Water Resources Stewardship Report, Denali National Park and Preserve

Karle, Kenneth

The Denali General Management Plan (GMP) was completed in 1986. Though fundamental resources of the park were not described as such, descriptions of resources in the document enforced the importance of various landscape components as part of a more complete ecosystem. One of the most important components of the ecosystem at Denali is water. Its physical availability and quality are critical determinants of a park’s overall natural resource condition. The fundamental water resources at Denali include: Rivers and Streams, Glaciers, Lakes and Ponds, Groundwater, Wetlands A critical component for assuring proper stewardship of Denali’s water resources is to define what the condition or state of those fundamental water resources should be in the future (Water Resource Goals). The Water Resource Goals are a qualitative description of the integrity and character for water resources and values that park management has committed to achieve and maintain. The Water Resource Goals are those ecological and physical attributes that characterize or exemplify the outcomes of appropriate and legislated NPS management. Identifying both the Water Resource Goals and the existing conditions of those resources is a critical step toward proper management of, and planning for, the water resources of Denali National Park and Preserve. With this understanding, strategies can then be developed that ultimately work towards maintaining water resource conditions that meet the goals and move impacted water resource conditions towards these goals. Though the issue of water rights is of major concern in many NPS units, especially in the western states, DENA park managers consider water rights issues to be of limited strategic concern for Denali for the next several decades. As such, the acquisition of water rights is not included as a water resource goal for Denali at this time. Water Resource Goal-Water Quality Chemical (water quality) integrity of park waters is improved and/or maintained to support a diverse aquatic community and ecosystem function, and to meet or exceed federal and state water quality standards. Because of its importance to the biota which drink, transpire, or live in the water flowing through the park’s lakes, rivers, and wetlands, water quality has long been regarded as an important characteristic in the assessment and description of natural watersheds. Surface water quality, as related to organic and inorganic chemistry, suspended sediments, and bacterial parameters, is essential to maintain both a functioning ecosystem as well as recreational use. Subsurface water quality is essential both for human health reasons, when tapped as a source of drinking water, and when viewed as a key component in the hydrologic cycle of natural waters. Where no baseline water quality data exists, such data will be acquired for areas threatened by industrial or transportation-related development, prior to such development. However, acquisition of new water quality information must be carefully planned. Needs must be carefully prioritized to insure that the most important data needs are given the tools and funding necessary to accomplish the goal. Partners, especially those with the required expertise and analytical know-how, must be solicited to assist with the data collection and analyses. Factors preventing or impeding the achievement of this Water Resource Goal include: Contaminated Aquifers, Long-range contaminant transport, Pathogenic bacteria on glaciers, Dust palliative application on park road, Product water from coalbed methane, New ‘North Access’ road construction, Placer-mining effects NPS management strategies to meet the Water Resource Goal for Water Quality should begin by understanding the current status of the diverse aquatic community and ecosystem function. The recommended strategies include: Water quality monitoring, Groundwater remediation, Baseline data acquisition (water quality and other appropriate indicators)