This document is part of the Wilderness Interpretation and Education Toolbox on http://www.wilderness.net/toolboxes/

Hume Lake Ranger District Wilderness Education Plan

“We have not inherited the world from our forefathers – we have

borrowed it from our children” – Kashmiri proverb

Prepared By: ____Lindsay Black__________________ Date: _03/15/07__ SCA Intern

Prepared By: ____Carol Hallacy___________________ Date: _03/15/07__ Assistant Recreation Officer

Reviewed By: ____Marianne Emmendorfer__________ Date: __03/16/07__ Recreation Officer

Approved By: ___John Exline_____________________ Date: __03/16/07__

Jennie Lakes and Monarch Wilderness

Areas

Sequoia National Forest

March 2007

District Ranger

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I. Why is Wilderness Education and Management Important?

A. Justification: Wilderness Acts Everyone is either a direct or indirect beneficiary of wilderness resources. Whether an individual seeks solitude or primitive recreation, supports wildlife and biodiversity, or lives a fundamentally healthier life due in part to clean air and water, wilderness provides a sanctuary from the effects of encroaching civilization. The National Wilderness Preservation System was established by the Wilderness Act of 1964:

“In order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas within the United States…leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition”

It mandates that wilderness management is: "...to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness. For this purpose there is hereby established a National Wilderness Preservation System to be composed of federally owned areas designated by Congress as ‘wilderness areas,’ and these shall be administered for the use and enjoyment of the American people in such a manner as will leave them unimpaired for future use and enjoyment as wilderness and so to provide for the protection of these areas, the preservation of their wilderness character; and for the gathering and dissemination of information regarding their use and enjoyment as wilderness.”

The California Wilderness Act of 1984 designated the Jennie Lakes and Monarch Wilderness areas located on the Hume Lake Ranger District of the Sequoia National Forest. The fundamental ideas of these wilderness acts can only be achieved through the effective education of all segments of the public and the cooperation of involved management agencies.

National Strategy In 1991, a National Strategic Plan for Wilderness Education was developed. This plan states that the Forest Service is at the forefront of wilderness management and uses education as a primary management tool. The wilderness education program exemplifies the Agency’s role as a wise steward of wild lands and will fulfill the Forest Service’s mandate to preserve the quality of wilderness. A high quality, fully supported wilderness education program, targeted both within the agency and at our publics, will:

Foster knowledge and understanding of wilderness values. Influence behavioral changes that promote the preservation of wilderness quality. Instill and strengthen a wilderness ethic that results in informed decision making. Carry wilderness values to those who do not experience an actual wilderness area through

visitation. Create a constituency, which supports Forest Service wilderness management.

Forest Service Manual Direction 2323.12 - Policy 1. Maximize visitor freedom within the wilderness. Minimize direct controls and restrictions. Apply controls only when they are essential for protection of the wilderness

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resource and after indirect measures have failed. 2. Use information, interpretation, and education as the primary tools for management of wilderness visitors.

The Chief’s 10-Year Wilderness Challenge Action Plan The 10-year challenge has set a goal of having all wilderness areas accomplishing 6 out of 10 Budget Formulation Execution System elements by 2014, and to have this make a difference on the ground. One of the 10 elements is the completion and implementation of a wilderness education plan for each designated wilderness area.

Sequoia National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan (4-24) - Forest Plan Prepare wilderness management plans for the Sequoia National Forest portions of areas designated wilderness by the 1984 California Act (e.g., Monarch, Jennie Lakes and South Sierra).

B. Wilderness Values: Wilderness areas are protected by law in order to preserve the values that wild lands can offer to society. Benefits of wilderness areas include:

Biodiversity: These areas are habitats for hundreds of species of plants and animals including sensitive and endangered species.

Water and air quality: The undeveloped watersheds encompassed by wilderness areas help protect the quality of water supplies for large cities like San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Many wildernesses are Class I airsheds, which are afforded the highest protection under the Clean Air Act.

Ecosystem health: Allowing "nature" to operate freely is an important function of wilderness. These areas provide the opportunity for processes like flood and fire to assume their natural cycles and contribute to healthy ecosystems. Wilderness processes also provide the public with valuable information about natural processes through scientific research.

Education: Wilderness is a living classroom from which knowledge about ourselves and our world are lessons waiting to be learned.

Recreation: Wilderness areas provide opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation. Simply driving a highway through a forested area and observing the scenery is a form of recreation for many, while others prefer to venture into the backcountry for solitude.

C. Wilderness Ethics: Today’s society is becoming more and more distant from the land with every new generation. As the Aldo Leopold Project suggests (www.lep.org), we are losing touch with the land due to urbanization and a feeling of landlessness (the disconnect with nature in modern society.) But even more frighteningly, we’re drifting away from the fact that we are dependent upon the land and its ecosystems for our survival. Leopold suggests that the first step to conserving wild lands

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is to instill a land ethic in the public, or the land owners. If people can learn to love and respect the land, then they will want to care for it for future generations.

