Wildlife Viewing Pullouts

The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a wildlife viewing pullouts project in the park. The EA is needed in order to evaluate potential impacts to the natural and cultural environment from proposed project activities, including impacts to Utah prairie dog habitat. The NPS is soliciting comments from the public to help identify issues associated with this project and develop alternative resource protection approaches that will be evaluated in the EA.

Wildlife viewing pullouts improve opportunities for visitors to view and photograph wildlife. Wildlife pullouts and associated interpretive panels will increase opportunities for park visitors to learn about the wildlife and their habitat including both large and small mammals like elk, pronghorn, and the Utah prairie dog. Currently, there are no pullouts in areas with the highest density of wildlife (especially in East Creek Meadow), which results in visitors frequently pulling off the road causing ruts along the road shoulder and increasing disturbed areas. They also stop in the middle of the road which decreases visitor safety. This project will support an increase in visitor awareness and stewardship of the park's wildlife and their habitat while improving visitor safety.

The NPS has identified preliminary issues related to construction of five wildlife viewing pullouts that will be analyzed through the EA process. Issues and/or alternatives identified through public scoping will also be addressed in the EA.

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