- --_u------------ ktA-fk.A- :5tA-te- :5ee-aie ?>1fWA-1f5 Designation Application /h ltC-ant In PJJt,-,aftC7n This application will Sponsoring Agency, Organization or Individual help the Alaska Department of I Ms. Annie Hopper, Black Rapids Lodge Transportation B.. Contact Person Public Facilities (DOTB..PF)determine I Annie Hopper whether the nominated Mailing Address byway willqualify under the Alaska I 1307 WindfallWay Scenic Byways Physical Address program. After a review by the Scenic I (sameas above) BywaysCommittee, the City Zip commissioner of DOTB..PFwill make the I Fairbanks, AK 99707 final determination as Telephone Fax to whether the byway qualifies for I (907) 455 -6158 designation. Once a E-mail Website road is designated as www.blackrapids.org an Alaska Scenic I [email protected] Byway,it is eligible for National Scenic Byway ;PrC7 C7fet(l>tjwa In prf1,-,attC7n grants, and for nomination to national Name of Proposed Byway status. Byways must have a corridor I RichardsonHighway management plan Route Section(s) (CMP)to apply for All Example: Section 1:Sterling Highway from Anchor Point to Homer American Road or Section2 D toGlennallen National Scenic Byway. The CMPwill include FtJI!7 t;t:..E£l.."V information about how the community intends to develop and protect the byway. please return to: Approximate length (in miles) of the entire proposed byway Scenic Byways Coordinator 1151 ADOTB..PF Statewide Planning 3132 Channel Drive *Please include a map indicating the route, and up to six non-returnable photographs of Juneau, AK 99801 the propossed byway. Jfttn:tftC c:Lua!t'ttef he Bywaycan be designated underone or moreof the six "intrinsicqua(ities"defined bythe Federa( HighwayAdministration.P(ease indicatewhich of these qua(itiesare mostapp(jcab(efor the proposed Tbywaydesignation. S«:eni«: Quality is the heightened visual experience derived from the view of natural and man-made elements of the visual environment of the scenic byway corridor. The characteristics of the landscape are strikingly distinct and offer a pleasing and most memorable visual experience. All elements of the landscape - landform, water, vegetation, and man-made development - contribute to the ~ quality of the corridor's visual environment. Everything present is in harmony and shares in the intrinsic qualities. Na-tural Quality applies to those features of the visual environment that are in a relatively undisturbed state. These features predate the arrive of human populations and may include geological formations, fossils, landform, water bodies, vegetation, and wildlife. There may be evidence of human activity, but the natural features ~ reveal minimal disturbances. llistori«: Quality encompasses legacies of the past that are distinctly associated with physical elements of the landscape, whether natural or man-made, that are of such historic significance that they educate the viewer and stir an appreciation for the past. The historic elements reflect the actions of people and may include build- ings, settlement patterns, and other examples of human activity. Historic features ~ can be inventoried, mapped, and interpreted. They possess integrity oflocation, design, setting, material. workmanship, feeling and association. rr. iii\ Cut-tural Quality is evidence and expression of the customs or traditions of a 10'" distinct group of people. cultural features include, but are not limited to crafts, music, dance, rituals, festivals, speech, food, special events, vernacular architecture, etc., and are currently practiced. The cultural qualities of the corridor could high- I!!-":'~ m light one or more significant communities and/or ethnic traditions. Ar«:heotogi«:al Quality involves those characteristics of the scenic byway corri- dor that are physical evidence of historic or prehistoric human life or activity that E are visible and capable of being inventoried and interpreted. The scenic byway corridor's archeological interest, as identified through ruins, artifacts, structural !I!t remains, and other physical evidence, has scientific significance that educates the viewer and stirs an appreciation for the past. rr . 8:\ Reaeational Quality involves outdoor recreational activities directly associ- ated with and dependent upon the natural and cultural elements of the corridor's landscape. The recreational activities provide opportunities for active and passive recreational experiences. They include, but are not limited to, downhill skiing, '~ .. rafting, boating, fishing and hiking. Driving the road itself may qualify as a pleasur- L!I. .~ ~ able recreational experience. The recreational activities may be seasonal. but the quality and importance of the recreational outdoor activities as seasonal operations must be well recognized. ~ :5tate/neftt Cl' :5t' ftt'.t"/caftce sing the intrinsic qua(ities identified on the previous page, p(ease exp(ain how the proposed byway is significant, and why it should be added to the Alaska Scenic BywaysSystem.Additional pages may be U attached if necessary. Please do not exceed five pages. See attached. 