BLCA-CURE Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan/Environmental Assessment - June 2022

The National Park Service is seeking public input on the Draft Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan and associated environmental assessment (EA) for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area. This draft plan/EA proposes a long-term direction for the National Park Service (NPS) to manage and protect the wilderness designated by Congress in 1978 and backcountry lands in Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP and backcountry lands in Curecanti NRA. This document consists of two parts—Part 1: Draft Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan and Part 2: Environmental Assessment.

Part 1 proposes a management framework that would maintain or improve wilderness and backcountry conditions in Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP and Curecanti NRA. To accomplish this objective, the plan would update management zones and corresponding desired conditions to provide a spectrum of wilderness and backcountry opportunities; enhance public understanding of wilderness character and backcountry values; and restore, preserve, and enhance wilderness character and backcountry resources. Part 1 also includes an updated climbing management plan, a monitoring framework, identified visitor capacities, and commercial services analysis for wilderness and backcountry lands at both units.

Part 2 contains an environmental analysis of those actions and strategies in the plan that have the potential to significantly impact the human environment. This environmental assessment was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended; the2020 Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1500 et seq.); guidance in the 2015 NPS NEPA Handbook; NPS Director's Order 75a: Civic Engagement and Public Involvement; the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended; and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

Stakeholder input is key to long-term, effective planning and decision making. The NPS is therefore seeking public comments on the draft plan (Part 1), impact analysis (Part 2), and any other concerns or ideas you may have related to the designated wilderness at Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP and the backcountry area of Curecant NRA.

Interested parties should submit comments by August 4, 2022, either on this website or via mail to:

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP-Curecanti NRA
Attention: Superintendent Deanna Greco
102 Elk Creek
Gunnison, CO 81230

Topic Questions Instructions:

To be most helpful, the NPS is seeking substantive comments that provide new and detailed information relevant to: -environmental issues / impact topics analyzed; -alternatives, including mitigation measures which could reduce potentially harmful effects; and -the information used to describe the affected environment and environmental consequences. Comments which are NOT helpful include those which: -vote for or against a potential management practice, tool, or alternative without giving reasons why; -agree or disagree with laws, regulation, or NPS policy; -discuss other projects or other areas; and/or -contain vague, open-ended statements or questions.

Topic Questions:

1. We would like to hear your thoughts on the alternatives presented in the plan, the analysis of their impacts, and any other concerns or ideas you might have. Your comments will help us ensure we have the best plan possible.

Document Content:

BLCA CURE_Draft Plan and EA_508.pdf   (17.9 MB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.