Draft General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement: Big Bend River National Park, Texas

266 Pages·2003·13.5 MB·English

by  National Park Service

Inited States Departmentofthe Interior I 29.79/3:B 48/DRAFT
lational Park Service
ig Bend National Park
ClemsonUniversity
3 1604 015 736 129
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Big Bend National Park
Draft General Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement
FEDERAL
PUBLICATION
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2012 with funding from
LYRASIS IVIembers and Sloan Foundation
http://archive.org/details/draftgeneralmanaOObend
Draft
General Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement
/
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK
BrewsterCounty,Texas
February2003
This GeneralManagementPlanIEnvironmentalImpactStatementdescribes and analyzesthree
alternativesformanaging BigBendNational Park. The approvedplanwill help managersmake
decisions aboutmanagingnatural and cultural resources,visitation, and developmentforthe next 15to
20years. Some issuestobe addressedarethe strainon scarcewaterresources; employee housing,
offices, andotherdevelopmentlocated inflash floodhazard areas;protectionofnatural and cultural
resources;limitedorientationand interpretation, and inadequate office spaceand storage forpark
staff. Aseparatemanagementplan isbeingdevelopedconcurrentlyforthe Rio GrandeWildand
Scenic River.
AlternativeA, the no-action orstatus quo alternative, reflects ongoingactionsattheparkand
serves asabasisforcomparingthe otheralternativesandknowingwhycertainchangesmaybe
advisable. Naturalandculturalresourceswouldbe managed astheyare now. Therewouldbe limited,
ifanychangesininterpretationandmanagementofthepark. Coordinationwithagenciesandother
groupswouldcontinue. Therewouldbeverylittle changeinvisitororotherparkfacilities exceptfor
thefollowing. Onenewbuildingtoprovidestorageandoffice space forfire management. Thepark
wouldbeoperatedandmaintainedasbefore. Issueswouldbe resolved astheyemergedandnotasthe
resultofacomprehensiveplan. Staffingandfundinglevelswouldremain atornearcurrentlevels.
Visitorserviceswouldremainlimited, and currentlaws,policies,andguidelineswouldguideresource
managementactions.Anydevelopmentthatisnottiedtoanapprovedplanwouldbe designedtobe
temporaryand reversible.
Thetwo "action" alternatives describevarious approachestomanagingthepark'sresourcesand
visitation. Alternative B-PreferredAlternative-Enhanced andAdequate Natural Resource
Stewardshipand EnhancedVisitorFacilities-wouldcreate amore sustainableparkandprovide
betterprotection forthe park'snaturaland cultural resourcesthanthe no-action alternativewhile
offeringan enhancedexperienceforvisitors. Some facilitieswouldbeupgraded,andanewvisitor
centerwouldbe builtatPantherJunction.Alternative C-Maximize Natural Resource Stewardship
and PreservationbyProvidingaMore Resource-OrientedVisitor Experience-wouldbetter
protectthepark'snaturalresourcesthanthe no-actionalternative andalternative Bwhile providing
forvisitoruse.Allfacilities exceptthe main road,atrailheadwithparking, andarestroomwould be
removedfromChisosBasinand Rio GrandeVillage. These andotheractionswould betakentomake
theparkmore sustainable,greatlyreducewateruse,andpromote ecological restoration.
Forquestions aboutthisdocument,write Superintendent,BigBend National Park, P.O. Box 129,Big
BendNational Park,TX 79834-0129, call [phone], or Email:www.nps.gov/bibe. Please notethat
theNPSpractice istomake comments,includingnames andaddressesofrespondents,available for
publicreview. Aftera60-dayreviewperiod, duringwhichpublic meetingswillbe held, commentswill
be analyzed and afinalplan/environmental impactstatementwill beprepared.Aftera30-dayno-
actionperiod,acourse ofactionwillbe approvedthroughthe issuance ofarecordofdecision.
