SEPTEMBER 1988 DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT PLAN SOLEDUCK AREA OJSUQDG‘H ’9?% "DA ‘@33NTENTS INTRODUCTION 2 Planning Process Plan Summary DEVELOPMENT CONCEPT PLAN MAPS 3—5 Valleywide Resort Areawide Sol Duc Resort DESCRIPTION OF CONCEPTS 6 CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATES 7 PREPARE RS 8 INTRODUCTION PLANNING PROCESS In 1976, the Master Plan for Olympic National Park was completed to provide general, park-wide guidance for management. It stated that the Sol Duc Resort will continue to offer day-use services, and if private capital is available to replace obsolete overnight accommodations within a reasonable period of time, lodging will be continued. Several factors have changed in the Soleduck valley since the 1976 Master Plan. The Sol Duc Resort pools were redeveloped, the lodge was reconstructed, all of the lodging units were removed and partially replaced, and improvements to the Soleduck Road are nearing completion. In the years prior to road construction, visitation to the valley had increased by over 60 percent, and is expected to continue to rise at a moderate rate now that the road has been reopened. In the resort area, day-use parking, lack of an adequate visitor information facility, the need for additional trails and the lack of adequate employee housing and maintenance facilities continue to be problems. In 1987, a Development Concept Plan (DCP) was started to address these issues. A DCP is an intermediate planning step between the Master Plan, and the next step of site-specific design drawings. This DCP focuses on a particular developed area within the park in need of conceptual, area-wide management direction. It concentrates on facility needs and development, rather than operational or backcountry resource needs. In April 1988, an Environmental Assessment/Draft DCP was completed which presented a range of alternative management directions for the area, and the environmental impacts expected from each of these alternatives. Together with the NPS's recommended plan, presented as the ”preferred alternative," other possible solutions were also presented to provide the public with a wide range of alternatives. Comments received at six public meetings and in writing were considered, revisions were made as determined by the park superintendent and regional director, and this final DCP was adopted to guide management for the next 10 to 15 years. This DCP for Soleduck is one of four concurrently completed for different areas on the west side of the park — the Ouinault valley, the Kalaloch coastal strip, the Soleduck valley, and the Ozette area. How each area interacts with the others in terms of the park visitor experience, both independently and in combination, was considered in the preparation of the four DCPs. — PLAN SUMMARY The DCP includes the following development concepts: 1) provide a visitor experience which continues the level of accommodations and activities found in the valley in recent times; 2) construct a new approach road to the developed area on an old road grade; provide day-use resort parking across the river from the resort; provide a trail link to the lodge with a new footbridge; 3) develop a visitor contact/ranger station and a store/registration/laundry/shower building across the river from the resort; 4) rehabilitate and provide minor expansion of the existing RV park; 5) return resort lodging to no more than the 72 units that existed in 1981; remove the motel; enlarge the food service and gift shop areas in the lodge; use the existing manager's residence as a guest activity center; 6) develop no new hot water pools; 7) develop a picnic area next to the lodge; 8) provide walk-in campsites next to the existing group site; develop a trail between the group site and the resort; 9) construct a new footbridge across the river at the Soleduck Falls trailhead; make the Falls trail handicapped accessible; maintain the Soleduck Falls trail shelter, but eliminate overnight use; 10) adaptively use the historic ranger station for maintenance activity; 11) reclaim the existing dump site near the beginning of Soleduck Road and develop the main NPS employee housing and maintenance facilities there; develop NPS housing for two employees in the area adjacent to the southeast end of the old airstrip; and 12) develop concessioner employee housing and maintenance facilities in the old clearcut area adjacent to the southeast end of the old airstrip. 5mm olm’ERPRE‘flVE Mlbnze WWW W IN 9%.me '5HOFfi‘ 61‘sz ML? ”[29 WT 620191" m T“ ‘g 50 L E D . t : UC, v ‘59:“ ’§' Kfifim Ro NOTE- Z 51% EMV‘I'YWAND BMW/ANY? 