Appendix C

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Memorandum

To: DSC Team Captain, Crater Lake Lodge Rehabilitation
Through: Chief, Cultural Resource Division and Regional Historical Architect, Pacific Northwest Region
From: Cathy Gilbert, Historical Landscape Architect, Pacific Northwest Region

Subject: Historic landscape resources and lodge rehab work

I. Issues

Construction activity associated with the rehabilitation of Crater Lake Lodge over the next four years has the potential to impact a variety of significant historic landscape resources in the vicinity of the lodge. For example, preliminary plans for a construction trench around the perimeter of the lodge have been developed in order to carry out structural stabilization and rehabilitation work beginning in FY 91. As proposed, the trench will extend around the lodge (approximately 830 linear feet), will be 3-5 feet wide and from 4-12 feet deep. Such a structure, however temporary, will have a tremendous impact on the integrity and survival of historic plant materials, because most of these resources are within ten feet of the building foundation. In addition, the need for unrestricted and open access to the building and areas immediately adjacent to the site during the four year period of construction will most likely create a condition of continuous ground and site disturbance. The purpose of this memorandum is to outline recommendations for mitigating potential impacts to the historic landscape, and to provide preliminary guidelines for preservation of significant landscape features.

II. Significant Landscape Resources

The primary historic landscape resources and features around Crater Lake Lodge include plant materials, rock walls, the promenade, secondary walkways and the entry plaza on the south side of the building. Recommendations for the stabilization, preservation or replacement of all significant landscape resources at rim village (including the lodge) will be included in the Historic Landscape Study, scheduled for review in December, 1989. Because the initial construction on the lodge, as discussed above, will have an immediate impact on historic vegetation, the following discussion and recommendations will address only plant materials around the lodge.

Plant Materials

A. Historic Values and Significance

Plant materials around Crater Lake Lodge were installed between 1931 and 1933 as part of the "naturalization" program for Rim Village (see HLR). Foundation plantings were planted around the perimeter of the lodge in order to minimize the "abrupt transition and demarcation" between the building and the landscape. The objective was to make the building appear as though it "grew out of the landscape" and was part of the natural setting. This landscape treatment -- massing plants around building foundations -- was a critical aspect of the rustic landscape design ethic expressed at Crater Lake. At the lodge, large coniferous trees (10-14 feet tall) were transplanted from other areas in the park and clustered at the building corners to give height and define the structure within a landscape context. Shrubs were massed along the building walls between major tree clusters to reflect indigenous plant associations and communities. Over the years, many of these plantings have matured to a size that reflects the original design intent of the planting program at Rim Village, and are significant historic landscape features, both individually and in terms of plant composition. Because of these values, preservation of these plant materials is strongly recommended.

B. Recommendations

Because lodge construction will involve the use of heavy equipment and both short term and long term ground disturbance over a four year period, it is anticipated that all of the plant materials adjacent to the lodge will either require extraordinary care to survive or, more likely, be destroyed during construction. With this in mind, two approaches for preservation of significant plant materials are possible;

a) remove and salvage existing plant materials with the intent of replacing them after construction and/or;

b) replace materials in kind after construction and as part of the redevelopment package for the site.

a) Salvage

Prior to construction and the removal of any vegetation around the lodge, a site visit by the project landscape architect and historical landscape architect will be necessary in order to document and assess individual plant materials and tag those specimens worthy of the salvage effort. While materials that are in poor condition will not be salvaged, they will need to be documented so that they can be replaced with appropriate materials. Removal and storage of mature coniferous specimens will require special handling and consultation with vegetation experts. In discussions on this topic with Nancy Dunkle, DSC, it may be possible to dig the root mass, prune the roots and box the root ball for long term storage (this was done historically with great success). Salvage of these materials is the preferred preservation strategy for significant historic plant materials, primarily because they represent original materials and mature plantings that have acclimated to the harsh conditions at the rim. With such short growing seasons at the site and other challenges to establishment including poor soils, severe microclimate and stress to plant materials from snow loads and visitor tramplings, reestablishment of all materials removed from the site will require special attention, whether replacing stored materials or installing new ones.

b) Replacing "in-kind"

If, for some reason, it is determined that it is not feasible to salvage existing plant materials around the lodge, then replacement of materials on a plant by plant basis will be required. The specific program for such an undertaking, including selection and transport of individual plant materials, soil preparation and amendment, planting techniques and maintenance will need to be developed as part of a historic landscape preservation guide or as a special issue/study in the overall rehab package.

C. Summary

The plant materials around Crater Lake Lodge are significant historic landscape resources and should be preserved. Because of future construction associated with the rehabilitation of the lodge, most of this material will be destroyed. Two options for preservation/replacement of these materials are recommended. The first, remove and salvage, is the preferred option. Although considerable work will be required to implement the proposal, the technology is available. In addition, because the original plants will be retained, overall historic site integrity will be enhanced and most importantly, plants will be better acclimated, improving the chances for survival. The second option, replacement in-kind, is acceptable but will require selecting and moving relatively large specimens in order to attain the necessary effect. This action also has the potential to reduce survival rates. Adequate monies for either treatment must be included in any overall project estimate. Both of these options, as well as preservation strategies for other significant historic landscape resources at the site will be addressed in detail as part of the historic landscape report for Rim Village.

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