NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page Number

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 

1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED OF THE PROPOSED ACTION 

1.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 1.1 

1.2 Brief Description of the Park and Surrounding Area....................................................... 1.1 

1.3 Purpose of and Need for Action ......................................................................................... 1.4 

1.3.1 Purpose of the Plan................................................................................................. 1.4 

1.3.2 Need for the Plan .................................................................................................... 1.4 

1.3.3 Issues and Concerns............................................................................................... 1.4 

1.3.4 Decision Points ....................................................................................................... 1.8

1.4 Guidance for the Planning Effort........................................................................................ 1.10 

1.4.1 Park Purpose ........................................................................................................... 1.10 

1.4.2 Park’s Significance .................................................................................................. 1.10

1.4.3 Mission Goals.......................................................................................................... 1.12 

1.4.4 Special Mandates .................................................................................................... 1.12 

1.4.5 Servicewide Laws and Policies.............................................................................. 1.13 

1.5 Resources Potentially at Risk .............................................................................................. 1.15 

1.6 Other Projects in the Area.................................................................................................... 1.16 

2.0 DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES AND MANAGEMENT ZONES 

2.1 Description of Alternatives for Evaluation........................................................................ 2.3 

2.1.1 Alternative A – Status Quo/Continue Current Management Practices........... 2.3 

2.1.2 Alternative B – Preferred Alternative ................................................................... 2.7 

2.2 Summary of Impacts ............................................................................................................. 2.18 

2.3 Potential Management Prescriptions ................................................................................. 2.21 

2.3.1 Canal Zone............................................................................................................... 2.21 

2.3.2 Cultural and Natural Zone .................................................................................... 2.21 

2.3.3 Mather Gorge Zone................................................................................................ 2.23 

2.3.4 Developed Zone...................................................................................................... 2.24 

2.3.5 Application of Management Prescriptions ......................................................... 2.26 

2.4 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated............................................................................ 2.28 

2.4.1 Establish Additional Visitor Nodes...................................................................... 2.28 

2.4.2 Establish an Additional Access Road to the Park ............................................... 2.28 

2.4.3 Provide a Shuttle to the Park ................................................................................. 2.28 

2.4.4 Eliminate Bicycles and Horses from the Park’s Trail System ........................... 2.29 

2.4.5 Provide Car-Top Boat Access at Sandy Landing and Parking at Quarry ........ 2.29 

2.4.6 Construct a Second New Facility ......................................................................... 2.29 

2.4.7 Construct a New Trail along Old Dominion Drive/Route 193 ......................... 2.29 

2.5 Environmentally Preferred Alternative.............................................................................. 2.31 

3.0 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 

3.1 Land Use and Socio-Economic Conditions...................................................................... 3.1 

3.1.1 Land Use and Property Boundaries ..................................................................... 3.1 

3.1.2 Visitation and Visitor Activities ............................................................................ 3.4 

3.1.3 Community Facilities ............................................................................................. 3.12 

3.1.4 Neighboring Population and Socio-Economic Conditions.............................. 3.12 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

GREAT FALLS PARK, VIRGINIA y FINAL GMP/EIS 

3.2 Cultural Resources................................................................................................................ 3.15 

3.2.1 Summary of Great Falls Park History .................................................................. 3.15 

3.2.2 Archaeological Resources...................................................................................... 3.16 

3.2.3 Historic Resources.................................................................................................. 3.17 

3.2.4 Viewsheds ................................................................................................................ 3.22 

3.3 Natural Resources................................................................................................................. 3.25 

3.3.1 Geophysical Resources .......................................................................................... 3.25 

3.3.2 Water Resources .................................................................................................... 3.27 

3.3.3 Biological Resources .............................................................................................. 3.32 

3.3.4 Air Quality................................................................................................................ 3.40

3.3.5 Noise Levels ............................................................................................................ 3.42 

3.3.6 Hazardous Materials .............................................................................................. 3.44 

3.4 Transportation System ........................................................................................................ 3.45 

3.5 Site Utilities ............................................................................................................................ 3.50 

3.5.1 Water ........................................................................................................................ 3.50 

3.5.2 Sanitary Sewer ......................................................................................................... 3.50 

3.5.3 Electric Supply ........................................................................................................ 3.50 

3.5.4 Telephone System................................................................................................... 3.51 

3.5.5 Gas Supply ............................................................................................................... 3.51 

