Summary:The master plan for the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area master plan is an ambitious overhaul for a place that gets more than 500,000 visitors annually. A public meeting for comment on the plan is expected sometime this summer. It would cost about $80 million to pursue, and where that money will come from isn’t totally clear at this point.
12:50 p.m.
Bob Jane, owner of Gastineau Guiding, said the plan is fantastic and asked what sort of timeline it’s on.
Orr said there should be a public meeting this summer.
‘In a year, we’re hoping to have a decision,” Orr said. “The current estimate for the cost of build-out of everything is $80 million. How are we going to pay for that? Of course, we don’t know. It’s unlikely Congress is going to throw $80 million at us.”
He said there may be private companies that could provide some of the services envisioned in the plan.
Fees are another possible revenue source.
“We’re hoping we can get some support from D.C. on some of those projects,” Orr said.
The Rasmuson Foundation may also be interested in providing a grant, he said.
“One way or another, we should be able to get it done,” Orr said.
12:45 p.m.
The master plan includes a technological makeover — live streaming and documentation of wildlife and an expanded theater wold be part of that effort.
Orr is taking questions from the audience now.
12:40 p.m.
Improving and expanding trails, improving trailheads and possibly offering boat tours on the lake are also part of the plan.
“We’re looking at reconfiguring the bus staging and loading and the parking,” Orr said. “We’re also looking at turning the Photo Point Trail into a loop.”
An expanded bookstore and retail area would be part of a new welcome center that’s part of the planned overhaul.
“On the second floor, we would have a large event area that would be available for meetings and events,” Orr said.
He said the visitor center fields a lot of requests to be the site of meetings and events that it cannot accommodate.
The new building would offer concessions.
“There would be direct access from this building to the current visitor center,” Orr said.
12:30 p.m.
About six years ago, the district applied for a Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) Grant to develop a master plan for the Mendenhall Glacier Recreational Area.
The plan was completed and presented at an open house earlier this year.
National Environmental Policy Act and final design contract have been awarded to ECI Anchorage.
“They’ve already started the process,” Orr said. “ECI will be scheduling a public scoping meeting.”
He did not provide an expected date for the meeting that would allow people to comment on specific parts of the plan.
Orr said there area wide spectrum of opinions on the plan that range from wanting total develop of the area to people who want to see it remain exactly as is.
“We try to balance those interests,” Orr said.
The goals for the plan are: accommodating all that want to come, improving opportunities and facilities and protecting natural resources. Sustainability and cost effectiveness are key ideas too, Orr said
“We hit on the idea of providing some sort of facility near the glacier where people can be close to the glacier and transported there safely and conveniently,” Orr said.
He dubbed the effort chasing the ice and said some sort of shuttle across the water to the remote center would be part of the plan.
“The nice thing about this is these buildings would be modular and portable, so as the glacier recedes further up the valley, they could follow,” Orr said.
Improving and expanding salmon viewing in Steep Creek are part of the plan.
A fish viewing window could be part of the plan, but a few factors mean that’s not a certainty.
“It’s challenging to do, it’s technically challenging, and it could be expensive,” Orr said.
12:20 p.m.
Orr said there are three major attractions at the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area.
“The first major attraction is the glacier itself,” Orr said. “What I notice is that when people arrive they are immediately attracted to the glacier.”
Wildlife and recreation opportunities complete the triad.
Some interesting stats: One in three visitors to Alaska go to the glacier, and visitation is over 500,000 annually.
Orr said a need for expanded capacity is a big reason there needs to be a new master plan in place.
Long lines, crowded bear viewing platforms and backed up buses are worsening the quality of visitors’ experiences, Orr said.
In my personal experience, Friday and Saturday evenings tend to be bus-free and a pleasant time to visit the glacier.
12:10 p.m.
Introductions were relatively quick today, and Orr is about to speak. The first slide in his presentation is titled “Mendenhall Planning Process.”
Noon
USDA Forest Service District Ranger Brad Orr will be the guest speaker at today’s Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
I’d expect the Mendnehall master plan and ongoing warm, dry weather conditions to come up.
[Read our coverage of the master plan]
• Contact reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.