“A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac

D. Wilderness Stewardship The Four Cornerstones of Wilderness Stewardship according to the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center (2003) are:

1. Manage wilderness as a whole 2. Preserve wildness and natural conditions 3. Protect wilderness benefits 4. Provide and use the minimum necessary

E. Introduction to Jennie Lakes and Monarch Wildernesses: Jennie Lakes WildernessJennie Lakes Wilderness was designated by the U.S. Congress in 1984 and it now has a total of 10,289 acres. Jennie Lakes Wilderness is located entirely in the Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest. Three mountain peaks, including 10,365-foot Mitchell Peak, stand above a mix of lakes and streams, meadows and forests in Jennie Lakes Wilderness. Here in the central Sierra Nevada, two major lakes (Jennie Ellis Lake, Weaver Lake) mingle with many rocky outcroppings. Most of the area lies above 7,000 feet, with red fir, lodgepole pine, and western white pine composing the forests and an abundance of spring wildflowers filling the meadows. Immediately to the east, you'll find Kings Canyon National Park and to the south is Sequoia National Park.

Five major trails cross the Jennie Lakes Wilderness for a total of 26 miles and receive moderate human use. Two of the trails offer loop hikes around the two major lakes, a distance of about 20 miles. These lakes, along with Rowell Meadow, are the primary destinations for backpackers. Trails also provide access from Jennie Lakes Wilderness into the park’s backcountry.

Monarch WildernessThe southern portion of the Monarch Wilderness is managed by Hume Lake Ranger District in Sequoia National Forest and the larger, northern portion of Monarch Wilderness by Sierra National Forest. The Sequoia portion is located in the South Fork of the Kings River drainage and the Sierra portion is in the middle fork. Visitor use in Sequoia National Forest’s portion of Monarch is minimal due to the steep and strenuous trails and the rugged terrain. Elevations range from about 2,000 feet on the banks of the South Fork of the Kings River to 11,077 feet on Hogback Peak. Brush and oak woodlands cover the lower elevations, giving way to pine and red fir, and barren rock in the higher country. Formerly known as the High Sierra Primitive Area, this wild land is steep and rugged, with high ridges standing above deep canyons. Mountain meadows, streams, shallow lakes, and spectacular multicolored rock formations throughout the wilderness add to the wonder. To the east of Monarch Wilderness is Kings Canyon National Park and the northern tip of Monarch (Sierra N.F.) borders the John Muir Wilderness.

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The ragged, brushy terrain in the northwest portion (in Sierra N.F.) has no trails, and travel is extremely difficult. Trails in the rest of the area (in Sequoia N. F.) are mostly steep and strenuous. The Deer Cove Trail from Highway 180 heads north and rises 3,000 feet in four miles. The most common destinations are Wildman Meadow, Grizzly Lakes and the backcountry of Kings Canyon National Park. Two trails lead into the southern portion of Monarch: the Deer Meadow Trail and the Kanawyer Trail from the Kennedy Meadow Trailhead. Sheer ruggedness has kept human use light despite the fact that State Highway 180 splits the area in half. Popular destinations along the southern border of the wilderness are Grizzly Falls Picnic Area and Boyden Cave. Sequoia groves are located in the southern portion of Monarch Wilderness south of the South Fork of the Kings River in the Deer Meadow area. The Agnew roadless area along the south boundary contains the Agnew Grove.

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II. Goals and Objectives

Wilderness managers recognize wilderness education as a preventative tool to protect and sustain wilderness areas from damaging human actions—whether those actions are careless, unknowing or even intentional. Managers also know that educating wilderness users today can reduce, and in some cases prevent resource damage in the future, which protects natural areas and saves money in the long run.

Through wilderness education we will promote responsible use of the land, instill a land ethic in the users of public lands, and foster an awareness of the values and benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness. This educational plan is a tool for identifying issues, prioritizing actions and tracking accomplishments related to the education of wilderness visitors and land managers on the importance and protection of the wilderness resource.

With this Wilderness Education Plan, the Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest strives to:

1. Increase visitor awareness and understanding of the Wilderness Act and the National Wilderness Preservation System.

2. Teach visitors a general land ethic and Leave No Trace (LNT) practices.3. Increase the public’s knowledge and understanding of the importance of non-

recreational uses of wilderness. 4. Make a special effort to reach young people whose minds are receptive to new ideas.5. Create support and understanding for the wilderness natural fire program (Wildland

Fire Use). 6. Establish positive working partnerships between managing agencies and the public. 7. Manage wilderness recreation to provide high quality experiences with minimal

restrictions of visitor activities, except as necessary to protect the biophysical and geophysical (cave) resources and the character of the wilderness.

8. Influence behavioral changes that promote the preservation of wilderness quality.9. Provide accurate, accessible, and meaningful wilderness information via web pages,

trailhead signage, booklets and brochures, and training of Forest Service employees with wilderness responsibilities, including front desk staff and other field-going staff (front-liners.)

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III. Issues and their Impacts on the Wilderness Resource

1. Improper backcountry practicesSome actions that visitors take in the backcountry such as camping too close to a lake shore or building a new campfire ring have a negative effect on the wilderness resource. However, many visitors continue to use improper backcountry practices such as these because they are unaware of the consequences of their actions. Others might do it because they don’t have the skills needed to behave otherwise, because they are careless, and a few take actions deliberately violating known regulations. Because some visitors do not understand the importance of practicing LNT principles, the results are unacceptable physical and social impacts to a wilderness area.

