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WEBSITES TO VISIT

News Release Date: February 28, 2024
Contact: Karen Garthwait, 435-719-2142

Comment period ending at midnight on March 31, 2024.

Moab, Utah – Canyonlands National Park is beginning planning for a comprehensive river management plan for the Green and Colorado rivers. The park is asking for initial input to help shape a plan that will address public and commercial use and resource protection on the rivers.

The comprehensive river management plan will identify management strategies and solutions to address changing visitation patterns and increasing demand for commercial services, impacts on cultural and natural resources, and the implications of climate-induced drought on both visitor use and resource management.

“People who recreate on these rivers know how special they are,” said Acting Superintendent Lena Pace. “We encourage everyone to participate in this important process.”

By incorporating input from civic engagement, the new plan will better develop and evaluate proactive strategies to meet the National Park Service mission while creating equitable access for visitors to experience the beauty and tranquility of the Green and Colorado rivers.

A StoryMap describes the desired conditions of the project, the issues the plan will address, and project goals, and is available for viewing and commenting at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/CanyonlandsCRMP.

For those interested in learning more about the project, the park will be holding public meetings:

Stakeholder Meeting (for Utah Guides & Outfitters and other commercial operators) March 6, 2024, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. MST; Location: Grand Center, Room 3
General Public Meeting: March 6, 2024, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. MST; Location: Grand Center, Room 3
Virtual Public Meeting: March 7, 2024, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. MST
Virtual Public Meeting: March 13, 2024, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. MDT

The public comment period begins February 28, 2024, and ends March 28, 2024. This comment period is the initial phase of the plan and future opportunities to provide input will be announced as the plan develops.

People can submit public comments online at the project website https://parkplanning.nps.gov/

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COMMENT LETTERS

Living Rivers, Colorado Riverkeeper and River Runners for Wilderness

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RESOURCES

Foundational

2013 - Foundation Overview
2008 - Administrative History. Schmieding.
2006 - Press conference by Stewart L. Udall. Secretary of Interior from 1961 to 1969.
1988 - Statement For Management
1986 - Canyonlands History. Meils.

Management Plans

Visitor Use

2023- Visitor use statistics. National Park Service database.

Water Resources

Cultural Resources

Geology

1974 - Geologic Story. Lohman.

History

Fire Management

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