Uplift & Erosion
North Rim Issue

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior

April 2003
The newsletter of the Grand Canyon National Park Project Management Team


Upcoming North Rim projects

Grand Canyon National Park is in the process of planning and analysis for several improvement projects on the North Rim. Because many of these projects are being analyzed in separate Environmental Assessments/Assessment of Effect (EA/AEF) and have had initial public scoping at different stages and at different times, the National Park Service (NPS) wants to use a newsletter to keep everyone informed about what is goingon at the North Rim and to invite public comment on the approach the NPS is taking. 

The NPS at Grand Canyon National Park is operating under the direction of the 1995 General Management Plan (GMP). The plan provides fairly general and programmatic direction and guidance for resource management, visitor use, and general development for a period of 10 to 15 years. The vision for the North Rim of Grand Canyon is to provide a low key, uncrowded atmosphere that offers visitors opportunities to be intimately involved with the environment. This relaxed and rustic park experience is in contrast to the more developed South Rim and Desert View areas.

Planning and analysis for several projects identified in the GMP for the North Rim have been initiated. These projects are consistent with direction outlined in the GMP and are briefly listed below and displayed on the map located in the center of this newsletter (numbers after the project name correspond to the map). 

*	Administration Building (1)  The park proposes to replace the existing administration building with a new administration building in the same location and rehabilitate the existing parking area. A fire destroyed the original building in 1982 and it was replaced with a temporary pre-manufactured structure.  This structure has deteriorated from the effects of heavy snows and snowmelt and is not of sufficient size to fully accommodate the administrative needs of the North Rim staff. Public comments were solicited in December 2000. An EA/AEF is expected to be released for public review and comment in April/May 2003.  

* 	Emergency Services/Wildland Fire Facility (2)  The park proposes to construct a new emergency services/wildland fire facility near the existing water tanks. Facilities would include storage areas for vehicles, equipment caches, locker rooms, holding cells, and office and conference room space. The current facilities that accommodate these functions are inadequate. Public comments were solicited in November 2000 and again in July 2002. An EA/AEF was released for public review  and comment in February 2003.

*	Exposed Frame Cabin Rehabilitation (3)  The park proposes to rehabilitate 26 historic exposed frame cabins and an historic laundry and shower facility. These buildings were last used in 1989 and have not been maintained since then. There is a lack of housing available for seasonal fire crews and rehabilitation of the cabins would provide that much-needed housing. Public comments were solicited in November 2000 and again in July 2002. This proposed action is analyzed in the same EA/AEF as the emergency services/wildland fire facility and was released for public review and comment in February 2003.

*	Campground Rehabilitation (4)  The park proposes to resurface roads, remove the existing fee collection kiosk and replace it with a larger registration building, rehabilitate existing restrooms, and construct new restrooms in the group site. The proposal is needed to improve the camping experience and would address poor road conditions, a registration kiosk that is too small for current needs, vehicle congestion in front of the camper store, and inadequate restroom facilities. Public comments were solicited in November and December 2000. An EA/AEF was released for public review and comment in March 2003.

*	Water Distribution System Improvements (8)  The park proposes to improve the North Rim water distribution system by replacing undersized and leaking antiquated pipelines, adding or replacing fire hydrants where necessary, upgrading a pressure boosting (pumping) station, and establishing a fire protection system. Public comments were solicited in November 2000. This proposed action is analyzed in the same EA/AEF as the campground rehabilitation and was released for public review and comment in March 2003.

*	Dormitory Construction (9)  The park hospitality concessioner proposes to construct a 44-unit dormitory. There is a significant lack of housing for seasonal concessions employees on the North Rim and this severely restricts the number of employees that can be hired. The new building would be constructed in the concessions housing area near the Employee Dining Room (EDR). Public comments were solicited on this project in July 2001. This proposed action will be analyzed in an EA/AEF and is expected to be released for public review in summer 2003.