7u n5t(/ct/Clft (ease (ist (oca(,state and/or federa( government agencies that have jurisdiction over the proposed byway route and the primary contact. Describe how the agencies have been informed about the effort to Pdesignate a scenic byway in their jurisdictions. Government Entity Contact Name B..phone Number How Informed DOT&PF Shannon McCarthy 451-2240 Meetings, phone, email, letters City of Delta Peter Hallgren 895-4656 Meetings Fort Greely Les Ozawa 873-4604 Meetings, phone, email, letters Bureau of Land Management Roger Delaney 474-2313 Phone 6Clf;tf;~U fttf;Parttct'att'Clft Community Organization Contact Name B..phone Number HowInformed Delta Chamber of Commerce Brenda Peterson 895-5068 Meetings, email, letters Paxson Community Council Walter Kopp 822-5823 Meetings, phone LJ,tJrFtl(tJrMafia e»~eft'tiJjfuef escribe the corridor management issues that may be addressed for the route. Issues might range from the beneFrtof new income due to increased tourism, to the impact on public facilities (roads, parks, Dpub(jc restrooms, etc.), or from the benefit of preserving community history to the impact of new devetopment. Additiona( pages maybe attached. See attached. orridor Continuity Atthough byways with a continuous scenic corridor are encouraged, federal (aw permits the designation of scenic bywaysfrom which are exduded certain segments. Those segments Cwith substantiat industrial or commercial use that indude tittle or none of the intrinsic qualities for which scenic byway designation is desired may be exduded. App(icants should attach a description of any sections proposed to be exduded, and establish a reasonable basis for the exdusion. 5i ftature U) 17':::5tJftftJrU). Signature Printed Name Date v- /{~7-DS 4/15/99 AlaskaBywayApplication "' Richardson Highway (Milepost 115-265) Alaska Scenic Byway Application Statement of Significance Scenic and Natural Significance Glennallen to Delta (MP 115-MP 265) The Richardson Highway is a world class scenic byway and represents the best of Alaska. The current state scenic byway designation extends from Valdez to Glennallen, but the entire length should be considered one of Alaska's most scenic byways. This application requests the addition of the central portion of the Richardson Highway (milepost 115 at Glennallen to milepost 265 at Delta Junction) to the list of Alaska's Scenic Byways. The community of Glennallen is one of Alaska's quintessentially small towns. Named for two ofthe Copper River basins most famous western explorers, Major Edwin Glenn and Lt. Henry Allen, it is home to just under 600 people. However, Glennallen can be considered a hub in many ways, as its location is a launching spot for a number of outstanding recreational destinations-the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the Gulkana, Klutina, Tazlina, and Copper Rivers (world class salmon streams), and millions of acres of forest, alpine meadows, lakes, rivers and streams to explore. A driver starting in Glennallen is surrounded by breathtaking views of the Wrangell mountain range-four peaks, Mount Sanford, Mount Drum, Mount Wrangell, and Mount Blackburn can be seen from the center of the community. The surrounding vegetation is primarily interior boreal forest, with plentiful black spruce, birch and aspen. However, the higher humidity brought up from the Gulf of Alaska lends to lush vegetation during summer months reminiscent of a rain forest. About 11 miles north of Glennallen is the confluence of the Gulkana and Copper Rivers. The driver is treated to glimpses of the Gulkana, a river well known for recreation-full of rapids, fish and wildlife-as well as being easily accessible. From here, the highway follows the Gulkana River to its headwaters high in the Alaska range mountain pass at Summit Lake. The common alignment of river and road for over 65 miles is part of what make the Richardson so spectacular-considered one of Alaska's wild and scenic rivers-the Gulkana's drama of whitewater, cliffs, and peaceful vistas gives a thrill at nearly every turn of road. The traditional native village of Gulkana is locatedjust off the highway in this area. Like many of the villages along the Richardson, it was established around the turn of the century. Originally the location of a telegraph station, it was named Gulkana by the U.S. Army Signal Corps after the river. The Gulkana Roadhouse was built in the early 1900's by C.L. Hoyt, a fur dealer who ran the roadhouse until 1916. However, the current village has moved across the river from its original location; it was cut in half during construction of the Richardson Highway during World War II. Residents moved the village in the early 1950's. As a traditional native village, subsistence plays an important economic and cultural role in the community. As the road begins its long ascent into the Alaska Range, the driver can see a great expanse to the west. Peering through the trees, the Gulkana River drop off can be seen, where water has carved a deep river gorge through the landscape. A traveler can take advantage of these spectacular vistas on the numerous trails throughout the region.