Final General Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement

Authors

Date of this Version

1999

Comments

Published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (1999) 1-279

Abstract

This Final General Management Plan / Environmental Impact Statement presents three alternatives for the future of the Missouri National Recreational River: a continuation of existing (conditions (no-action) alternative, a resource protection/recreation (preferred) alternative emphasizing protection and enhancement of biologic values and the history and culture of the area, and a recreational emphasis alternative. In both action alternatives, the Corps of Engineers (COE) and the National Park Service (NPS) would manage the area through a cooperative agreement. The Corps of Engineers would function as the day-la-day manager of the water-related resources, while the National Park Service would administer the land-related resources. The agencies would work together where their responsibilities overlapped.

The environmental consequences of implementing the alternatives were analyzed. The no-action alternative (alternative 1) would continue the current cooperative agreement and would provide a baseline for comparison of the other alternatives. Alternative 2 (the preferred alternative) would provide for maintenance and protection and enhancement of biological values. It also would provide for management activities that would emphasize the history and culture of the river and its surroundings. Alternative 3 would provide increased recreational emphasis on the river. Partnerships with local entities would be sought to provide services in all alternatives. The boundary in alternatives 2 and 3 is the same. It differs slightly from the existing boundary in alternative I for the recreational river. Some areas were deleted because they were not river related. Some historic sites and some new lands were added where the river has eroded a wider channel All boundaries include important examples of the river's outstandingly remarkable resources.

The Draft General Management Plan / Environmental Impact Statement was on public review from October 15, 1998, to December 16, 1998. The Final Environmental Impact Statement has been revised to reflect substantive comments and concerns received during the comment period, and the text has been refined and clarified as necessary. A record of decision on the final plan will be issued 30 days after this linal document has been made available for public review, as announced in the Federal Register.