Comparison of resource and social conditions to existing standards in selected areas of Glacier Bay National Park’s wilderness
Miranda BM and Sharman L. 2015. Comparison of resource and social conditions to existing standards in selected areas of Glacier Bay National Park’s wilderness. Natural Resource Report. NPS/GLBA/NRR—2015/1085. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
The objective of this qualitative and quantitative data collection effort was to assess whether resource and social conditions in selected areas within Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA) met existing planning guidance, and to provide information and data to assist in developing new standards and measures for future backcountry and wilderness stewardship planning efforts. Existing planning guidance was derived from the GLBA Wilderness Visitor Use Management Plan (NPS 1989) and General Management Plan (GMP 1984). These plans provided background resource and social condition information that affect management of visitor use, vessels, and commercial activities on wilderness lands and waters as well as on waters adjacent to wilderness. Qualitative assessments of resource conditions at tour vessel shore excursion locations and quantitative assessment of social encounters at McBride Inlet within GLBA were conducted in 2014 to compare current conditions to the guidance provided in the plans. The results from the qualitative assessments showed that of the eight individual assessment locations visited, five showed visual evidence of previous use; thereby exceeding planning guidance. The encounters standards established in the WVUMP and interpreted for this study were exceeded for the McBride study area regardless of which planning zone guidance was considered. Recommendations for future management decisions include utilizing the ability to designate heavy use locations and establishing clearly defined visitor use zoning, desired conditions, and standards and measures in future plans.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Miranda, Barbara; Sharman, Lewis
- Date of Issue
- 2015-11
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GLBA , NRSS , SEAN
- Keywords
- Assessment, Glacier Bay, GLBA, National Park and Preserve, Resource condition, Visitation, Wilderness
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Human Use | Visitor and Recreation Use | Visitor Use