posted 7.16.10

The Ross Lake National Recreation Area Draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement is ready for public review.

The purpose of the Plan and Statement is to create a vision and overall management philosophy for Ross Lake National Recreation Area that will guide decision-making by current and future management teams during the next 15 to 20 years. This draft plan presents alternative management strategies for resource protection and preservation, education and interpretation, visitor use and facilities, land protection and boundaries, and long-term operations and management of Ross Lake National Recreation Area.

“This plan will help the National Park Service meet the challenge to preserve Ross Lake National Recreation Area for our children’s children, while at the same time helping people enjoy all that this special place has to offer,” said Chip Jenkins, Superintendent of the North Cascades National Park Complex.

“We’ve been listening and have taken what we’ve heard from people during planning meetings to create the management alternatives presented in this draft plan. We are now asking for additional feedback so that we can make the best long-term decisions for Ross Lake National Recreation Area,” said Jenkins.

People can provide comments online at www.nps.gov/noca/parkmgmt/rlna-gmp.htm. An Executive Summary, supporting documents, and the complete Ross Lake National Recreation Area Draft General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement also are available at this site.

People also may attend one of the following upcoming open houses and discuss ideas, concerns, and thoughts about the preferred and other alternatives with the planning team:

Wednesday, July 21
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Sedro-Woolley, Washington
North Cascades NPS Complex Headquarters
810 State Route 20

Thursday, July 22
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Marblemount, Washington
Marblemount Community Center
60055 State Route 20

Saturday, July 24
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Newhalem, Washington
North Cascades Visitor Center
State Route 20, Milepost 120

Tuesday, July 27
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Seattle, Washington
REI Seattle Flagship Store
222 Yale Avenue North

Wednesday, July 28
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham Senior Center
315 Halleck Street

Thursday, July 29
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Winthrop, Washington
Winthrop Barn
51 N Highway 20

Comments must be submitted by September 30, 2010.