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BOUNDARY PAVED ROAD TRAIL SOLEDUCK AREA VALLEYWIDE OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK / WASHiNGTON UNITED smu‘s DEPARTMLNI or THt JNTLHIOH ; NATIONAL max 591va 149 ‘ 401‘5A ' JULY 88 jW'fi ~‘ £15m; . “4‘. — cu Q’ U ,___,,. / 1' \ v - A ”gm" ' ,‘ «135334;, 4 -', ~ ”“ WM ' ?...._-~-o...... ‘1‘“ W‘M ..:J WWW WAN warm a E‘/ @L @ i” MtQM'T M41... c@ M c E 3' T m _ mm now - — - PROPOSED now SOLEDUCK AREA RESORT AR EAWI D E OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK / WASHINGTON menu) sums nwmmzm OF "rm; INYERIOR / NATIONAL PARK smvm 149 ' $0116A ' JULY 89 EXIe'nNG- Hm RANGER 6PM -ADN7TNE LEE: EEK Imam: AND UTILITY MAINTENANCE - W W MAINTAIN mama W - REMOVE Enema “1 CIW’ITON m VISITORS ENTERING THE AREA WILL PASS BY THE HISTORIC RANGER STATION ON THE LEFT, DESCEND THE HILL AND THEN SWING OFF TO THE LEFT ON A NEW ROAD THAT USES AN OLD ROAD ALIGNMENT ALONG THE TOE OF THE SLOPE. AFTER PASSING AN EXISTING HEMLOCK GROVE, VISITORS WILL COME TO AN INTERSECTION/DECISION POINT. THOSE WISHING TO GO TO THE CAMPGROUND OR TRAILHEAD WILL CONTINUE STRAIGHT AHEAD. THOSE WISHING TO GO TO THE RESORT WILL TURN RIGHT. AFTER MAKING THE TURN, RESORT VISITORS WILL PASS AN EXIT ONLY ROAD ON THE RIGHT, A SMALL KNOLL ON THE LEFT AND PROCEED TO THE WEST END ON THE DAY'USE PARKING AREA. THEY WILL BE VISUALLY ORIENTED TO THE NEW PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE, DAY*USERS WILL THEN TURN EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT TO PARK AND USE THE FOOT TRAILS AND BRIDGE FOR ACCESS TO THE RESORT POOLS. OVERNIGHT VISITORS CAN PARK NEAR THE STORE/LODGING OFFICE TO REGISTER FOR THEIR UNIT, OVERNIGHT USERS MAY THEN DRIVE ACROSS THE EXISTING BRIDGE FOR ACCESS TO THEIR CABIN BOTH DAV-USERS AND OVERNIGHT GUESTS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE ADJACENT RANGER STATION. MOST TRAFFIC WOULD EXIT VIA A NEW ROAD AT THE EAST END OF THE PARKING AREA AN EXISTING ALDER GROVE AND DRAINAGE AREA TO THE SOUTH SHOULD BE PRESERVED AND AVOIDED, A SMALL DRAINAGE TO THE NORTH SHOULD ALSO BE AVOIDED. 6mm aroma; ' mm MINK DREW y W em °EEXACT LDCA’IION ANP'IYPE 0F owe T0 SE WWIW’IHW WEEK 6% 'MAY 56W 5mm EUILOIN/q’é WITH WW5 WW AT mm $2151? :1? WALK-INCAbIN’éoN TOP OF HILL WW W awNewaq: W raw-v95 AREA ————————— ' WE EXIéTING— W 'PIONIC W 0 WIDE ’sERVIOE W WPANWACCECJS 'CONVEKI' UFPERWFWEMW WIMTO7GUE€T WITH) 0 LOCZSIE WWMYEEE OPE/‘NWWNI’EK USE DEPENDINQGN ECOI‘UMIO WENT WW \NHEIQ WIfiE PRE’vERVE EXIfiTII‘G-N-DEK WE. EXIb'IINGr WER’; LANETRNL mm WWW NBNAND REIMLITNB? 501% AND are GEWLe MWTHE PI‘IZHEI? W79, W,W 6LON9WCALOK50FTTIE%CIL Lama. 20 FEET _ mvm ROAD -- PROPOSED ROAD GRAVEL ROAD PROPOSED TRAIL Oilln‘oo TRAIL ' UTILIZB CLO WALLQNMEW SOLEDUCK AREA SOL DUC RESORT OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK / WASHINGTON Wm; sum ,5 mmuwm? 0‘ M NH mm , \A'IUNM LARK swvxcs I49 ' 40117A - JULY 88 DESCRIPTION OF CONCEPTS Emphasis and Experience Interpretation and Information Facilities Ranger Station Cultu ral Sites Day-use Facilities and Trails Campground RV Park Emphasis would be on generally continuing the level of accommodations and activities experienced in recent times. The visitor experience would be to enjoy the modern hot springs pools in a forested mountain setting. Adjacent trails would lead the visitor into the old growth forest areas and provide a gateway to the wilderness high country of the Olympics. Information kiosk, entrance station, roadside pullouts and wayside exhibits are being developed as part of Soleduck road project. Exhibit content has been prepared and covers old growth forest ecology. Develop visitor contact station across river from resort to interpret wilderness preservation and provide information and orientation. Provide ranger services and offices with new visitor contact/ranger station across river from resort. ‘ Adaptive use of historic ranger station for maintenance offices, storage, light building and ‘ utility maintenance functions; exterior of building to be maintained and preserved. Soleduck Falls trail shelter to be maintained and preserved, but camping to be eliminated. Develop day-use area with picnic tables on river near lodge; continue use of hot pools with no expansion; construct pedestrian bridge and trail from day-use parking area to lodge/ pools; improve trails from campground to lodge area and to trailhead parking area; develop trail from group campsite to resort; develop new trail from trailhead, crossing the river with new pedestrian bridge, to the Lovers Lane