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

Use Within The Gunnison Gorge Special Recreation Management Area

River Use. A variety of outfitter services are offered: whitewater float boating, walk-in
fishing, float fishing, and jet boat touring. Use in recent years has fluctuated widely in
response to water conditions. The average for 1986-1988 was 526 private users and
1,117 users in commercial groups. Both types of use appear to be increasing.

BLM has established a river corridor carrying capacity of 75 persons per day. Floaters
should have no more than six encounters per day with other floating parties and no more
than ten encounters per day with parties on shore.

Commercial river outfitter launches are limited to a maximum of two per day. The target
figure for private launches is a maximum of four per day. Six river outfitters participate in
multi-year permits. If carrying capacity is exceeded and resource deterioration occurs,
the BLM may limit use by private boaters, hikers, and horse users.

Fishing. Outfitter services are offered for both walk-in fishing and float fishing. The
majority of the fishermen walk in and fish from the bank. 1988 use for this group was
7,072 and appears to be increasing.

Off-Road-Vehicle Use. Off-road-vehicle play and motorized competitive events are
allowed in designated open areas. Approximately 2,000 motorized users and 500
mountain bike users came in 1988. Both types of use appear to be increasing.

Regulation of Motorized Vehicles and Bicycles

23,000 acres
19,000 acres
12,000 acres

closed
limited to designated roads and trails
open

Hunting. All BLM lands in the area are open to the huntiI19_QtY't'CiteJiQvvI,-Uplandbirds,
and big game. With the exception of a small wildlife management area, the entire area
is also open for target shooting. Dogs are allowed with no physical restraints.
Approximately 300 hunters used the Gunnison Gorge Recreation Lands Area in 1988 and
no increase has occurred in recent years. Since virtually all of the hunters are local
residents, their average daily expenditure while hunting is probably quite low. If they
spend $20.00 per day, expenditures attributed to the study area would total approximately
$6,000. On a pro-rated basis, NPS Alternatives 1 and 2 would constitute a reduction of
approximately $2,400 and 2,200 respectively.

Visitation Projections. Under current management, all categories of visitor use (except
hunting) are likely to continue to grow. Indications are that changing the name of a unit
from national monument to national park has little measurable effect on visitation;
however, increases in visitation can occur as a result of increased and improved highway
signing, providing information to visitors within the monument, and through various other
marketing efforts. The success of such a program would depend on the energy put into
it and the features of the resource which could be marketed. This includes a name

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