Public scoping workshop held in Indian to share views for upcoming revision of the Chugach State Park Master Plan

Ken Smith/Turnagain Times More than 50 people attended a public scoping workshop Monday, April 8, in Indian. Residents shared their views on the Master Plan revision for Chugach State Park. More workshops will be held before the final plan is completed, tentatively scheduled in two years.

By Ken Smith
Turnagain Times

Over 50 residents of Indian and Bird attended a public meeting held at the Valley Bible Chalet in Indian, April 8, to participate in a workshop held by Chugach State Park representatives to gather public comments for a revision of the Master Plan, and Trail and Access Plans.
The Master Plan sets forth management guidelines and makes recommendations for the development of facilities within the park. The Trail Plan provides specific guidance for trail development and management, and the Access Plan provides guidance to the Municipality of Anchorage and the state for the placement of access points along the boundary of the park.
Many in the audience expressed specific concern over the trapping guidelines in the valleys along Turnagain Arm, specifically Bird and Indian. In the last four years, it was mentioned that three dogs have been caught in traps set near local trails.
“I’m very upset over the trapping in our area,” said Indian resident Kathy Feathergill Calvin. “That’s the reason a lot of us are here. We’d like to get the trapping out our state park. It’s bad, it’s very unacceptable.”
“My son use to trap here, but now it’s different, there are more people” added Daniel Smith of Bird.
The real issue as expressed by members of the audience is the proximity of traps to the trails. The Board of Game oversees trapping regulations, and the state park manages recreation.
“Legitimate trappers don’t want to catch dogs, its not good PR,” said Chris Degernes, Chief of Operations for Alaska State Parks. “It’s really in their (trappers) best interest to trap properly. Novices and inexperienced trappers are probably the biggest violators.”
Trapping in the park, for the most part, ended in February in most areas, but the trapping season varies depending on the different species.
“Certainly trapping is an important issue,” said Monica Alverez, Dept. of Natural Resources Planner. “But this is a big plan.”
There are 180 miles of trails in Chugach State Park, and over the course of last summer, the trails were outlined in a project utilizing a global position system.
“This is a real effort to learn what we have and learn how to plan management of the trails,” Alverez said.
Chugach State Park was established in 1970, and Indian and Bird both border park land. In Bird there is a main entrance to the park and another access point in Indian. Future access may be increased with new entrances or expanded roads at existing sites.
The Master Plan for Chugach State Park was completed in 1980 and a trail plan was completed in 1986. The Master Plan was amended in 1987 to address resort development, helicopter use and the Eagle River Greenbelt.
There were many issues brought up at the meeting including concerns over ATV’s destroying trails and snowmachiners going off-trail to enter the backcountry.
“It’s our hope through this process to get opinions to exercise the plan,” said Alverez. “Everyone has a right to use the trails.”
Another issue brought up was the need for more park staffing, which some said was not enough to cover the 773 square miles the park encompasses.
The Master Plan is expected to be completed in two years, but that is a tentative date, said Alverez. In the meantime, she said more public meetings will be held to ensure that the public is extensively involved in the process.
“This is just the start,” she said. “There will be a lot of opportunities to get together.”
Tom Harrison, Chugach State Park Superintendent, said the complexity of issues and increase in park usage has changed significantly the last 28 years.
“It was anticipated that there would be frequent revision of the original plan,” he said. “Enough time has elapsed from when the plan was completed. It’s time to dust it off.”