A. Campsite selection - Campsites too close to water lead to destruction of

shorelines at Jennie and Weaver Lakes - Surrounding the lakes, campsites are too close to each other

for privacy- Loss of vegetation, barren looking campsites because of so

much use, has changed the wilderness character

B. Campfires- Litter: trash remains in rings because it does not burn

completely - Too many campfire rings change the character of the

wilderness- Campfire rings tend to grow and become excessively large- Campfires are built too close to each other (sometimes

within 10 ft.)- Scars on rocks are a reminder of human influence in the

wilderness- Reduction of fuel sources around popular camping areas

like Jennie and Weaver Lakes- Lack of resources for animals- Live trees are “hacked on” and limbed for fuel- Sterilization of soil, reduction of nutrient recycling

C. Sanitation/Human waste- Improper disposal of human waste (no cathole or cathole

not deep enough) leads to water contamination and spread of disease- Litter: unsightly toilet paper and feminine hygiene products

are not packed out - Human waste too close to water sources does not have a

chance to filter through the ground before reaching water again, leading to water contamination

- Defoliation of plants by animals attracted to the salts found in urine

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D. Stock use- Stock tied up too close to water sources leads to

contamination- Lack of LNT practices in individual horse users as

compared with outfitter and guide groups

E. Invasive plants - Non-native invasive plants replace native vegetation and

impact wildlife habitat- Increase erosion- Reduce wildlife and livestock forage

2. Lack of wilderness awareness- Lack of awareness and understanding of what “wilderness”

really is, both ethically and legally, as designated by the Wilderness Act of 1964 (among both the public and Forest Service staff)

- People misunderstand wilderness; most assume it is only for recreation and do not consider other indirect benefits like clean air and water

3. Collaborative effort with National Park Service staffSequoia National Forest and Sequoia and Kings National Parks already have a strong partnership through the joint fee collection program. Communications about upcoming wilderness programs and work projects such as trail maintenance are not as strong as they should be. This is important because many of the backcountry users who start in Sequoia National Forest’s Jennie Lakes and Monarch Wildernesses continue hiking into Kings Canyon National Park.

- Visitor confusion about different roles of land management agencies

- Possibility of inconsistent messages without collaboration- Potential misuse of wilderness areas- Make sure that NPS staff is aware that large groups of

hikers who are not able to fit in under the park’s permit system can use Forest Service wilderness areas, but they must first get a Special Use Permit through the Forest Service

- Be sure to inform hikers beginning trips in Forest Service wilderness and continuing into Park service backcountry that bear-resistant food storage containers are required by both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Forest Service front liners should be able to inform visitors where containers are available for rent/sale

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IV. Target Audiences and Messages

A. Target Audiences include:

o Day hikers o Overnight backpackers o Stock users o Hunters o Organized groups (schools, churches, scouts, etc.) o Outfitters and guideso Local and regional businesses o Forest Service staff o Volunteers o Motorized vehicle users and mountain bike riderso Local retailers

Organized groups include: Montecito Lake Resort (formerly known as Montecito-Sequoia Resort) Stony Creek Resort Sierra Club High Sierra Hiker’s Association, South Lake Tahoe, CA The Wilderness Society, San Francisco, CA and Visalia, CA Backcountry Horsemen of California, Exeter, CA Camp San Joaquin, Woodlake, CA Diabetic Youth Foundation – Bearskin Meadow Camp, Walnut Creek, CA Far Horizons, Inc. Garden Grove, CA Pythian Youth Camp, Acampo, CA High Sierra Volunteer Trail Crew, Fresno, CA

Outfitters and guides include: Horse Corral Pack Station Resort Cedar Grove Pack Station, Three Rivers, CA – Tim Loverin (NPS) Grant Grove Stables, Miramonte, CA (559) 335-9292 (NPS) Chadwick School, Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA (310) 377-1543 Sea and Summit, Bishop, CA Hume Lake Christian Camps Boojum Institute for Experimental Education, Idyllwild, CA Camp Witherbee, Max Strauss Well Springs Adventure Camp

Local retailers include: Sports Authority, Fresno, CA Herb Bauer Sporting Goods` A&A Saddlery, Sanger, CA (559) 875-8333 Camino, Fresno, CA (559) 275-8996 Windrider Llama Treks, Templeton, CA Rigid Corral Mfg. Porterville, CA (559) 781-6565 American Raisin Packers, Selma, CA (559) 896-4331

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B. Key Messages:

1. Improper backcountry practices:

Campsite Selection Camping away from the water’s edge allows access routes for wildlife. If wilderness users camp too close to the lake shore, they scare away animals and can potentially harm the fragile riparian ecosystem by trampling plants that thrive there. Allow enough time and energy at the end of the day to select an appropriate site, away from trail and water. When breaking camp, take time to naturalize the site. Covering scuffed areas with native materials (such as pine needles) and brushing out footprints will help the site recover and make it less obvious as a campsite for the next group.

