National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Mapping Wilderness Character in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Natural Resource Report NPS/GAAR/NRR—2017/1446 ON THE COVER Unnamed drainage in the northern Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve NPS/JEFFREY RASIC Mapping Wilderness Character in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve Natural Resource Report NPS/GAAR/NRR—2017/1446 Kristin K. Pace,1 James Tricker,2 Andrew Baltensperger,1 Peter Landres2 1 National Park Service Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve 4175 Geist Road Fairbanks, AK 99709 2 U.S. Forest Service Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute 790 East Beckwith Avenue Missoula, MT 59801 May 2017 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner. This report received formal peer review by subject-matter experts who were not directly involved in the collection, analysis, or reporting of the data, and whose background and expertise put them on par technically and scientifically with the authors of the information. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and data in this report do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U.S. Government. This report is available in digital format from the Gates of the Arctic National Park website and the Natural Resource Publications Management website. To receive this report in a format that is optimized to be accessible using screen readers for the visually or cognitively impaired, please email [email protected]. Please cite this publication as: Pace, K. K., J. Tricker, A. Baltensperger, and P. Landres. 2017. Mapping wilderness character in Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Natural Resource Report NPS/GAAR/NRR— 2017/1446. National Park Service, Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS 185/138270, May 2017 ii Contents Page Figures.................................................................................................................................................. vii Tables ..................................................................................................................................................viii Appendices ..........................................................................................................................................viii Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. ix Roles and Contributors .......................................................................................................................... x Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................. x Acronyms and Abbreviations................................................................................................................ xi Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Gates of the Arctic Wilderness ....................................................................................................... 1 Purpose of this mapping project ..................................................................................................... 5 Concerns and cautions .................................................................................................................... 6 Report outline ................................................................................................................................. 7 Overview of the process for mapping wilderness character .................................................................. 9 The five qualities of wilderness character .................................................................................... 10 The mapping framework .............................................................................................................. 11 Methods ................................................................................................................................................ 15 Weighting measures ..................................................................................................................... 15 Data sources and processing techniques ....................................................................................... 16 1. Baseline map of impacts to wilderness character ............................................................................ 18 Untrammeled Quality ................................................................................................................... 18 Indicators and measures .......................................................................................................... 18 Data sources, processing, and cautions ................................................................................... 19 Weighting ................................................................................................................................ 20 Maps ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Natural Quality ............................................................................................................................. 22 Indicators and measures .......................................................................................................... 22 Data sources, processing, and cautions ................................................................................... 23 Weighting ................................................................................................................................ 24 iii Contents (continued) Page Maps ........................................................................................................................................ 24 Undeveloped Quality .................................................................................................................... 26 Indicators and measures .......................................................................................................... 26 Data sources, processing, and cautions ................................................................................... 26 Weighting ................................................................................................................................ 29 Maps ........................................................................................................................................ 30 Solitude or Primitive and Unconfined Recreation Quality ........................................................... 32 Indicators and measures .......................................................................................................... 32 Data sources, processing, and cautions ................................................................................... 33 Weighting ................................................................................................................................ 45 Maps ........................................................................................................................................ 46 Other Features of Value Quality ................................................................................................... 48 Indicators and measures .......................................................................................................... 48 Data sources, processing, and cautions ................................................................................... 49 Weighting ................................................................................................................................ 49 Maps ........................................................................................................................................ 50 Discussion for baseline map of impacts to wilderness character ................................................. 52 Recommendations to improve map products .........................................................................