ZION BMP - A Significant Change!

[bruce from bryce]

It was recently discovered, hidden in the paragraph Group Encounter Rates in the Pristine Zone on page 37, that the BMP proposes to increase the "use limits to 20 people per day in the Pristine Zone..."

If you comment on nothing else, submit your overwhelming support for this particular change. It is something a lot of people have been talking about and the management team has seen the light.

We do not know what other groups may weigh in against this proposal so UUtahs need to address this particular change directly. :rockon:

[bruce from bryce]

for those of you who can't get something in the mail in time here are the steps to comment online:

Go to: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/
Choose a Park = Zion NP
Click on: Zion National Park Backcountry Management Plan & Environmental Assessment
Click on: Open for Public Comment
Click on: Zion National Park Backcountry Management Plan & Environmental Assessment
Click on: Comment on Document
Enter your comments

:2thumbs:

[AFI]

Having problems with that link :ne_nau:

[Iceaxe]

I fixed the error in Bruce's link above so it should now work....

or... If you wish to comment here is the direct link:

http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=113&projectID=13678&documentId=19085

:popcorn:

[ratagonia]

Here's a concise sample letter from one of my friends... Tom

Dear Zion National Park Planning Team:

Thank you for soliciting my comments as a park user on the May 2007
Backcountry Plan / Environmental Assessment for Zion National Park.

I have been a regular Zion visitor since my first visit seventeen
years ago to the Virgin River Narrows. I have since returned over
40 times as my passion for hiking, canyoneering, and climbing in the
park has grown. I enjoy dayhiking Angel's Landing, peak climbing
West Temple, North Guardian, and Lady Mountain, but most of all I
have enjoyed visiting the many technical canyons of Zion, including
Heaps, Imlay, Checkerboard, Kolob, Echo, Mystery, and Pine Creek as
well as a few dozen undocumented canyons.

While I am excited that the park is planning on raising Daily Use
Limits, I am disappointed in other issues proposed in Alternative
B. The park does not appear to have offered an acceptable
alternative.


I am grateful that the park conducted the VERP study. It seems
apparent from the study data that approximately 90% of park users
are comfortable with encountering up to 4 groups in a canyon, and at
least 75% are comfortable encountering up to 6 groups. Alternative B
is far more restrictive than what users are asking for. Please
propose an Alternative Plan that reflects visitor perception and
experience more accurately ( i.e. manage for more encounters).

I appreciate the efforts of the park to balance the delicate
resource of the park with user experiences and perceptions. I would
appreciate the development of an Alternative, however, that is co-
generated by the VERP and the Park Planning Team. It appears now
that the Plan was developed first and the VERP employed selectively
to support the plan rather than to shape or direct it.

The decrease in group size for Pristine Zone canyons from 12 to 6 is
unnecessary and unwelcome. I have spent dozens of days in pristine
zone canyons and have had at most two group encounters, both of
which were most pleasant and welcome. Please propose a new
alternative without this reduction.

In general, please introduce an Alternative use plan that represents
the majority interests of canyon users, while still preserving the
canyon resources. Proposing a single alternative is not adequate
and overly constrictive.


I appreciate all the care and time you have dedicated to this issue,
and thank you for considering my letter.

Sincerely,
xxxxx xxxxxxxx

[Iceaxe]

Nice letter and thanks for the guidance.... These sample letters are a big help. :2thumbs:

[Scott Card]

Thanks for the sample letter and all the data Tom. And thanks for the link Bruce and Shane. I decided to just submit my comments online rather than try to hand deliver it on Monday. Last time I tried to rush to Zion after work to get a red pass I got a speeding ticket. Stupid permit system. :frustrated: BTW, I used the above short letter as my basic form but tweaked it quite a bit and added more subtle contempt for the system. I promise I was polite.

Also, you can still mail a response on Monday so long as it is post marked by no later than 11:59 p.m. on 7/30/07 according to the above link. Here's to hoping is does any good. Not holding my breath. What is the fine again for poaching? ooooooh did I type that out loud? :lol8:

[Scott Card]

These sample letters are a big help. :2thumbs:

Yep. I agree.

[stefan]

It was recently discovered, hidden in the paragraph Group Encounter Rates in the Pristine Zone on page 37, that the BMP proposes to increase the "use limits to 20 people per day in the Pristine Zone..."


actually this is not in the paragraph on the 'group encouter rates in the pristine zone' but rather in the paragraph on the 'group encounter rates in the primitive zone' but in reference to the pristine zone, oddly enough. considering this fact was not mentioned in the summaries in the beginning comparing the two plans, is this simply negligence and careless writing of a draft or are they trying to slip this through relatively unnoticed?

thanks for pointing this out.