o At least 100 feet from water o Use legal, pre-existing sites (don’t create new ones) especially in high-use areas surrounding Jennie and Weaver Lakeso Do not trample vegetation o Do not build new fire rings, you should only have a campfire if there is already a ring built in your campsiteo Choose a site out of sight of other people for your privacy and theirso Naturalization of campsite after use

Campfires The use of campfires, once a necessity for cooking and warmth, is steeped in history and tradition. Some people would not think of camping without a campfire. Campfire building is also an important skill for every camper. Yet, the natural appearance of popular areas such as around Jennie and Weaver Lakes has been degraded by the overuse of fires and an increasing demand for firewood. Campfires rings are man-made structures, not natural. Campfires leave blackened scars on rocks which degrade the visual quality of the immediate area. Some visitors build new campfire rings when there is not one available in their site or they don’t want to share with neighboring campsites. This leads to more and more campfire rings and scarred rocks.

Campfires also sterilize the soil and reduce nutrient recycling. A campfire built repeatedly in the same area gives the campsite a denuded, barren and unnatural look.

The development of lightweight, efficient camp stoves has encouraged a shift away from the traditional fire. Stoves have become essential equipment for minimum-impact camping. They are fast, flexible, and eliminate firewood availability as a concern in campsite selection. Stoves operate in almost any weather condition, and they Leave No Trace.

o LNT principles:1. The most important consideration to be made when deciding to use a fire is the potential

damage to the backcountry2. What is the fire danger for the time of year and the location you have selected?3. Is there sufficient wood so its removal will not be noticeable?

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4. Does the harshness of alpine growing conditions for trees and shrubs mean that the regeneration of wood sources cannot keep pace with the demand for firewood?

5. Do group members possess the skill to build a campfire that leaves no trace?

o Encourage the use of stoves rather than campfires at Jennie and Weaver Lakes. Benefits of using stoves over campfires include:1. Stoves leave little or no impact on the land while improper fires can scar the land for decades2. Stoves are less likely to get out of control3. Stoves are more convenient. You don’t need to gather fuel and build a teepee. Just turn on the

fuel, light it, and you’re ready to go. When you are finished cooking all you have to do is turn the stove off and let it cool. When done cooking with a fire, you must take the time to put the fire out completely and make sure that it is completely out

4. Stoves are cleaner, you don't have to worry about ash getting into your food when you're doing the camp cooking

5. Stoves are easier to cook with. You have more control over the flame and the amount of heat output with a stove

o Lessening impacts when campfires are used 1. Use pre-existing fire rings to minimize rock scarring2. “If there is no fire ring at your campsite, please do not build a new one” should be written on

signs, in brochures/handouts, etc.3. Keep fires small and manageable4. Only use small pieces of dead and downed wood, no larger than your arm5. Must be at least 100 feet from water

Sanitation/Human Waste Sanitation practices in the backcountry require extra effort. Washing and the disposal of human waste must be done carefully to avoid contaminating water sources. Water can become polluted from the runoff of soaps, food waste and human waste. Toilet paper and other trash also leave an unsightly impact.

o Encourage proper sanitation

1. Wash yourself and your dishes away from water sources rather than directly in them. This gives the water a chance to filter back through the ground before it returns to its source

2. Use minimal amounts of biodegradable soap or avoid using soap, which can pollute lakes and streams

3. Pour wash water on the ground away from water sources and the kitchen area4. Encourage understanding that biodegradable soap is not “safe” to use in water

o Disposal of human waste1. Dispose of human waste in a cathole away from water, trails, and campsites2. LNT principles:

A. Select a cathole site far from water sources, 200 feet (or approximately 70 human steps) is the recommended range

B. Dig a cathole at least 6 inches deep; fill in and cover when you are finished and naturalize the surface area

C. If camping with a group or if camping in the same place for more than one night, disperse the catholes over a wide areas; don’t go to the same place twice

D. Try to find a site with deep organic soil. This organic material contains organisms which help decompose the feces (organic soil is usually dark and rich in color)

E. If possible, locate your cathole where it will receive maximum sunlight. The heat from the sun will aid in decomposition

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F. Choose an elevated site where water would not normally runoff during rainstormsG. Select an inconspicuous site untraveled by people. Examples include thick undergrowth,

near downed timber, or on gentle hillsides

3. Pack out toilet paper so animals cannot dig it up or use natural toilet paper such as rocks, sticks and pinecones

4. Do not urinate on plants or other vegetation; instead go on non-vegetated areas such as rocks, far from a water source

Stock Use When selecting a campsite, first consider your stock. The campsite should be able to accommodate your animals without any damage to the area. As you ride into a potential campsite, look it over and decide whether there is enough feed. In addition to feed requirements, give thought to wildlife. If the area is overgrazed, your stock may remove feed otherwise needed by wildlife during winter months. Also, consider where your stock can be watered. Pick a place with a streambank that can withstand hard use and that is downstream from camp. Loose herding for watering causes substantial streambank damage. Avoid lakeshores and soft meadows and soils.

