Prince William Sound Marine Trail
A Chance to Explore the Spectacular Marine Environment of Alaska
May 8, 2009
Alaska’s Prince William Sound is renowned for its beauty and ecological diversity. The Sound is home to five communities; Valdez, Tatitlek, Cordova, Chenega and Whittier, whose residents enjoy the wilderness nature of the region everyday. While best known to many people as the location of the historic Exxon Valdez oil spill, the Sound remains a remarkable natural jewel of Alaska and the region remains viable in spite of the disaster.
The Prince William Sound Marine Trail
A marine recreational trail is being proposed for Prince William Sound that will link its communities together through a series of camping sites, cabins and areas of interest. As an all water trail, the route will be accessible by all types of watercraft. Canoes, kayaks, sailboats and powerboats will all benefit from the effort.
There are many successful examples of marine trails in other parts of the United States. One well known effort is the John Smith National Historic Trail that retraces the exploration voyages made by Captain John Smith of Chesapeake Bay.
Trail proponents believe their project would foster good stewardship of the Sound’s resources, help with community economic development, and provide an overarching connection of sustainable tourism for communities within Prince William Sound.
A group of organizations with interests in Prince William Sound have approved a memorandum of understanding to establish a cooperative framework for establishing the marine trail. Representatives of the National Wildlife Federation and U.S. Forest are actively seeking people's comments on the initiative.
Sustainable Use of the Sound
Sponsors of the marine trail project believe it represents a way to insure that the growing tourism industry in the Sound is integrated in a sustainable direction that protects the very nature of region that attracts people to it.
The National Wildlife Federation reported in 2003 that, “Due to its spectacular attributes, visitation is now the fastest-growing and most widespread human impact on the Sound.” Planners believe the marine trail is a proactive way to guide people through the Sound, while protecting ecologically and culturally sensitive areas.
Nick Allen, a outdoors studies student at Alaska Pacific University, drafted a paper on the Prince William Sound Marine Trail concept in March of 2009. Allen points out the benefits and challenges found in establishing the route and advocates establishment of an organization focused on the trail. A non-profit group focused on the trail’s connections between the communities of the Sound and could develop educational resources about the route would do much to ensure the success of the project.
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