Grand County Scenic Byways Corridor Management Plan Grand County, Utah
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Grand County Scenic Byways Corridor Management Plan Grand County, Utah SR-128—Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway SR-279—Potash–Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway SR-313—Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway (with Island in the Sky Road) Prepared for Grand County, Utah by Randolph Jorgen, Moab, Utah August, 2008 Grand County Scenic Byways Corridor Management Plan Grand County, Utah SR-128—Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway SR-279—Potash–Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway SR-313—Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway (with Island in the Sky Road) Prepared for Grand County, Utah Researched, written, and designed by Randolph Jorgen, Moab, Utah Changes made by the Grand County Scenic Byway Committee August, 2008 The author wishes to thank members of the Scenic Byway Committee and other managers and citizens of Grand County who helped devise strategies to keep the byways the special places they are. Text © 2008 Randolph Jorgen. Used by permission. All photos © 2008 Randolph Jorgen unless otherwise noted. Use or reproduction for purposes other than those of this document is prohibited without written permission. Maps p. 1 and p. 2 by Mike Price, Entrada/San Juan, Inc. Cover photos: Top: Central section of SR-128. Bottom left: Monitor and Merrimac Buttes, SR-313. Bottom right: Colorado River at The Portal, SR-279. ii CONTENTS Maps ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Grand County scenic byway corridors .......................................................................................... 3 1.1 Quick tour: SR-128—Upper Colorado River Scenic Byway .................................................................... 3 1.2 Quick tour: SR-279—Potash–Lower Colorado River Scenic Byway ....................................................... 5 1.3 Quick tour: SR-313—Dead Horse Mesa Scenic Byway (with Island in the Sky Road) ............................ 6 2. Purposes of the corridor management plan (CMP) ..................................................................... 8 3. Public involvement .......................................................................................................................... 9 3.1 Scenic Byway Committee (SBC) and the CMP consultant ....................................................................... 9 3.2 Key persons consultations ......................................................................................................................... 9 3.3 Public participation .................................................................................................................................. 10 3.3.1 Agency public involvement processes • 3.3.2 Public meetings and written comments • 3.3.3 SBC and Grand County Council review and public comment period • 3.3.4 Future public involvement 4. Key findings and priorities: Citizens’ desired future for the scenic byways ........................... 11 4.1 The Grand County community ................................................................................................................ 11 4.2 Vision, goals, and guiding principles ....................................................................................................... 12 4.3 Achieving our goals ................................................................................................................................. 13 5. Land ownership, administration, and uses ................................................................................. 13 5.0.1 Public lands • 5.0.2 Atlas mill site (UMTRA) • 5.0.3 Private lands • 5.0.4 National park lands • 5.0.5 Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands • 5.0.6 Utah Sovereign Lands • 5.0.7 Utah State Park lands • 5.0.8 Utah Department of Transportation rights-of-way 6. Intrinsic resources and their significance ................................................................................... 14 6.1 Scenic resources: Internationally significant ........................................................................................... 15 6.2 Natural resources: Internationally significant .......................................................................................... 17 6.2.1 Geology • 6.2.2 Plants • 6.2.3 Wildlife • 6.2.4 Special status species • 6.2.5 Soils • 6.2.6 Wilderness 6.3 Recreational resources: Internationally significant .................................................................................. 20 6.3.1 Sightseeing and photography • 6.3.2 Camping and picnicking • 6.3.3 Multi-use trails: jeeping, biking, and hiking • 6.3.4 Bicycling • 6.3.5 Hiking • 6.3.6 Rafting and boating • 6.3.7 Rock climbing • 6.3.8 Wildlife viewing • 6.3.9 Star watching • 6.3.10 Horseback riding • 6.3.11 Cultural tourism 6.4 Historical resources: Regionally significant ............................................................................................ 24 6.5 Cultural expressions: Internationally significant ..................................................................................... 25 6.5.1 Ranching and open-range grazing • 6.5.2 Global recognition through filmmaking • 6.5.3 Events 6.6 Archaeological resources: Regionally significant.................................................................................... 26 7. Visitor experience plan ................................................................................................................. 26 8. Visitor services and facilities ........................................................................................................ 27 8.0.1 Information services • 8.0.2 Emergency services/law enforcement • 8.0.3 Phone service • 8.0.4 Campgrounds • 8.0.5 Picnic areas • 8.0.6 Restrooms • 8.0.7 Trails • 8.0.8 Lodging, dining, gasoline, retail, and mechanic services • 8.0.9 Water • 8.0.10 Recreational rentals and tours • 8.0.11 Common carrier byways access 9. Resource protection and enhancement ....................................................................................... 31 9.1 Goals ........................................................................................................................................................ 31 9.2 Agency-specific strategies ....................................................................................................................... 31 9.2.1 Grand County • 9.2 2 Department of Energy (DOE) • 9.2.3 Bureau of Land Management • 9.2.4 National Park Service (NPS) • 9.2.5 Utah State Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) • 9.2.6 Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands (FFSL) • 9.2.7 Utah Division of State Parks and Recreation (State Parks) • 9.2.8 Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) 9.3 Issue-specific concerns and strategies ..................................................................................................... 36 9.3.1 Scenic preservation/enhancement • 9.3.2 Mining and drilling • 9.3.3 Recreation management: general • 9.3.4 OHVs, bicycles, trails, and recreational conflicts • 9.3.5 Camping • 9.3.6 Climbing • 9.3.7 Special events • 9.3.8 Wild and scenic rivers • 9.3.9 Wilderness designations • 9.3.10 Ecosystems and wildlife • 9.3.11 Invasive species • 9.3.12 Soil crusts • 9.3.13 Air quality • 9.3.14 Noise pollution • 9.3.15 Dark night skies • 9.3.16 Archaeological resources • 9.3.17 Paleontological resources • 9.3.18 Historical resources • 9.3.19 Litter control • 9.3.20 Law enforcement • 9.3.21 Scientific research 9.4 Project funding priorities ......................................................................................................................... 49 iii 10. Interpretation and information services ................................................................................... 49 10.1 Goals ...................................................................................................................................................... 49 10.2 Guidelines .............................................................................................................................................. 50 10.3 Existing facilities, services, and products .............................................................................................. 50 10.4 Themes .................................................................................................................................................. 51 10.5 On-site interpreters ................................................................................................................................ 51 10.6 Recommended new electronic and print products ................................................................................. 51 10.6.1 Guidelines • 10.6.2 Products 10.7 Roadside facilities .................................................................................................................................. 52 10.7.1 Guidelines • 10.7.2 Facilities 10.8 Funding priorities .................................................................................................................................. 52 10.9 How a National Scenic Byway would be interpreted ............................................................................ 53 11. Highway design, operation, maintenance, and improvements ................................................ 53 11.1 Goals ..................................................................................................................................................... 53 11.2 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................