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Resource Protection The National Park Service (NPS) manages the natural resources of the National Park System to maintain, rehabilitate, and perpetuate their integrity. The resource management policies of the NPS are aimed at providing the American people with the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from natuIal. environments evolving through natural processes minimally influenced by human acnons, The natural resources and values that are protected are described in the 1916 NPS Organic Act (16 USC sec. 1 et seq,) and in the enabling legislation establishing parks and monuments. The resources and values include plants, animals, water, air, soils, topographic features, geologic features, paleontologic resources, and aesthetic values, such as scenic vistas, natural quiet, and clear night skies. Some of these resources are protected both by.NPS authorities and by other authorities, such as the Clean Air Act (42 USC 7401 et seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1251 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act (16 USC 1531 et seq.) , the National Environmental Policy Act (42 USC 4321 et seq.), and the Wilderness Act (16 USC 1131 et seq.). The NPS is committed to working cooper- atively with federal, state, and local agencies, native American authorities, user groups, adjacent landowners, and others in the management of natural resources and will seek to establish formal and informal lines of communication and consultation in order to better achieve park management objectives. The NPS also encourages recreational activ- ities that are consistent with applicable legislation, that promote visitor enjoyment of park resources through a direct association or relation to those resources, that are consistent with the protection of resources, and that are compatible with other visitor uses. Unless the activity is mandated by statute, the Park Service will not allow a recreanonal activity ill a park or in certain locations within a park if it would involve or result in: -inconsistency with the park's legislation or proclamation, or derogation of the values or purposes for which the park was established; -unacceptable impacts on visitor enjoyment due to interference/conflict with other visitor activities; -consumptive use of park resources (does not apply to certain traditional activities specifically authorized by NPS general regulations); -unacceptable impacts on park resources or natural processes; -unacceptable levels of danger to the welfare or safety of the public. Water Quantity and Quality Protection of water quality and quantity are important in determining what management actions should be taken. The NP:S seeks to perpetuate surface and ground waters as integral components of park aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Water for the preservation, management, and use within the National Park System is obtained and used in accordance with legal authority and with due consideration for the net;ds of other water users. The NPS will seek to restore, maintain, or enhance the quality of all surface and ground waters within the parks consistent with the Clean Water Act (33 USC 1251 et seq.) and other federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Black Canyon of the Gunnison Resources Bows in the Gunnison River through Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument are needed to protect and preserve our resources under the 1916 (16 USC 1 et seq.) enabling legislation for the National Park Service and the 1933 legislation establishing Black Canyon as a National Monument within the National Park System. Discharges and/or releases from the Aspinall Unit can and will benefit and preserve some of our known resources. Some of the 12