COLORADO RIVER MANAGEMENT PLAN
KEY CHANGES IN THE FEIS FROM THE DEIS
Some of the key issues and how they have changed from the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to how they are represented in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) are presented below. The numbers after each bullet indicate the section of the FEIS where the text can be found.
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The executive summary has some changes that make the environmental consequences summary more clear and consistent with the rest of the document. Initiatives Related to Culturally Affiliated Indian Tribes (Section 2.8.2): There are changes to this text, which is also represented in the executive summary. Funding Sources for Monitoring and Mitigation (Section 2.3.3): “To fund monitoring and mitigation, the NPS will be considering all possible funding sources, including fee demonstration funds, franchise fees, special park use permits and funds through special regulations. It is the intention of Grand Canyon National Park to pursue long-term permanent solutions to guarantee funds for monitoring, mitigation and implementation needs for the life of the plan. If resource conditions change sufficiently to adversely affect resources or visitor experiences or if mitigation measures cannot be adequately funded or implemented or are unsuccessful, park managers will use an adaptive management approach to review and revise visitor use prescriptions within this river management plan.” Commercial River Services (Section 1.6.5): NPS policy states that commercial services that contribute to public education and visitor enjoyment of wilderness values or provide opportunities for primitive and unconfined types of recreation may be authorized in wilderness if they meet the necessary and appropriate criteria and if they are consistent with wilderness management objectives. The NPS has determined (as part of the final EIS for the CRMP) that the services provided by commercial outfitters, which enable thousands of people to experience the river in a relatively primitive and unconfined manner and setting are necessary to realize the recreational or other wilderness purposes of the park. Operating Requirements Text o Clarifying text has been added pertaining to the Little Colorado River visitation restrictions. (Section 2.3.1) o The 4-day minimum trip length to Phantom has been dropped (Section 2.7.5) Allocation (Section 2.2.1.3) and noncommercial permit systems (Section 2.8.1) o The single point all-user registration system has been dropped o The adjustable split allocation system has been dropped. The National Park Service’s preferred option is the No Action/Split Allocation system which continues to allocate use between the commercial and noncommercial sectors. The ratio of commercial to noncommercial use is reflected in the modified preferred alternative, a ratio that would remain the same for the life of the plan. o The noncommercial permit system preferred option is a ‘hybrid’ weighted lottery. Each year a lottery would be used to award the following year’s noncommercial launches. Chances in the lottery would vary depending on whether or not applicants had been on a Grand Canyon river trip within the past four years.
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Modifications to Lees Ferry Alternative H, Preferred (Section 2.4.8) o Motorized launches are allowed April 1 through September 15th o An additional noncommercial launch per day has been added in March o Longer trip lengths for commercial motor and noncommercial oar launches are provided in the shoulder seasons. o Some changes have been made to more consistently clarify that the NPS has no jurisdiction over how visitors access the exchange at Whitmore. In alternatives that do present limits to helicopter and hiking exchanges, it is noted that those limits would be cooperatively implemented with the Hualapai Tribe. The Modified Preferred Alternative H does not set such limits, rather it regulates the months during which exchanges are allowed. It is assumed that helicopter exchanges will occur throughout the mixed-use season, with an extension to accommodate exchanges for trips launching up to September 15th. Modifications to Diamond Creek Alternative 4, Preferred (Section 2.5.6) o The modified preferred alternative allows 480 pontoon boat passengers per day with the opportunity for a potential increase to 600 based on favorable review of concession operations and monitoring data. The preferred alternative in the DEIS allowed for 150 pontoon boat passengers compared to the 960 passengers per day proposed by the Hualapai Tribe in their proposed Alternative 5. o Upriver travel is allowed to River Mile 240 (Separation) Concession Contract: (Section 2.5.2) Subject to compliance with 36 CFR Part 51 Subpart D, the NPS intends to award the Hualapai Tribe a noncompetitive concession contract for up to three years for Lower Gorge operations as described in the final river management plan and the record of decision for this environmental impact statement. The intention of the NPS would be to create a long-term concession contract for Lower Gorge river running services. Wilderness Character has been added as an impact topic. (Section 3.8.2) The methodology for estimating use for each of the alternatives is presented in Appendix K. Minimum Requirement Concept (Appendix L): The NPS will comply with the Wilderness Act, and the NPS Management Policies 2001 in applying the minimum requirement concept to administrative, research, and commercial trips on the river. Three special status species have been added, per consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. (Section 3.2.9)
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