Trail; improve trail from trailhead to Soleduck Falls to be handicapped accessible by means other than paving; develop short spur trails from Soleduck Road to forest quiet spots; trails will be available for cross-country skiing depending on snow conditions. Retain existing campground; add walk-in campsites in group camp area; retain group campsite. Renovate concession operated existing RV park in area of existing RV park; 35 sites with water/electric hookups; provide RV dump station. Visitor Lodging (rooms) Main Lodge Services Services Across River Lodge Guest Center Maintenance (NPS) Maintenance (Concessioner) Housing (NPS) Housing (Concessioner) Roads and Bridges Parking Develop additional motel or cabin units along hillside or on bench; develop seven lodging rooms on upper floor of lodge; relocate three duplex units. Total units: no more than 72. Remove motel on north side of river and restore area. Winter use will be considered if economically feasible. Enlarge food service capacity and gift shop space. Develop concession facility for store, lodge registration and laundry/showers. Provide resort guest activity center at existing manager’s residence; including meeting rooms, lounge, evening activities, etc. Develop roads and trails maintenance facility at hilltop site (existing dump); provide building and utilities maintenance function at historic ranger station/garage. Develop a facility at end of access road to airstrip, including space for laundry/housekeeping and vehicle storage. Develop a housing area at hilltop site (existing dump) for seasonal employees; construct two permanent employee residences near concession housing area; remove seasonal house and bunkhouse. Develop housing at east end of former airstrip. lmprove road circulation at the developed area for access to parking, store, ranger station and lodge; use existing bridge to resort; construct pedestrian bridges to resort from day-use parking and for connecting trails near trailhead. Develop day-use parking area across the river from the lodge; lodge overnight parking at or near rental units. CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATES — NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CONCESSION ER interpretation and Information V $118,000 National Park Service policy requires that, to the extent it is economically feasible, the concessioner shall undertake all costs relating to construction of its own facilities as well as utilities, roads, parking Ranger Station 79,000 and similar infrastructure. Such feasibility determination has not yet been made, but will be accomplished prior to implementation of this plan. The cost allocation which appears on this page Cultural Sites 20,000 must therefore be regarded as tentative. Day-use Facilities 98,000 Lodging $ 650,000 Trails 244,000 to 830,000 Campground 124,000 RV Campground 40,000 Maintenance Facilities 435,000 Store/Laundry/Showers/Registration 05,000 Employee Housing 571,000 ‘ Maintenance Facilities 145,000 Roads 655,000 Employee Housing 1,070,000 Parking 170,000 TOTAL COST3 $2,000,000 to 2,180,000 Utilities 700,000 Gross Construction1 $3,214,000 25% of Net2 613,000 TOTAL COST $3,827,000 1. Net construction costs, plus construction supervision and contingencies 3. Includes all gross, planning and design costs 2. Advance and project planning and design costs PREPARERS _ Pacific Northwest Regional Office, National Park Service Charles Odegaard, Regional Director Ivan Miller, Management Analyst Olympic National Park, National Park Service Bob Chandler, Superintendent Don Jackson, Assistant Superintendent Randy Jones, Assistant Superintendent John Teichert, Assistant Superintendent Carl Newman, Sub—District Ranger Larry Lang, Area Ranger Denver Service Center, National Park Service Mike Strunk, Team Captain/Landscape Architect Nancy Arkin, Landscape Architect Steve Bainbridge, Civil Engineer John Lehmkuhl, Natural Resource Specialist Roberta McDougall, Interpretive Planner Pat Sacks, Landscape Architect Sally Snyder, Planning Technician Ron West, Natural Resource Specialist Frank Williss, Historian Bob Yearout, Concessions Analyst As the nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has basic responsibilities to protect and conserve our land and water, energy and minerals, fish and wildlife, and parks and recreation areas, and to ensure- the wise use of all these resources. The department also has major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under US. administration. Publication services were provided by the graphics staff of the Denver Service Center. NPS D-141A September 1988