SUMMARY AND HIGHLIGHTS

It has been one full-year since Craters of the Moon National Monument was increased some 13-fold in size via Presidential Proclamation in order to provide protection for the entire Great Rift volcanic rift zone of southeastern Idaho. The proclamation also changed administration for the monument by providing for management of the area by both the National Park Service (NPS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). During the year an agreement has been prepared and signed by both agencies which provides in general how the two agencies will share resources and otherwise cooperate in managing the area. We have also prepared Interim Management Guidelines to guide on-the-ground management decisions until a management plan is completed. We organized an interdisciplinary planning team late in 2001 to begin the process of working with the public in crafting a new management plan. Through the production and distribution of new informational brochures, expansion of the NPS web site and creation of a new BLM web site, and installation of a network of new signs and roadside kiosks we have greatly expanded available public information on the newly expanded monument.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

The attached charts display the park budget and staffing for fiscal year 2001.

PUBLIC USE

Visitation: Annual visitation was 185,800, down 12 % from calendar year 2000.

Visitor Survey: For the fourth consecutive year we surveyed a sampling of park visitors.

• 100% indicated an overall satisfaction with facilities and services
• 88% reflected an understanding of the significance of the resources of Craters of the Moon National Monument following their visit

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Highlights among many projects and accomplishments include:

• Completed the final field season of a three year herpetology inventory in cooperation with Idaho State University. In addition to validation of known species, two new species were recorded and added to the inventory.
• Filled a new staff position of Plant Ecologist to provide professional oversight of our efforts to control invasive weeds, maintain current and accurate vascular plant inventories and manage wildland fires for resource benefit.
• Undertook mapping of noxious weed infestations along 32 miles of road corridor recently added to the Monument and expanded aggressive control efforts to about 30 acres of additional lands.

INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION

In addition to the regular interpretation and educational programs provided at the Monument:

• Completed conceptual design of a series of eleven new waysides to be placed in the south end of the recently expanded Monument. Installed two new waysides along U.S. Highway 93 to help travelers seeking information on the Monument.
• Completed a number of projects related to the expansion of the Monument including new ranger programs at off-site locations; production of materials for new informational kiosks installed on roads leading into the new areas of the Monument; and publication of several new and revised park informational materials.
• Completed a project for a new educational web site entitled "Visit the Moon Without Leaving Idaho" targeting middle school and high school level students across the country.

CRATERS OF THE MOON NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION

In response to the expansion of the Monument the Board of Directors voted to increase its number from six to twelve directors, representing a much broader geographic area. The Association donated $10,000 to the NPS for Monument projects, in addition to providing visitor services valued at $30,000. With the drop in visitation this year, sales were also down noticeably.

VISITOR AND RESOURCE PROTECTION

In a continuing effort to provide for visitor and employee safety, a team of cave experts examined the front-country caves most frequented by visitors. As a result we closed portions of these caves to public access and provided visitors with more information on exploring caves safely.

We entered into an agreement with the BLM to coordinate our wildland fire protection and suppression efforts more closely and efficiently. It was a relatively quiet year for fires with only two fires within the NPS portion of the Monument and less than two acres burned.

FACILITY DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE

In addition to routine, ongoing maintenance of grounds and facilities, a number of projects to improve the visitor experience and to help protect park resources were completed or initiated this year:

• Replaced the pit toilets in the group campground with pre-fabricated vault toilets.
• Constructed new trail; rehabilitated old trail; and constructed a viewing area on the Broken Top Loop Trail, an intended educational-emphasis trail for school group use.
• Modified doors into the visitor center to improve accessibility.
• Provided construction supervision, labor and coordination for the first phase of a major rehabilitation of the park's potable water system including replacing and burying two miles of waterline, installing flow meters, and drilling a new well.
• Replaced carpet in the visitor center lobby and exhibit room.