Mardonzi
11-29-2007, 08:28 AM
Well folks, it didn't take long for the enviro-weenies to start chiming in with thier .02 worth on the proposed deepening of the Castle Rock Cut.
Steve Ingebretsen with the Glen Canyon Institute has started a email campaign to stop the proposed depthening of the Castle Rock cut at Lake Powell that is proposed to start next spring. To keep it brief, what this does is cuts approximately 12 miles off of the trip uplake through what is called the Narrows.
Mr Ingebretsen of course is using all the politically correct buzz phrases to support his organizations position such as the dredging will generate greenhouse gases, cause 25,000 dumptrucks worth of soil for disposal, etc. What he fails to mention is the fact that by cutting off approximately one hour of travel time uplake (his estimate, not mine) the generation of fossil fuel emissions from boat motors will be substantially DECREASED, therefore making the expansion of the channel an enviromental asset.
For those of us that don't want to banter with the political BS back and forth and just care about boating, this means that you will be able to head uplake without getting beat to shit in a smaller boat as well as save some serious coin on fuel.
Below is the link for public comments to the National Park Service. Please take a second and send them some positive feedback. Most of us that have dealt with public access issues before know that the opposition is pretty well organized and for the most part, doesn't have a clue about the area being impacted as well as the issues. They just see a cute newsletter and send comments and money.
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=62&projectID=20386&documentId=21055
Below is the letter sent by the Glen Canyon Institute opposing the cut expansion along with a copy of their sample letter. I think we as a boating community can do better.
Help us stop the deepening of Castle Rock Cut
Dear Shanna,
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has proposed a destructive excavation to deepen Castle Rock Cut boat channel. With your help, we can stop this project. Send your comments to the National Park Service by December 4th!
Project Summary
The National Park Service (NPS) is beginning an environmental assessment (EA) of the impacts of deepening the "Castle Rock Cut" in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GCNRA). Castle Rock Cut is a half-mile long, 80-foot wide short-cut boat channel carved out of the Glen Canyon sandstone. The channel saves an hour of travel time for boaters traveling from Wahweap Marina to areas up-reservoir.
Castle Rock Cut channel was originally excavated in the 1970s, but was deepened by 8 feet in 1992. This created a usable channel when water levels are above 3,620 feet. Since the late 1990s, however, the reservoir has been shrinking. As a result, the Castle Rock Cut channel has not been usable since 2003. Today the level of Lake Powell reservoir is only 3,600 feet and the channel is currently dry. In response to pressure from boating interests, the NPS is proposing to excavate Castle Rock Cut channel another 15 feet so it will be usable at current water levels. This would require using heavy equipment to excavate 250,000 cubic yards of sediment and sandstone - enough to fill 25,000 dump trucks. The NPS has not announced an official budget, but the cost would be significant.
Glen Canyon Institute strongly opposes the Castle Rock Cut deepening project because:
· it is not needed, since the number of boaters is decreasing, and an alternative route is available;
· Castle Rock Cut will likely be unusable once again as Lake Powell reservoir continues to decline;
· the excavation of large quantities of sandstone and sediment would cause ecological damage, pollution, and emission of CO2, which contributes to global warming;
· the project would degrade scenic and recreational values by leaving an artificial channel and huge rubble pile;
· it would take significant amounts of taxpayer dollars away from other higher priorities, such as restoration and protection of the backcountry; and
· it violates the National Park Service mandate to leave our parks "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
Glen Canyon Institute believes that the scope and potential impact of the project requires a full environmental impact statement (EIS) instead of a simple EA. This proposal is a perfect illustration of why GCI is working to upgrade Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to a National Park, giving the area the full protection it needs.
What You Can Do
Glen Canyon Institute urges you to speak out against this costly, destructive, and shortsighted project. We recommend supporting Alternative 1, the "No-Action Alternative," under which the proposed project would not take place and the Castle Rock Cut channel would not be further deepened.
All comments must be received by December 4, 2007.
You can submit your comments:
· by mail at: Castle Rock Cut EA, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040
· or on the National Park Service website
To learn more about the proposal and what you can do, visit GCI's website at http://www.glencanyon.org/ or call us at (801) 363-4450.
