Project Links
Improve Meteorological Monitoring in Alpine Environments (2008)
North Cascades National Park Service Complex » Improve Meteorological Monitoring in Alpine Environments (2008) » Document List
In 2007, the National Park Service prepared an Environmental Assessment to evaluate the impacts of expanding the climate and hydro-meteorological monitoring network within North Cascades National Park Complex in an effort to gather better information on weather, climate, and precipitation patterns. This action was needed to support North Cascades' long term ecological monitoring program, enhance the efficiency of hydropower power production, and improve understanding of watershed processes and glacier dynamics in response to global climate change.
The Environmental Assessment for this proposal considered two alternatives: (A) Continue Current Management and (B) Upgrade and Expand the Meteorological Monitoring Network. Alternative B included the following actions:
1. Upgrade the existing Browntop Ridge snow course and Easy Pass aerial marker to snow telemetry stations;
2. Discontinue use of the Jasper Pass aerial marker and remove equipment (within 5 years of Easy Pass upgrade); and
3. Install climate monitoring stations at Silver Glacier and Noisy Glacier which would provide near real-time meteorological data, including temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, snow depth, and solar radiation.
On March 13, 2008, the Regional Director of the National Park Service Pacific West Region signed the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/decision document for this EA, identifying Alternative B as the selected alternative for implementation.
Enclosed within the "document list" section of this webpage is the public scoping newsletter that initiated this proposal, the full environmental assessment, and the Finding of No Significant Impact.
360-854-7330
The Environmental Assessment for this proposal considered two alternatives: (A) Continue Current Management and (B) Upgrade and Expand the Meteorological Monitoring Network. Alternative B included the following actions:
1. Upgrade the existing Browntop Ridge snow course and Easy Pass aerial marker to snow telemetry stations;
2. Discontinue use of the Jasper Pass aerial marker and remove equipment (within 5 years of Easy Pass upgrade); and
3. Install climate monitoring stations at Silver Glacier and Noisy Glacier which would provide near real-time meteorological data, including temperature, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, snow depth, and solar radiation.
On March 13, 2008, the Regional Director of the National Park Service Pacific West Region signed the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/decision document for this EA, identifying Alternative B as the selected alternative for implementation.
Enclosed within the "document list" section of this webpage is the public scoping newsletter that initiated this proposal, the full environmental assessment, and the Finding of No Significant Impact.
Contact Information
Jon Riedel, Geologist360-854-7330