[Awclist] [Fwd: RRFW Riverwire - FINAL CRMP RELEASED]

[Thomas Robey]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	RRFW Riverwire - FINAL CRMP RELEASED
Date: 	Thu, 10 Nov 2005 09:00:51 -0700
From: 	Riverwire <riverwire at rrfw.org>
Reply-To: 	<Riverwire at rrfw.org>
Organization: 	River Runners for Wilderness
To: 	Riverwire at rrfw.org



*FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT TO REVISE COLORADO RIVER 
MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK NOW AVAILABLE*

Grand Canyon, AZ – Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent, Joseph F. 
Alston, today announced the availability of the final environmental 
impact statement (FEIS) to revise the Colorado River Management Plan 
(CRMP) for Grand Canyon National Park. The National Park Service (NPS) 
prepared the FEIS for the CRMP under the provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The Hualapai Tribe was a cooperating 
agency in the preparation of the EIS.

Publication of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Notice of 
Availability (NOA) in the /Federal Registe/r on November 10, 2005 
initiates a 30-day no-action period. Although the NPS is not accepting 
public comment on the FEIS, the document is available for public review. 
Following the 30-day no-action period, a Record of Decision (ROD) will 
be prepared that documents the NPS decision and rationale for that 
decision. The ROD will be released to the public and a summary will be 
published in the /Federal Register/.

A complete copy of the FEIS can be downloaded at www.nps.gov/grca/crmp. 
A CD with the complete document is also available by sending an email to 
grca_crmp at nps.gov or writing to CRMP Team at P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon 
AZ 86023.

The FEIS identifies and evaluates a full range of alternatives and 
comprehensively evaluates effects to natural and cultural resources, 
visitor and wilderness experience, and socioeconomic conditions from 
visitor uses on the Colorado River. The FEIS includes the modified NPS 
preferred alternatives for management of 277 miles of the Colorado River.

"We believe our process has been open minded, transparent and fair," 
stated Superintendent Alston, adding, "we have spent the last several 
years listening to and responding to a wide range of comments from 
individuals, groups, and organizations."

The proposed CRMP is a visitor use management plan which specifies 
actions to preserve park resources and the visitor experience, while 
enhancing recreational opportunities. The plan is intended to cover at 
least the next 10 years, and will also establish goals and objectives 
for a longer timeframe.

For the FEIS, the Colorado River is divided into two geographic sections 
that recognize the different management zones on the river, with a 
specific set of alternatives for each section. The first section of 
river is from Lees Ferry (River Mile [RM] 0) to Diamond Creek (RM 226). 
The second section is from Diamond Creek (RM 226) to Lake Mead (RM 277).

Where the Hualapai Reservation and Grand Canyon National Park share 
boundaries, the Colorado River Management Plan describes management 
zones that reflect the variety and intensity of visitor activities, 
particularly in the river segments downstream of Diamond Creek. The plan 
addresses cooperative management issues with neighboring units of the 
national park system, tribal governments, and other agencies with 
jurisdiction or interests affected by, or that may themselves affect, 
management of the Colorado River corridor in the park.

Eight alternatives were developed for the Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek 
section, a no-action alternative (Alternative A), plus Alternatives B 
through H. Modified Alternative H is the preferred alternative. Modified 
Alternative H is a mixed motor/no-motor alternative with 5.5 months of 
mixed use occurring from April 1 through September 15, and 6.5 months of 
non-motorized use from September 16 through March 31. It is 
characterized by smaller group sizes and fewer daily allowable launches 
except during winter months. This alternative would allow for a moderate 
increase in estimated yearly passenger totals. The NPS would allow 
passenger exchanges at Whitmore only during the mixed-use period, April 
1 through September 15, and in the non-motorized season only for those 
trips launching during the mixed-use period.