Sample Letter
Castle Rock Cut EA
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
P.O. Box 1507
Page, AZ 86040
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to comment on the public scoping for the proposed Castle Rock Cut environmental assessment. I oppose this project, and urge the National Park Service to choose Alternative 1, the No-Action Alternative. The proposed project would permanently damage Glen Canyon National Recreation Area for the convenience of one group of recreationists, boaters using Lake Powell reservoir. Glen Canyon NRA belongs to all Americans and should be protected for future generations.
There are a number of reasons why I am against the proposed Castle Rock Cut.
· The Castle Rock Cut is not needed, because the number of boaters is decreasing as Lake Powell reservoir declines and gas prices increase, and because there is an alternative route available to boaters.
· This is only a short-term solution, because as Lake Powell reservoir continues to decline, the Castle Rock Cut will likely be unusable once again in the near future.
· The Castle Rock Cut project would cause significant environmental damage, due to the excavation of large amounts of rock and sediment and the use of heavy equipment that would cause pollution and contribute to global warming.
· The project would scar the natural landscape, which would degrade the scenic and recreational values of the area for the public.
· This project would waste large amounts of taxpayer dollars, taking resources away from the protection and restoration of the backcountry as Lake Powell reservoir recedes, and from other needed boating-related maintenance work.
· The project violates the mandate of the National Park Service to leave our parks "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
Again, I urge the National Park Service to reject the proposed Castle Rock Cut deepening project, and to select Alternative 1, the No-Action Alternative. I also encourage the National Park Service to prepare a full environmental impact statement (EIS) on this large and disruptive project.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Please keep me informed of any future actions, information, or opportunities to comment on the project.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
Thank you again for supporting Glen Canyon Institute and our goal of restoring Glen Canyon! We hope you take a moment to tell the NPS how you feel about the Castle Rock Cut proposal today.
Best regards,
Richard Ingebretsen
President
Glen Canyon Institute
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
email: info@glencanyon.org
phone: 801.363.4450
web: http://www.glencanyon.org
Forward email
This email was sent to shanna_aramark@yahoo.com, by info@glencanyon.org
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Glen Canyon Institute | 1520 Sunnydale Lane | Salt Lake City | UT | 84108
Steve Ingebretsen with the Glen Canyon Institute has started a email campaign to stop the proposed depthening of the Castle Rock cut at Lake Powell that is proposed to start next spring. To keep it brief, what this does is cuts approximately 12 miles off of the trip uplake through what is called the Narrows.
Mr Ingebretsen of course is using all the politically correct buzz phrases to support his organizations position such as the dredging will generate greenhouse gases, cause 25,000 dumptrucks worth of soil for disposal, etc. What he fails to mention is the fact that by cutting off approximately one hour of travel time uplake (his estimate, not mine) the generation of fossil fuel emissions from boat motors will be substantially DECREASED, therefore making the expansion of the channel an enviromental asset.
For those of us that don't want to banter with the political BS back and forth and just care about boating, this means that you will be able to head uplake without getting beat to shit in a smaller boat as well as save some serious coin on fuel.
Below is the link for public comments to the National Park Service. Please take a second and send them some positive feedback. Most of us that have dealt with public access issues before know that the opposition is pretty well organized and for the most part, doesn't have a clue about the area being impacted as well as the issues. They just see a cute newsletter and send comments and money.
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=62&projectID=20386&documentId=21055
Below is the letter sent by the Glen Canyon Institute opposing the cut expansion along with a copy of their sample letter. I think we as a boating community can do better.
Help us stop the deepening of Castle Rock Cut
Dear Shanna,
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area has proposed a destructive excavation to deepen Castle Rock Cut boat channel. With your help, we can stop this project. Send your comments to the National Park Service by December 4th!
Project Summary
The National Park Service (NPS) is beginning an environmental assessment (EA) of the impacts of deepening the "Castle Rock Cut" in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (GCNRA). Castle Rock Cut is a half-mile long, 80-foot wide short-cut boat channel carved out of the Glen Canyon sandstone. The channel saves an hour of travel time for boaters traveling from Wahweap Marina to areas up-reservoir.
