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More than 140 miles of rivers and waterways in Zion National Park are now mapped, documented and preserved under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act — a designation meant to ensure Zion waterways remain pristine.
The National Park Service published the final maps and boundary descriptions for its Virgin River Comprehensive Management Plan on Monday, ending a six-year planning process that started when the Virgin River and miles of its tributaries were designated for additional protection under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 2009.
The management plan, which took effect in late 2014, covers a total of 144 miles of river and more than 35,000 acres of land within Zion National Park.
"This allows an additional layer of protection for these waterways and rivers in the park," said Kezia Nielsen, park planning and protection specialist.
Additional Virgin River tributaries not located within the boundaries of the park will be managed by the BLM under a separate management plan expected to be finalized next year.
The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act will protect water flow and quality within the Virgin River system as well as other important qualities identified by the National Park Service. Those qualities include scenic value, habitat for wildlife and opportunities for recreation, among others, Nielsen said.
Nielsen said the act not only adds layers of oversight for actions that may impact water flowing through the Virgin River system — such as the construction of a new bridge — but also charges the National Park Service with preserving important qualities identified in the management plan.
For example, she said, if park managers want to preserve recreation quality, they might restrict access to a waterway to prevent overcrowding and ensure a positive experience for visitors.
Overall, the impact to park visitors would be minimal, because the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is primarily administrative in nature, Nielsen said.
Congress designated 169 miles of the Virgin River and associated tributaries as wild, scenic or recreational waterways under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act as a part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009.
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