Parks Group Supports National Park Service’s Plan for Ross Lake National Recreation Area
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PRESS RELEASE
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | |
| Date: | December 1, 2011 |
| Contact: | Kati Schmidt, National Parks Conservation Association, 415.989.9921 x22 Sean Smith, National Parks Conservation Association, 206.818.4041 |
Parks Group Supports National Park Service’s Plan for Ross Lake National Recreation Area
Statement by Sean Smith, NPCA Policy Director
“The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) is pleased with the National Park Service’s release of a general management plan for the Ross Lake National Recreation Area (NRA). The new plan provides better protection of natural and cultural resources, expands recreational and education opportunities for our children and grandchildren, raises the 118,000-acre recreation area’s public profile, and supports gateway businesses and local jobs.
"Specifically, NPCA supports the National Park Service’s recommendation that Ross Lake National Recreation Area be changed to the North Cascades National Recreation Area. Changing the NRA’s name came at the request of individual park supporters, and will improve people’s connection to and recognition of the entire North Cascades complex. The plan also converts nearly 4,000 acres of the Thunder Creek potential wilderness area to designated wilderness. In addition, the new plan recommends 33 miles of park rivers, including Goodell, Newhalem and Skagit, for Wild and Scenic designation, which would permanently prohibit dams on these river sections, and provide the highest level of water quality and access protections.”
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The full General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Ross Lake National Recreation Area can be viewed and commented on at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/RossLakeNRA
