Final environmental impact statement : general management plan : Chickasaw National Recreation Area : Oklahoma

National Park Service

Brief Description of Action The National Park Service proposes coordinated facility development, visitor use programs, and resources management actions for Chickasaw National Recreation Area through a general management plan. This Recreation Area was established in 1976 by joining the former Piatt National Park with the former Arbuckle National Recreation Area by means of a connecting corridor of land. New facilities are proposed to realize the recreational opportunities offered by the larger area; these include a visitor center/headquarters adjacent to the city of Sulphur, a 9.5-mile biking/hiking trail, a 6.5-mile hiking trail, a net of 32 additional campsites (adding 59 and deleting 27), three comfort stations, a campground sewage collection system, and II small structures for park protection and maintenance. A shallow overflow channel will be constructed to provide a floodwater bypass around Travertine Nature Center. An artesian well will be capped so that its flow may be regulated, decreasing the volume if feasible. Research is proposed into vegetative mosaics, water management, wildlife studies, flood conditions, and visitor use/resource preservation relationships. Carrying capacities are provisionally established for camping use (468 individual and 20 group sites) and for boat use (600 at one time), within the general level of 2 million visitors, to be monitored and adjusted by management as visitor preferences and resources factors are measured. Summary of Environmental Impact and Adverse Environmental Effect The proposal will provide visitor experiences of varied character and at differing use intensities in designated parts of the recreation area. Resources will be restored, to the degree research indicates is feasible, to more parklike conditions. Should these situations induce restoration of visitor travel to former numbers, the regional economy could receive added tourist spending. Construction activities will cover 19.05 acres of soil with impervious surfaces, removing the biological resources thereon. In addition, there will be 8.43 acres of undisturbed land converted to camping use, with partial impacts to plants and animals due to increases in visitor usj locally. A landscaped overflow channel 250 feet long and 12 feet wide (.07 acres) will be constructed. Animal behavior patterns will be altered by new trails. Local modification of topographic landform--on a maximum scale of 3 feet vertically—will occur along new trails and at building sites. Alternatives Considered Five (2 related to capacity and 3 to development) alternatives were considered: No Action, Increase Facility Capacity to Terrain Capacity, Develop Bicycle Trail from Travertine District to The Point, Relocate U.S. Highway 177 and Redesign Circulation in Travertine District, and No Visitor Center.