JFRCalifornia
Keeper of San Juan Secrets
Buried a few paragraphs down in the message from NPS regarding access, which Bart just posted in the announcements section is this, the latest about Dangling Rope:
Dangling Rope: As previously communicated, low water infrastructure is not feasible at the former Dangling Rope location. We are now moving forward with contracting for the planning and design of an on-water Mid-Lake Fueling station that will support boaters seeking to navigate longer distances on Lake Powell. A contract has been secured to initiate the design process with a marine engineering company. As the project advances, we will be seeking public engagement and input in the planning process for this project.
So if I read that right, and they've got a marine engineering firm already under contract, and they are going to seek public engagement, I'm guessing that's going to be through a NEPA process that has yet to be initiated. Assuming it's not an EIS but a more simple EA/FONSI, the NEPA process would likely take 3-4 months from beginning to end. But you can't start the NEPA process until you have a preliminary design and location to study. Conceivably, if all goes smoothly, and if I'm guessing right on process, and with no glitches, you could conceivably have a new Mid-Lake Fueling station (that's apparently the new name) in place for next summer.
This also confirms they are apparently giving up on Dangling Rope, in spite of the water levels that are now high enough to allow it to re-open, because they are not confident that those levels are sustainable. It also appears that if it's just a "fueling station" it might be a much more simple facility than existed at Dangling Rope, which means there might be more option locations. I still think somewhere near DR makes the most sense, since you already have residential infrastructure in place right there... and to me, it's gotta be the first cove on the left upstream from DR, which is big enough, fairly deep, and well-protected. But we'll see what the designers come up with...
Dangling Rope: As previously communicated, low water infrastructure is not feasible at the former Dangling Rope location. We are now moving forward with contracting for the planning and design of an on-water Mid-Lake Fueling station that will support boaters seeking to navigate longer distances on Lake Powell. A contract has been secured to initiate the design process with a marine engineering company. As the project advances, we will be seeking public engagement and input in the planning process for this project.
So if I read that right, and they've got a marine engineering firm already under contract, and they are going to seek public engagement, I'm guessing that's going to be through a NEPA process that has yet to be initiated. Assuming it's not an EIS but a more simple EA/FONSI, the NEPA process would likely take 3-4 months from beginning to end. But you can't start the NEPA process until you have a preliminary design and location to study. Conceivably, if all goes smoothly, and if I'm guessing right on process, and with no glitches, you could conceivably have a new Mid-Lake Fueling station (that's apparently the new name) in place for next summer.
This also confirms they are apparently giving up on Dangling Rope, in spite of the water levels that are now high enough to allow it to re-open, because they are not confident that those levels are sustainable. It also appears that if it's just a "fueling station" it might be a much more simple facility than existed at Dangling Rope, which means there might be more option locations. I still think somewhere near DR makes the most sense, since you already have residential infrastructure in place right there... and to me, it's gotta be the first cove on the left upstream from DR, which is big enough, fairly deep, and well-protected. But we'll see what the designers come up with...