o LNT principles:1. Select a campsite that is hidden from the trail2. Keep groups small and carry lightweight equipment3. Select a campsite that has enough feed for your stock 4. Keep stock 200 feet or more from lakeshores 5. Bring pellets, grain, or weed-free hay to areas where feed is limited or grazing is not allowed 6. Remove (or scatter) manure; remove excess hay and straw 7. Use hitchlines, hobbles and pickets to constrain pack animals8. Move picket pins and temporary corrals several times a day

Invasive PlantsThere are no known invasive plants in the Jennie Lakes and Monarch wilderness areas. However, an accurate inventory needs to be done to monitor whether or not invasive species pose a threat to these areas, especially along the trails and in meadows.

o Identify and document protocols for use by agency staff o Impacts of non-natives on ecosystem o Ways to reduce impacts o How people can prevent/stop introduction and spread of noxious weeds

For all improper backcountry practices:Target audiences: All wilderness users (overnight and day use hikers, hunters, outfitter and guide permittees, stock users, organized groups), Forest Service staff, volunteers

2. Lack of wilderness awarenesso Wilderness values transcend recreation o Wilderness is a full partner in the Forest Services’ multiple use missiono Wilderness is designated by Congress to be preserved in its wild state for

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the use and enjoyment of present and future generationso Wilderness provides:

An opportunity for solitude and primitive recreation Physical challenge Mental stimulation and inspiration Open space and wildlife habitat Undisturbed landscapes/ecosystems Improved air and water quality Scientific study Escape from mechanization, technology, etc.

o Wilderness areas are special and sometimes fragile areaso Entering a wilderness requires a large amount of responsibility toward

protection of the resourceo If a person choose to go to a wilderness they must adhere to the

regulations and the LNT principles

Target audiences: All wilderness users, Forest Service staff, volunteers, general public and school aged children

3. Collaborative effort with Forest Service and NPS staff about wildernesso Work with NPS staff to increase visitor awareness about wildernesso Each agency should be aware of actions that the other is taking regarding

wilderness management with every new field season

Target audiences: Forest Service staff, volunteers

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V. Action Items, Implementation Plan and Monitoring

The actions that will be taken to address the above issues and communicate the messages to the target groups are displayed below in categories. Priorities will be determined each year by budget and available staff.

Internal StaffWho is directly

responsible?

Audiences Outcomes MonitoringMedia Participants Short term (2007) Medium term (2008) Long term (2009-2011)

Recreation,Visitor Information Specialist

Handouts/Brochures

All wilderness users (day and overnight hikers, stock users, organized groups, outfitters and guides)

- Send the message that “You determine the quality of the wilderness,” meaning that wilderness users are responsible for the condition of the land

-Revise campfires handout to include more LNT info (explanations of why not to do things rather than a list of “do nots”)

- Revise Jennie Lakes Wilderness handout

-Create a handout about Monarch Wilderness to raise public awareness of its existence and recreational opportunities available. This could be in combination with the revised Jennie Lakes Wilderness handout because they have the same target messages and audiences

-Create a new handout detailing the benefits of using camp stoves over campfires

-Create new handout in Spanish about campfires

-Create new handout in Spanish about LNT principles

-Revise “Leave No Trace! An Outdoor Ethic” handout to include more explanations about why to follow LNT principles, e.g., selecting a campsite and building campfires

-Create new handout advocating the use of camp stoves over campfires

-Create new handout about Wilderness (not specific to Jennie Lakes or Monarch areas) with a broad overview of the history and values of wilderness

-Review handouts to make sure they present current information

-Feedback from frontliners whether or not people take time to read handouts

-How many handouts are distributed?

Recreation, Visitor Information Specialist

Displays All wilderness users (day and overnight hikers, stock users, organized groups, outfitters and guides)

-Include colorful LNT posters in outdoor kiosk

-Rearrange front desk display area to make LNT poster more readily visible, include photos of Jennie and Monarch wilderness areas

-Create a new, permanent display for the front desk “What is Wilderness?” including information about wilderness history and values and photos of Jennie Lakes and Monarch wilderness areas

-Create a new, permanent display for the outside kiosk “What is Wilderness?” including information about wilderness history and values and photos of Jennie Lakes and Monarch wilderness areas

-Feedback from frontliners whether or not people take time to read/look at displays

Recreation, Trailhead Signs All wilderness -On the information boards at trailheads and -Replace Big Meadows trailhead sign and -When the time comes to replace other -Feedback

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Internal StaffWho is directly

responsible?

Audiences Outcomes MonitoringMedia Participants Short term (2007) Medium term (2008) Long term (2009-2011)

Wilderness/ Trails Manager

users (day and overnight hikers, stock users, organized groups, outfitters and guides)

at the front desk in the office, create smaller more colorful signs about the target issues in these wilderness areas, 1. camping too close to lake shores and 2. the use and creation of new campfire rings. These signs will emphasize target problems through reiteration and will use colorful, catchy text and sketches to draw visitor attention.

