Lake Powell Adverse Impact Statement
Lake Powell Low Water Adverse Impacts
Current and projected low water levels at Lake Powell are already causing significant disruption to management of the recreation facilities of the lake. We have seen recent discussions of how the adaptive management strategies of NPS and its contractors are adversely affecting those who have made long-term investments into recreating on Lake Powell.
16 U.S.C. § 620g of the U.S. Code is the federal law which authorizes and directs the Secretary of Interior to investigate, plan, construct, operate, and maintain recreation facilities on the reservoirs created by the Colorado River Storage Protection Act for recreation to provide for the public use and enjoyment of the reservoirs. The statute also requires the Secretary to best promote the development and operation of these facilities in the public interest.
It is becoming increasingly and painfully clear that NPS and its contractors have proven unwilling or unable to comply with this provision of the act in an environment of declining lake levels. We take this lack of compliance seriously and are seeking statements from individuals who have been adversely affected by the Park Service’s failure to maintain reasonable access to Lake Powell and its recreational facilities during low-water years. These accounts will help us better understand the impacts and identify what steps are necessary to correct the problem.
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