UnitedStatesDepartmentoftheInterior • NationalParkService
APR 2 4 2003
c

SUMMARY
The purpose ofthis GeneralManagementPlanI building, cannot accommodatethe currentlevel
EnvironmentalImpactStatementisto define a ofvisitation orprovide all the information and
direction forthe managementofBigBend interpretation ofparkstories neededbyvisitors.
National Park forthe next 15 to 20years. The Space inthevisitorcenterusedbyparkstaffand
approvedplanwill provide a framework for the cooperatingassociation is inadequate, as is
makingdecisionsaboutmanagingthe natural storage space.
and cultural resources,visitoruse, development,
andpark operations sothatfuture opportunities At PantherJunction, there is alack ofadequate
andproblems canbe addressed effectively. The office andstorage space forparkstaff.
planwillprescribethe resource conditionsand
visitorexperiencestobe achieved overtime
ALTERNATIVES
accordingtolaw,policy,regulations,public
expectations, and the park'spurpose,
significance,and special mandates. To achieve the desired conditionsatBigBend
National Park,the planningteam developed a
Anupdated plan is neededto address current "no-action" alternative (continuingpresent
issues related towaterquantityatsome management) and two "action" alternatives for
developed areas,park facilities locatedin managingthe resources andvisitoruses ofBig
floodplains, endangered species, degradation of Bend National Park. Each action alternative
naturalsystems, conflicts amongvarioususer would assignvarious areas oftheparkto
groups, andthe lack ofadequate space for differentmanagementprescriptions (zones).
interpretive activities, park housing, storage, and The managementprescriptionsidentifyhow
staffoffices. differentareas could be managed to achieve a
variety ofresource conditionsandvisitor
experiences. In each alternative,the five
ISSUES TO BEADDRESSED managementzones-wilderness,backcountry
nonwilderness, cultural,visitorservices, and
Naturalresource issuesthat mustbe addressed operations-would each specifyaparticular
are management ofwaterquantityat some combination ofresource, social, and
developed areas, floodplains,threatened and management conditions.
endangered species,and degradation ofnatural
systems. AlternativeA, the no-action or status quo
alternative, reflects ongoingactions atthe park
WaterresourcesatChisos Basin are overcom- andserves as abasis forcomparingthe other
mitted. Overnightvisitorsandpark and alternativesandknowingwhy certain changes
concessioner employees competewithwetland maybe advisable. Currentlaws,policies, and
plants andwildlife forwater. At certain times of guidelineswouldguide natural and cultural
theyear,nearlyall ofthewaterfromOak Spring resource managementactions. Interpretation
is diverted forhuman use. Attimeswhen the andvisitorserviceswould remain limited, and
total output ofthe springis not sufficient for anydevelopmentthat is nottiedto an approved
needs ofthe developedarea, conservation planwouldbe designedtobetemporaryand
measures mustbe implemented. reversible. Therewouldbe limited, ifany,
changes in the managementofthepark.
Visitors' understandingofthe significance ofBig Coordinationwith agencies and othergroups
BendNational Park is limited byalack of would continue. Allthevisitorfacilities available
adequate orientation and interpretation. Addi- forvisitoruse, such asthe Chisos Basin
tional interpretive emphasis is needed to foster development, Rio Grande Village, and
visitorawareness ofthe park'sprincipal stories. Cottonwood campgrounds,would be available
The PantherJunctionvisitorcenter, asection of underthis alternative.
the "Mission 66" period (1960s) headquarters
Ill
SUMMARY
One alreadyapprovedbuildingwouldbe relocated awayfrom bank cave-in areas, and a
constructed in PantherJunction, outsidethe newegressroadwould be constructed. Fifteen
mostdangerousportion ofthe maximum percentofpark personnel and functionswould
estimated floodplain. Itwould contain storage bemovedtogateway communitieswhere offices
and office space forfiremanagement. Some andresidenceswouldbebuilt orleased.
