Comments On Olympic Nat’l. Park’s Elwha Rd. Preferred Alternative

PPF submitted the following comments to Olympic National Park. Additional comments may be submitted at:
https://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=99407

To: Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum, Olympic National Park
December 10, 2019

Protect the Peninsula’s Future, a non-profit organization registered with the Washington Secretary of State since 1973, endorses Olympic Park Associates’ request for a full Environmental Impact Statement on an Olympic National Park (ONP) plan for Olympic Hot Springs (Elwha) Road.

ONP’s significance stems from the fact that 95% of it is designated as Wilderness. The preferred alternative project plan will decrease the amount of Wilderness in ONP and diminish what we cherish most in this park.

The plan to build a retaining wall in the river channel will destroy fish habitat at a time when multiple agencies are spending millions of dollars to restore fish habitat. Increasing development in lands and communities near ONP only serves to underscore the importance of maintaining Wilderness areas in ONP lands.

The decision on Olympic Hot Springs Road is critical. Actions to decrease Wilderness are essentially irreversible. There is no need to blithely rush forward on crucial matters with immeasurable ramifications.

Thank you for taking the time to read our comments.

Sincerely,
Steve Koehler
President, Protect the Peninsula’s Future