3.5.6 Stormwater Drainage ............................................................................................. 3.51 

3.5.7 Solid Waste Disposal .............................................................................................. 3.51 

4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES 

4.1 Alternative A – Status Quo/Continue Current Management Practices ........................ 4.2 

4.1.1 Impacts on Land Use and Socio-Economic Conditions ................................... 4.2 

4.1.2 Impacts on Cultural Resources............................................................................. 4.4 

4.1.3 Impacts on Natural Resources.............................................................................. 4.5 

4.1.4 Impacts on Transportation System ...................................................................... 4.7 

4.1.5 Impacts on Site Utilities ......................................................................................... 4.8 

4.1.6 Sustainability and Long-Term Management ...................................................... 4.8 

4.2 Alternative B – Preferred Alternative.................................................................................. 4.9 

4.2.1 Impacts on Land Use and Socio-Economic Conditions ................................... 4.9 

4.2.2 Impacts on Cultural Resources............................................................................. 4.12 

4.2.3 Impacts on Natural Resources.............................................................................. 4.14 

4.2.4 Impacts on Transportation System ...................................................................... 4.19 

4.2.5 Impacts on Site Utilities ......................................................................................... 4.20 

4.2.6 Sustainability and Long-Term Management ...................................................... 4.20 

5.0 COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS, REGULATIONS AND POLICIES ...........5.1 

 

6.0 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION 

6.1 Planning Process and Public Involvement......................................................................... 6.1 

6.2 Responses to Substantive Comments Received on Draft GMP/EIS.............................. 6.2 

6.2.1 Alternatives.............................................................................................................. 6.2 

6.2.2 Affected Environment............................................................................................ 6.4 

6.2.3 Supporting Data for Impact Analysis ................................................................... 6.6 

6.2.4 Environmental Consequences .............................................................................. 6.8 

6.2.5 Funding for Improvements ................................................................................... 6.21 

6.2.6 Community Involvement....................................................................................... 6.22 

6.3 Comments from Public Agencies and Community Organizations................................. 6.23 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 

APPENDICES 

A. Cost Estimates ....................................................................................................................... A.1 

B. References.............................................................................................................................. A.2 

C. Capper-Cramton Act............................................................................................................ A.5 

D. List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................... A.8 

E. Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Status and Description of Ranking......... A.10 

F. List of Preparers .................................................................................................................... A.13 

G. List of Contacts from Agencies and Organizations .......................................................... A.14 

H. Index ....................................................................................................................................... A.16 

LIST OF FIGURES 

1.1 Regional Location Map ...................................................................................................................... 1.2 

1.2 Aerial Map............................................................................................................................................ 1.3 

1.3 Park Facilities....................................................................................................................................... 1.5 

2.1 Alternative A (Continue Current Management Practices) ............................................................ 2.5 

2.2 Alternative B (Preferred Alternative)................................................................................................ 2.14 

2.3 Alternative B (Application of Management Prescriptions) ........................................................... 2.27 

3.1 Recreational Opportunities ............................................................................................................... 3.7 

3.2 Existing Trails ...................................................................................................................................... 3.9 

3.3 Cultural Resources .............................................................................................................................. 3.21 

3.4 Site Topography and Slopes .............................................................................................................. 3.26 

3.5 Water Resources.................................................................................................................................. 3.29 

3.6 Sensitive Plants and Habitats ............................................................................................................. 3.36 

3.7 Summary of Inbound/Outbound Vehicular Flow on a Peak Day ................................................ 3.48 

LIST OF TABLES 

1.1 NPS Management Policies and Conditions to be Achieved.......................................................... 1.14 

2.1 Description of Alternatives ................................................................................................................ 2.15 

2.2 Summary of Impacts ........................................................................................................................... 2.18 

3.1 Population Characteristics in the Surrounding Area...................................................................... 3.13 

3.2 List of Classified Structures within Great Falls Park ...................................................................... 3.18 

3.3 Historic Properties within approximately 2 miles of Great Falls Park......................................... 3.22 

3.4 Priority Conservation Bird Species of Potomac Gorge Upland Forest........................................ 3.37 

3.5 Typical Noise Levels ........................................................................................................................... 3.43 

3.6 Fairfax County Environmental Noise Standards............................................................................ 3.43 

3.7 FHWA Traffic Related Noise Abatement Criteria.......................................................................... 3.44