Page 19 - Flathead Beacon // 3.30.16

The Wheeler Cabin on Lake McDonald. BEACON FILE PHOTO
“All of these supplemental funding sources, including philanthropy, are really critical for some exciting projects, some badly needed projects that enhance the visitor experience,” Garder said. “But at the end of the day, philanthropy will only fund so many needs, and Congress must continue to fund parks to bolster them and restore them for their next cen- tury of service to the American people.”
According to Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis, the annual bill for main- taining America’s national parks is nearly twice as much as appropriated by Con- gress, with expenses growing every year.
Even so, Jarvis said he is encouraged that Congress seems to be getting the message after years of complaints.
Lawmakers approved $547 million for maintenance in the current budget year, a $118 million increase over last year. The gure includes spending in the agency’s budget and in the ve-year transporta- tion bill Congress approved in December.
The Park Service also hopes to expand a Centennial Challenge project enabling the agency to leverage private contri- butions to complete important proj- ects that improve visitor services in the parks. Congress provided $15 million for projects this year that will be matched by almost $33 million from more than 90 private partners, according to Jarvis.
In 2015, that included electrical upgrades and a new re sprinkler system at Many Glacier Hotel, as well as starting the reconstruction of its double-helix staircase. In 2016, the Centennial Chal- lenge is funding the rehabilitation of the popular Highline Trail at Logan Pass and the transformation of the Swiftcurrent Trail to a wheelchair-accessible trail.
Garder said philanthropic contribu- tions are critical to lifting charismatic
projects o the ground – projects that are tangible to visitors – but they often don’t include the nitty-gritty infrastruc- ture work needed to keep the Park Ser- vice running.
“A lot of infrastructure is deteriorating without the knowledge of the visitor,” he said. “Friends groups certainly provide funding for infrastructure that enhance the visitor experience, but lower down the totem pole is the day-to-day mainte- nance and basic resource protection, and there’s not a lot of discretionary funding to cover these.”
According to Mow, Glacier Park has an estimated $180 million in deferred main- tenance, roughly $2 million more than a year ago and one of the highest amounts in the nation.
Over $3 million of the bill is in outdated
wastewater systems, nearly $28 million is for aging and historic buildings, and about $123 million is for damaged or dete- riorating roads.
The list is piling higher every year, Mow said, but he remains hopeful that these mounting issues will be addressed before it’s too late.
“It’s a work in progress,” Mow said. “We are trying to actively use partner- ships, not just with the conservancy but with the visiting public. I have to say, we are very lucky at Glacier National Park because so many people are so well con- nected to us. Glacier is a place that really speaks to people, and that can result in philanthropy and volunteerism and other ways in which visitors want to stay con- nected and preserve this park.”
tscott@ atheadbeacon.com
AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS IN THE 21ST CENTURY
305 million
Estimated visitors to National Park
Service sites in 2015, eclipsing the previous all-time visitation record set in 2014 and nearly 20 million more than in 2000.
$11.93 billion
Backlog of deferred maintenance and other infrastructure needs in NPS sites across the U.S., including an es- timated $180 million in Glacier Park.
$2.61 billion
Park Service budget in 2015.
409
National Park Service sites across the U.S. and U.S. Territories. These include 128 historical parks or sites, 78 national monuments, 59 nation- al parks, 25 battle elds or military parks, 19 preserves, 18 recreation areas, 10 seashores, four parkways, four lakeshores, and two reserves.
84,000,000
Acres of NPS sites.
27,000
Historic or prehistoric structures preserved within the National Parks System.
247
Species of threatened or endangered plants and animals within NPS sites.
150
Nonpro t park friends groups that contribute time and nancial support of roughly $50 million annually to NPS sites across the U.S.
Aug. 25, 1916
The date when the National Park
Service was created by an Act of Congress and signed by President Woodrow Wilson. The NPS is cele- brating its centennial this year with events across the U.S. and park man- agers are expecting to break records for visitation yet again.
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Glacier Park has an estimated $180 million in deferred maintenance. BEACON FILE PHOTO MARCH 30, 2016 // FLATHEADBEACON.COM