Sitka Trail Plan 2003 Sitka Trail Works, Inc. City & Borough of Sitka USDAUSDA FForestorest ServiceService RegionRegion 1010 SitkaSitka DistrictDistrict AlaskaAlaska Dept.Dept. ofof NaturalNatural ResourcesResources DivisionDivision ofof Parks & Outdoor Recreation Sitka Tribe of Alaska USDI National Park Service, Rivers, Trails, & Conservation Assistance Program Sitka National Historical Park 1 Executive Summary The Sitka Trail Plan calls for 16 new hiking trail construction projects (62.5 miles) and 14 trail reconstruction projects (40.8 miles). The plan also includes a proposed dive trail, improved kayak facilities, 2 ATV trails and 2 new mountain bike trails. The new construction and reconstruction projects are planned for completion within a 10-year time frame at an estimated cost of 20 million dollars. The plan is viewed as an important rural economic development project which will increase local employment and local spending on trail construction, increase recreation infrastructure, and increase Sitka’s appeal as a visitor destination. Construction of the trail system will also increase access to the national forest lands that surround Sitka and will improve quality of life. The town of Sitka (est. pop. 8,000) is a forest dependant community surrounded completely by National Executive SummaryExecutive Forest lands and characterized by a resource dependant economy. Successful implementation of the plan is likely, given the high degree of involvement and commitment from the non-profit organization Sitka Trail Works, Inc. and the support and significant contributions of the six other trail plan partners. The plan is further strengthened by a Memorandum of Understanding between the trail plan partners that establishes a process of interagency cooperation via a schedule of quarterly meeting. The interagency cooperation meetings will provide a collaborative forum for development of policies and solutions on issues of protection of cultural resources, trail maintenance, trail funding, trail signage, and trail information. 2 3 Welcome Welcome March 13, 2003 Dear Community Member, The Sitka Trail Plan is the result of a three year, community-wide, planning effort. This plan achieves the primary goal established in 1999 by setting a clear direction for managing, maintaining and promoting Sitka trails. “Managing” includes trail planning and design, construction, and funding. Final implementation of the plan rests upon the trail plan partners and the public. Partners to the plan represent governments, government agencies, and Sitka Trail Works, a non-profit, membership corporation. These partners will combine resources with individuals, businesses and foundations in order to establish a cost-effective and diversified trail system. Some examples of the cost savings that can be realized through this unique partnership relationship are the use of volunteer labor, eligibility for grants not available to governments, in-kind contributions of expertise in trail planning and design, and collaboration to supply resources for trail maintenance. Remember, your help can make Sitka Trails Work! Thank you, Charles Horan, President Gary Paxton, Administrator Carol Goularte, Sitka District Ranger Sitka Trail Works, Inc. City and Borough of Sitka USDA Forest Service Mike Eberhardt, Area Supervisor “Woody” Widmark, Tribal Chairman Gary Gauthier, Superintendent Division of Parks & Outdoor Recreation Sitka Tribe of Alaska Sitka National Historical Park Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources USDI National Park Service Jack Mosby, Program Manager Rivers, Trails & Conservation Assistance Program USDI National Park Service 2 3 Document Organization his document opens with a prioritized list of new public needs met by the project and cost estimates Ttrail projects in the Sitka area. The prioritized based on historical costs for similar projects in project list organizes a suite of diversified trails by Southeast Alaska. As projects are developed, these priority to the lead agency. The projects have been estimates will be refined based on actual field selected through a long process of public comment, measurements. agency review, and committee evaluation described in Chapter II. Completion of these projects will create Chapter IV, “Taking Care of the Trails that We Have,” a world-class trail network in the Sitka area. begins with a map of proposed trail reconstruction projects and contains details and cost estimates Chapter I, “Why Sitka Trails?” contains pertinent and for each reconstruction project. It also includes a interesting information about area trails and provides discussion of trail maintenance. examples of some of recreational opportunities offered throughout the planned Sitka trail system. Chapter V, “Appendix,” contains a detailed