ATERTON - GLACIER f _r«« Free Summer Newspaper Serving the Waterton - Glacier International Peace Park Region j_^RfONPARJT July 21,1999 Vol 8, Issue 7 Glacier's plan to preserve a "classic western national sr: park" by Reta Gilbert WEST GLACIER - After nearly four years of work, Glacier National Park last week released the almost-final version of their Gen­ p eral Management Plan - a guide to managing MCHERa.ElW GNP for the next 20 years. First the plan is published in the U.S. Feder­ al Register. After a 30 day public notification GJti&. period, the plan will be sent to John E. Cook, National Park Service Intermountain Region director, for his signature. When he signs, at last, the plan is final. The final version of the General Manage­ ment Plan is more a guide on how to proceed rather than a detailed plan of action. The goal remains to preserve Glacier as a "classic western national park". The top priority is the reconstruction of Going-to-the-Sun road. Instead of the old alter­ native where the road would be repaired on a fast track schedule with the west side to Logan Pass closed for up to two years and the east side up to Logan Pass closed for another two ,___?« MACLEOD' years, now the Park suggests a procedure to develop a plan but no plan is proposed. Busi­ ness response to the closures proposed last year GV>» was swift, immediate, and negative. No one liked closing the road. However, the steadily SWinCJSlGrS. Taking advantage of some ofthe little sunshine the region has deteriorating condition of Sun road does not had since spring are Cas, Monet and Mauve Holt, of Cardston. They were part of allow for the luxury of no action. the swinging set at Waterton. Photo: Dave McNeill GNP is making plans to spend their usual $2 million a year on the road for the next two to three years. The Park will tackle the most critical of the crit­ ical problems in small $2 million amounts. What's Inside ^fer In part in response to efforts by Representative Rick Hill, Montana's only representative, and because of comments by the public, GNP is trying to set up a Going-to-the-Sun advi­ THE WAY IT WAS sory committee made up of members of the public, of busi­ ness, of government, of Indian nations, and from Canada, Bogs cant believe mile-high glaciers - Page 5 ^RWOOD1 but the proposal is stuck in the office of the Secretary of the Interior. GNP is ready to begin setting up the committee IN THE PARKS immediately when they get approval. Neither the exact com­ Jake-a-Hike takes a hit- Page 7 position of the committee nor c*»-5i>* l their specific duties are Waterton's interpretive programs on a TllPk VlPW^^N. k110^ at this time. come-back - Page 3 *fi Also, Hill influenced the diversion of $1 BROWNING •^****_<r found in a!! the best places: million in trans­ portation funds to Organizers readg jbrfirst traditional games - g Waterton to Glacier iff GNP for addition­ Page 17 _Wft!«eZ ? al economic and engineering stud­ §_ FERNIE Polebridge to Lethbridge ies. Park critics called for and Artwalk moves onto main street - Page 14 Coram to Calgary received assur­ B'G FORK ance that indepen­ AT THE THEATRE dent, private engi­ Rosebud's Opal a hit - Page 15 Whitefish to Medicine Hat neers and econo- •e^s_L Glacier's plan continued on page 2 and more Road reports on page 11. What's Happening on page 17 July 21,1999 Waterton Glacier Views vJlOCIOT S pi SIP! continued from page 1 critics called for and received one in Montana has suggest­ the Plan suggests. The state assurance that independent, ed exactly how the advice of Montana is planning a private engineers and econo­ given GNP is faulty. huge celebration from 2003 mists would conduct the In addition, GNP has to 2006 marking the bicen­ additional studies. promised to do an Environ­ tennial of the passage Glacier has been relying mental Impact Study of Sun through the state of Meri­ on engineering advice from road reconstruction. wether Lewis and John Clark the U.S . Federal Highways "Construction with total on their way to and back Administration engineers in road closure would probably from the Pacific. Some think Vancouver, Washington. No start no earlier than 2004," that whatever plan is devel- The Waterton Health Club and Recreation Center 14 Co.