Updating the Management Plan for

Updating the Management Plan for Lake Estes, Mary’s Lake, East Portal and Common Point

Introduction

Your parks at Lake Estes, Mary’s Lake, East Portal and Common Point are about to get a new management plan. Estes Valley Recreation and Park District (EVRPD) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) are developing a new Resource Management Plan (RMP) for these parks to better meet growing recreational needs and we want to hear from you! Over the course of this fall and into the beginning of next year, we will work with the public and other agencies to update this plan. This is an opportunity to share your insight and participate in improving your public lands.

Note: This plan will not address other parks, trails or programs administered by EVRPD or Reclamation.

Federal Review: The Resource Management Plan and Environmental Assessment

Reclamation owns Lake Estes, Mary’s Lake, East Portal and Common Point as part of its Colorado-Big Thompson water diversion and storage project . EVRPD has been the recreation management partner at these four parks since 1954.

An RMP is a continuation of Reclamation’s authorities, policies, and guidelines developed through public input. RMPs are typically revised every ten years. The Lake Estes, Mary’s Lake, East Portal and Common Point RMP was last revised in 1996. The updated RMP will serve as a basis for future resource decisions. It will provide the guidelines for how EVRPD will administer the use at, and development, improvement, management, operation, and maintenance of these properties for recreation opportunities. EVRPD will use the RMP within the context of its broader park system, Reclamation oversight, and other private and public lands in the area.

Because the parks and reservoirs are federally owned, any major actions at these sites must be given a proper level of environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Environmental Policy Act

As a result, while EVRPD is receiving public comment on what sort of recreation improvements park users would like to see, Reclamation will be asking for comments on what sort of environmental impacts (traffic, noise pollution, endangered species, etc.) the public believes the recreation improvements might cause.

Under NEPA, Reclamation will prepare a final environmental report called an Environmental Assessment, or “EA.” The public may track the progress of this EA and its corresponding studies by visiting: http://www.usbr.gov/gp/nepa/quarterly.cfm#ecao.

Public comments can be submitted in writing through the email address provided on this webpage or by mailing the comments to the address provided. The public will also be invited to comment at the two public workshops that will be held.

Contributors

EVRPD and Reclamation have partnered to prepare the combined RMP and EA. A project Work Group made up of collaborating agencies has been created to assist in the development and evaluation of the plans. EDAW, a local planning and landscape architecture firm, has been hired to assist with the process and plan preparation. The public, park visitors, park neighbors, government agencies, and other organizations will be invited to comment and contribute at meetings, interviews, or in writing.

Project Schedule

Meeting/ Milestone	Date
Project Initiation	May 2007
Inventory and Analysis	June – August 2007
Public Workshop for Issue Identification	4 -8 PM Tuesday August 28 Town Hall Estes Park
Public Workshop Alternatives Evaluation	4 -8 Pm Thursday December 6 Town Hall Estes Park
Public Review of the Draft Plan & EA	February 2008
Plan Completion and Adoption	March 2008