AMISTAD NRA SOLICITS PLANNING INPUT

Amistad National Recreation Area, Del Rio TX, solicits comments from the public on upcoming future planning issues.  Amistad is developing a new General Management Plan (GMP).  Public comment will be included in an Environmental Impact Statement for Amistad NRA’s new GMP.  The final product will be a comprehensive GMP that provides the framework for making management decisions about the preservation of natural and cultural resources, visitor use and interpretation, and development of the appropriate park facilities.

According to Superintendent Alan Cox, “The primary purpose of the GMP is to provide long-range vision of where we want Amistad National Recreation Area to be in the future and provide broad goals for achieving that vision.”  Cox continued, “Newsletters are now available with more information and to submit comments.  If you would like to receive one, contact us as soon as possible.”

Major topics at Amistad National Recreation Area include:

·         Lower water levels have reduced the number of access points to the reservoir, affecting recreational use and creating a network of social roads and trails.

·         The need to consider establishing fees for hunting within the park.

·         The need for a new administrative facility and visitor’s center.

·         Trans-boundary issues and the need for increased cooperation between the National Park Service and its counterparts in the governments of Mexico.

·         Declining water levels in the reservoir have exposed numerous significant archeological sites to erosion, vandalism, and damage from livestock.

·         Increasing numbers of domestic livestock and exotic game species are grazing on park land, posing potential impacts on cultural sites and habitats for native species.

·         The need to address the potential acquisition of additional private lands within the legislated boundaries of the park.

Three public meetings will be held at the following locations from 6pm to 8pm:

• Tuesday, April 15- Midland Convention Center, 105 N Main St, Room 5
• Wednesday, April 16- Universal City (San Antonio) American Legion Post 667, 504 Bowie Drive
• Thursday, April 17- Del Rio Civic Center, Kennedy Room, 1915 Veterans Blvd

Public comments on the General Management Plan may be e-mailed to: Amistad_planning@nps.gov.
Copies of the newsletter are available at  http://planning.nps.gov/parkweb/default.cfm?RecordID=138  or at park headquarters Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm just west of Del Rio at 4121 Hwy 90 W. Mail inquiries should be directed to:

Amistad National Recreation Area
HCR 3 Box 5J
Del Rio TX 78840
Phone 830 775-7491

Press Releases
http://www.nps.gov/amis/planning_input.htm
Released 04-04-2003
For more information regarding this press release, or for further information, contact the Park's Public Information Officer at 830-775-7491,
or write:  Amistad National Recreation Area . HCR 3, Box 5-J . Del Rio, TX 78840