Conservancy will help with Park plowing

Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road will be plowed on schedule this season, thanks to a pledge of funds from the Glacier National Park Conservancy, the private fundraising partner of the Park.

“We had the resources to be able to help,” Conservancy treasurer Rick Bennet said.

Bennet noted that the Sun Road opening is “critical” for area business interests.

The entire length of the Sun Road will not open before June 21 as HK Construction has full use of sections of the highway for road construction until that date.

The Park’s $13.5 million base operating budget was reduced by $682,000. The Park will absorb that cut in the remaining months of this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, under the federal sequestration law.

Bennet said the Conservancy will end up donating roughly $10,000 to the Park to pay for seasonal personnel costs associated with the plowing. He said the final costs wouldn’t be known until the plowing is complete.

Seasonal employees are used as avalanche spotters as plow crews work their way up into the alpine section of the highway. The Park will also realize salary adjustments through personnel changes. Plowing started this week.

“We greatly appreciate the financial offer from the Glacier National Park Conservancy,” acting superintendent Kym Hall said. “Their timely support will allow for the continuity and emphasis we place on snowplowing activities, especially as crews approach the ‘big drift’ near Logan Pass and the culmination of the tremendous road-opening effort.”

Bennet said the Conservancy plans to increase its fundraising efforts in the future, as sequestration is expected to have a an even greater impact next year.

“We’re going to have to intensify our fundraising efforts,” he said.

Bennet said the Conservancy is working on its strategic plan and doubling its fundraising goals is part of that discussion. Last year, the Conservancy raised about $1 million.