By Caroline Pufalt
Thanks to all the Sierrans who commented on the management plan draft alternatives for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. The new management plan is the document that will guide the Park Service for the next 20 years. The Park Service presented general alternatives to the public for comment this summer. By the comment deadline this fall, many Sierrans had attended workshops, made calls, wrote letters and sent emails to the Park Service encouraging greater protection for the natural resources and for appropriate recreation on the rivers. Our concerns include increased unauthorized access points along the rivers, water quality problems, increased motorboat traffic and horseback riding, and support for a wilderness area in the park. The alternatives the Park Service offered for public comment to address these problems were very general. But the alternatives did include different emphasis on resource protection and recreation access and zones along the river that included varied mixes of both.
In order to fully update and develop a new management plan, the agency will be required to create much more specific alternatives. As it does, we can anticipate that the Park Service will come to the public again for input. The whole process of developing and deciding on a management plan may take as much as two years. Along the way it will be critical that we are ready to be engaged again, to step forward and speak loudly, and in large numbers for protection of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
We will cover this process as it progresses and we will inform Missouri Sierrans of the opportunities and the need for later action. You can also keep up to date on the steps involved in the management plan development by watching the Park Service website: http://www.nps.gov/ozar/index.htm, http://missouri.sierraclub.org