7386

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7386
• Author: National Park Service.
• Title: Resource/Boundary Evaluation for Lands Adjacent to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument, Colorado.
• USFW Year: 1990.
• USFW - Doc Type: Washington, D.C.
• Copyright Material: NO

Management by NPS and Change Status of Monument to National Park

A number of commentors or groups expressed a preference for expanding the present
monument as described for alternative 1 or 2 and designation of the larger area as a
National Park. The Montrose Visitor and Convention Bureau, the Montrose Chamber of
Commerce, the City of Montrose, and the Montrose County Commissioners
recommended that alternative 2 be adopted with a modification that would place the west
boundary line approximately 1,000 feet west of and paralleling the canyon rim. The NPS
feels this is a logical and feasible recommendation. Furthermore, a similar modification
may also be an appropriate alternative along the east boundary side of the canyon rim.
Neither of these modifications would jeopardize the potential for a change in status to
National Park.

The Paonia Chamber supported National Park Service expansion and recommended an
access to the monument between Delta and Hotchkiss. The motel and restaurant
association endorsed the expansion of the monument and change in status to National
Park for the expanded area. The Land and Water Fund of the Rockies supported the
designation of the Gunnison Gorge as a wilderness area and the transfer of this
wilderness to the Park Service with a redesignation as National Park. The National Parks
and Conservation Association supported the expansion of the monument and
redesignation as a National Park. They also stressed the Gunnison Gorge should be
designated as a wilderness to protect the unique values of the area.

General Comments

Several individuals or groups expressed no preference for BLM or NPS management of
the study area. A number of people were concerned with what would happen to the
ORV lands adjacent to the proposed Black Canyon addition. The faculties and students
of the Montrose High and Centennial Junior High schools wanted the area around Flattop
and Unit 4 of the GGRA open for continued ORV use. This comment also came from two
individual responders. Trout Unlimited did not have a preference for BLM or NPS as
long as the area was protected as a National Park or wilderness area and the outstanding
fishery continued. A representative of the Colorado Environmental Coalition commented
that in their opinion, the document should not have been considered a categorical
exclusion of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and therefore, they felt the
document was inadequate and they needed additional information before they could make
a decision. Other comments included support for a Black Canyon National Park, without
acquiring additional land to achieve this status; need for harvest of deer in the area
around the gorge; and the National Park Service should recognize the prior rights
associated with the AB Lateral hydropower facility. The Colorado Natural Areas Program
and the Office of the State Engineer had no preference for management of the area.

The NPS was asked if it would be possible to just change the national monument status
to that of national park without any additional resources being added. To be able to
simply change the status of an area without justification and for the sake of giving it
"greater status" would jeopardize the credibility of the concept for recommending status.
Furthermore, such action and flexibility would in itself degrade the very meaning and

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