Winter road plowing in Denali National Park and Preserve: Monitoring results 2017
Clark WC, Appignani JA, Kirk AS, Bracher TA. 2018. Winter road plowing in Denali National Park and Preserve: Monitoring results 2017. Natural Resource Report. NPS/DENA/NRR—2018/1579. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Denali National Park and Preserve completed an Environmental Assessment in February 2013 that evaluated opening the park road to private vehicle traffic earlier than the typical mid-March date to increase the range of recreational opportunities along the Denali Park Road during winter months. The Finding of No Significant Impact, signed in June 2013, identified the alternative which allows road plowing from mile 3 to mile 12.6 (Mountain Vista Rest Area) as the preferred alternative. The Early Road Opening (ERO) period begins annually near February 1 and will occur for three to five years while the park monitors effects on natural resources, park program finances, and visitor experience and opportunities. Here we report findings from the 2017 ERO. Principal findings include: 1. The average number of vehicles that traveled the Denali Park Road during ERO 2017 was greater than any other ERO year – 45 vehicles per day. 2. Total road use during ERO decreased by 29% compared to 2016 because the road was closed for ten days due to icy conditions. 3. Road users travel the road most in the early afternoon. Private vehicles access the Denali Park Road most on weekend days. 4. Sixty-one percent of ERO traffic was from private vehicles. 5. Commercial use continues to be very low. 6. Moose were the most frequently observed species. The only other target species observed was caribou. Most animal sightings occurred west of mile eight. 7. No significant negative wildlife-vehicle interactions were observed in 2017. 8. No significant safety or law enforcement incidents were reported in 2017. 9. Parking at the Mountain Vista Rest Area decreased in 2017. We observed an average of 4.5 compared to 5.0 and 3.6 average vehicles in 2016 and 2015, respectively. 10. February was 1.7°C warmer and snowier and March was 7.9°C colder and drier than the 1981-2010 averages. 11. Expenditure to the park is greater than what was estimated within the Environmental Assessment.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Clark, William; Appignani, Julien; Kirk, Anna; Bracher, Taylor
- Date of Issue
- 2018-01
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- DENA , NRSS
- Keywords
- Alaska, DENA, Denali National Park, recreation, road plowing, traffic, visitation, wildlife, wildlife-vehicle interactions, winter maintenance, winter use
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Human Use | Visitor and Recreation Use | Visitor Use