-On the information board, include a signed letter from Wilderness/Recreation staff asking visitors to follow certain LNT principles (Carson-Iceberg Wilderness in Stanislaus National Forest has a good example)

redesign it to include explanations about why to follow certain target LNT principles. Also, include site specific information, e.g. “Camping too close to the shorelines of Jennie and Weaver Lakes has caused a disruption of the lake ecosystems. Campers should not camp within 100 feet to allow for restoration.”

trailhead signs at Rowell Meadow, Marvin Pass, Stony Creek trailhead, and Deer Cove, follow the redesigned model for Big Meadows. Have an additional sign made for the Kennedy Meadow trailhead. Each sign will focus on local issues.

-Discontinue the trailhead register, replace with a voluntary permit system which is more effective in tracking visitor usage

-Start a voluntary permit system to track visitor use of the wilderness areas. Carbon copy permits would be available at small boxes at the trailheads. Include information such as dates, type of use (day, overnight, stock), destinations, overnight destination, number of people in group, where they are from. After filling out their permit, visitors would slip one copy into the box and carry one copy with them on their trip. On the backside of the visitor copy, print LNT regulations and specific rules about camping far enough away from Jennie and Weaver Lakes. Make this information available on Sequoia’s website under the “Wilderness” section and state that they are voluntary and available only at the trailhead.

-Use the information from the voluntary permit system to determine use patterns. Based on the typical destinations from a certain trailhead, include information about target problems to be addressed (e.g., from Big Meadow to Weaver Lake-majority of use is day hikers, include information about properly disposing of human waste on the trail.)

from SCA staff on effectiveness of signs (did visitors mention when talking to SCAs or did they read or read them before leaving trailhead?)

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Internal StaffWho is directly

responsible?

Audiences Outcomes MonitoringMedia Participants Short term (2007) Medium term (2008) Long term (2009-2011)

Recreation, Visitor Information Specialist

Merchandise Day and overnight hikers, stock users

-Move wilderness pins and patches to a more noticeable location, perhaps under glass on the front desk or pinned to a Forest Service ball cap on display

-Display Jennie Lakes and Monarch wilderness areas map with the other books for sale in the front office

-Include books about LNT principles in our display bookshelf/inventory. Suggestions include: o Soft Paths by Bruce Hampton and

David Cole, Stackpole Books 1995o Walking Softly in the Wilderness, The

Sierra Club Guide to Backpacking (4th ed.) by John Hart, Sierra Club Books 2005

o From Pioneers to Preservationists: A Brief History of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks by Douglas H. Strong, Sequoia Natural History Association 2000

o Simple Foods for the Pack (3rd ed.) by Claudia Axcell, Vikki Kinmont Kath, and Diana Cooke, Sierra Club Books 2004

o The Camper's Companion, Tips and Tales for the Trail edited by Robert C. Etheredge, MiraVista Press 2004

o Backpacker Leave No Trace (2nd ed.) by Annette McGivney

o Falcon Guide to Leave No Trace by Will Harmon

o How to Shit in the Woods by Kathleen Meyer

o Wilderness Ethics by Laura & Guy Waterman

o Backwoods Ethics by Laura & Guy Waterman

-When a new map is printed for Monarch and Jennie Lakes Wildernesses, revise it to include more about LNT principles (make LNT more prominent, put info on the same side as the map in the margins so people will see it more frequently, include explanations of why to take certain actions rather than just a list of “dos” and “do nots”) Also, include a section about “what is wilderness” including information about wilderness values and history. The goal of the map would be not only for route finding but to educate wilderness users about their impacts on wilderness and how they can reduce them. The map would reach users that might not see a ranger or speak with a receptionist. Most users of the wilderness would want a map. This informational piece would reach the greatest number of users.

-Follow sales trends for Wilderness and LNT materials

Recreation, SCA Interns

Training Forest Service Staff, Seasonal Staff, SCA Interns

-Annual training (spring) for front liners and seasonal staff because these are the people who will most effectively spread the message to visitors about human impacts and their effects on wilderness

-Training for all Forest Service staff about wilderness awareness, history and values in a biannual meeting

-Develop a new “Wilderness Education Primer” for all new employees, a small book

-Front liners and other staff like Fire and Wildlife could benefit from these courses:o LNT trainer courses, listing available:

http://www.lnt.org/training/trainercourses/index.html

o Arthur Carhart National Wilderness

-Count number of visitor contacts through patrol cards and at

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Internal StaffWho is directly

responsible?

Audiences Outcomes MonitoringMedia Participants Short term (2007) Medium term (2008) Long term (2009-2011)

-Invite Brett Pettey (volunteer at Stanislaus National Forest) to do an education program for front liners and seasonal staff

-Front liners and Recreation Staff should include a link to www.wilderness.net or www.lnt.org when responding to e-mails requesting wilderness related information

-Create a packet of information for SCA backcountry interns including information about wilderness awareness and LNT principles and practices to make seasonal training easier. This will also define their duties in the backcountry, e.g.,o Inventory the campsites and fire rings

and Jennie and Weaver Lakes at the beginning of season and every two weeks after that

o Eliminate illegal campsites and fire rings and naturalize the areas early in the season to discourage their continued use

o Training on how to approach and contact visitors, including those who have destructive backcountry practices

o Create a patrol card for interns to use on a daily basis to monitor quantity and type of visitor use (day, overnight, location of campsites, stock use, lbs. of trash collected, # and location of fire rings, campsite contacts, etc.)

