In several surveys the number of Alaskans and visitors that enjoy quiet recreation far outnumber those interested in motorized recreation. In the Mat-Su Valley the most common trail use is quiet recreation. (1) On the 1992 Alaska State Recreational Preference Survey, developing more trails where no motorized vehicles are allowed ranked high on the responses. The same survey showed that the most common outdoor trail activities for all Alaskans are quiet activities. (2) An AEDC survey in Anchorage found that while only 12% of households had snowmachiners, 34% had cross-country skiers. (3) A 1995 national survey of parks ordered by Congress found that 90% of visitors go to the parks for the peace and quiet in addition to the scenery. (4) In 1994 the results of 3 surveys were published by ADF&G. 60% of hunters preferred to hunt in areas where ORV's are not allowed. (5)
References:
1) Matanuska-Susitna Borough Trails Plan, Public Review Draft March 1997 p. 4-5
2) Ibid. p 4-6 and 4-7
3) AEDC Winter Infrastructure Development Forum Of. 3, 1996
4) Report on Effects of Aircraft Overflights on the National Park System, Executive Summary Report to Congress, U.S. Dept of Interior Nat'l Park Service July, 1995 p.17
5) Off Road Vehicle and Snowmachine Use in Alaska; A Report to the Alaska Board of Game AK Dept. of Fish and Game, Div. of Wildlife Conservation Oct. 25, 1996
Alaska had the highest snowmobile injury death rate in the United States.
Thus begins the 1997 State of Alaska, Division of Public Health, Section of Epidemiology Bulletin No. 13. The report goes on to state that we kill ourselves on snowmachines at more than twice the rate we die from on-road motor vehicle accidents. We are hospitalized at more than twice the on road rate as well. More than half of the deaths are alcohol related. Lack of helmet use was cited as a frequent factor. The dead are 95% male with a median age of 28.
References:
Bulletin, State of Alaska Epidemiology. Snowmobile Injuries in Alaska 1993 - 1994 Bulletin No. 13 March 5, 1997 Michael G. Landen, M. D. MPH
Snowmachining has made rapid gains in popularity as a major form of winter recreational activity. This year for example, an estimated 40,000 snowmachiners will converge in Voyageurs National Park of northern Minnesota----four times more than a decade ago. (1) Alaska is no exception, for more and more snowmachiners are accessing the hinterland as never before (non-compliance to a Statewide registration requirement precludes any quantification.)
The impact this is having on other recreational uses, and more importantly upon wildlife resources, is prompting managers to study and evaluate more intensively their adverse effects and how best to curb them. Findings in general reveal that animals are subjected to physiological stress, displacement and over-harvesting by sport hunters and trappers.
Aerial monitoring by park officials in Minnesota indicated that gray wolves temporarily avoid areas used as hunting and dunning grounds when these areas are traversed by snowmachines. (1) Biologists are in the process of determining whether machines drive animals away from this kills or disrupt the preying process. In another state a heart-rate study showed that white-tailed deer do not become accustomed or habituated to snowmachine usage as alleged by those espousing liberalized use of the back country. (2) Similarly, snowmachiners erroneously make reference to their having no effect on wildlife but in reality, machine use is restricted to a given trail whereon no opportunity is available to leave it. Such is not the case for Alaska because of this States wide open spaces and virtual lack of any controlled use areas. (4)
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game point to GMU 14, near the Peters Hills, as an example where snowmachine use has displaced moose from post-rut areas. (4) This happens to be a critical time since moose are under natural stress and need to reserve valuable energy. Displacement and need to locate alternate forage areas add to their energy output. Depending on snow depth, temperature, forage status and predation rates, untimely displacement from traditional wintering areas could result in higher mortality due to starvation and stress. Other species suffer consequences of snowmachine use or flaws in hunting regulations. Bear hunters reportedly violated harassment regulations in the Peters Hills and Tokositna Valley. Another documented incident of intentional harassment concerned snowmachiners overriding willow habitat in order to flush ptarmigan out in the open for shooting. (4)
The susceptibility of small and large game species to over-harvesting by hunters using snowmachine and other mechanized forms of transport have been documented in Alaska as well as in other states. Hunters using snowmachines in the Hatcher Pass area, for example, have contributed to the decline in ptarmigan abundance here as well as in other areas easily accessed from Alaska's road system. (3) Federal and state agencies in Alaska have no in-depth understanding of snowmachines impact on our wildlife. For the most part, unbridled use continues.
