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Show Canyonlands Okays Final River Plan CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK -Canyonlands National Park today announced final approval of its river management plan to guide the recreation use of the Colorado and Green Rivers as they flow through the park. The plan completes a planning process that began in 1978 and involved a series of public workshops and public review of a draft plan. The document addresses such issues as camping, campfires, human waste disposal, restoration and protection of use areas, level and allocation of use, limitations on group size and use of motors and oars. The new management plan establishes allocation of use during the principal boating season from April 15 through Oct. 14. Permits will continue to be required for all trips during the season and the off-season. A scheduling system will be developed, jointly by the concessioners and the park, spreading commercial use among days of the week and to provide better separation of oar and motor-powered trips. In addition, the management plan increases these seasonal river use ceilings from 6,660 to 8,000 maximum total passengers. The allocation for each of the 18 commerical outfitters that operate in Canyonlands has been increased from 333 to 365 passenger units per permit, while the allocation for private use has been increased from 333 to 750 passenger units. A block for 315 passenger units is left unassigned to accommodate possible future demands from the private and commercial sectors and or special populations that would include the handicapped, court referrals, disadvantaged minorities and others. The plan continues the use of both motors and oars on boats using both the Green and the Colorado Rivers. Copies of the plan are available from Canyonlands NP, 446 South Main Street, Moab, Utah 84532, and from the Rocky Mountain Regional Office of the National Park Service, 655 Parfet Street, Denver, Colorado 80225. |