o Monitor and keep fire rings small, eliminating those that are built unreasonably close to each other

o Distribute LNT plastic “ethics reference cards” to visitors camping in

of basic ideas and information about wilderness

-LNT Trainer status required for both Recreation Officer and Assistant Recreation Officer so they can train other staff

-Make more direct visitor contacts with backcountry users via front liners, wilderness patrols and SCA interns (Have the office open as many Saturdays during the summer as possible to maximize visitor contacts)

-Educate work crews (CCC trail crews, people who volunteer for a clean up day) about LNT principles and treading lightly

Training Center courses for Fire Resources, Wilderness Stewardship, Resource Monitoring and Restoration, etc., available: http://carhart.wilderness.net

-Increase visitor awareness of the fire use and fire management in wilderness

-Incorporate wilderness awareness training into seasonal Fire Crew training before the summer gets too busy (use of cross-cut saws vs. chainsaws, suppression vs. let it burn, how to Leave No Trace in the wilderness)

-When more money is available, hire a full time, permanent (subject to furlough) Wilderness Ranger to oversee wilderness management. Duties would include:o Patrolling wilderness areaso Obtain LNT Trainer status to educate

other staffo Conduct biannual training of all staff,

and annual spring training of front liners and seasonal staff, including the SCA interns

o Overseeing trail maintenance and construction projects

-Create a “Wilderness Box” full of resources for wilderness awareness, wilderness management, wilderness history, etc. (see above list for merchandise for some ideas.) This would be available to everyone in the office/district

the front desk-Informal survey measuring the effectiveness/ suggestions for staff wilderness training

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Internal StaffWho is directly

responsible?

Audiences Outcomes MonitoringMedia Participants Short term (2007) Medium term (2008) Long term (2009-2011)

the backcountry who are interestedo Maintain a record of illegal campsites

and campfire rings removed to monitor the effectiveness of closures

o Complete an “end of the season” report which includes a review of the effectiveness of wilderness education

Recreation, Visitor Information Specialist

Education General public, indirect wilderness users, K-12 and college students

-When teaching people about wilderness, start with asking “Why is wilderness important?” and explaining the values and benefits of wilderness areas. Hopefully this will give the audience a better appreciation of why we have and need to protect wilderness areas. From there, move on to explain how to protect the wilderness, e.g., practicing LNT principles while in wild lands, wilderness awareness education

-Continue teaching LNT at Scicon and include more information about wilderness values and a brief history of wilderness. Ideas for resources can be found at:o http://leopold.wildernesss.net/

default.htmo http://carhart.wilderness.net/

-Continue presenting Impact Monster Skit when possible (requires about 7 people)

-Develop campfire talk about wilderness

-Develop a wilderness education program to present to elementary schools, scout troops, camps, youth organizations. The goal of this program will be to instill a wilderness appreciation and a land ethic in students

-During the winter season when there are not as many visitors, front desk staff will set up meetings with and travel to local schools (and later regional schools) to present programs about wilderness awareness, values, and history. This could be a PowerPoint slide with photos, or a curriculum, anything that gets kids involved in discussion about wild lands. This will happen at least once a month from November-March except during school breaks

-Establish working partnerships with camps that bring in visitors on special use permits. The goal is to integrate wilderness ethics and LNT principles into their operations

-Provide local schools and teachers with teaching tools/curriculums, for example:o “The Wilderness and Land Ethic

Curriculum K-8,” http://carhart.wilderness.net/

o “The Wilderness and Land Ethic Curriculum 9-12,” http://carhart.wilderness.net/

o “Introducing Wilderness, Gila Wilderness Trunk,” http://carhart.wilderness.net/docs/resources/gila_trunk.htm

o Impact Monster Skit

-Establish formal partnerships and working relationships with local college and university outdoor recreation programs. Coordinate training, education programs and college classes for staff members and students

-Coordinate an outdoor recreation/ wilderness workshop for regional college and university program leaders

-Establish formal partnerships with local outdoor retailers and outfitters and guide groups to promote wilderness ethics and LNT principles into their operations and interactions with customers (check out REI,

-Program participants could fill out a post evaluation form. These should include questions that center around overall satisfaction of the program, performance/competence of the instructor, intended behavior changes and new knowledge learned.

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Internal StaffWho is directly

responsible?