References:
1) Bower, Joseph. 1998. Putting the Brakes on Snowmobiles. Audubon, January-February, Reports Section, pg. 23
2) Report and Formal Comments on the Current and potential Adverse Impacts of Winter Recreational Use in Yellowstone National Park and the Winter Visitor Use Management Planning Process by the U. S. Park Service. Biodiversity Legal Foundation May 10, 1996
3) Off-Road Vehicles and Hunting in Alaska: A Report to the Alaska Board of Game. Alaska Department of Fish And Game. Division of Wildlife Conservation February 1990 p. 28
4) Off Road Vehicle and Snowmachine Use in Alaska: A Report to the Alaska Board of Game. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation October 25, 1996
The Anchorage Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) is a private nonprofit corporation funded by both private and public funds. The AEDC has long promoted the development of an infrastructure for winter tourism. In June 1997, AEDC facilitated the formation of the Alaska Snowmachine Representatives Alliance (ASRA) which is committed to developing a booming snowmachine industry in Alaska. Through ASRA the AEDC is currently involved in working with state and local agencies to develop snowmobile corridors from Anchorage to Eagle River and Eagle River to the Mat-Su Valley. This project is quickly and quietly gaining momentum. The local public in general appears to be either unaware or unconcerned about the corridors potential impact on the quiet rights of public land users, homeowners, communities, businesses, wildlife, visitors and future generations.
A bill has been introduced in the legislature this session that would require snowmachines to be registered at the time of sale. Currently there are thousands of unregistered snowmachines that are unregistered despite a state law that requires registration. Call your legislator and voice your support of this legislation. Suggest that the law also stipulate that a metal plate with the registration number be required on the snow machine tread. This will allow the identification of machines that are being used in closed areas and may be one of the few tools we can use to enforce snowmachine regulations. We have heard of this identification tool being used in Canada but found no supporting literature. The snowmachine operators say it is only a handful of mavericks that are riding in closed areas. This would allow those few to be separated from the majority of law abiding riders.
It was recently reported in the Anchorage Daily News that Alaska State Parks is planning to work toward the development of a statewide winter trails system. State Parks says this is in response to a statewide survey in which snowmachining was listed as one of the top five favorite activities and the top activity that Alaskans would like to participate in. The information reported in the Daily News was based on a press release written by state parks.
It is important for each of us to read the actual survey results published by the state as the section that State Parks has chosen to respond to is only part of what the people in the state of Alaska stated they want.
No mention of the statistics regarding quiet recreation was made in the press release developed by State Parks and sent to the news agencies. Nor was there a mention of any State plans to build the non-motorized trails that the majority surveyed requested. Get a copy of the state parks outdoor recreation survey and read for yourself what it is the residents of Alaska who were surveyed said it is they want.
To obtain a copy of the State of Alaska Division of Parks Outdoor Recreation Survey and the press release, call Ali Illeff at 907-269-8699.
The following information was found in a report called Winter Visitor Use Management, dated April 1997. The report was written by the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee, consisting of Federal Land Managers in the Greater Yellowstone Area.
The report states that existing conditions in the park include conflicts where different and diverse users overlap (snowmachiners and cross country skiers). Inexperienced or unskilled drivers can cause safety problems. The federal managers are unsure of the effects of rapidly increasing winter use on wildlife and other resources. Current snowmachine exhaust and noise levels may create health concerns for employees and visitors.
The team is looking at future options for the area that will help to:
An article in the Billings Gazette dated December 4, 1997 reports on the sale of gasohol in the West Yellowstone area for snowmachines that are headed into the park. Gasohol is being promoted to reduce carbon monoxide and particulate emissions. Haze and exhaust odors have been particularly bad in some areas of the park. In 1994 85,000 snowmachines entered the park, contributing to the haze and exhaust levels. Due to these pollution problems, along with noise and user conflicts, some groups are recommending closing Yellowstone to snowmachines. Those in the snowmachine business hope that by taking a step toward reducing pollution, the image of the industry will be spruced up as there is less dirty air hanging around.
So why the mention of these issues in Yellowstone National Park? These are the same issues we will be facing down the road in Alaska unless necessary measures are taken now to decrease user conflicts; protect wildlife; limit areas where snow machines can travel and create noise, exhaust and haze pollution; as well as minimize noise intrusions in order to maximize the experience of the majority of recreators in Alaska.
Lets learn from the mistakes of others and avoid the conflict and dissent that has arisen in other areas of the country as user conflicts increase. Let us set high standards now for all users of our natural resources, including the resource quiet.
The Anchorage Municipal Code prohibits a person from operating a snow machine:
In summary, of the 3,336,656 acres of legislatively designated lands managed by the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, approximately 65% are opened to snow machine use.
Of the 2,598,430 acres of legislatively designated lands managed by the Division of Forestry, Tanana Valley State Forest and Haines State Forest Resource Management Area, no portions are closed to snow machine use.