*	Mill Shed Evaluation and Potential Replacement (10)  The mill shed, located in the concessions area near the EDR and employee RV park, no longer provides a safe or effective work environment. The structure will be evaluated for its historic significance and may be restored, rehabilitated, or replaced, depending on the results of the evaluation. Public comments were solicited in July 2001. This proposed action may be analyzed in the same EA/AEF with the dormitory and RV trailer park projects and is expected to be released for public review in summer 2003.

*	RV Trailer Park Rehabilitation (11)  The park proposes to repair degraded employee recreational vehicle (RV) parking facilities, improve and add infrastructure to support parking facilities, and provide additional spaces for RV parking for seasonal employees. All work would be conducted within the boundaries of the existing RV park. Public comments were solicited on this project in July 2001. This proposed action will be analyzed in the same EA/AEF with the dormitory and is expected to be released for public review in summer 2003.


North Rim Development Plan

The park has initiated a development planning effort to further refine direction outlined in the 1995 GMP for transit, visitor orientation, and structure utilization on the North Rim. The boundary of the study area includes the North Rim Entrance Station, Lindberg Hill, CC Hill, and the developed areas along the Bright Angel peninsula. The State Highway 67 road corridor through the Kaibab National Forest between Jacob Lake and the park entrance will also be considered.

The development planning effort will be guided by the NPS vision for the North Rim as outlined in the GMP, specifically to provide a relaxed uncrowded atmosphere that offers visitors opportunities to be intimately involved with the environment. Specific objectives include; 1) improving visitor orientation and information services, 2) improving the distribution of visitor use on Bright Angel peninsula and Walhalla Plateau, 3) improving pedestrian and vehicle circulation at Bright Angel Point, and 4) preserving the rustic character of the North Rim.

Some previously identified projects, such as the proposed Lodge Road reconfiguration (5), Lodge Road parking (6), Visitor Center upgrades (7), and a proposed Entrance Station rehabilitation will be re-evaluated during the development planning study. A portion of the Greenway Trail system between the North Kaibab Trailhead and the Grand Lodge as identified in the GMP will be reviewed during this process.


Why this Approach to Analysis and Planning?

*	A development plan is needed to further refine direction outlined in the GMP for transit, visitor orientation and structure utilization on the North Rim.

*	Not all proposed actions need further refinement under the development planning effort. These projects (1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 on the map) are being analyzed in either a separate EA/AEF for a particular project or an EA/AEF for several projects in the same area. This approach allows for site-specific detail in evaluating alternatives for a proposal.

*	All of the planned projects analyzed in EA/AEFs are included as part of the cumulative impact analysis in each document to make sure that the proposed project, in combination with past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions, would not result in major impacts to park resources.


Construction Timing

The construction season on the North Rim is short and many projects could be underway concurrently, possibly starting as early as this summer. Once construction commences, periodic road delays, construction equipment on the roadways, and construction noise in visitor use areas may be expected.

To minimize disruption and disturbance as much as possible, the NPS may implement daily and weekly curfews on construction to minimize disturbance to visitors during the higher use areas. All construction is dependent upon completion of project compliance.


What comes next?

Future quarterly editions of Uplift & Erosion (North Rim Issue) will be used to update you on the status of projects and the development planning process.

Grand Canyon National Park compliance documents can be found online at: http://www.nps.gov/grca/compliance/


Questions?   Concerns?   Comments?

Do you have any issues or concerns with the planning approach the park is taking for the North Rim? If yes, please list them below and mail this form to Grand Canyon National Park, Attn: Sara White, Environmental Compliance Officer, P.O. Box 129, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023, or email Sara White at sara_white@nps.gov. For questions, please call Debbie Lutch, Natural Resource Specialist, at (928) 774-0095 or Sara White, Compliance Officer, at (928) 638-7956. 

*	Do you have issues with the parks approach to North Rim development planning? If so, please list them below: 

*	Would you like to remain on the mailing list for North Rim projects? If yes, please provide your name and address by either mail or email to the Grand Canyon address listed above. If we do not hear from you, your name will be removed from the mailing list for North Rim projects.

*	Information mailed out via US Mail will also be posted online at the Grand Canyon National Park web site. If you would prefer to be notified via email when new North Rim project information is posted online, instead of receiving a paper copy via US Mail, let us know.