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June 30, 2008 <br />scenic) resources of the NCA. The NCA is subject to valid existing rights (i.e. <br />preexisting mineral leases and valid mining claims), but the NCA legislation may <br />withdraw all public land within an NCA from future mining, leasing, and disposal <br />activities. The managing agency must establish a management plan. Aside from these <br />components, the legislation can be tailored to a specific community. NCAs can provide <br />landscape protections that help maintain their existing character, while allowing <br />flexibility in defining how they will be managed. NCAs are multiple use; often include a <br />variety of activities, ranging from livestock grazing and all forms of recreation to <br />wilderness designation and conservation of historic and cultural sites. <br />II. Benefit to Stream Segments <br />As with National Recreation Areas and Special legislation/Natural Areas, legislation <br />could be tailored to address sight - specific needs related to the Colorado River. <br />Therefore, management of the area could include other uses and balance conservation <br />and other values, including recreation values. <br />III. Permanent Flow Protection <br />NCA legislation has not generally included a new federal reserved water right. If the <br />managing agency should determine that water rights are needed for a NCA, they must be <br />applied for according to the laws of the state of the NCA, and are subject to the same <br />process as any other water right. <br />IV. Pros and Cons <br />Pros <br />• NCAs can protect a wide variety of resource values, and while the focus is on natural <br />resource conditions, recreation values can be considered. <br />• Though not a requirement, water rights can be appropriated for the NCA according to <br />the laws of the state. <br />• Establishment of an NCA would remove the area from Wild and Scenic Designation, <br />therefore future RMPs would not have to revisit eligibility /suitability of the area at <br />end of the RMP term, thereby providing some certainty about future management <br />considerations. (Some may believe this to be more of a Con.) <br />Cons <br />• NCAs require congressional designation, which is a lengthy process and includes <br />factors that are potentially beyond the control of the Stakeholder Group. <br />• As with NRA's, federal legislation and federal management is required. <br />8. FEDERAL LEGISLATION (SPECIAL) <br />I. Basic Concept <br />Special legislation can be tailored to meet the protection needs of a particular situation. <br />In the case of the Rio Grande Natural Area ( "RGNA "), the Colorado segment of the Rio <br />B -12 <br />