7791

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7791
• Author: National Parks and Conservation Association.
• Title: Park Waters in Peril, National Parks and Conservation Association.
• USFW Year: 1993.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: YES

PROBLEMS 6T RECOMMENDATIONS
SUMMARY OF NPCA'S MAJOR
RECOMMENDATIONS TO ENHANCE
PROTECTION OF PARK WATERS
^ Recommendations for action by the U.S. Congress.
• Recommendations for action by the National Park Service.
~ Recommendations for action by the Environmental Protection Agency.
1
F
Unprotected Watersheds: Enhance protection of park waters from activities on watershed
land beyond park boundaries by:
^ Expanding park boundaries where feasible to include important park watershed lands.
^ Requiring all federal land use plans and all federally-assisted activities on park watersheds
to be consistent with the protection of park waters.
^ Requiring notification and consultation with the Park Service for all activities on park
watersheds that may affect park waters.
^ Clarifying Park Service authority to adopt and enforce regulations to protect park waters
from harmful activities outside park boundaries on park watershed lands.
• Promulgating regulations to protect park waters from activities on watershed lands beyond
-park boundaries.
• Requiring all park managers to participate in all planning, administrative and judicial pro-
ceedings necessary to protect park waters.
2
Inadequate Funding: Increase funding to assure that Park Service water quantity, water qual-
ity and resource management programs can:
^ Adequately investigate, monitor and address park water quantity and quality problems.
^ Conduct studies necessary to establish park water rights.
^ Expand resource management staff with expertise in water-related sciences and policy at
the field and regional levels.
^ Purchase water rights when necessary.
^ Complete suitability studies for all park rivers potentially eligible for protection under the
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
^ Conduct geothermal development impact studies and monitoring.
^ Identify and address nonpoint source pollution threats to park waters.
^ Complete studies necessary to support requests for "outstanding National resource waters"
or other anti-degradation designations.
^ Purchase valid mining claims in parks.
^ Identify and compel the clean-up of abandoned mine sites threatening park waters.
^ Develop abroad-based program for monitoring and study of acid deposition and its
impacts to park waters.
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