Five alternatives were developed for the section of river from Diamond 
Creek to Lake Mead, a no-action alternative (Alternative 1) plus 
Alternatives 2 through 5. Modified Alternative 4 is the NPS preferred 
alternative. Modified Alternative 4 is characterized by use limits and a 
redistribution of Hualapai River Runner (HRR) operations. This 
alternative represents a consensus between Grand Canyon National Park 
and the Hualapai Tribe on levels of HRR use and other uses originating 
at Diamond Creek. However, Modified Alternative 4 represents the NPS's 
preference for lower levels of pontoon boat use compared to levels 
proposed by the Hualapai Tribe. Peak daily use for commercial day trips 
launching from Diamond Creek would be comparable to current conditions, 
with smaller maximum group sizes, while commercial overnight trips could 
increase from a current average of three launches per month to up to 
three launches per day. The number of pontoon boat passengers in the 
Quartermaster area would be capped at 480 per day, but could increase to 
600 per day based on favorable performance reviews and resource 
monitoring data. No jet boat tours would be allowed, and upriver travel 
would continue to be allowed up to River Mile 240.

The NPS preferred option for an allocation system is the No Action/Split 
Allocation system, which continues to allocate use between the 
commercial and noncommercial sectors in a ratio that is reflected in the 
preferred alternative. This ratio would remain the same for the life of 
the plan.

The NPS preferred option for the noncommercial permit system is a 
"hybrid," weighted lottery for trip leaders. Each year a single lottery 
would take place and result in the initial awarding of the following 
year’s noncommercial launch opportunities. Chances in the lottery would 
vary depending on whether or not applicants had been on a river trip 
recently.

A transition from the current waitlist to the new system would be 
instituted, and is outlined in the FEIS.

Once the ROD has been published, an implementation and monitoring plan 
will be developed that outlines how the NPS will implement the 
provisions specified in the ROD. The final CRMP, including the 
implementation and monitoring plan, will be published and made available 
to all interested parties.

*Background on the CRMP process:*

The first CRMP was developed for Grand Canyon in 1979. It was updated 
several times, and was the subject of two lawsuits in 2000-2001. 
Settlement of one of the lawsuits began the current effort to update the 
CRMP in the spring of 2002; public scoping meetings were held throughout 
the country in summer and fall 2002. A Draft EIS was released for public 
review and comment on October 8, 2004. Public comments were accepted 
through February 1, 2005. Public meetings were again held throughout the 
country during the fall of 2004. A substantial number of public comments 
were received through these outreach efforts.

Major issues and concerns regarding resource protection, visitor 
experience and services raised during the 2002 and 2004/2005 public 
processes include:

    * Appropriate levels of visitor use consistent with natural and
      cultural resource protection, visitor experience goals, and
      wilderness character
    * Allocation of use between commercial and noncommercial groups
    * Noncommercial permit system
    * Appropriate levels of motorized and nonmotorized boat use
    * Determination of the range of public services
    * Levels of helicopter use to transport river passengers to and from
      the river
    * Appropriate levels and types of upstream travel from Lake Mead
    * Quality of river trips including crowding, trip length, group
      size, and scheduling issues
    * Administrative use

A revised CRMP is needed to address both long-standing and recent issues 
concerning resource protection, visitor experience, and public services 
along the river; to consider the impacts of the NPS river management on 
federally recognized American Indian tribes whose reservations adjoin 
Grand Canyon National Park; and to fulfill the requirements of a 2002 
agreement that settled the lawsuit about the river management plan.

Note: Copies of the document will also be available at the following 
libraries:

Flagstaff Public Library (East and West), Flagstaff, Arizona

Cline Library, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona

Phoenix Public Library, Phoenix, Arizona

Denver Central Library, Denver, Colorado

Salt Lake City Library, Salt Lake City, Utah

North Las Vegas Library, Las Vegas, Nevada

San Francisco Library, San Francisco, California

Page Public Library, Page, Arizona

Kanab City Library, Kanab, Utah

NPS-