Buck Island Reef National Monument
General Management Plan
Environmental Impact Statement

A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT - updated September 2005

Dear Friends:

Last year the National Park Service began a major planning effort that will guide the future management of Buck Island Reef National Monument. This effort will create a vision for the monument that will serve as a management blueprint for the next 15 to 20 years, namely a new General Management Plan. To help us shape this new plan, we continue to value receiving input from the public, park partners, and others who have a vested stake in the future of the monument. What should we do to ensure that the natural and cultural resources of the park are protected? How can we ensure that visitors will continue to have a quality experience? What levels and types of use are appropriate at the national monument? How can we work with our neighbors to address common problems that affect both the park and local communities? Please tell us your ideas about these and other important topics.

Summer 2005 Public Meetings a Success

We appreciate the input from those who attended the recent round of public meetings and the presentation of the preliminary management alternatives. We heard many constructive comments from the public and other park stakeholders. Such comments are critical to the development of an effective plan. If you missed the public meetings and would like to get a glimpse of the alternatives that were presented, please see Buck Island Bulletin Two, which you can download at the Plan Resources page.

We appreciate your interest and look forward to working with you as together we plan the future of Buck Island Reef National Monument.

Sincerely,

Joel Tutein, Superintendent
Buck Island Reef National Monument

About Buck Island Reef National Monument and the Planning Process

Buck Island Reef National Monument was established in 1961 to preserve one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean Sea. In 2001, the monument was significantly expanded to further preserve and protect the island and tropical marine ecosystem including coral reefs, sea grass beds, octocoral hardbottom, sand communities, algal plains, shelf edge, and oceanic habitats; to protect threatened and endangered species and enhance their habitats and survivability; to enhance the health and diversity of fisheries resources through their protection; to protect and manage terrestrial and submerged cultural resources; and to preserve this area of outstanding scientific, aesthetic, and educational importance for the benefit and enjoyment of the people now and for the future.

The expansion of the monument identified the need for the development of a new General Management Plan to guide the future direction of resource preservation and visitor use at the monument. The planning process uses a comprehensive approach to establish the basic management philosophy for the park and provide strategies for addressing issues and achieving identified management objectives. The General Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement will evaluate the environmental impacts of a range of alternatives to address distinct management approaches to preserving significant natural and cultural resources for public enjoyment, competing demands for limited resources, priorities for using available funds and staff, and differing interests and views of what is most important.