Audiences Outcomes MonitoringMedia Participants Short term (2007) Medium term (2008) Long term (2009-2011)

LL Bean and Land’s End for ideas)Recreation Internet All wilderness

users (day and overnight hikers, stock users, organized groups, outfitters and guides), general public

-Update Hume Lake Ranger District website to make access to wilderness information more readily available. Make a link to the wilderness page available from the main page of Sequoia National Forest

-Include these links to useful wilderness websites:o www.wilderness.net (link already

exists)o www.sierranevadawild.gov Sierra

Nevada Trip Planning Guideo www.sierrawildbear.gov Sierra

Interagency Black Bear Groupo http://www.nps.gov/seki/

planyourvisit/wilderness.htm Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness Information

o http://www.lnt.org/ Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

o http://www.treadlightly.org/ Tread Lightly! On Land and Water

o http://www.lep.org Leopold Education Project, Lessons in a Land Ethic

o http://wildlink.wilderness.net/ Wildlink

-Use the resources available from www.wilderness.net in the toolbox under “Forest Service Wilderness Website” for guidelines, reference materials, and tips for improving websites

-On the initial “Wilderness” page, include a link to “Wilderness Trip Planning” rather than making visitors use the back button to navigate back to the previous page

-Monitor website, make sure links are functional

-Use the resources available at http://fsweb.wo.fs.fed.us/rhwr/wilderness/ (Wilderness Manager’s Homepage) to find suggestions and information for Sequoia’s website

-Look at example websites listed in this toolbox, especially Inyo National Forest’s webpage: http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/recreation/wild/index.shtml

-Include more information about the history of the Wilderness Act, wilderness values, and the importance of the wilderness resource under the section “Wilderness”

-Information on Internet pages should be downloadable so people can print it off and take it them with them

-Include information about the voluntary wilderness permit system (if they will be available at the office or the trailhead or both; what information visitors should have ready for the permit; self-register.) Explain why there is a voluntary permit system and suggest that visitors learn about LNT techniques before coming to the wilderness

-Monitor website, make sure links are functional, check for updates and newly created wilderness information sites to add to our links

- Create an interactive quiz about how to travel lightly in the wilderness to get website visitors involved

-Create pages to discuss topics like trip planning; food storage; minimum impact regulations; minimum impact stock regulations; trail descriptions; and wilderness management

-Count number of website hits-Count number of people getting campfire permits online-Count number of people taking the wilderness quiz

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Internal StaffWho is directly

responsible?

Audiences Outcomes MonitoringMedia Participants Short term (2007) Medium term (2008) Long term (2009-2011)

(“Recreational Activities”) to find the linkRecreation, LNT Trainer, SCA Interns

Seasonal Interpretive Programs

Campground users, day hikers

-Incorporate LNT principles into summer interpretive programs -Give LNT trainer course to SCA interns at beginning of summer season

-Continue presenting Impact Monster Skit when possible (requires about 7 people)

-Develop campfire talk about wilderness

-Provide seasonal Interpretive staff (SCA interns) with training and information packet about wilderness and urge them to use it in their programs

-Include more information about wilderness awareness in interpretative programs

-Continue to host SCA interns and encourage their education in wilderness

Recreation Supervisor, Assistant

Collaboration between Forest Service and NPS staff

-Wilderness staff from both agencies will meet at least once a year, preferably before the summer season gets too busy, to discuss current projects for their wilderness areas (e.g. trail maintenance, new trailhead signs, trailhead registers, disseminating visitor information)

-Both agencies will provide consistent information regarding wilderness regulations

-Joint policy review to ensure that the approach to wilderness management is as consistent as possible

-Improve participation in WildLink program

-In the future, both the Forest Service (eventually all the districts of Sequoia NF) and NPS in the area will work together to provide wilderness education and outreach to indirect wilderness beneficiaries through educational programs (e.g., college groups, high school and elementary school groups, the general public)

-Continue collaboration between agencies

Recreation Supervisor, Visitor Information Specialist, SCA Interns

Outreach to stock groups, Handouts, Backcountry contacts with stock users

Stock users -Work with the Backcountry Horsemen of California’s local chapter to spread information about wilderness. For example, offer to have a Ranger go to their annual rendezvous to give a presentation or include articles in their quarterly newspaper about minimum impact practices and endorsed by the Forest Service

-Contact Outfitters and Guide groups to find out what information is available about wilderness awareness and practicing LNT techniques

-Encourage Outfitter and Guide groups to incorporate LNT practices into their services and disseminate information to their clients. Offer them handouts from the Forest Service and information about how to find LNT training courses

-Update signs at Horse Campground to contact individual stock users about minimum impact LNT stock regulations after finding out what problems, if any, are occurring

Recreation Supervisor

Miscellaneous General public, All wilderness users (day and

-In addition to the two clean up days along the Kings River we host annually, host other clean-up days for Sequoia Forest and

-Encourage local scout troops to work toward LNT or wilderness badges; have Wilderness Rangers go to their meeting to

-Prepare programs for local school and articles/stories for the media to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act of

-Record and compare number of

21

Internal StaffWho is directly

responsible?

Audiences Outcomes MonitoringMedia Participants Short term (2007) Medium term (2008) Long term (2009-2011)

overnight hikers, stock users, organized groups, outfitters and guides)

popular wilderness destinations like Jennie and Weaver Lakes, Rowell Meadow. Other ideas are the popular day use and trailhead parking lots like Big Meadows

- Look through special use permits to see who the large user groups are who use the wilderness resource. Use this information to contact them about practicing LNT behaviors; volunteering opportunities; and teaching a land ethic to their members

-Ensure that special use permits meet wilderness regulations

-Raise awareness about special use permits so that groups know they need to get one before using Forest Service land and wilderness areas

present training sessions 1964 (in 2014) people who help with volunteer clean up day annually

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