Rio Grande Administrative History

A. Introduction to Alternatives.

The planning team's Environmental Assessment, issued September 1980 in final form, presented two alternatives. Alternative one, titled "no action," and Alternative two, describing facilities and development plans of a more extensive nature. Land acquisition plans for resource protection were not included, and weren't made public until the Draft Land Acquisition Plan was published in January 1981.

Alternative 3, was introduced by a group of citizens led by James Harrison, of Euliss, Texas. Harrison, a member of one of the affected landowner families, and supporters included alternative 3 in public comment meetings and written comments in the form of a letter campaign for the alternative.

As an apparent response to public meetings and discussions, the "Concerned citizens alternative 4" received letter support.

B. Description of NPS alternatives.

C. Description of Alternative 3.

No primary visitor contact facility would be provided

The NPS would provide an administration unit at Panther Junction by adding to existing facilities at Big Bend National Park

Present and existing roads and access points to the river would be utilized consistent with present private and commercial use

No interest in land would be acquired by the federal government

Wild and Scenic designations would be revised to reflect the law

Historical usage would be allowed to continue on all of the river

D. Description of Alternative 4.

The river should remain in the Wild & Scenic River System

Keep it wild & with little development

Use by permit, have NPS patrols, acquire areas for resource protection

Continue historic use, allow free public access by agreement with landowner(s), remove roads and structures in the Lower Canyons