synopsis Chapter I provides an overview of challenges to of public and agency comments received on all plan implementation including construction and projects listed in the the draft plan. maintenance issues, trail funding, and protection of Document OrganizationDocument cultural heritage resources. Table of Abbreviations AKDNRDPOR Chapter II, “Bringing the Trail Plan to Life... From Alaska Dept. of Natural Resources Div. of Parks & Outdoor Recreation an Idea to a Walk in the Woods,” opens with an AKDOTPF Alaska Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilities illustration of the extensive public process that CBS informed the trail selection process. It is followed City & Borough of Sitka FAA by a summary of the goals of the trail plan and the Federal Aviation Administration action strategies. It also contains a Memorandum FHA Federal Highway Administration of Understanding (MOU) signed by the trail plan NEPA partners. The implementation MOU establishes a National Environmental Protection Act NMTP process for interagency cooperation and is designed Non-Motorized Transportation Plan to successfully bring the projects into being. NSRAA Northern Southeast Regional Aquaculture Association SJC Chapter III, “From Shore to Summit—A Diverse Sheldon Jackson College SNHP Network of Trails,” offers an in-depth look at each Sitka National Historical Park of the projects. It begins with a vicinity map of the STA Sitka Tribe of Alaska proposed trails followed by a detailed description STW of each project. The trail projects are organized Sitka Trail Works, Inc. USCG into trail type categories: Near Town Trails, Cultural United States Coast Guard Interest, Coastal Trails, Alpine Trails, Water Routes, USDA FS Unites States Dept. of Agriculture Forest Service Bike Routes, and ATV and Snow Machine Trails. The USDI NPS project descriptions include a map, a synopsis of United States Dept. of the Interior National Park Service 4 5 Table of Contents Page Page Contents of Table 1 Executive Summary 53 Coastal Trails 2 Welcome 54 South Sitka Sound Trail 3 Document Organization 56 Halibut Point Pedestian Walkway 4 Table of Contents 58 John Brown’s Beach Trail 5 Prioritized Trail Projects 59 Alpine Trails 10 1. Why Sitka Trails? 60 Harbor Mountain Trails 10 Special & Unique Features 62 Bear Cove to Camp Lake Route 15 Challenges to Trail Plan Implementation 64 Water Routes 18 Trails as Transportation 64 Magic Island Underwater Dive Trail 19 Sitka Trail Plan Area 66 Kayak Harbor Improvements 20 11. Bringing the Trail Plan to Life 67 Bicycle Trails 22 Goals 67 Bicycles—Transportation and Recreation 22 Action Strategy Objectives 68 Single Track Mountain Bike Trail 23 Public Review & Agency Comments 69 ATV and Snow Machine Trails 24 Implementation Memmorandum of Understanding 70 Starrigavan Multi-Use Trail 28 111. From Shore to Summit 72 1V. Taking Care of the Trails We Have 29 Vicinity Map 73 Reconstruction Proposal Vicinity Map 30 Near Town Trails 74 Sealion Cove Trail 32 Non-Motorized Transportation Plan 76 Indian River Trail 32 Sawmill Creek Road Improvements 77 Verstovia Trail 34 Sitka Cross Trail Extensions 78 Baranof Lake Trail 34 Indian River to Starrigavan 79 Sadie Lake Trail 36 Indian River to Thimbleberry Lake 80 Harbor Mountain – Gavan Hill Trail 38 Indian River Trail Connection 81 Starrigavan Estuary Trail 40 Japonski Island Pathway 82 Beaver Lake Loop Trail 42 Sawmill Cove Loop Trails 83 Lake Eva Trail 42 Thimbleberry to Heart Lake 84 Sitkoh Lake Trail 44 Herring Cove to Beaver Lake 85 Sashin Lake Trail 45 Cultural Interest Trails 86 North Brach Trail 46 World War II Causeway 87 White Sulphur Hot Springs Trail 48 Lucky Chance Mine Historic Trail 88 Port Banks Trail 50 Historical Walking Tour of Downtown Sitka 90 V. Appendix 51 Sitka Cancer Survivors Society “Path of Hope” 90 Table of Public Comments 92 Acknowledgements All materials © 2003 by Sitka Trail Works, Inc. and respective contributors to the Sitka Trail Plan. 4 5 Sitka Trail Plan Projects Each project will have a lead agency with responsibility for coordination of project implementation and for providing assistance to the other project participants. Projects are listed by priority. Lead Agency: The City and Borough of Sitka The City and Borough will be the lead agency on large projects involving extensive interaction with other state agencies such as Alaska Dept. of Transportation & Public Facilites and on projects that lie on City lands. Resolution of public safety issues drives the prioritization of city projects. Respondents to the Sitka Draft Trail Plan voiced solid support for the extension and completion of the Cross Trail from Starrigavan to Herring Cove and for improvements to Sawmill Creek Road. Members of the community also requested that more trails be built to safely