The Northern Continental Divide Grizzly Bear Ecosystem is under attack. Griz are the symbol of wilderness, yet wilderness zoning is being "gutted" from Glacier Park.
The Park is lying to the public when they say the new management plan "keeps it the way it is." To the contrary, the draft EIS changes "natural zone" to "visitor services zones". The entire Going to the Sun corridor including Lake McDonald and St. Mary is changed from natural and historic zoning to "visitor services", thus allowing future congested motorized boating at the lakes with unlimited development.
The draft EIS secretly changes wilderness zoning to some "rustic" and "day use", but mostly changes 95% wilderness to "backcountry" zones. "Wilderness" has been removed and is not mentioned nor defined.
By doing this the Park is secretly opening the door for major development inside the Park such as the new motel and fast food restaurant they have planned in the 1992 Development Concept Plan for the Lake McDonald Historic District (which is listed in the DEIS bibliography). Glacier Park has historically been managed for development outside the park - request that the historic management philosophy be retained to honestly "keep it like it is."
Comments are due November 30, 1998, send your comments to: Superintendent Mihalic, Glacier Park, West Glacier, MT 59936. Please make the following points:
1) Implement the existing Park policy that requires 95% Congressional Study Wilderness to be managed as Wilderness.
2) Disclose and retain existing Park management zoning. Retain 95% Wilderness, retain existing Historic, Natural and some designated Development Zones as shown in Glacier's Existing Management Zoning. Oppose changing the central Going to the Sun Road corridor from "natural" to "visitor services" (i.e., more development). Lake McDonald and St. Mary Lake should not be entirely zoned "visitor services", but should be managed for natural values.
3) Oppose congested motor boating on the Lakes.
4) Support Park ban on jet skis.
5) Support regulation of helicopter over flights.
6) Oppose the Park's Development Concept Plan for the Lake McDonald Historic District. The draft EIS simply includes the development plan for a new winterized motel, fast food restaurant, massive new parking lot as an addendum in the Bibliography. Emphasize, no new development inside the Park - maintain the existing management philosophy to develop outside the Park. The big multinational corporation that owns the GPI park concession wants federally subsidized development inside the Park. This takes business away from the local economy outside the Park.
Remember, Glacier National Park provides important habitat for grizzly bear, elk and many other species. Help protect Glacier, write now.
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For more information contact:
Protect Glacier, Canyon Coalition
P.O. Box 422
Hungry Horse, MT 59919-0422.
Scott Silver, Executive Director,
Wild Wilderness
248 NW Wilmington Avenue, Bend OR 97701
Phone (541) 385-5261 E-mail: ssilver@wildwilderness.org