Noatak

Proposed National ParkAlaska
The Noatak River valley from a ridge in the Brooks RangePhotograph: National Park Service, CC BY 2.0
All proposed National ParksNoatakNo active campaign
Location
Alaska
Current protection
Noatak National Preserve (National Park Service)
Status
No active campaign
Tier
Tier 2 · National Monument
In the book
Not featured in Undiscovered America

Why should it be a National Park?

The Noatak River runs about 425 miles from the Brooks Range to the Chukchi Sea, draining one of the largest mountain-ringed river basins in America that remains almost untouched by people. Most of its length is a designated wild river, and the basin is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Caribou of the Western Arctic Herd cross it by the hundreds of thousands. It has everything Gates of the Arctic has, and it shares a border with that park.

The history of National Park Campaigns

Noatak was a National Park on paper in 1979, in an early version of the Alaska lands bill. It was created as a national preserve in 1980, a designation that allows sport hunting.

Distinct National Park attempts
1 (1979, S. 222)
Other designation attempts
2 (1978 monument; 1980 preserve)

Sources

  • S. 222, Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1979 (96th Congress)
  • G. Frank Williss, "Do Things Right the First Time": The National Park Service and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980 (NPS, 1985)
  • Wikipedia, List of proposed National Parks of the United States
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  1. 1976

    The Noatak basin is designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

  2. December 1, 1978

    Carter proclaims Noatak National Monument.

  3. 1979

    S. 222 would make it Noatak National Park.

  4. December 2, 1980

    The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act establishes Noatak National Preserve and designates the Noatak a wild river.