ilderness and Grand Canyon


   In 1964, Congress passed the Wilderness Act "...to secure for the American people of present and future generation the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness." The Wilderness Act requires agencies to retain the land’s "primeval character and influence...and manage so as to preserve its natural conditions....” It also requires the agency to provide for "outstanding opportunities for solitude or a primitive and unconfined type of recreation," free from crowding and mechanized intrusions.

   Wilderness values in areas managed by the Park Service are generally considered secure. Unfortunately, National Park designation alone does not assure the land is protected from the increasing pressure to develop roads, hotels, campgrounds, marinas, and countless other "improvements." Wilderness designation does. In addition, Wilderness is the only designation that mandates protection of experiential quality, i.e., "wilderness experience." Although scarcely a precise mathematical concept, wilderness experience is definable and defendable. Critical elements such as group size, crowding, congestion, visitor contacts with other users, and other experiential parameters are adequately defined in a growing body of research that can be incorporated in Park management.

   Implicit in the Wilderness Act's language is the expectation that lands recommended for wilderness would not be degraded prior to Congressional wilderness designation. Grand Canyon's wilderness recommendation includes most of the Park with the exception of the south and north rim developed areas, and the Bright Angel, North and South Kaibab trails. The Wilderness Act and subsequent NPS policies require the Park Service to manage “recommended” or “study” wilderness as wilderness until Congress acts on the recommendation. Unfortunately, this mandate is not reflected in current backcountry or river management plans. Of course, Congress can decide against wilderness designation, but this determination must result from legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President, not as a result of bureaucratic indifference.

   Grand Canyon’s wilderness recommendation resulted from nearly ten years of public involvement. It calls for immediate wilderness designation for 1.1 million acres outside the river corridor. Because of the existing level of motorized use, the Colorado River is recommended for "potential" wilderness designation. As such, the river would be managed as "wilderness" while providing for the indefinite use of nonconforming recreational motorized craft. If approved by Congress, the recommendation includes a special provision giving the Secretary of the Interior the authority to designate "potential" wilderness as Wilderness, at such time he or she determines the area qualifies. Until that time, the river would continue to be managed as "potential wilderness" pending resolution of the motor issue, one way or the other.

   Meanwhile, recreational demand, both commercial and private, continues to grow. Approximately 5,000 individuals are now on a "private" waiting list to obtain a river permit. Based on an average group size of 13, this represents approximately 60,000 do-it-yourself, noncommercial boaters who must wait seven years or more for a permit to run the river. A high demand for concession-supported river trips exists as evident by the nearly 20,000 visitors transported last year. In the past, the Park Service has responded to increased demand by increasing use. For example, in 1981, the NPS increased commercial use by 30% and increased noncommercial private use by approximately 600%. Should this trend continue one can imagine the type of river experience afforded in the year 2020.

   In conclusion, the only long-term assurance for preservation of wilderness values, especially visitor experience, is wilderness designation and subsequent effective wilderness management.