campsitesat Rio GrandeVillagewouldbe
relocatedtoprovidegreaterprotection forthe Alternative C-Maximize Natural Resource
endangered fish, BigBendgambusia. An Stewardship and Preservation by Providinga
alternativewatersourcewouldbe soughtfor More Resource-Oriented Visitor Experience
humanuse to furtherprotectthe endangered wouldbetterprotectthepark's natural
fish. At Rio GrandeVillage and Cottonwood resourcesthan alternativeA (no-action) and
campgroundsand PantherJunction early alternative Bwhileprovidingforvisitoruse.
warningsystems and evacuationplanswouldbe Developmentwouldbe removedfrom Chisos
developedand implementedto protectvisitors Basinand Rio Grande Village exceptforthe
andstaffoccupyingthe floodplain. Failingutility main roads. Atrailheadwithparkinganda
(waterandwastewater) systemswouldbe restroomwouldbe constructedat each area.
upgradedasfundsbecome available. Thepark Thevisitorcenterfunctionwould expandwithin
wouldbe operatedandmaintainedasbefore. the headquartersbuilding,andanewadmini-
Staffingand fundinglevelswould remain ator strative buildingwouldbe builtat Panther
nearcurrentlevels. Junction.Astoragewarehousewould alsobe
constructedat PantherJunction. The natural
Alternative B-PreferredAlternative- resources and collectionmanagementbuilding
Enhanced andAdequate Natural Resource (describedinthe cumulative impact scenario)
Stewardship and EnhancedVisitor Facilities should adequatelyprovide forthe collection
wouldofferenhancedexperiencesforvisitors storageneeds forthe duration ofthisplan. In
whilecreatingamore sustainableparkand caseadditional collectionstorage spacewere
providingbetterprotection forpark resources. necessary,the othernewstorage areaswouldbe
Itisthe National Park Service's preferred evaluatedtoaccommodatethis need. Fifteen
alternative. Anewvisitorcenterwouldbebuilt percentofparkpersonnelandfunctionswould
at PantherJunctiontoprovide roomfor be movedtogatewaycommunitieswhere offices
interpretive mediato adequatelyinterpretkey andresidenceswouldbebuiltorleased.
aspectsofthe park's storiesandtohelpvisitors
plantheirstays. The space in the headquarters
buildingvacatedbythevisitorcenterfunction ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
wouldberedesigned forstaffoffices. Astorage
warehouse,bunkhouse, and employee residence Theplanningteam evaluated thepotential
would alsobe builtat PantherJunction. The consequencesthatthe actions ofeach alternative
naturalresourcesand collection management couldhave on naturalresources, cultural
building (describedinthe cumulative impact resources,the visitorexperience, andthe
scenario) should adequatelyprovide forthe socioeconomic environment. Thebeneficial or
collection storage needsforthe duration ofthis adverse effectswere categorizedas eithershort
plan. Incase additional collection storage space term orlongterm, andtheirintensitywasrated
were necessary,the othernewstorageareas as negligible, minor, moderate, ormajor. The
wouldbe evaluatedto accommodatethis need. impactsofthevarious alternatives are compared
One employee residence, one employeebunk- intable2.
house, and one 12-roomvisitorlodgingunit
wouldbe removedfrom Chisos Basintoreduce ForalternativeA, the no-action or status quo
humanwateruse atthatarea. alternative, irrigation ofshadetreesandlawns
atthe campgrounds at Rio Grande Village and
At Rio Grande Villagethe RV campground Cottonwoodusingwaterfrom the riverwould
wouldbe enlargedbyapproximately40% in continue to cause the growth ofunnaturallylush
areawith nomorethan30total sites. Cotton- vegetation and allow exotic speciesto flourish-
woodCampgroundcampsiteswouldbe anongoing,moderate,long-termadverse
IV
Summary
impact. Continueduse ofnearlyall thewaterat tiesand revenues duringrestorationand
OakSpringforhumanuse duringcertaintimes construction activities.
