BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AREA

IMPLICATIONS FOR TRAIL MANAGEMENT

The T-field, cleared in 1911, has been used for cultivation 89 years. A road surrounds the field and it has been used for recreation year-round. Dr. Packee would like to see a seed orchard established there for production of superior conifer tree seed, but if this is done, the perimeter road would remain and according to Dr. Packee, would not affect his use of the field.

The "Potato Field" was cleared in 1908 but by 1926 in was used only for hay production due to the permafrost there. Hay was last planted there in 1988 and the land has is no longer suitable for cultivation because of the thermokarst mounds. Along with the "Bicycle Bumps" which were once part of the field, this is an excellent area for recreation and interpretation.

Trail use must not interfere with cultivation and research within the T-field. However, the road/trail along the perimeter can be smoothed and maintained for excellent year-round recreational use. It does not require further widening.

The potato field is now used primarily for education and recreation. Lights will be finished around the field in the summer of 2000. No new trails are needed in the area, but the existing trails should be brushed and smoothed to keep them in prime condition for year-round educational and recreational use. If a research project is desired in this area, it should certainly be accommodated and trail use may need to compromise, but it is hoped that research use can be coordinated to minimize an impact on the trails.

1950 The Smith Lake Wildlife Preserve. Research, Education, and Recreation. According to the Minutes of the Board of Regents Meeting in May 1950, the Regents approved a proposal by UAF President Terris Moore (Moore Hall bears his name) that an area around Smith Lake "be made a park with no cutting of trees permitted." Moore, a well-known mountaineer and skilled pilot, parked his Super Cub at Smith Lake during the winter. Boundaries of the area differ from one source to another. Some report the southern boundary to be the southern boundary of Section 36 (the boundary of the Arboretum), others have the southern boundary slightly below the section line, but all agree that the Potato Field was excluded.

Ginny Woods and Celia Hunter, key players in Alaska's environmental movement, were close friends with President Terris Moore, who proposed the Smith Lake Wildlife Preserve. When I asked them about Jim Whisenhant's proposal to have a trailhead nearby and this plan's proposal to build a boardwalk and bird viewing platform, they said without hesitation, "Well, build it of course! Terris wanted it for a park, not for a wilderness. The Arboretum is the relative wilderness area. He wanted this for a park where people could enjoy it and learn about the wildlife there." A hardy mountaineer and outdoorsman himself, they felt Moore would have been delighted to see the area used for recreation and education, as well as research.

1964 Exotic Tree Plantation. Research and Education (not for recreation). The plantation, started by Dr. Les Viereck of the Institute of Northern Forestry (INF), provides space to grow trees and shrubs from different areas to compare varieties and ecotypes under similar conditions, and space to accommodate seedling stock and conduct experiments. The INF, part of the U.S. Forest Service, leased the northern 2.03-acres of the T-Field from UAF.5 When the initial 15 year lease expired in 1979, INF renewed and expanded the lease to include 4.53 acres.6 Currently, the Exotic Tree Plantation is not being maintained on a regular basis due to a lack of funding. Nevertheless, ecology and botany classes and tourists and scientists from other Circumpolar North countries visit the Plantation regularly.

This area is for research and education.

No recreational or trail use.

1967 Biosciences Research Reserve Established The Institute of Arctic Biology (IAB) established the Biosciences Research Reserve in what had been the East Field and Berry Field. They fenced the compound, which over the years has housed facilities to study many animal species, such as reindeer, arctic hare, bears and ground squirrels.

This area is for research and education.

No recreational or trail use.

1968. Boreal Arboretum Established. At their meeting on May 16-18, 1968, the University of Alaska Board of Regents passed a proposal to establish a "Boreal Arboretum." In 1984, Basil Hedrick prepared a "Synopsis of Events and Status Report" on the Arboretum for the Chancellor. He cites the following goals of the Boreal Arboretum: "1) environmental education for University and general public, 2) appropriate recreational use of trails and certain other areas in the Arboretum (cross-country skiing, hiking, picnics), 3) scientific research in an area immediately accessible to University personnel.

This area is for research, education, and recreation. The majority of stakeholders in the Smith Lake Conservation Area planning process favored maintaining this area in a very natural state with rustic, narrow, largely unmaintained trails meandering through it. In keeping with that intent, this plan recommends no new trails or trail widening, or smoothing for the area. As in the past, trails will not be groomed for skiing in the winter in the Arboretum.

This area has been used for research and education. Geophysics had several projects in the area at one time and there are soil plots and biological research sites. Recreational use has been confined to the trails and Ballaine Lake area.

New trails and trail widening/smoothing could be considered in this area. This draft of the plan does not recommend any new trails, but does include widening the Old Section Line trail and the trail from the T-field to Yankovitch Road. These trails will be widened just enough to set tracks for classic (not skate) skiing and a pedestrian lane. Most of the area is boggy and thus not ideal for summer trail use, but the terrain is very flat and good for beginning skiers near the Ballaine Trailhead and those skiing longer distances for fitness and/or practicing technique.

West Ridge. Recreation and Education are the primary uses. Ivar Skarland made trails in this area in the 1930s. A picnic area still exists to the west of the satellite dish and a self-guided nature trail (the Calypso Orchid Trail) was signed in 1995. Natural history classes and environmental education programs have taken place frequently in this area.

With the exception of the Arboretum, this area has the most hilly terrain on north campus. It is ideal for premium ski trails, and because it is dry for walking in summer, is also ideal for environmental education. This plan recommends finishing the Midnight Express loop, as that is the last area of such terrain left open to new trails on campus. All the trails in this area should be kept in excellent condition for year-round use.