About Us

Eric Schaetzle— President

Eric is originally from the Kenai Peninsula but now lives in Fairbanks where he works within the social services field. He and his family enjoy a wide variety of sports and outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, swimming, and cycling. Eric maintains an active interest in the intersection between philosophy, social justice, and the challenge of mitigating the effects of climate disruption. Eric joined AQRC in 2022 and is now the board president.

Dr. John Morton— Vice President

John retired from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service after 32 years. He has studied the effects of auditory and visual human disturbances on the behavior and energetics of sanderlings, snow geese, American black ducks and Mariana crows. He has monitored and modeled the winter soundscape over the Kenai Wilderness, including the degradation of quietness from snowmachines. John has lived on the Kenai Peninsula for over 20 years. He has served on the AQRC board since 2020.

Dr. Will Elliott— Treasurer

Will is Assistant Professor of Writing at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage. Prior to this, he taught writing, literature, and outdoor studies at the University of Alaska, Southeast, in Juneau, where he also guided brown bear watching trips in the Kootznoowoo Wilderness and Tongass National Forest.

Dr. Timothy Mullet— Secretary

Tim is a soundscape and terrestrial ecologist who is known internationally as a leading expert on soundscapes in Alaska and subarctic environments. As a research scientist, Tim has published many peer-reviewed articles on soundscapes and has played a critical role in developing some of the core tenets of Ecoacoustics Theory, including his award-winning work on the Acoustic Habitat Hypothesis. Tim has worked over 20 years in public lands management many concentrated on the Kenai Peninsula.

Cliff Ames

Cliff was a founding board member of AQRC 27 years ago. He worked in Anchorage as a Vista Volunteer for Trustees for Alaska, and after that for the National Wildlife Federation. He subsequently worked for the Alaska Center for the Environment for nearly 20 years, retiring to Kenny Lake in the spring of 2004. At ACE he devoted a substantial percentage of his time to natural quiet and natural sounds. In addition to AQRC, he has served on the boards of the Alaska Conservation Foundation and the Copper County Alliance. He was the board chair of the latter for a number of years and is still on its board. Cliff received ACF’s Olaus Murie Award for Outstanding Professional Contributions in 1988.

Dan Elliott

Dan has been a long-time member of AQRC and supporter of the group’s goals. He has had a varied career in Alaska having been a commercial fisherman, union construction worker, registered game guide, trapper, remote cabin resident, and husband and father. Of a civic nature, he has belonged to a number of gardening clubs and served on numerous State and Mat-Su Borough Advisory Boards. From his home in Wasilla he enjoy views of the Palmer Hay Flats and Chugach Mountains.

Brian Okonek

Brian has sought out Alaska’s wilderness on foot, skis and crampons and crossed large regions of the state by dog sled and raft. He guided people from around the world on wilderness trips for 20 years. His own experiences and those of his clients enhanced his appreciation of the treasure, and fragility, of the natural soundscape. Brian has witnessed the loss of areas that were once free of motorized noise. He has been on the AQRC board since 2007 and served as president for many years.

Mission:

Founded in 1996, AQRC’s mission is to maintain and restore natural sounds and natural quiet on public lands and waters in Alaska through advocacy and education for the benefit of people and wildlife.

Objective:

A fair and balanced allocation of Alaska’s public lands for both non-motorized and motorized recreational uses; effective planning that designates appropriate areas and facilities for quiet recreation and that minimizes the impact of motorized recreation where it is allowed; and enforcement of all regulations that protect quiet areas.

AQRC strives to protect quiet in a variety of ways:

Participation

Quiet Rights represents the quiet majority in planning the use of public lands. We have commented extensively on land use plans proposed by federal, state and local agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Alaska Departments of Natural Resources and Parks and Outdoor Recreation.

Mobilization

Quiet Rights rallies its members when issues need their attention. When Anchorage proposed allowing snow machines on streets and trails, our action alert was instrumental in defeating the proposal.

Education

Quiet Rights informs its members. Members of our listserv are quickly alerted to issues affecting quiet throughout the state. Our newsletters and information packets cover the impacts of motorized recreation on other users, wildlife, and ecosystems. Our web site includes laws and regulations that govern quiet and motorized recreation.

Litigation

Quiet Rights sues to enforce the law. When the Forest Service greatly expanded heli-skiing in the Chugach National Forest, Quiet Rights challenged the decision in federal court. In May, 2021, AQRC joined the Cook Inletkeeper, Kachemak Bay Conservation Society, and Friends of Kachemak Bay in a lawsuit to require the State of Alaska to restore a ban on personal watercraft (jet skis) in Kachemak Bay.

HISTORY OF THE ALASKA QUIET RIGHTS COALITION

History Addendum

Newsletters

Fall 2022 Newsletter