oftheyearwouldcausemoderate, long-term,
adverse impacts onthe quantityofwaterin Oak Underalternative Brestoringsoils on62acres
Springandthewetlandthere. Improving Big tonatural contours,reroutingrunofftonatural
Bendgambusiahabitatbyeliminatingcompeti- drainages, and revegetatingan areagreaterthan
tionforspringwaterand relocatingcampsites 20acreswouldhave amajor,long-term,bene-
would have aminortomoderate long-term ficial impactonsoils,vegetation, andsmaller
beneficialimpact onthe endangered fish. The animals. Reducinghumanuse ofwaterfromOak
naturalandbeneficialvalues offloodplain areas Springbyremovingsome facilitiesat Chisos
would continuetobe compromisedbythe Basinwouldresult in a13% reduction in annual
presence ofcampgroundsat Rio Grande Village, wateruse there-aminortomoderate long-term
andthe developments inthe flash floodhazard beneficialimpact onplantsand amoderate long-
areaat PantherJunction. This continuinglong- termbeneficial impactonwildlife thatusewater
termadverse impacton natural processeswould fromthe spring. Withdrawal of50% ofthe irri-
be moderate. Although severe floodinghasbeen gationwaterfrom about 14acres ofexoticvege-
infrequentandrisks are minortomoderate, tationat Rio Grande Villagewould allownative
floodingat PantherJunction could resultin vegetation toreturn-amoderate tomajorlong-
majoradverse impactsonvisitors oremployees termbeneficialimpactonnativevegetation.
involved. Eventhoughtheriskis notgreat, loss
ofinfrastructure at PantherJunction from flood- Findingaseparate source ofdrinkingwaterfor
ingcouldcauseamajor,long-termadverse im- visitors and employees atRio GrandeVillage
pactonoperationsandrequiretheparktofind wouldhave amajor, long-term,beneficial impact
temporaryhousingandofficesoutsidethepark. onthe pondwatersystemwaterquantityand a
minortomoderate, long-termbeneficialimpact
Ongoingidentificationandprotection ofarche- onthe endangeredBigBendgambusia. Although
ologicalresourceswouldhaveaminorto areportfindsthatthe risk is notgreat, flooding
moderatebeneficial impactontheseresources. at PantherJunction couldcause majoradverse
Research, documentation,identification, evalua- impactsonthevisitorsand employeesinvolved.
tion,andpreservation ofethnographicresources Floodingat PantherJunction could cause major
wouldresultin long-term,negligible tomoder- adverse impacts on operations and couldrequire
atebeneficialimpactson ethnographic theparkto findtemporaryofficesandhousing
resources. outsidethe park.
AlternativeAwouldresultin continuingdegra- Preservationactionstakenunderthisalternative
dation ofthevisitorexperience fromnoise, wouldhave along-term, moderate beneficial
congestion, andvisitorfrustration atnotfinding impact on some parkhistoric structures. Water
adequate interpretive and education facilities. conservation measuresat Rio Grande Village
This alternativewouldresultin acontinuing could change thevegetation characteristic ofthis
long-termadverse impact onvisitors comingto potential cultural landscape -along-term,
thepark atpeaktimes. Visitorswould have many moderate adverse impact. Therewouldbe a
opportunitiestotravel aroundthepark attheir long-term, major,beneficialimpact on artifacts
ownpace-along-term, majorbeneficial impact. and collections at PantherJunction.
Retainingthe campgrounds,picnic areas, and
lodgewouldhave an ongoing, moderate, long- Provision ofadequate space forinterpretingthe
rangebeneficial impactonthevisitor park'sprimarythemes, conductinginterpretive
experience. and educational programs, and ensuringthat
visitorsreceive enoughinformationtoplantheir
Theexistingbenefitsoftheparktothe local and stay effectivelybyconstructinganewvisitor
regional economywould continue. In addition, centerat PantherJunctionwouldhave amajor
therewouldbe minor,short-term,beneficial long-termbeneficial impactonmostpark
impactsontemporaryemploymentopportuni- visitors.
