Consider the parks...
Mar 28, 2013 | 1422 views | 0 0 comments | 7 7 recommendations | email to a friend | print
When you think about the Colorado River, it‘s likely in connection with one of the nine national parks and recreation areas defined by the river. In Utah, this includes Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dinosaur National Monument, and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. These natural wonders also spur economic success.

For the last 40 years, counties adjacent to national parks in the Colorado River Basin have outperformed the nation three to seven times better in terms of population growth, employment growth and per capita income.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Colorado River Basin Water Demand and Supply Study, (www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/crbstudy/finalreport/index.html) analyzed potential water demand and supply scenarios for the Colorado River basin through 2060 and is crucial to understanding the future for cities, agriculture, hydropower, recreation and the environment of the basin. Yet the basin’s national parks received inadequate representation.

Our national parks must be an important part of Colorado River management future discussions. Please let your voice be heard before the public comment period ends on April 19. Email: ColoradoRiverBasinStudy@usbr.gov. Or register for an April 3 webinar: www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/crbstudy.html.

—David Nimkin, National Parks Conservation Association

Salt Lake City
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