Glacier National Park eyeing a decidedly uncertain future

In 1916 President Woodrow Wilson signed the "Organic Act” which created the National Park Service. In that bill, it said the Service has a purpose "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
In Glacier National Park, that mantra is becoming harder and harder to accomplish, admits Jack Potter, as the Park is besieged by both internal and external threats, most of which are not of its own making.

Potter, Glacier’s Chief of Science and Resources Management, said the Park is seeing unprecedented threats to its native flora and fauna. They range from an algae commonly called Didymo that can overtake a stream, to West Nile virus that kills birds, to spotted knapweed to invasive lake trout.

And that’s just a sampling of some of the woes facing Glacier. Sure, it’s still a beautiful place. But will it remain "unimpaired for future generations?"

Probably not.

By CHRIS PETERSON
Hungry Horse News

Full Story: http://www.hungryhorsenews.com/articles/2009/03/16/news/doc49b7ebc3e0546572017140.txt

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Save the Date: On April 13, City Club Missoula will host Chas Cartwright: New Administrator of Glacier National Park.
Chas Cartwright became the Superintendent of Glacier National Park in June of 2008. Approaching his one year anniversary, Cartwright will speak on visitors, wildlife, and other aspects of the National park. More details will be available at http://www.cityclubmissoula.org .