The statement also lists nine critical issues facing park management, many of which have confronted NPS officials for more than a decade. These are:
1. Monitoring and protection of “Crater Lake” and caldera ecosystem.
2. Future development and location of new Crater Lake Lodge/other new developments.
Corollary issue – future of existing lodge.
3. Monitoring and development of management strategy concerning geothermal resources adjacent to park.
4. Monitoring and preservation of Class I – Air Quality.
Corollary issues – acid rain, smoke management and geothermal.
5. Future of permanent and seasonal housing, includes extent, cost, and location.
6. Continued pressure to permit inappropriate or adverse use of park hands, i.e., snowmobiles/Rim Run.
7. Evaluation and decision on percentage of time park roads are open.
8. NPS position on possible Klamath Tribal hunting rights, Crater Lake National Park.
9. Long-range decision on administrative Headquarters location for Crater Lake National Park. [92]
Several of the aforementioned issues deserve further comment, while others are covered in other chapters of this study. During the 1970s snowmobiling became an increasingly active winter pastime in Oregon, thus putting pressure on Crater Lake management to open the park to that winter sport. As a result of extensive study in 1975-76 special regulations were put into effect. Snowmobiles were restricted to the eight-mile unplowed north entrance road between the park boundary and the rim. Snowmobile organizations campaigned to have another park route designated for their use, focusing particular attention on the former east entrance road to Rim Drive. Park officials held firm, however, maintaining the established regulations in the interest of visitor safety, limiting cross-country skier-snowmobile contacts, and preserving traditional park values. By 1980 snowmobile parties using the designated route had quadrupled since 1976. At the same time the number of cross-country skiers had multiplied six times since the mid-1970s, thus making it imperative to minimize contacts between the two groups for safety purposes. [93]
In 1976 an annual Crater Lake Rim Run was commenced in the park. Within several years this event was attracting more than 500 participants, and the race was interferring with traditional park visitor activities. By the early 1980s steps were being taken to minimize such conflicts. [94]
On November 21, 1986, a new organizational chart for the park was prepared. The chart reflected various changes that had been effected in the park administrative structure during the previous several years to streamline park operations and provide for a more cost-efficient approach to management. Under the park manager or superintendent were four divisions–resource management and visitor protection, administration, maintenance, and interpretation. In addition an architect, supervising construction projects in the park, is supervised from the Denver Service Center, with local direction from the Superintendent of Crater Lake National Park. The staff of Oregon Caves National Monument answer directly to the superintendent. [95]
