATIC This work group, chaired by Ruth Scott and Fred Herling, is developing Fred Herling, Everglades NP strategies and tools for the effective use of Programmatic Minimum Alaska Region/Park Representative MINIMUM Requirements Analysis (PMRA), helping to streamline efforts and reduce Adrienne Lindholm, Alaska Region (Jan-Aug Vice Chair; Aug-Dec Chair) REQUIREMENTS administrative burden. In 2018, the work group developed a first draft of a Wilderness Stewardship Division ANALYSIS “Guide to PMRAs” following input from NPS staff. The Guide presents the Roger Semler, Chief potential positive and negative aspects of PMRA use; strategies and key criteria Tim Devine, Branch Chief - Training & Development for creating high quality PMRAs; a list of suggested activity types that lend Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center themselves to PMRAs; and a list of management considerations and cautions. Andrea Gehrke, Director The Guide is being refined and will be presented for NPS review in 2019. Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute Susan Fox, Director This work group, chaired by Ray O’Neil and comprised of both NWLC members Commercial Services WILDERNESS and other experienced NPS climbing managers, seeks to: Kelly Chang, Alaska Region Chief of Commercial Services Environmental Quality Division CLIMBING MANAGERS 1. Provide additional guidance for inclusion in Reference Manual 41: LIASONS NETWORK Wilderness Stewardship that clarifies policies concerning fixed anchors in Lindsay Gillham, Project Manager wilderness. Fire & Aviation 2. Provide a forum for parks with climbing activities to share ideas, discuss Jay Lusher, Grand Canyon NP common issues, and develop solutions. Natural Resources Stewardship & Science This guidance is intended to help park superintendents make informed Kirsten Gallo, Inventory & Monitoring Division decisions that promote recreational access and climbing opportunities while Park Planning & Special Studies ensuring the natural and cultural resources are protected and wilderness Patrick Gregerson, Chief character is preserved. In 2018, the work group hosted a Climbing Managers Associate Directors For: Network meeting in conjunction with the Access Fund in Tucson, AZ and Visitor & Resource Protection; Natural Resource Stewardship & made significant progress on developing and finalizing the guidance. In 2019, Science; Cultural Resources; Park Planning, Facilities, & Lands this guidance will be reviewed by the NPS Visitor and Resource Protection Department of Interior Solicitor’s Office: Directorate for potential inclusion in Reference Manual 41. Dan Pulver, Attorney-Advisor 17 interagency wilderneSS adviSory groupS

The interagency Wilderness Steering Committee and Wilderness Policy Council provide coordinated, national level guidance for the NPS, Bureau of Land Management, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and 2018 WILDERNESS STEERING COMMITTEE US Forest Service, with science and research support from the US Geological Survey. National Park Service The Wilderness Steering Committee, comprised of wilderness program leads, meets monthly Roger Semler to discuss high priority issues and initiatives across the National Wilderness Preservation System John Dennis (NWPS). US Fish and Wildlife Service Nancy Roeper The Wilderness Policy Council, comprised of Associate/Assistant Directors, meets periodically to identify common policy and guidance to be implemented across the NWPS. Bureau of Land Management Peter Mali (Vice Chair) US Forest Service Sandy Skrien (Chair) US Geological Survey Rudy Schuster Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center Andrea Gehrke Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute Susan Fox

2018 WILDERNESS POLICY COUNCIL

National Park Service Louis Rowe Guy Adema US Fish and Wildlife Service Cynthia Martinez Bureau of Land Management Christopher McAlear US Forest Service Sue Spear (Chair) NPS staff ford a river in the Katmai Wilderness, Katmai National Park & Preserve. Carl Lucero Photo Credit: NPS/Semler US Geological Survey John Organ 18 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT

appendiX a: organiZational chart Wilderness Stewardship Division, Visitor & Resource Protection Directorate

Associate Director LOUIS ROWE, ACTING

Deputy Associate VACANT Director

Division Chief ROGER SEMLER (December 2014-Present) Roger oversees the Division from Missoula, MT and serves as the principal adviser to the Director on wilderness-related issues. Roger began his career as a Wilderness Ranger at Katmai National Monument in 1977, where he developed a strong wilderness ethic and a life-long passion for wilderness stewardship. Roger’s career has emphasized visitor and resource protection and wilderness management, including assignments as a Park Ranger at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; District Ranger at Mount Rainier National park; District Ranger, Law Enforcement Specialist and Wilderness Manager at Glacier National Park; and Chief of Operations at Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve.

Communications + Outreach Branch Chief - Administrative Assistant Specialist Training + Development

