Curecanti National Recreation Area: Personal Watercraft Use Enviornmental Assessment

Home Browse Search

SUMMARY 1121 Alternative A: Reinstate PWC under Alternative B: Reinstate PWC Use pecial Use under a Special . • Additional Allow Impact Topic Regulation as Previously Managed Management Prescriptions (Preferred Alternative) No-Action Alternative: No PWC Use Soundscapes PWC use impacts Minor to PWC use impacts Similar to PWC use impacts moderate adverse impacts at alternative A except beneficial Occasionally noticeable most locations on Blue Mesa impacts from speed and wake beneficial effect from banning Reservoir and immediate restrictions and creation of personal watercraft since on surrounding area. Impact would buffer zones. the high use days personal be related to the number of Cumulative impacts Similar to watercraft compromise personal watercraft operating alternative A. approximately 7% of total as well as the sensitivity of motorized use. other visitors. Cumulative impacts Beneficial Cumulative impacts Minor to impact with no PWC moderate adverse with sounds contribution. heard occasionally throughout the day, and may predominate on busy days during the high use season. Wildlife and Wildlife PWC use impacts Negligible PWC use impacts Similar to PWC use impacts Beneficial Habitat adverse effects on fish, and alternative A except additional impact with elimination of negligible to minor impacts on limitations on PWC use would interactions between PWC waterfowl and other wildlife. slightly reduce impacts on users and wildlife with potential Impacts to fish, wildlife and wildlife. Expanded wake increased use of these areas respective habitats would be restrictions would result in a by wildlife and waterfowl. temporary and short term. beneficial impact. Cumulative impacts Similar to Cumulative impacts Minor Cumulative impacts Same as alternative A except no PWC adverse effects on wildlife and alternative A. contribution to overall impacts wildlife would be temporary and to wildlife and wildlife habitat_ short term. Threatened and PWC use impacts May affect, PWC use impacts Similar to PWC use impacts: Beneficial Endangered, and but is not likely to adversely alternative A except buffer impact to the wildlife species of Special Concern affect to federal or state listed zones and speed restrictions concern due to a ban on PWC Species species. All park sensitive could result in beneficial use. species are unlikely to be impacts to some species. Cumulative impacts Similar to affected in the short or long Cumulative impacts Similar to alternative A except PWC term. alternative A. contribution to overall Cumulative impacts Not likely cumulative impacts to to adversely effect listed protected species would be species to special status eliminated. species due to lack of species occurrences as well as a lack of access to the species or their habitats. Shorelines and PWC use impacts Negligible PWC use impacts Beneficial PWC use impacts Beneficial Shoreline Vegetation adverse effect over the short impacts over the short and long impacts over the short and long and long -term. term. The shoreline buffer term from banning PWC use. Cumulative impacts Negligible would provide some additional Cumulative impacts Negligible to minor adverse in the short protection. to minor, but adverse, due to and long- term due to wind- Cumulative impacts Beneficial continued boating use and related erosion, wave action, impacts due to shoreline buffer. some wind - related erosion. and other visitor activities such as boating. 1121