Final Environmental Impact Statement for General Management Plan; Whiskeytown Unit, Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area; Notice of Availability

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

Final Environmental Impact Statement for General Management Plan;

Whiskeytown Unit, Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area;

Notice of Availability

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969 (Pub.L. 91-190 as amended), the National Park

Service, Department of the Interior, has prepared a final environmental

impact statement assessing the potential impacts of the proposed

General Management Plan for Whiskeytown Unit, Whiskeytown-Shasta-

Trinity National Recreation Area, Shasta County, California. Once

approved, the plan will guide the management of the unit over the next

15 years.

PROPOSED ACTION AND ALTERNATIVES: The final General Management Plan and

Environmental Impact Statement presents a proposal and three

alternatives for the management, use, and development of Whiskeytown

Unit. The proposed general management plan includes provisions for

preserving significant natural and cultural resources and for restoring

the backcountry to more natural conditions through watershed

restoration activities. The plan provides for increasing the range and

depth of interpretive services, expands opportunities for backcountry

use, and manages recreation at Whiskeytown Lake to provide

opportunities for tranquil recreation experiences. To facilitate more

tranquil experience, the use of personal watercraft at the reservoir is

discontinued and enforcement of existing noise standards is increased.

Alternative A: No Action, would continue the current situation at

Whiskeytown. Management focus would remain on the lake and natural

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and cultural resource values would continue to decline because of the

lack of human and financial resources for their management and

protection.

Alternative B: Minimum Requirements, would be similar to

Alternative C in terms of provisions for resource management and

protection, but would provide fewer visitor services. The visitor

service emphasis would continue to be focused on the lake and on safety

and visitor protection, with only limited commitments to

interpretation. The existing range of recreation uses, including the

use of personal watercraft, would continue.

Alternative D: Expanded Recreation, retains the current management

focus on active water-based recreation, and increases the capacity of

the lake to accommodate use by adding a major new developed area near

the mouth of Boulder Creek. Major new utility infrastructure would be

required to support this development, and South Shore Drive would be

widened, realigned, and paved to provide access. The existing spectrum

of recreation uses on the lake, including use of personal watercraft,

would be retained. However, a zoning plan would separate the reservoir

into a low-speed zone, where personal watercraft use would be

discouraged, and an unrestricted zone where all types of activities

would be accommodated.

Background

The Draft EIS/GMP was released for a 75-day public review ending

November 30, 1998. Altogether nine public meetings were held in local

communities. Both the Draft and Final documents evaluate the same

Proposed Action and Alternatives. The environmental consequences of the

alternatives are fully documented in the Final EIS. No significant

adverse impacts are foreseen from the three Action Alternatives,

because the plans include provisions to avoid or mitigate potentially

significant impacts. However, the No-Action Alternative would result in

significant long-term impacts to natural and cultural resources due to

insufficient management and protection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments or questions regarding the

final general management plan and environmental impact statement should

be directed to the Superintendent, Whiskeytown NRA, PO Box 188,

Whiskeytown, California 96095. Copies may be requested by contacting

the Superintendent at (530) 241-6584. The no-action period for the

FEIS/GMP will extend for thirty days after the Environmental Protection

Agency's notification of the filing of the document is published in the

Federal Register. Subsequently, the National Park Service will publish

a notice of the Record of Decision in the Federal Register. The

official responsible for the decision is the Regional Director, Pacific

West Region; the official responsible for implementation is the

Superintendent, Whiskeytown Unit.

Dated: September 1, 1999.

John J. Reynolds,

Regional Director, Pacific West Region.

[FR Doc. 99-23763 Filed 9-10-99; 8:45 am]

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