In summary, of the 2,598,920 acres of legislatively designated lands managed by the Division of Lands, 99% of the lands are open to snow machine use.
Executive Order 11644, issued Feb.9, 1972, and amended by Executive Order 11989, issued May 24, 1977, sets forth a unified Federal policy toward the use of off-road recreational vehicles (including snow machines) on public lands under the custody and control of the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Defense and the Tennessee Valley Authority. It authorized the agency heads to develop and publish regulations and instructions designating areas opened and closed to off-road vehicles using criteria which includes protection of the resources of the public lands, the promotion of the safety of all users and minimization of user conflicts. Areas and trails were to be located to minimize conflicts between off-road vehicle use and other recreational uses, including taking into account the impact of noise upon populated areas. The amendment specifically authorized agency heads to adopt the policy that lands shall be considered closed except those portions of the lands which are specifically designated as open.
Additionally, Section 1110 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, PL. 96-487, provided special motorized access rights for traditional activities when not otherwise prohibited by law and for travel to and from villages and home sites conservation system units, national recreation areas, national conservation areas and wilderness study areas in Alaska. Access to mining claims is also provided.
The regulations governing vehicle use on National Forest Service lands are set forth at 36 CFR 261.13 (use of vehicles off road), 293.6 (prohibition of motor vehicles in National Forest Wilderness) and 36 CFR Part 295 (use of vehicles off Forest Development Roads). Issuance of Forest Orders which close or restrict the use of specific areas are governed by regulations at 36 CFR 261.50. Forest Order (hereinafter F.O.) 97-2-13, issued February 14, 1997, permits snow machine use in the 5,600,000 acres of Chugach National Forest from December 1 through April 30 unless otherwise restricted. Currently F.O. No. 97-10-10 and No. 97-10-30, issued December 12, 1997, restrict snow machine use in the Turnagain Pass Area, on the Johnson Pass Trail #310, in the Manitoba Mountain Area and on the Mills Creek Road #923. F.O. No. 96-02-15 prohibits snow machines on Portage Lake and F.O. No.96-94-20 and No. 96-06-27 prohibit all motorized vehicle use on Forest Service land and roads on Montague Island. Additionally, seasonal closures issued Jan. 8, 1998, pursuant to Regional Forester Order No. R-10-96-01, prohibit motorized vehicle use from Feb. 16 through Nov. 30 as follows: Resurrection Pass #317 (36.1 miles) Devils Pass #305 (9.6 miles) and West Juneau Creek #972 (3 miles).
The National Park Service has jurisdiction over approximately 54,000,000 acres in Alaska containing 15 parklands including parks, historical parks, monuments and preserves. Regulations at 36 CFR 2.18 deal specifically with snow machines and at (c) prohibit snow machines except where designated. The regulations at 36 CFR Part 13 deal specifically with the national park areas in Alaska and amend or supplement the general National Park Service regulations. The regulations at 13.46 specifically authorize the use of snow machines by local rural residents engaged in subsistence uses in national parks in Alaska designated for subsistence activities. The superintendent is authorized to permanently close or restrict routes or areas to such snow machine use through rule making. It should be noted that regulations permitting local rural residents to use snow machines for other than subsistence have not been published.
Be aware that the National Park Service plans to publish for comment regulations within the next few months prohibiting snow machine use in the former Mt. McKinley National Park area.
The regulations governing off-road vehicles, which by definition includes snow machines, are at CFR Part 8340. There are no special regulations issued for BLM lands in Alaska. See CFR 8560.2. In the Anchorage District, only the Campbell Tract 730 acres are closed to snow machines. In the Northern District three Research Natural Areas, totaling 12,591 acres, in White Mountain National Recreation Area are closed to snow machines and in Steese National Conservation Area 2,960 acres in the Mt. Prindle RNA and Big Windy Hot Springs area are closed to snow machines. In summary, of the 87.7 million acres in Alaska under BLM jurisdiction, only 16,281 acres are closed to snow machine use.
There are 16 National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska totaling 76,816,502 acres. The regulations governing use of motorized vehicles in national wildlife refuges are set forth at 50 CFR 27.31 and limit travel to designated trails and in designated areas. The special ANILCA provisions for Alaska are at 50 CFR 36.31. Specific regulations governing the use of snow machines in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge are set forth at 50 CFR 36.39 (4). Snow machine use is prohibited in various areas and on maintained roads or for racing or harassment of wildlife. It is estimated that approximately 36% of the 2,000,000 acres are closed to snow machines. No additional regulations governing snow machine use in the other 15 National Wildlife Refuges have been located.
The above figures and estimates have been derived from publications, letters, maps and telephone conversations. AQRC would appreciate being notified of any errors.