THOMAS GARCIA (2018-Present) ERIN DRAKE (2012-Present) TIM DEVINE (2005-Present) Thomas Garcia is a US Marine Corps Erin works from Denver, CO. She leads Tim works out of the interagency Arthur Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and and coordinates communications for the Carhart National Wilderness Training served honorably for eight years on active NPS Wilderness Program - collaboratively Center in Missoula, MT. In addition to duty. During that time, he gained a myriad partnering with parks, regions, and WASO training and development, Tim is also the of administrative experience while serving programs on wilderness policy, stewardship, NPS representative at Carhart. He instructs on a Commanding General’s staff for and management. Erin also develops public various face-to-face and online wilderness both a Marine Logistics Group Headquarters and Marine outreach and web content, including stewardship training courses. He also Expeditionary Force Headquarters, while stationed at strategic content development for NPS.gov/wilderness helps with NPS policy development and advises parks on Camp Pendleton, CA. In 2016, Thomas began his NPS and NPS intranet websites. She has worked as a biotech wilderness stewardship issues. Tim’s NPS visitor/resource career as the Executive Assistant for the NPS Associate at Olympic and Mesa Verde National Parks, a wildland protection and natural resource management career Director of Visitor and Resource Protection. Thomas firefighter for the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, stretches back to 1978 in a number of wilderness parks received his Bachelor’s in Applied Sociology from Texas and in NPS communications at the National Interagency Fire including Big Cypress National Preserve, Buffalo National State University. Center. Erin has a Masters in Human Dimensions of Natural River, and Everglades, Mount Rainier, Olympic, and Rocky Resources from State University. Mountain National Parks. 19 APPENDIX B: NPS DESIGNATED WILDERNESS SUMMARY TABLE REGION PARK WILDERNESS AREA ACRES REGION PARK WILDERNESS AREA ACRES Denali NP&Pr Denali Wilderness 2,146,000 Bandelier NM Bandelier Wilderness 23,267 Gates of the Arctic NP&Pr Gates of the Arctic Wilderness 7,154,000 Black Canyon of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison 15,599 Glacier Bay NP&Pr Glacier Bay Wilderness 2,656,000 Gunnison NP Wilderness Katmai NP&Pr Katmai Wilderness 3,323,000 Carlsbad Caverns NP Carlsbad Caverns Wilderness 33,125 Alaska Chiricahua National Monument Kobuk Valley NP Kobuk Valley Wilderness 176,000 Chiricahua NM 10,290 Wilderness Lake Clark NP&Pr J.S. Hammond Wilderness 2,592,000 Great Sand Dunes Wilderness 32,643 Noatak NPr Noatak Wilderness 5,814,000 Great Sand Dunes NP&Pr Sangre de Cristo Wilderness 40,595 Wrangel-St. Elias NP&Pr Wrangell-St. Elias Wilderness 9,432,000 Inter - Guadalupe Mountains NP Guadalupe Mountains Wilderness 46,850 Craters of the Moon National Craters of the Moon NM 43,243 Wilderness Area mountain Mesa Verde NP Mesa Verde Wilderness 8,500 Death Valley NP Death Valley Wilderness 3,190,455* Organ Pipe Cactus NM Organ Pipe Cactus Wilderness 312,600 Petrified Forest National Wilderness Devils Postpile NM Ansel Adams Wilderness 747 Petrified Forest NP 50,260 Area Haleakala NP Haleakala Wilderness 24,719 2,959 Hawai’i Volcanoes NP Hawai’i Volcanoes Wilderness 123,100 Rocky Mountain NP Rocky Mountain National Park 249,126 Joshua Tree NP Joshua Tree Wilderness 595,364 Wilderness Black Canyon Wilderness 17,220 Saguaro NP Saguaro Wilderness 70,905 Bridge Canyon Wilderness 7,761 Zion NP Zion Wilderness 124,406 Eldorado Wilderness 26,250 Apostle Islands NL Gaylord Nelson Wilderness 33,500 Ireteba Peaks Wilderness 29,299 Badlands NP Badlands Wilderness 64,144 Lake Mead NRA Jimbilinan Wilderness 18,879 Buffalo NRi Buffalo National River Wilderness 34,933 Muddy Mountains Wilderness 3,521 Midwest Isle Royale NP Isle Royale Wilderness 132,018 Pacific Nellis Wash Wilderness 16,423 Pictured Rocks NL Beaver Basin Wilderness 11,740 West Pinto Valley Wilderness 39,173 Sleeping Bear Dunes NL Sleeping Bear Dunes Wilderness 32,557 Spirit Mountain Wilderness 32,913 Theodore Roosevelt NP Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness 29,920 Lassen Volcanic NP Lassen Volcanic Wilderness 79,061 Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Fire Island NS 1,380 Lava Beds NM Lava Beds Wilderness 28,460 Northeast Wilderness Mojave NPr Mojave Wilderness 695,200 Shenandoah NP Shenandoah Wilderness 79,579 Mount Rainier NP Mount Rainier Wilderness 228,480 Congaree NP Congaree National Park Wilderness 21,700 North Cascades NP Stephen Mather Wilderness 638,173 Cumberland Island NS Cumberland Island Wilderness 9,907 Southeast Marjory Stonemean Douglas Olympic NP Daniel J. Evans Wilderness 876,447 Everglades NP 1,296,500 Wilderness Pinnacles NP Hain Wilderness 15,985 Gulf Islands NS Gulf Islands Wilderness 4,630 Point Reyes NS Philip Burton Wilderness 27,315 John Krebs Wilderness 39,740 All acreages reference designated wilderness only, not designated potential wilderness. Sequoia & Kings Canyon NPs Sequoia-Kings Canyon Wilderness 768,222 For some parks, acreages listed reflect updated boundary mapping through GIS. This may result in a change from the legislated to “current designated’ acreage numbers listed. Yosemite NP Yosemite Wilderness 704,624 *Death Valley Wilderness acreage updated in 2019 per Public Law 116-9. National Park Service US Department of Interior

Wilderness Stewardship Division Visitor and Resource Protection Directorate