Crater Lake symposium broad as well as deep
Herald and News
Klamath Falls, Oregon
October 07, 2002
By LEE JUILLERAT
ASHLAND — Pack horses, fungi, submarines, Indian legends, bull trout, landscape photograph, raptors and geology were among diverse topics discussed during a three-day symposium celebrating the 100th anniversary of Crater Lake National Park.
“Crater Lake: A Tapestry of Inspiration,” was held Friday and Saturday at Southern Oregon University in Ashland and Sunday at the park.
The park is celebrating its 100th year since being established as the nation’s sixth national park by President Theodore Roosevelt in May 1902.
John Reynolds, the recently retired regional director for the National Park Service’s Pacific West Region, praised park officials for honoring the centennial and, even more, for “focusing steadfastly on the future,” during a Saturday afternoon plenary talk.
Reynolds urged park managers and the concerned public to exercise a “cautionary principle” at Crater Lake and all national parks.
“We must continue (managing parks) with increasing diligence,” insisted Reynolds.
He said political pressures nationally and internationally threaten environmental conditions at Crater Lake and elsewhere. As an example, Reynolds said Asian dust blowing from China, which has lax air pollution standards, “is changing everyone’s air internationally.”
Reynolds also recounted efforts by geothermal companies in the 1980s to develop geothermal power projects just outside Crater Lake park’s boundaries. With increasing power demands, he cautioned that renewed energy development efforts are possible within coming years.
“The protections are tenuous at best,” he said of law protecting park resources.
Historically, Reynolds said Crater Lake and other national parks were created primarily for their scenic value. Based on those values, managers previously believed, “If it looks good, it is good. But when it applies to forest health, lake health or stream health, that standard may fall short. Good science and communication has changed how that visual bias is perceived.”
In urging “extreme caution,” Reynolds admitted the park’s ecosystem is “a system we know little about.”
He also said ongoing pressures are affecting Crater Lake and other national parks as more people seek to find refuge in parks. He warned that increased use may affect the “freedom of access” as park managers try to limit the number of vehicles and visitors.
Although Crater Lake was created as a national park primarily because of its unique beauty, but Reynolds said ongoing studies have redefined the park’s value.
He said the four tracts of study at the symposium —”The Park as a Classroom,” “The Park as a Sacred Place,” “A Park for Science and Learning” and “A Park for Inspiration and Expression” — reflect the park’s variety of interests and purposes.
“It is definitely a ‘Wow!’ when you top the rim,” said Reynolds. “It still is the park of a hundred years ago, but think and feel how its mission has grown. The park is becoming more than the people the people who wrote the legislation that created it ever envisioned.”
Regional Editor Lee Juillerat covers Lake, Siskiyou, Modoc and northern Klamath counties. He can be reached at 885-4421, (800) 275-0982, or by e-mail at lee@heraldandnews.com.
Other pages in this section
- Park ranger recognized for rescue efforts – December 15, 2002
- Crater Lake ranger presented with Exemplary Act Award – December 07, 2002
- Obituaries – James Robert Read – November 24, 2002
- Plan: Relocate rim parking: Rim Village parking may leave Crater Lake’s edge – November 22, 2002
- Snow closes Crater Lake’s Rim Drive – November 13, 2002
- Renowned oceanographer featured speaker at Crater Lake symposium – September 18, 2002
- Rex Lee Trulove – September 08, 2002
- Crater Lake Fascinations: Diller’s pin, clear water, fish stories keep lake and park a place of wonder forever fascinating – August 31, 2002
- Navy pilot drops in to Crater Lake, again – August 27, 2002
- Crater Lake centennial party: Celebration amid the smoke – August 26, 2002
- Celebration day: Crater Lake National Park transformed for festivities – August 25, 2002
- Crater Lake license plate available in Oregon – August 25, 2002
- Happy 100th to the gem of Klamath – August 23, 2002
- Crater Lake learning center dedicated – August 23, 2002
- Long lines expected for new license plates – August 23, 2002
- National Park Service leader pays return visit to Crater Lake – August 23, 2002
- Crater Lake events listed – August 22, 2002
- Larson honored for Crater Lake work – August 18, 2002
- Obituary: Howard ‘Bud’ Hittenrauch – August 15, 2002
- Speakers set for Crater Lake – August 15, 2002
- Stunning revelations at high elevations: Runners experience life – August 11, 2002
- Lindgren makes memorable win – August 11, 2002
- Marathon has world, local flavor – August 11, 2002
- Runner takes ‘stroll in park’ – August 11, 2002
- Bush to visit Oregon, not Crater Lake – August 06, 2002
- Keep Rim Drive open – all of the way – July 31, 2002
- Crater Lake license plate unveiled – July 31, 2002
- Dedication of Future Science & Learning Center – August 22, 2002
- The fight for Crater Lake/Winning National Park Status Wasn’t Easy – July 28, 2002
- Centennial Award goes to Crater Lake researcher – July 22, 2002
- The Crater Lake murders and the 9-fingered man – July 21, 2002
- The party is ‘on’ at Crater Lake – July 18, 2002
- Park plan looks at snipping Rim Road – July 05, 2002
- Controlled burns set for Monday at Crater Lake – June 16, 2002
- Controlled burns set for Monday at Crater Lake – June 15, 2002
- Crater Lake’s north entrance open – June 05, 2002
- Crater Lake looking at trail relocation, rehabilitation – June 05, 2002
- Lake retains beauty after 100 years – May 22, 2002
- Crater Lake National Park Centennial ‘Let the celebration begin’ 1902-2002 – May 21, 2002
- The jewel turns 100: a century after it was dedicated, Crater Lake National Park inspires wonder for millions – May 19, 2002
- Old stories about W. F. Arant and Steel come back again and again for family – May 13, 2002
- W.F. Arant – Crater Lake’s first superintendent – May 13, 2002
- Quilting Crater Lake: Rocky Point will raffle quilt to raise funds – May 12, 2002
- Crater Lake alumni sought – May 09, 2002
- Cafe at Crater Lake to reopen – April 26, 2002
- Park Service names new concession official – April 13, 2002
- National park’s father returns: Will Steele on stage at Crater Lake – April 9, 2002
- Xanterra Parks & Resorts Receives Contract to Manage Concessions – April 5, 2002
- Crater Lake to be subject of museum lectures – March 30, 2002
- Crater Lake employee reunion part of Centennial celebration – March 25, 2002
- ‘How Crater Lake came to be’: A Klamath Indian legend Special for the Herald and News – February 25, 2002
- Making tracks at Crater Lake: guide shares insights with snowshoers; his knowledge of the lake is legendary – February 24, 2002
- Crater Lake Centennial Cookbook to be a part of this year’s celebration – February 22, 2002
- Crater Lake Ski Patrol crucial to park operations – February 21, 2002
- Crater Lake concession awarded to Amfac – January 30, 2002
- Lost skiers find searchers – January 24, 2002
- Search for overdue skiers – January 21, 2002
- Going postal for Crater Lake – January 13, 2002