gcpba Newswire – River Planning Comes to Salt Lake, Tuesday the 6th at 4:00 PM
August 4, 2002
Since river runners often speak with fondness for beer and plenty of it, The Tivioli Center, a former brewery in downtown Denver seemed like a fitting place to start the public input process last Thursday August 1st, for the revision of the Colorado River Management Plan (CRMP).
The public meeting series, moves on to Salt Lake City on Tuesday, August 6th at the Salt Lake community College in Sandy, Utah, was brought about as part of the GCPBA and AW lawsuit settlement which restarted the CRMP Process.
Public meetings were part of the previous efforts, halted in 2000 by former Grand Canyon National Park Supt. Rob Arnberger. The Denver meeting differed from those earlier meetings in the manner of participation. This time there was no formal presentation. Instead, participants gathered in the brewery’s former opera house, which was staffed by Park specialists with exhibits featuring their various management roles.
River runners were invited to visit the stations and encouraged to share their ideas directly with the people in charge. Prominent among them were Superintendent Joe Alston, Deputy Superintendent Kate Cannon and Science Center Director Jeff Cross. Conversation between groups flowed freely. All the “major players” —groups with an interest in Grand Canyon river management —participated. GCPBA Board members Tom Schiavone, Warren Musselman, and Richard Martin, as well as numerous GCPBA members took part in work sessions side by side with outfitters, Wilderness folks and curious boaters from around Colorado.
Moderated discussion groups took place very half hour. Each group was lead by a professional moderator who gave participants the opportunity to both voice and write their opinions on the broad topic, “what would we choose to have the river experience be like in the future.” Answers ranged from a river future where the canyon’s natural resources would be replenished and refreshed through the benefits of a natural river flow regimen to “just get to be there” to “close it up for fifty years and don’t let anyone but the Indians in.”
The next meeting will be held on:
Tuesday, August 6, 2002
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake Community College-Miller Campus
Miller Training & Conference Center
9750 South 300 West
Sandy, Utah
GCPBA will be hosting a pre-meeting with snacks, for all river runners from 1 PM to 3 PM, just across the street from Salt Lake Community College at:
Tucci’s Italian Restaurant
75 East 9400 South
Sandy, Utah
(Located in the Jordan Commons Complex)
On Thursday, August 8th, the process regroups in Flagstaff, Arizona, regarded by many as the “river running center of the universe,” at least the Grand Canyon universe, (and known for being a “good coffee town”).
Thursday, August 8, 2002
Flagstaff, AZ
Coconino Community College Commons
2800 S. Lone Tree Road
Flagstaff, AZ
Attendance at these meetings is important, it shows the Park that you care. The park service will be there to meet you and to hear what you have to say. Take advantage of this opportunity, and of course write the NPS with your opinions on river issues:
CRMP Team
Grand Canyon National Park
Box 129
Grand Canyon, AZ 86023
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