Subject: Re: off topic, but interesting...
Date: Jan 12 10:56:18 1996
From: Charles E. Vaughan - cev at rocket.com


Don Baccus wrote
>Apparently a couple of days ago Governor Smythington of Arizona,
>in his "state of the state" address, formally proposed that
>management of Grand Canyon National Park be turned over to
>the state.
>
>Things are getting out of hand, folks...

I agree that things are out of hand, but specifically with the Grand Canyon
the key to the place is the NPS proposed wilderness designation. If that
goes through it doesn't matter whether Arizona administers the park or not.
If that doesn't go through the area remains in jeopardy even if the NPS
administers the park. Anyone who has backpacked there can tell you that the
"corridor" area is no longer wild. There are other areas that are
fabulously remote. The rim tourist areas are important to Arizona
economically and frankly they were sacrificed years ago; I couldn't care
less if that area became an Arizona State Park. Some vigilence is required
since Arizona boosters still propose a dam in the canyon from time to time.

Charles Vaughan
cev at rocket.com
Woodinville, WA