Castle Rock Cut channel was originally excavated in the 1970s, but was deepened by 8 feet in 1992. This created a usable channel when water levels are above 3,620 feet. Since the late 1990s, however, the reservoir has been shrinking. As a result, the Castle Rock Cut channel has not been usable since 2003. Today the level of Lake Powell reservoir is only 3,600 feet and the channel is currently dry. In response to pressure from boating interests, the NPS is proposing to excavate Castle Rock Cut channel another 15 feet so it will be usable at current water levels. This would require using heavy equipment to excavate 250,000 cubic yards of sediment and sandstone - enough to fill 25,000 dump trucks. The NPS has not announced an official budget, but the cost would be significant.
Glen Canyon Institute strongly opposes the Castle Rock Cut deepening project because:
· it is not needed, since the number of boaters is decreasing, and an alternative route is available;
· Castle Rock Cut will likely be unusable once again as Lake Powell reservoir continues to decline;
· the excavation of large quantities of sandstone and sediment would cause ecological damage, pollution, and emission of CO2, which contributes to global warming;
· the project would degrade scenic and recreational values by leaving an artificial channel and huge rubble pile;
· it would take significant amounts of taxpayer dollars away from other higher priorities, such as restoration and protection of the backcountry; and
· it violates the National Park Service mandate to leave our parks "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
Glen Canyon Institute believes that the scope and potential impact of the project requires a full environmental impact statement (EIS) instead of a simple EA. This proposal is a perfect illustration of why GCI is working to upgrade Glen Canyon National Recreation Area to a National Park, giving the area the full protection it needs.
What You Can Do
Glen Canyon Institute urges you to speak out against this costly, destructive, and shortsighted project. We recommend supporting Alternative 1, the "No-Action Alternative," under which the proposed project would not take place and the Castle Rock Cut channel would not be further deepened.
All comments must be received by December 4, 2007.
You can submit your comments:
· by mail at: Castle Rock Cut EA, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040
· or on the National Park Service website
To learn more about the proposal and what you can do, visit GCI's website at http://www.glencanyon.org/ or call us at (801) 363-4450.
Sample Letter
Castle Rock Cut EA
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
P.O. Box 1507
Page, AZ 86040
To whom it may concern:
I am writing to comment on the public scoping for the proposed Castle Rock Cut environmental assessment. I oppose this project, and urge the National Park Service to choose Alternative 1, the No-Action Alternative. The proposed project would permanently damage Glen Canyon National Recreation Area for the convenience of one group of recreationists, boaters using Lake Powell reservoir. Glen Canyon NRA belongs to all Americans and should be protected for future generations.
There are a number of reasons why I am against the proposed Castle Rock Cut.
· The Castle Rock Cut is not needed, because the number of boaters is decreasing as Lake Powell reservoir declines and gas prices increase, and because there is an alternative route available to boaters.
· This is only a short-term solution, because as Lake Powell reservoir continues to decline, the Castle Rock Cut will likely be unusable once again in the near future.
· The Castle Rock Cut project would cause significant environmental damage, due to the excavation of large amounts of rock and sediment and the use of heavy equipment that would cause pollution and contribute to global warming.
· The project would scar the natural landscape, which would degrade the scenic and recreational values of the area for the public.
· This project would waste large amounts of taxpayer dollars, taking resources away from the protection and restoration of the backcountry as Lake Powell reservoir recedes, and from other needed boating-related maintenance work.
· The project violates the mandate of the National Park Service to leave our parks "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
Again, I urge the National Park Service to reject the proposed Castle Rock Cut deepening project, and to select Alternative 1, the No-Action Alternative. I also encourage the National Park Service to prepare a full environmental impact statement (EIS) on this large and disruptive project.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment. Please keep me informed of any future actions, information, or opportunities to comment on the project.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
Thank you again for supporting Glen Canyon Institute and our goal of restoring Glen Canyon! We hope you take a moment to tell the NPS how you feel about the Castle Rock Cut proposal today.
Best regards,
Richard Ingebretsen
President
Glen Canyon Institute
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
email: info@glencanyon.org
phone: 801.363.4450
web: http://www.glencanyon.org
Forward email
This email was sent to shanna_aramark@yahoo.com, by info@glencanyon.org
Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe | Privacy Policy.
Email Marketing by
Glen Canyon Institute | 1520 Sunnydale Lane | Salt Lake City | UT | 84108