WSPC01202

• File Number: 8210.761.09
• Description: Colorado River-Federal Agencies-US NPS-Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/3000
• Title: General Management Plan 1-Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument and Curecanti National Recreation Area
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Access. Access ranges from easy to difficult.
This area is roadless, although some dirt
road remnants exist. Access is by low- to
high-standard trails or no trails.

Public access is limited to foot traffic or
horse. No bicycles or motorized vehicles are
permitted. Aircraft use is allowed only in
emergency situations. Horse use is confined
to designated trails.

Black Canyon Only. Horse traffic is
prohibited on the South Rim and allowed on
designated trails on the North Rim.

Natural Resource Management. The natural
environment along and away from the trail
corridor is maintained to the extent possible
with resource manipulation kept to a
minimum. Emphasis is placed on minimizing
human impacts on sensitive environments,
habitats, and species. Unavoidable human
impacts within Curecanti would be confined
to resistant and less-sensitive environments,
avoiding such areas as wetlands, riparian,
and highly scenic areas where vistas and
viewsheds could be impaired. Unavoidable
human impacts within Black Canyon would
be confined to resistant and less-sensitive
environments, avoiding areas identified as
highly scenic environments. Management
would reduce or minimize the impacts of
nonrecreational uses. Resources and uses
would be carefully monitored, and if
impairment occurred, mitigating actions such
as temporary closures, revegetation, or
restrictions on uses would be implemented as
required.

Cultural Resource Management. Resources
or sites that are designated as part of the
Curecanti National Archeological District
would be accessible to the extent that no
degradation to sites occurred. Other
resources or sites that are designated as
outstanding cultural features might be
restored. Sites could be stabilized or

54

restored to protect the integrity of the
resource. Other features designated as
outstanding cultural features or listed or
eligible for listing on the National Register of
Historic Places could be stabilized or
restored. To guide management decisions
for resources in this area, a cultural resource
management plan (CRMP) would be
prepared to address treatment of individual
sites. Coordination with appropriate NPS
staff and the State Historic Preservation
Officer would be part of the process.

I
I
I
I
I

Facilities. Only limited development is
provided-major facilities would not be
allowed. The primary development would be
day use trail systems (low- to high- standard)
leading to destination areas or points of
special interest and rustic campgrounds.
Campground facilities could include fire
grates, picnic tables, and vault toilets.

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

Maintenance. Activities include maintaining
trails, campgrounds, and interpretive
facilities, and resource protection.
Hardening of sites could occur as well as the
restoration of areas disturbed by human
activity. Facilities to provide for the
convenience of visitors and their safety
would be maintained to lesser standards than
those found in the developed area of the
park.

Motorized Rural

Management provides for vehicle access
along unpaved roads, which gives a sense of
remoteness. Although the area is
predominantly natural, sights and sounds of
human activity are occasionally encountered.
This prescription provides a vehicular
alternative to the highly structured
experiences in the developed area and the
backcountry. It also provides access to
water and boating experiences in the semi-
primitive motorized flatwater, semi-primitive
nonmotorized, flatwater, and free-flowing

I
I
I