SUMMARY
Therewouldbe increases in temporaryand moderate adverse impacts on ethnographic
permanent employment opportunitiesand resources, and long-term, majorbeneficial
revenues asplannedupgrades offacilities and impactsonthe park collections.
programs are implemented.
RemovalofovernightfacilitiesatChisos Basin
Underalternative C, removingdevelopment, and Rio Grande Villagewould have amajor,
restoringnatural contours, and revegetating700 long-termbeneficial impactonthevisitor
acres at Chisos Basin, Rio Grande Village, and experience ofnaturaland cultural resources. A
the Maverick entrance stationwould have long- rehabilitatedvisitorcenterat PantherJunction
term, beneficial impacts. Impacts on soilswould would have amoderate, long-termbenefitfor
be major, onvegetation andwildlife moderate, mostparkvisitors. Removinglodgingand
and on black-cappedvireo moderate tomajor. campingfacilitieswould resultinthe loss of
Impacts onwaterquantityat OakSpring, plants overnightexperiences forsomevisitors, and
thatusewaterfrom Oak Spring, andwetlandsat removinginterpretive centersat Chisos Basin
OakSpringwouldbe major. Impacts on animals and Rio Grande Villagewould eliminate
thatusewaterfrom Oak Springwould be opportunities forvisitorsto learn aboutkey
moderate, andimpactson natural andbeneficial themes and resource management issues.
floodplainvaluesat Rio Grande Villagewould Together, the loss ofthese facilitieswouldb e a
be major. Withdrawalofirrigationwaterfrom majorlong-term adverse impact on the visitor
about 638 acresofexoticvegetation at Rio experience. Retainingthe Cottonwood
Grande Villagewould allownativevegetation to Campground and picnic areaswould constitute
return-amajor,long-termbeneficial impact on amoderate long-termbeneficialimpacton
nativevegetationand amoderatelong-term visitors, andmovingsome campsites further
beneficial impact onwaterquantityinthe Rio from the riverwould lessen thepotentialfrom
Grande. flooding.
Removingall humanuse from the springatRio Therewouldbe increases intemporaryand
Grande Village wouldbe amajor, long-term permanent employment opportunities and
beneficial impactonwetlands andonwater revenues as plannedupgrades offacilitiesand
quantityinthe pond systemused by Big Bend programswere implemented.
gambusia. Alongwith the additionalwater
available inthe pond system where itlives,
restoration ofRio Grande Villageto more COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT PLAN
natural conditions through revegetation, and
potentiallydoublingthe available habitat TheDraftGeneralManagementPlanI
throughwetland restoration,would be expected EnvironmentalImpactStatementforBig Bend
to have aminortomoderate long-termbene- National Parkis beingsent out forpublic review
ficial impact onthe fish. Although areportfinds and comment. Duringthe 60-dayreviewperiod,
thatthe risk isnotgreat, floodingat Panther publicmeetingswillbe held and commentswill
Junction could cause majoradverse impacts on be analyzed. Various elements ofthe preferred
thevisitors and employees involved. Floodingat alternative and otheralternativesmight be modi-
PantherJunction could cause majoradverse fiedto address comments. The final planwill
impacts on operations and couldrequire the include agency and organization letters and
park tofindtemporaryofficesandhousing responses toallsubstantive comments. The Final
outside the park. GeneralManagementPlan /Enviroftmental
ImpactStatementwiWbe completed and
Demolition ofsome historic structureswould distributed to the public. Arecord ofdecision
resultinalong-term minorto major, adverse identifyingthe selected alternative (the
impacton historic structures. Loss ofsome approved plan) will be issued afteraminimum
potential cultural landscapeswouldbe a 30-dayno-actionperiod followingrelease ofthe
potential long-term,major,adverse impact on finalplan.