*m*nunitu ^jraciZilu invites uou, to OLW 9> Open House and Water Safety Day on Saturday, July 24tH, 1999 The Going-to-the-Sun Road: reconstruction to pass by an advi­ 9 am to 5 pm sory committee first. (File photo) oped will be delayed until istration prohibit all new /join u5 for complimentaru not (Load and watermelons, free dwtmmtna, after this celebration. commercial scenic air tour water iafetu education, recreation center dido laud and information A second critical issue operators who would operate concerns visitor use of over GNP." The cutoff date is deddiond, plud aamei, face paintina and plentu of other act'witiedl Going-to-the-Sun Road. The 1997. Anyone operating then Park's preferred alternative is would be allowed to continue Located on Cameron Falls Drive at The Lodge at Waterton Lakes to continue to manage the for a time. No timetable is Call us at 859-2016 for information on the following programs Going-to-the-Sun Road as the included, but the Park is premier visitor experience for determined to phase out heli­ the Park. "The road would be copter overflights eventually. Health Club Drop-In Rates managed as a motor nature All administrative flights would be banned unless Adult $5.25 trail typified by low speed limits and interpretive oppor­ okayed by the superinten­ Senior (60+) $4.75 tunities. Focus would remain dent. There is no discussion Youth (13-17) $3.75 on maintaining the historic of search and rescue flights. Child (3-12) $2.75 character of the road, as well Today helicopters are used 2 & Under Free as on the experience offered extensively for quick access Day Pass $7.50 by easy access to the park's to some of the more remote areas of the Park. Family (up to 4) $14.00 interior," indicates the Plan. Visitors would retain the No one was surprised that Family Month Pass $40.00 option of driving their own the GMP recommends mak­ Lodge Hotel Guests Free cars or of using public trans­ ing permanent the temporary • Special rates for other hotel guests and portation, but managers will ban on personal watercraft. Waterton residents study incentives for public The NPS believes that PWC • Drop-In Rates include: pool & change transportation use. In the use interferes with protecting rooms, whirlpool, sauna and Health Club future, GNP could add more the natural resources of the • Ask about our group rental rates pull-outs, and more short- Park. Swimming hike opportunities along the The winter use of the Park Monday-Sunday Programs available: road. Park managers are discussion is shorter than last Lane Swim 7 - 8am determined to protect the summer's proposal. Gone is Public Swim 1 - 3pm • Red Cross Swimming Lessons road as a National Public the recommendation to open • Hiking Trips • Aquasize Landmark whatever the a camp store at Lake McDon­ 6-8pm scheme selected. ald Lodge and the plan to Family Swim 3:30 - 5:30 pm • Day Camps for Children • Tae Box • Acting Workshops The discussion of preserv­ plow Two Medicine road to ing historic hotels and visitor the Park boundary. services is also a plan of how In an issue that had little (Me Phone:403-859-2150 to attack the issue. The Park public concern or input, GNP Fax: 403-859-2229 will look for funding for plans to relocate the Park buildings out of the flood Reservations 1-888-98LODGE reconstruction of the hotels Waterton both from Congress and from plains, and flood hazard (-888-985-6343) other sources, but only after zones at St. Mary. The first they have developed a com­ step is to find a safe location Lakes E-mail: [email protected] mercial services plan. This which is available to GNP. plan would provide for a min­ Eventually the flood proofing After your Health Club visit, enjoy a delicious meal imum of 500 rooms in struc­ would be removed, allowing o^_ at The Windflower Dining Room tures from camping cabins to Divide Creek to follow its grand hotels. Mostly what the natural channel to St. Mary You are cordially invited to enjoy Park plans now is to conduct Lake. Fer Breakfast* studies of what should be pre­ The West Side Discovery -I UvC OJj your food purchase in Lunch cr Dinner served and how to fund the Center and Museum is still in Taxes, gratuities and alcohol not included needed repairs. the GMP, but until GNP can r Wm/\r % Ttrw\ 4T\\ T I _f^''i_a__7 #* v» No cash value, valid for one visit In a very controversial rec­ come up with funding for the Tl - ommendation, the GMP sug­ planning process the proposal ::': _B_^^:":-_rf»«W' _#***^*::1__**«_w-»«_y -• Expires July 31, 1999 gests that GNP "request that is more dream than possibili­ Jtvoom the Federal Aviation Admin­ ty- Waterton Glacier Views July 21,1S>99 Waterton continues interpretive renewal by David McNeill the park reduced its interpre­ As for next year, he does- trail (north of the Prince of tative role, charged fees and n't anticipate more staff Wales Hotel).