Dry Tortugas National Park : Draft general management plan amendment, environmental impact statement

National Park Service

This Draft General Management Plan Amendment presents and analyzes five alternative future directions for management and use of Dry Tortugas National Park. Alternative A, a "no-action" alternative, presents what would happen under a continuation of existing conditions, without a new management plan, and provides a basis for comparing the other alternatives. Alternatives B, C, D, and E (the "action alternatives")considered in this document provide different ways to meet current and future needs, protect park resources, and enhance visitor experience. Alternative B provides greater protection of natural and cultural resources than alternative A. Alternative C, which has been identified as the National Park Service's proposed action/preferred future direction, affords a high level of protection to significant park resources through selectively applying a research natural area zone, instituting a permit system for private boaters,and using commercial services to direct and structure visitor use. Alternative D is the same as alternative C except that the research natural area zone is larger and private boaters would not be allowed in this zone.Alternative E is the same as alternative D except that the research natural area zone would be applied to almost the entire park. The potential consequences and environmental impacts associated with implementing each of the alternatives are evaluated in the "Environmental Consequences" section of this document.