Mendenhall Glacier is Alaska’s most popular tourist attraction in summer. It was quiet, except for Laurie Craig’s ice-cleats, on a foggy and drizzly January day.
Standing in the pavilion near the parking lot’s edge, she pointed past a vast expanse of hemlock, spruce and toward Nugget Falls. Craig was the naturalist at the visitor center and saw many thousands of tourists pass by. Now, she’s retired.
“The waterfall is breathtaking for people. They can stand in the mist. They are thrilled. Craig stated that there are goats on the mountainside, and bears walking along the treeline, while others are hidden in the trees. How can we keep that magic alive? “While we host a million people?”
The U.S. Forest Service wants people to solve this dilemma between now, and February 21, during the third period of public comment for the Mendenhall Enhancement Project.
In 2017, Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area saw 700,000 people — more than the facilities are designed for. Since 2019 , the Forest Service has been working to improve the recreation area with plans.
Tristan Fluharty, Ranger, says that public feedback — more 400 comments the last time around — has prompted the release of three new plans earlier in this month.
He said, “We have really tried to not only request these public comments but also include them in our alternatives.”
Four other plans are still in existence, which were created at earlier stages of the planning process. All seven plans are still on the table, even though the new alternatives attempt to address public comments.
The new addresses public concerns about the design and placement of new buildings, motorized boats at Mendenhall Lake, and measures to preserve local wildlife habitats.
Three different visions are offered by the new plans for the new visitors centre. An earlier plan proposed a new welcome centre to replace the pavilion at the lake’s edge. This was opposed due to the possibility of blocking the panoramic view. The view can be preserved by moving the welcome center. This could be done by either replacing the existing visitor’s centre or making it two separate buildings near the lake.
Most importantly, alternative 6 is one of the few that does away with motorized boats from Mendenhall Lake. During the public comment period, concerns were raised about the safety of visitors, pollution, and other issues related to commercialization.
Alternative 6, which has the lowest environmental impact, reduces carbon emissions by substituting motorized buses for electric shuttles.
Craig is concerned about bears despite all these plans. Craig is concerned that trail expansion could lead to habitat destruction and more people encounters. She says that the new options address most of her concerns and she hopes people will continue to share their opinions.
“People get tired of doing the same thing over again and again.” She said, “I’ve been there.” She said, “The most important thing is that when we last commented and stated we wanted something different, Forest Service listened and is offering us something new to consider.”
The Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center will host an open house on January 24, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:30 PM, and a webinar on Thursday, January 26, at 5:30 to 7:30 PM, for the public to find out more.
You can submit comments online or by fax, mail, or hand up to February 21.
