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, . . .' STATEMENT of THE HONORABLE MICHAEL L. STRANG Third District - Colorado Regarding Appointment of Advisory Group to Consider the Proposed Black Canyon National Park and Scenic Recreation Area July 20, 1985 Montrose, Colorado Today I am enthusiastic and excited to announce the formation of an informal advisory group to look into a proposal to bring together several units of what I believe are nationally significant natural resources and the basis for what could be long term economic benefits for Western Colorado. What I am proposing is a 131,000 acre Black Canyon National Park and Scenic Recreation Area. Fifty-two years ago, President Herbert Hoover issued a proclamation creating the Black Canyon National Monument. The proclamation said it would be in the public interest to promote this area, .....for the preservation of the spectacular gorges and additional features of scenic, scientific and educational interest." In the years since 1933, this awesome creation of the powers of nature, the manmade developments around it, and the additional designations set forth in this proposal, are even more exciting to experience and promote. In terms of the sheer spectacle of it all, as well as the reservoir of recreational opportunities spanning three counties and nearly one-hundred miles of the Gunnison River, the tourist development and economic potentials are significant. The proposed Black Canyon National Park and Scenic Rec- reation Area has five components: [1] Change the name of the existing Monument to a legislatively designated National Park; [2] designate the Gunnison Gorge recreation lands as a National Recreation Area; [3] formalize the existing administratively designated Curecanti National Recreation Area in legislation; [4] propose as a goal the designation of 25 miles of the Lower Gunnison River as a Wild and Scenic River; [5] and include the existing Wayne N. Aspinall Storage Unit without change. ~ ~ ~