these landscapes. Therewouldbe long-term,
VI
CONTENTS
PURPOSEOFAND NEED FORTHEPLAN
Purpose, Need,and Scoping 3
Introduction 3
BriefDescription ofthe Park 3
Purpose ofthe Plan 4
Needforthe Plan 7
Missionand Goals 7
Park Purpose 7
ParkSignificance 7
PrimaryInterpretiveThemes 7
The ScopingProcess-Notices,Newsletters,andMeetings 8
Issues 9
IssuestobeAddressed 9
Issuesbeyondthe Scope ofthis Plan 10
ImpactTopics (ResourcesandValuesatStake inthe PlanningProcess) 10
Natural ResourceTopics 10
Cultural ResourceTopics 10
Visitor ExperienceTopics 11
Socioeconomic EnvironmentTopics 11
ImpactTopics Considered and Dismissedfrom FurtherConsideration 11
Threatened, Endangered, and Proposed Species 11
Prime and Unique Farmland 12
AirQuality 12
WaterQualityinthe Rio Grande 13
Traffic 13
IndianTrust Resources 13
EnvironmentalJustice 14
Laws, Policies, andMandates 15
Special Mandates andAdministrative Commitments 15
LetterofIntent BetweenThe Department ofthe Interior (DOI) ofthe UnitedStates andThe
Secretariat ofEnvironment, Natural Resources and Fisheries (SEMARNAP) ofthe United
MexicanStates forJointWork in Natural ProtectedAreas on the United States-Mexico
Border 15
Wildfire Prevention AgreementwithMexico 15
Proposed Wilderness Classification 15
WaterResources Management Plan, Wildland Fire Management Plan,BackcountryManagement
Plan, Castolon Long-Range Interpretive Plan, Drought Contingency Plan,Water
Conservation Plan 15
Rio Grande Wild and Scenic RiverManagement Plan 15
Wilderness SuitabilityAssessment 16
Servicewide Laws and Policies 16
Natural Resource Management Requirements 17
Cultural ResourceManagement Requirements 28
vu
CONTENTS
ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDINGTHE PREFERREDALTERNATIVE
Introductionto theAlternatives 39
Decision Points 39
Relationshipsto OtherAgencies' Plans 39
Texas OutdoorRecreation PlanAssessmentand PolicyPlan (TORP) 39
Black GapWildlife ManagementArea 40
BigBend Ranch State Park 40
BrewsterCounty 41
Maderas del Carmen 41
Canon de Santa Elena 41
ManagementPrescriptions 43
AlternativeA- No-Action (Status Quo) 47
Concept 47
Throughoutthe Park 47
Chisos Basin 48
PantherJunction 48
Rio Grande Village 48
Castolon 48
Cottonwood Campground 48
North Rosillos/Harte Ranch 48
Persimmon Gap,Maverick, and GatewayCommunities 54
Park Boundary 54
Estimated Costs 54
Alternative B- (PreferredAlternative) -Enhanced andAdequate Natural Resource Stewardshipand
EnhancedVisitor Facilities 55
Concept 55
Detailed Description 55
Wilderness Prescription 55
BackcountryNonwilderness Prescription 56
Cultural Prescription 56
VisitorServices Prescription 56
Operations Prescription 63
Partnerships, Programs, andActivities 63
Park Boundary 64
Estimated Costs 64
Alternative C-Maximize Natural Resource Stewardship and Preservationby Providing aMore
Resource-OrientedVisitor Experience 65
Concept 65
Detailed Description 65
Wilderness Prescription 65
BackcountryNonwilderness Prescription 66
Cultural Prescription 66
VisitorServices Prescription 66
Operations Prescription 72
Partnerships Programs, andActivities 72
ParkBoundary 72
EstimatedCosts 73
vni