Planning sessions for how to manage the backcountry of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park are coming next month/NPS

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska will begin a backcountry and wilderness stewardship planning effort this summer with a series of open house meetings beginning the last week of June. 

Together, the park and preserve form the largest national park area in the country. It contains the most designated wilderness '“ about 9.76 million acres '“ of any area, and has an additional 1.5 million acres of 'œeligible' wilderness that will be considered in the planning work. Access is largely by airplane, although a few hiking routes extend off the McCarthy Road corridor. The general management plan for Wrangell-St. Elias was written in 1986, and the work beginning this summer will amend portions of that plan.

'œA lot has changed in this area in the last 29 years,' said Superintendent Rick Obernesser, 'œincluding visitation patterns, commercial use and public expectations.'

Park staff expects the Backcountry/Wilderness Stewardship plan will cover four main areas:

* With the public, identify desired future conditions for backcountry and wilderness.

* Develop management indicators and standards that reflect backcountry and wilderness condition. These indicators and standards will be measurable and will trigger the need for management actions.

* Provide management actions that work towards desired conditions.

* Identify management tools to address recreational and commercial uses and provide for customary and traditional subsistence activities.

Five public open houses have been set to begin the planning, a process that is expected to take 30 months.

'œWe'™re interested in hearing about how people use and enjoy park wilderness, their perceptions on wilderness issues, and ideas about wilderness management,' said park planner Bruce Rogers. 'œWe'™ll also talk about the planning process and the legal framework we work under, including parts of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act and the Wilderness Act.' The meetings will occur at the following locations and times:

· Monday, June 22: Kennecott Recreation Hall, Kennecott, 6:30 p.m. '“ 8:30 p.m.

· Tuesday, June 23: Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve Visitor Center, Copper Center, 6:30 p.m. '“ 8:30 p.m.

· Wednesday, June 24: Slana Community building, Slana, 6:30 p.m. '“ 8:30 p.m.

· Thursday, June 25: Tok School multi-purpose room, Tok, 6:30 p.m. '“ 8:30 p.m.

· Tuesday, June 30: Campbell Creek Science Center, Anchorage, 6:30 p.m. '“ 9 p.m.