Curecanti National Recreation Area: Personal Watercraft Use Enviornmental Assessment

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Purpose and Significance of Curecanti National Recreation Area whereas the [Park] Service is experienced in administering areas devoted to recreational use the Service in its administration of the project area for recreation shall be responsible for.... Establishing and enforcing policies regarding the recreational use of lands and waters in the project area Promulgating and enforcing such rules and regulations as necessary for ... the conservation of historic or archeological remains ... or as may be needed for recreational use and enjoyment of the area for the safety of visitors PURPOSE OF CURECANTI NATIONAL RECREATION AREA The purpose and significance statements listed below are from Curecanti's Strategic Plan (NPS 2001 c) and General Management Plan (NPS 1997). Curecanti National Recreation Area was established for the following purposes: • Conserve the scenery, natural, historic, and archeological resources, and wildlife of Curecanti. • Provide for public use and enjoyment in such a way as to ensure visitor safety and resource preservation or conservation by establishing and maintaining facilities and providing protection and interpretive services. • Manage the lands, waters, and activities of Curecanti in such a way that it does not interfere with the purposes of the Colorado River Storage Project Act and other Bureau of Reclamation agreements affecting the operation of the Aspinall Unit. • Mitigate the loss of fish and wildlife resources as a result of the Colorado River Storage Project. SIGNIFICANCE OF CURECANTI NATIONAL RECREATION AREA The following statements summarize the significance of Curecanti: • Blue Mesa Reservoir is one of the largest high- altitude bodies of water in the United States. It provides an exciting diversity of water recreation opportunities for windsurfers, sail boaters, and water skiers. • The scenic values of the canyon, the needles, the pinnacles, and the reservoirs provide dramatic contrast, which causes visitors to slow down, pause, and reflect on the diversity of the landscape and its spaciousness. • Curecanti provides one of the best cold -water fishing opportunities in the nation. This is due primarily to the Kokanee salmon run occurring in Blue Mesa. The Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoirs' trout fisheries routinely attract fishing enthusiasts from throughout the nation because of the high - quality trout fishing and uniqueness of the canyon environment.