ARCH Salt Wash Rehabilitation EA

The National Park Service is proposing to rehabilitate Salt Wash, Salt Valley Wash, and Winter Camp Wash in Arches National Park (the Park). The purpose of the Salt Wash Rehabilitation Project is to reestablish the natural flow to Salt Wash at its confluence with Salt Valley Wash and Winter Camp Wash in order to maintain access of Wolfe Ranch / Delicate Arch Viewpoint road for visitors and park staff. The current paved roadway, sediment deposition rates, and increase in non-native tamarisk within the washes have compromised the natural flow of storm-water runoff, resulting in frequent flooding and closures of the road.

The proposed project aims to reestablish the natural flow of water and sediment by removing non-native tamarisk and re-contouring the three washes with heavy equipment. Restoration of natural processes, removal of non-native species, ensuring access to park visitors to a popular park site, and creating a more sustainable and less reactive management approach to the area are anticipated results from this project.

This environmental assessment evaluates two alternatives: a no action alternative (alternative 1) and the proposed action to rehabilitate Salt Wash, Salt Valley Wash, and Winter Camp Wash (alternative 2). Implementation of the proposed action may result in impacts to hydrologic and geologic processes, non-native vegetation, park operations, soils, visitor experience, and wilderness character. Impacts to ethnographic resources will be determined through tribal consultation.

The preferred method to submit public comments is online at the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/arch. Please provide all comments by November 16, 2017. If you are unable to submit comments electronically through this website, then you may also submit written comments to the National Park Service, Attention: Planning and Compliance 2282 S. West Resource Blvd., Moab, UT 84532.

Document Content:

ARCH Salt Wash Rehabilitation EA FINAL_101017.pdf   (17.7 MB, PDF file) ARCH Salt Wash Rehabilitation EA FINAL_Revised_12212017.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.