1979 Final Environmental Impact Statement
Colorado River Mangement Plan

The 1979 Final Environmental Impact Statement Colorado River Management Plan is available in two formats, as a PDF file and as a text file. PDF files retain the look and feel of the original document (including typography, page layout, and graphics), text files do not.

The PDF file can be viewed with Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 5 or newer). If you plan on printing the file, it may print faster if you download it to your computer. To view a PDF in your browser window, click on the file link and the Acrobat Reader plug-in will automatically load and display the file. To download a PDF to your computer, right-click on the PDF link and choose the "Save Link/Target As" option from the drop-down menu. After saving the file to your computer, click on its alias/icon and Acrobat Reader will launch and open the PDF for viewing and/or printing. If you prefer to view/download the entire document all at once, do so here: PDF file - 1979 Final Environmental Impact Statement - 9,480kb In order to decrease the size of the file to download, the document has been broken into into five sections. If you prefer to view/download the document in sections, do so here: PDF file - Section One - 3,566kb PDF file - Section Two - 2,285kb PDF file - Section Three - 3,289kb PDF file - Section Four - 321kb PDF file - Section Five - 238kb

The text file can be viewed within your browser by clicking on the link below. Or you can download the file (to download the file, right-click on the link and choose the "Save Link/Target As" option from the drop-down menu) and then view it in any word processing program. text file - 1979 Final Environmental Impact Statement - 348kb

Following is a listing of what parts of the 1979 Final Environmental Impact Statement are in which PDF file sections.

PDF file - Section One - 3,566 kb

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL
   1. MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES
   2. SPECIFIC ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN
      1. Phase Out Motorized Boats
      2. Annual Use
         1. Summer Season (April 1 through September 30)
         2. Winter Season (October 1 through March 31)
      3. Allocation of Use for Commercial and Noncommercial Use
      4. Commercial Permit Management
      5. Noncommercial Permit Management
      6. Launches From Diamond Creek
      7. Launches Between Lees Ferry and Diamond Creek
   3. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
      1. Fires
      2. Human Waste Disposal
      3. Trash, Litter, Soap
      4. Trails
      5. Historical and Archeological Resources
      6. Monitoring and Continued Research
         1. Sociological
         2. Biological
         3. Other
   4. GENERAL GUIDELINES
      1. Plan Review and Revision
      2. Education of Commercial Guides, Noncommercial Trip Leaders, and Visitors
      3. Boating and Safety Requirements
      4. Guide and Trip Leader Standards
      5. Special Transportation Regulations
         1. Helicopters
         2. Mules and Horses
         3. Hiking
      6. Health and Sanitation
   5. INTERRELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PLANS AND PROPOSALS
      1. National Park Service
      2. Havasupai Reservation
      3. Bureau of Reclamation

PDF file - Section Two - 2,285 kb

II. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

1. GENERAL
   1. Access
   2. Adjacent Lands and Jurisdictions
      1. Bureau of Reclamation
      2. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
      3. Navajo Indian Reservation
      4. Havasupai Indian Tribe
      5. Hualapai Indian Reservation
      6. Lake Mead National Recreation Area
2. GEOLOGY
3. SOILS
4. WATER RESOURCES
   1. The Colorado River
   2. Water Quality
      1. Levels of Contamination by Total Coliform
      2. Concentrations of Specific Trace Elements
      3. Total Dissolved Salt Concentration
      4. Concentration of Biotic and Abiotic Parameters that Could Lead to Hypereutrophication
      5. Known Levels of Pollutants Added by Direct or Indirect Human Contact
5. CLIMATE
6. AIR QUALITY
7. NOISE
8. VEGETATION
   1. Pre-Dam Riparian Vegetation
   2. Post-Dam Vegetation
   3. Vegetational and Topographic
   4. Ecologically Sensitive Areas
9. WILDLIFE
   1. Amphibians and Reptiles
   2. Birds
   3. Mammals
   4. Fishes
   5. Insects
10. RARE, ENDANGERED, AND THREATENED SPECIES
    1. Animals
    2. Plants
11. THE CULTURAL RESOURCES
    1. Archeology
    2. History
12. RIVER RECREATION
    1. User Days and Allotments
    2. Levels and Distribution of Use
    3. Lower Gorge

PDF file - Section Three - 3,289 kb

M. THE NATURE AND EFFECT OF EXISTING USE PATTERNS

1. Beaches
2. Off-River Use and Attraction Sites
3. Partial Trips
4. Fire
5. Sanitation
6. Fishing

1. Commercial Passengers
2. Private or Noncommercial Passengers
3. Lower Gorge Users
4. Visitor Perceptions and Preferences
   1. Mode of Travel
   2. Crowding
   3. Visitor Safety

1. Local and Regional Economy
2. Concessioner Services, Visitor Satisfaction

PDF file - Section Four - 321 kb

III. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED ACTION

1. IMPACT ON SOILS AND VEGETATION
2. IMPACT ON WILDLIFE
3. IMPACT ON WATER QUALITY
4. IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY
5. IMPACT ON CULTURAL RESOURCES
6. IMPACT ON VISITOR GROUP CHARACTERISTICS
7. IMPACT ON VISITOR OPTIONS
8. IMPACT ON THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE
   1. Contact and Crowding
   2. Trip Character
   3. Interpretation and Education
   4. Esthetics
   5. Safety
9. ECONOMIC IMPACT
   1. Visitors
   2. River Guides
   3. Other Interests
   4. Regional Economy and Concessioners
   5. Park Management
10. OUTSIDE INFLUENCES
    1. Noise
    2. Water Flow

1. MITIGATION OF IMPACTS ON NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
2. MITIGATION OF IMPACTS ON SOCIOECONOMIC FACTORS
3. MONITORING AND RESEARCH REQUIRED
4. COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT AND THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
   1. National Historic Preservation Act
   2. The Endangered Species Act

PDF file - Section Five - 238 kb

VIII. ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED

1. NO ACTION (STATUS QUO)
   1. Impacts on Natural Resources
   2. Impacts on Cultural Resources
   3. Socioeconomic factors
2. INCREASE THE VISITOR USE LEVEL
   1. Impact on Natural and Cultural Resources
   2. Impact on the Visitor
   3. Economic Factors
3. REDUCE VISITOR USE LEVEL BY APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT
   1. Impacts on Natural and Cultural Resources
   2. Impacts on the Visitor
   3. Economic Factors
4. PROVIDE EXCLUSIVE PERIODS (January 1 through June30) FOR NONMOTORIZED USE
   1. Impact on Natural and Cultural Resources
   2. Socioeconomic Factors
5. ELIMINATE MOTORIZED USE IN THE LOWER GORGE FROM DIAMOND CREEK (MILE 225.6) TO GRAND WASH CLIFFS (MILE 277)
   1. Impact on Natural and Cultural Resources
   2. Socioeconomics Factors
6. ALLOCATION OPTIONS
   1. Individual Application
   2. Equal Commercial Allocations
   3. Educational and Organized Group Allocation

1. CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPOSAL AND IN THE PREPARATION OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
   1. Public Input
   2. Coordination with Other Organizations
   3. Consultation During Development of the Plan
2. COORDINATION IN THE REVIEW OF THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
3. PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE PLAN AND DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
4. RESPONSE TO COMMENT ON THE DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
   1. Comments received from Federal Agencies
   2. Comments Received from State and Associated Agencies
   3. Comments Received from Indian Tribes
   4. Comments Received from County and City government
   5. Comments Received from Organizations and Associations
   6. Comments Received from Individuals

1. COLORADO RIVER RESEARCH PROGRAM
2. PRIVATE TRIP AFFIDAVIT