Denali National Park and Preserve Draft South Denali Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement September 2005 Produced by Denali National Park and Preserve National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Denali Park, Alaska Denali National Park and Preserve Draft South Denali Implementation Plan Environmental Impact Statement Lead Agency: National Park Service Abstract: This Draft South Denali Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement provides specific direction for expanded visitor facilities and recreational opportunities in the south Denali region until 2020. Proposed actions are guided by established laws and policies that affect the National Park Service, State of Alaska, and Matanuska-Susitna Borough. Alternatives focus on variations in location and extent of new visitor opportunities and facilities. Actions described by this plan should provide a quality visitor experience while protecting resource values in Denali State Park; enhance recreational and access opportunities throughout the South Denali region for the benefit of a wide variety of visitors including Alaskans, independent travelers, and package tour travelers; and preserve the quality of life for residents in nearby communi- ties. The comment period on the draft plan and environmental impact statement will extend through November 15, 2005. Additional information can be ob- tained and comments submitted through the South Denali website www.southdenaliplanning.com. Information may also be obtained and written comments submitted at the following address: South Denali Planning P.O. Box 588 Talkeetna, Alaska 99676 Fax: 907-733-1465 [email protected] It is the practice of the National Park Service to make comments, including names and addresses of respondents, available for public review. If you wish to have NPS withhold your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comments. Executive Summary i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PURPOSE AND NEED Why are the National Park Service, State of Alaska, and Matanuska- Susitna Borough developing this plan? The purpose of the plan is to enhance recreation and access throughout the South Denali region. Actions described by this plan should y Provide a quality visitor experience while protecting resource values in the South Denali region. y Enhance recreational and access opportunities throughout the South Denali region for the benefit of a wide variety of visitors including Alaskans, independent travelers, and package tour travelers; y Preserve the quality of life for residents in nearby communities. A South Denali Implementation Plan is needed because visitation in the South Denali region continues to increase, requiring additional visitor opportunities and new methods of management to protect natural and cultural resources and quality of life in local communities. ALTERNATIVES What Does This Plan Do? The Draft Plan and EIS include a no-action alternative and two action alternatives. Under Alternative A, no new actions would be implemented to support the 1997 Record of Decision for the South Side Denali Development Concept Plan except for those projects already approved and initiated. This alternative represents no change from current management direction and therefore represents the existing condition in the south Denali region. However, it does not ensure a similar future condition which could be affected by factors unrelated to this planning effort. Under Alternative B, a new nature center would be constructed on approximately 2.5 acres in the Peters Hills inside the southern boundary of Denali State Park. The total building requirement would be approximately 7,500 square feet. A paved parking area would be constructed near the junction of Petersville Road and the proposed access ii Draft South Denali Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement road (MP 28 of Petersville Road) to accommodate private vehicles. An access road approximately 7 miles in length would be constructed from MP 28 of Petersville Road to the nature center. Upgrading and widening Petersville Road between MP 9.3 and 28 is a connected action that would be necessary to implement this alternative. Approxi- mately 31 miles of trails would be constructed in the vicinity of the new nature center. Under Alternative C (Preferred Alternative), a new visitor complex would be con - structed on approximately 4.1 acres at the highway site in Denali State Park. The total building requirement would be approximately 16,000 square feet. A paved parking area would be constructed on the natural bench across from the Denali View South Wayside near Parks Highway MP 134.6. An access road approximately 3.5 miles in length would be constructed from the parking area to the visitor center. Approxi- mately 13 miles of trails would be constructed in the vicinity of the new visitor center. