From: Don_Reeser@nps.gov
Subject: Horses, hiker safety, and disposal of toilet tissue
To: siegmund@astro.washington.edu
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 11:49:45 -1000
Dear Mr. Siegmund:
Thank you for your comments concerning the use of horses on park trails. However please consider the following:
Horse-use in the summit area occurs between 6,000 and 9,000 ft. elevation. The park depends on horses and mules to transport employees and equipment to maintain cabins, repair trails and perform resources management work. The public has enjoyed visiting the wilderness via horseback for more than 100 years. We permit commercial horse tours on the Sliding Sands Trail but prohibit commercial use on the Halemau'u Trail.
Banning horses altogether would solve the problem you speak of but this would cripple the backcountry maintenance operations and it would be opposed by commercial operators using the Sliding Sands Trail whose businesses would be jeopardized.
Another option is requiring poop bags or diapers that fit on the end of the horse and are dumped into outhouse like receptacles at appropriate sites around the park. This option sounds good in theory, and we have considered it, but have not made a decision to promulgate that regulation. The problem is exacerbated when we haven't had rain for an extended period.
Prior to the establishment of the park, the area was highly impacted by cattle, feral goats and pigs. In the late 1980s the park completed 50 miles of fencing to exclude feral animals. As a result, park's native vegetation has recovered significantly. Axis deer that can jump our boundary fences are increasing on Maui and pose a new threat.
Currently the greatest threat to park resource is Miconia calvensens which is now recognized as the most invasive and ecosystem modifying of all tropical weed species. First introduced into Tahiti (ecologically similar to windward Maui) in 1937, this large-leafed tree has displaced native forests over 2/3 of that island. In Tahiti, 40-50 species of the 107 plant species endemic to that island are believed to be on the verge of extinction primarily because of invasion of Miconia calvescens.
Since Miconia was discovered near Hana, Maui, in 1990 it has been the object of increasing concern and control efforts. Interagency efforts over the past decade against Miconia on Maui with primary financial support from county and state sources (and significant support from FWS in the past four years), have substantially reduced the invader's spread, but have chronically suffered from inadequate though gradually increasing resources. Miconia now threatens all native rain forest ecosystems of East Maui, including Haleakala National Park's Kipahulu Valley. Since each fruiting tree potentially produces millions of bird-dispersed seeds, spread is rampant unless fruiting is prevented.
In summary, current horse-use in the wilderness is considered to be a minor problem by research scientists and resource mangers in light other threats to park ecosystems. For your article, I suggest you further investigate the park's resources management program and accomplishments so your readers may understand the horse issue in its proper perspective.
Thank you for providing us the opportunity to comment. If you would like more information you can reach me at 808-572-4401.
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