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<br />I! (' '\ ;'\ ',1.: <br />I 'I . ,.,\ 1 <br />'''1:1 \"'l.,1tf.rl,,:\ <br />BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL <br />30 DISTRICT, COlORADO <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />o <br /> <br />COMMITTEES: <br />AGRICULTURE <br />INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS <br /> <br />~on<<tt55 of tbe Wntteb ~tatt5 0 <br />"oust of !\tprestntatibtU RECEIVED <br />.a~b(nl1ton. m(( 20515 AOO 1 3 '9(jJ <br />C01.ORADO WA TEA <br />CONSERVATIQ!lI <br />BOARD <br /> <br />August 6, 1990 <br /> <br />Dear Friend: <br /> <br />On August 3, 1990, I introduced "The Black Canyon of the <br />Gunnison National Conservation Act." <br /> <br />PUASE REPLY TO <br />WASHINGTON OFFICE. <br />,n~ LONGWORTH BUILDING <br />WASHINGTON DC 2051!i <br />(2021225-4761 <br /> <br />DISTIlICT OFFICES <br />nON MAIMST <br />SUITE 400 <br />PUEBLO. C081003 <br />(119,543-9621 <br /> <br />R3'5 E S~CONO "VE <br />SUIT( 128 <br />DURANGO. co 81301 <br />130]) 247-9300 <br /> <br />225N5TH5fREET <br />surTEll, <br />GM~ID JU~lC~IO:';, CO 8,:aO\ <br />(JOJI242-2400 <br /> <br />After years of intense discussion, study and anticipation, I <br />have decided that designating the monument as a national park, <br />establishing a national conservation area and adding the Gunnison <br />River to the growing list of nationally recognized "Wild and <br />Scenic Rivers" may finally resolve the land use, water and <br />tourism related issues that have generated controversy. <br /> <br />"Few words adequately describe the splendor of the Black <br />Canyon of the Gunnison... (and) far too many people pass by it. A <br />relative unkown, it ranks among the deepest and narrowest canyons <br />in North America, dwarfing such popular chasms as the Royal Gorge <br />and Bryce Canyon." Thus is the canyon described in a booklet on <br />Southwest Parks and Monuments. <br /> <br />The Black Canyon has a history of inaccessability. The utes <br />avoided it, the Spanish explorer Escalante missed it entirely, <br />and John Williams Gunnison mistook the river for the Colorado. <br />Thoughout history, the canyon has forced those who did find it to <br />find a way around it. Now, surrounding communities believe that <br />when this magnificent attraction gets "on the map" as a national <br />park, more tourists will come, strengthening their economies. <br /> <br />The ute Indians were superstitious about the canyon, <br />believing that no man could enter it and return alive. While <br />drafting the bill, I felt apprehensive, too, as I tried to sort <br />out the needs of the communities and the demands of diverse user <br />groups and attempted to avoid the pitfalls compromises pose. <br /> <br />I believe this bill accomplishes many goals. It redesignates <br />the monument as a national park without expanding the park <br />boundaries. Calling the river and the gorge a mere monument <br />does not do the area justice. It is more than a statue or a <br />battlefield. It is not a work of man, but of God and nature. <br />It is an incredible resource, and Coloradoans want to share it. <br /> <br />Purists, however, will argue that these resources are <br />adequately protected as a national monument. And national <br />environmental groups, who will be our strongest allies or our <br />fiercest opponents, will not accept just a new label. Why change <br />the name without expanding the boundaries? <br />