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES What are the consequences of each alternative to the resources in the South Denali region? Alternative A (No Action) This alternative would generally not affect resources in the planning area. Alternative B (Peters Hills) This alternative would have minor adverse impacts on water quality, aquatic re - sources, fish, and wildlife; moderate adverse impacts on soils; and moderate adverse impacts on cultural resources. This alternative would result in the clearing of 14 acres of wetlands and 129 acres of terrestrial vegetation. Alternative B would have a major impact on industry, employment, and income; a minor to moderate impact on population and demographics, housing and real estate, and borough and municipal revenues and expenditures. It would have a major impact on the planning area’s quality of life indicators, particularly in the Petersville area. Impacts on land ownership and use would be moderate because the land uses would shift, but the proposed changes would be consistent with existing plans or controlled by land use restrictions. The actions in this alternative would have a major adverse impact on primitive, self- reliant activities, but it would have a moderate positive impact on visitor opportunities throughout the study area. Executive Summary iii Alternative C (Parks Highway) This alternative would have minor adverse impacts on water quality, aquatic re - sources, fish, and wildlife; moderate adverse impacts on soils; and moderate adverse impacts on cultural resources. This alternative would result in the clearing of 6 acres of wetlands and 155 acres of terrestrial vegetation. Alternative C would have a major impact on industry, employment, and income; a minor to moderate impact on population and demographics; a minor to moderate impact on housing and real estate; and a minor impact on borough and municipal revenues and expenditures. It would have moderate impacts on the planning area’s quality of life indicators. Impacts on land ownership and use would be moderate because the land uses would shift, but the proposed changes would be consistent with existing plans or controlled by land use restrictions. Actions in this alternative would create a minor negative impact to opportunities for a self- reliant wilderness experience at Curry Ridge, but they would have a moderate positive impact on visitor opportunities throughout the study area. iv Draft South Denali Implementation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ii CHAPTER 1: PURPOSE AND NEED 1 Introduction 1 Purpose of Plan 3 Need for Plan 3 Planning History for the South Denali Region 4 Denali State Park Purposes 9 Significance of South Denali Region 9 Applicable Laws, Regulations, and Case Law 10 Issues and Impact Topics 14 Permits and Approvals 16 CHAPTER 2: ALTERNATIVES 17 Alternative A – No Action 17 Actions Common to All Action Alternatives 18 Alternative B – Peters Hills 21 Alternative C – Parks Highway 25 Alternatives Considered but Dismissed 30 Environmentally Preferred Alternative 32 Plan Implementation 33 Mitigation 33 Summary Table of Alternatives 38 Summary Table of Environmental Consequences 41 Color Section Figure 2-1 Overview Map Figure 2-2 Mile 121.5 Parking Area Figure 2-3 Mile 105 Parking Area Figure 2-4 Forks Campground Figure 2-5 Mile 12.8 Pullout Figure 2-6 Mile 16.3 Pullout Figure 2-7 Peters Hills Overview Figure 2-8 Peters Hills Nature Center Figure 2-9 Peters Hills Parking Figure 2-10 Parks Highway Overview Figure 2-11 Parks Highway Visitor Center Figure 2-12 Parks Highway Parking Figure 2-14 South Denali Land Status Table of Contents v Figure 3-1 South Denali Geographic Area - Wildlife Figure 4- 1 Wetlands – Peters Hills Access Road Figure 4- 2 Wetlands – Peters Hills Nature Center Figure 4- 3 Wetlands – Parks Highway Parking Areas Figure 4- 4 Wetlands – Petersville Road Figure 4- 5 Wetlands – Peters Hills Transportation Center Figure 4- 6 Wetlands – Parks Highway Alternative Figure 4- 7 Vegetation – Peters Hills Access Road Figure 4- 8 Vegetation – Peters Hills Nature Center Figure 4- 9 Vegetation – Peters Hills Transportation Center Figure 4- 10 Vegetation – Parks Highway Access Road Figure 4- 11 Vegetation – Parks highway Visitor Center Figure 4- 12 Vegetation – Parks Highway Transportation Center Color Photographs Section CHAPTER 3: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 45 Soils 45 Water Quality, Aquatic Resources, and Fish 49 Wetlands 57 Vegetation 63 Wildlife 68 Cultural Resources 74 Socioeconomics 85 Visitor Opportunity 106 CHAPTER 4: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 111 Methodology 111 Assumptions 112 Background for Analysis of Cumulative Impacts 113 Soils 116 Water