2018 Wilderness Report National Park Service Wilderness Stewardship Program 2 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • WILDERNESS STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM • 2018 REPORT
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National Park Service US Department of Interior Wilderness Stewardship Division Visitor and Resource Protection Directorate 2018 Wilderness Report National Park Service 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 Act, 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