WSP04074

• File Number: 7630.300
• Description: Wild and Scenic-Gunnison River
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 3/20/1986
• Author: Michael L Strang
• Title: Corres Reports etc 1986-Summary of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Complex Legislation
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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SUMMARY
of
BLACK CANYON of the Gunnison
NATIONAL PARK COMPLEX
Legislation

Introduced by
THE HONORABLE MICHAEL L. Strang
Third District - Colorado

March 20, 1986

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison and nearly 100 miles of the
Gunnison River provide the natural focal point of Congressman Strang's
legislation to bring together four major natural resource and recreation
wonders in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park Complex.

Nowhere in the U.S. is there a single, complete canyon system
included in a park complex such as that being proposed by Congressman
Strang. That unique quality, plus the variety of other attractive
outdoor recreational opportunities available in the proposed 131,000
acre complex, provides a nationally significant recreation resource that
has the potential of increasing regional and national tourist
recognition and use of the area, as well as protecting vital natural
resource treasures. Properly packaged and promoted by state and local
interests, the proposal offers long-range economic benefits to the three
county area and beyond.

BLACK CANYON of the Gunnison NATIONAL PARK COMPLEX
-- -

The overall designation of a national park complex establishes the
framework for a coordinated, cooperative and cohesive interagency
management and resource protection plan for the coordinated development
of the individual units of the park complex. The legislation mandates
the development of a formal general management plan, and a formal
interagency management group among the National Park Service, the Bureau
of Land Management and the Bureau of Reclamation.

COMPLEX COMPONENTS

BLACK CANYON of the Gunnison NATIONAL PARK.
--

The legislation redesignates the existing 20,800 acre Black Canyon
National 110nument as a National Park. The Monument was first established
by Proclamation of President Hoover in 1933. About 11,180 acres
of the core canyon area were designated wilderness in 1976. Nowhere
else in North America is there such a combination of the 2,000 foot
sheer depth of the canyon walls and the narrow confines of Precambrian
rock.