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Show SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS - Thursday, March 14, 1985 Zion tendent Harold L. Grafe. This represents a 15 percent increase over February 1984. Visits for 1985 total 59,081, a 10 percent increase over the same period in now 1984. Campground use during February was 593 persons, which is about (he same as February 1984. Pleasant weather encouraged a eood turnout over the Presidents Holiday weekend with Loops A&B opened in Watchman Campground. The night closures on the Zion-Mt- . Carmel Tunnel on State Route 9 ended in February, although some final work will be completed this month during the daylight hours, with only minor ( clays. Construction at Zion Lodge continues so that the new facilities will be complete for the 1985 ummer season. Grafe commented ( hat he was pleased with the progress of the various contractors and sub contractors working in the park. Some needed restoration ork will still be apparent after the 1 odge opens in May, but hopefully most facilities will be fully opera-- . onal. The current snow line on the . olob Terrace Road is at the bottom f Maloney Hill, 1 mile east of irepit Knoll. There was about four et of packed snow in the Lava Point area as of March 2. Areas open to backpacking and anerally free of snow include the Coalpits Wash - Petrified Forest 'ea and the lower LaVerkin Creek -- ( .'a. Superintendent Grafe announced daily naturalist walks and veiling programs will begin March 1 in response to the increase in park visitation. The daily walks will alternate between the Watchman, Canyon overlook, Emerald Pools and ate way to the Narrows Trails, e vening programs on a variety of objects will be presented nightly in ne Visitor Center Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The Visitor Center, iiat ! at.uring cultural and natural history exhibits and a ee slide program, will remain open om 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The Grand Canyon Railroad Service According to Superintendent Dick Marks, Grand Canyon National Park has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact for the proposed reinstitution of rail passenger service to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park from Williams, Arizona, approximately 60 miles to the south. Last November, the park made the Grand Canyon Line Environmental Assessment available for public review and comment. The assessment identified possible impacts on resources and existing services at Grand Canyon National Park which might occur as a result of the proposed rail passenger service; it also identified impact mitigation measures. The parks Finding of No Significant Impact is based on careful review of the Grand Canyon Line Environmental Assessment. According to park officials, Railroads Resources, Inc., the project sponsor, now has all of the necessary environmental clearances to proceed with the proposed rail passenger service within Grand Canyon National Park. Railroad Resources, Inc., anticipates rail passenger service to begin this summer. National Park Service has preparation of a Land Protection Plan (LLP) for Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. The plan is being prepared in response to the Department of the Interiors policy for the Federal Portion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (47 FR 19784); all units in the National Park System containing land within authorized boundaries are affected. When completed, the LPP will direct the parks future land protection activi The South Rim Water g The total number of visitors to Zion National Park during February was 33,554 reports Park Superin- Page Six Protection Plan Being Prepared On Grand Canyon National Park National Park News hours of operation will be extended as visitation continues to rise. There nature are also three trails and a picnic area for visitor use. For campers, the Watchman Campground remains open all year. According to Grafe, the weather has moderated considerably over the last few weeks resulting in more visitors, and park officials expect this trend to continue. Consequently, naturalist programs will gradually expand to meet increasing visitor demands, and the full spectrum of activities will be offered by June 2. The Zion Nature Center will open June 11 for children aged 6 through 12. Schedules are posted throughout the park and in Springdale. Further information on any of the services or activities of the park may be obtained by writing to the Superintendent, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah 84767, or by calling (801)772-3256- . - According to Superintendent Dick Marks, Grand Canyon National Park has issued an Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact on proposed waterline improvements at Indian Gardens and Plateau Point. The proposed improvements include installation of a larger pump at the Indian Gardens pump station and construction of a new water supply line from Indian Gardens to the South Rim Village. The present pipeline attaches to the cliff face; the new line will be located in a 5,200 foot vertical drill hole. The increased capacity and reliability of the Indian Gardens water system will insure an adequate water supply to the South Rim Village. The proposal also includes replacement of a 1,400 foot segme" of the transcanyon pipeline ; Plateau Point with a 2,400-fooline (the new line will follow an alignment west of the present line). Realignment of the Plateau Point segment of the transcanyon pipeline will minimize the vulnerability of the waterline to breakage caused by rockfalls. Work on waterline improvements is scheduled to begin this summer. begun ties. priorities for protection of interests by tract or groups of land tracts. According to Superintendent Dick Marks, a draft plan will be available for public review and comment sometime this summer. The final plan is to be completed by October lish LPP The identify all feemineral ownerships within the authorized park boundary; (2) assess existing and potential uses ow nerships and the level of of compatibility of such uses with park purposes; (3) identify and assess alternative methods for protecting park resources consistent with park purposes and management objectives; (4) assess the environmental impacts of implementation of each land protection alternative identified: and (5) estab will (1) non-NP- non-NP- non-NP- S S 1985. The public is invited to comment throughout the planning process by writing to: Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023. non-NP- jj ' xv A' I t, Pipe Spring Pipe Spring National Monument Superintendent William M. Herr announced that visitation for February 1985 was 1,039. Last year the visitation was 1,086 for a difference e visitation is of 47. Total 1,657 compared to 1,746 last year for a difference of 89 Visitors may reach Pipe Spring National Monument by traveling west 14 miles from Fredonia, Arizona on state highway 389 or east 42 miles from Hurricane, Utah on state highway 59. The Monument provides guided tours through the historic fort from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. For additional information write: Superintendent, Pipe Spring National Monument, Moccasin, Arizona 86022 or phone A Hazardous Conditions year-to-dat- 602643-7105- S? ip Signing and warnings of hazards may help along U.S. Highway 89-to stem the growing numbers of accidents, particularly those involving commercial rigs. This is the feeling of Arizona Department of Public Safety personnel familiar with the route. Pictured are examples of some of the potential and actual hazard areas. Patrolmen feel that many of the commercial drivers get caught on the road having missed the turnoff to Page in Kanab which is confusedly marked and easy to miss where 89 and 89-separate. Many ' times these have been the clrTvCrs, unfamiliar with the road, who find themselves in slippery conditions too late, or on a downgrade at too high a speed before they can adjust for it. Only seven commercial accidents were recorded for the three-yea- r period of 1981 through 83. In 1984 there were 20; 14 on the mountain", 6 of those on one curve. This is cause for some concern and searching for answers as to why the abrupt increase? The pictures show the assembly of intersection, signs at the 89 and 89-which doesn't even mention Page as a destination and could easily be concealed should a motor home or even a camper be turning into the services offered on the corner. Also pictured are two unsafe roadside conditions, one an unmarked narrowing shoulder with a into a wash and a culvert drop-of- f abutment which actually is into the pavement with only the one reflectorized marker to note it. The curve on the forrested portion of the road is one where the speed limit has been raised 10 miles per hour and, it is felt, should actually require more of a caution warning. The officers are very careful wheie they pull someone over, when it is necessary, so that the driver doesnt drop into one of these disappearing shoulder hazards. Some of the spots are narrow enough, such as the culvert abutments, that a person could easily allow their vehicle to wander into a problem area and not be able to correct for it. A report is being submitted to DPS and Arizona Department of Transportation authorities proposing corrections and changes. IDT - . zmmsmz vwX" mm '" nWlSiM;:: 0' W; i !S i'f, li I I Complete A;. 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