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(tOO'7~ SUMMARY Curecanti National Recreation Area (Curecanti) was established in ] 965 to providc for conservation of scenic, natural, historic, archeological and wildlife values. The goal of the National Recreation Area is to provide for public use and enjoyment while ensuring visitor safety, resource preservation and conservation. Curecanti is located on U.S. Highway 50 (U.S. 50), west of Gunnison, Colorado. The purpose of and the need for taking action is to evaluate a range of alternatives and strategies for managing personal watercraft (PWC) use at Curecanti to ensure the protection of park resources and values while offering recreational opportunities as provided for in the national recreation area's authorizing memorandum of agreement, purpose, mission, and goals. Upon completion of this process, in accordance with the Nalional Environmenlal Policy Acl (NEPA), the National Park Service (NPS) may either take action to adopt special regulations to manage PWC use, or it may not reinstate PWC use at this park unit. BACKGROUND More than onc million personal watercraft are estimated to be in operation today in the United States. Sometimes referred to as 'jet skis" or "wet bikes," these vessels use an inboard, internal combustion engine powering a water jet pump as its primary source of propulsion. They are used for enjoyment, particularly for touring and maneuvers such as wave jumping, and they are capable of speeds in the 60 mile-per-hour (mph) range. Personal watercraft were once the fastest growing scgment of the boating industry and represented over one-third of total sales. National PWC ownership increased every year between] 991 and 1998; the rate of annual increase pcaked in 1994 at 32% and dropped slightly in 1999, 2000, and 2001. While PWC use remains a relatively new recreational activity, it has occurred in 32 of the 87 national park system units that allow motorized boating. After studies in Everglades National Park showed that PWC usc resulted in damage to vegetation, adversely impacted shorebirds, and disturbed the life cycles of other wildlife, the NPS prohibited PWC use by a special regulation at the park in 1994. In recognition of its duties under its Organic Act and NPS Management Policies, as well as increased awareness and public controversy about PWC use, the National Park Service subsequently reevaluated its methods of PWC regulation. Historically, the National Park Service had grouped personal watercraft with all vessels; thus, PWC use was allowed when the unit's superintendent's compendium allowed the use of other vessels. Later, the National Park Service closed seven units to PWC use through the implementation of horsepower restrictions, general management plan revisions, and park-specific regulations such as those promulgated by Everglades National Park. In May 1998, the Bluewater Network filed a petition urging the National Park Service to initiate a rulemaking process to prohibit PWC use throughout the national park system. In response to the petition, the National Park Service issued an interim management policy requiring superintendents of parks where PWC use can occur but had not yet occurred to close the unit to such use until the rule was finalized. The National Park Service envisioned the serviccwide regulation as an opportunity to evaluate impacts from PWC use before authorizing the use. On March 21, 2000, the National Park Service issued a regulation prohibiting PWC use in most units and required 2] units to determine the appropriateness of continued PWC use. In response to the PWC final regulation, Bluewater Network sued the National Park Service, challenging the NPS' decision to allow continued PWC use in 2] units while prohibiting PWC use in other units. In response to the suit, the National Park Service and the environmental group negotiated a settlement. Each III