New Black Canyon Management Plan Up For Comment

Attention all Black Canyon aficionados, the National Park Service is seeking feedback on a new Wilderness and Backcountry Management plan they have just released for the area.

From the Park Service:

“The National Park Service (NPS) is making available for public review a Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan (the Plan) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (NP) and Curecanti National Recreation Area (NRA) located in west-central Colorado. The Plan provides direction for the National Park Service to preserve natural and undeveloped lands in Black Canyon NP and Curecanti NRA, including the designated wilderness within Black Canyon NP. The purpose of the Plan is to provide an integrated framework for decision making for the stewardship of wilderness and backcountry lands of Black Canyon NP and Curecanti NRA.”

It’s a long document, but a quick perusal shows a couple of changes that climbers should be aware of. The map on the PDF is a little hard to read, but it looks like where most of the climbing is currently taking place, new fixed hardware would still be allowed, but only with approval from the Park Service. And second, there are “pristine” zones downstream and upstream from where most of the climbing is taking place where fixed anchors would be banned entirely. From the document:

“The proposed climbing management plan would be adopted in the inner canyon wilderness zone to protect the natural and undeveloped quality of wilderness. The proposed climbing management plan would permit new fixed anchors or bolts in the inner canyon primitive zone with NPS authorization, but not in the inner canyon pristine zone. Motorized drills would not be allowed in either wilderness subzone. The impacts of fixed hardware and access routes on wilderness character would be monitored; management may be adjusted if warranted by a Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park change in conditions. The peregrine falcon nesting activities would continue to be monitored and seasonal closures would be implemented to protect active nesting sites (ledges and alcoves in canyon walls).”

You can download the PDF of the document, and leave comments on their website.

There will also be a couple of meetings where you can find out more and get answers to any questions you might have:

September 21, 2011; Montrose, CO / 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.; Montrose Chamber of Commerce; 1519 East Main Street
September 22, 2011; Gunnison, CO / 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.; Fred R. Field Western Heritage Center; 275 S. Spruce St.