Great Falls Area (Maryland) Development Concept Plan

GWWO, Inc.

The Great Falls Area of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park is one of the most popular and highly visited sections of the Park. This beloved and popular area within the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park has seen a steady increase in visitor attendance since the 2010s. This increase in visitors presents a great opportunity for the park to reach more people, but comes with challenges and impacts to the overall experience of other visitors, as well as the natural and cultural resources that characterize this place. This planning process is an opportunity for a comprehensive review of visitation and management of the Great Falls section in an effort to improve the dual responsibilities of maintaining a high-quality visitor experience and promoting stewardship of the natural and cultural resources of the Park. Recommendations of the Plan range from small-scale and very specific to large and comprehensive. Further efforts to ensure compliance with NEPA and NHPA would be required to select and implement actions within the concept plan.