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Show DIXIE PROJECT, UTAH 45 Mr. ROGERS. Our next witness is Jolui J. Moseley, National Park Service. Mr. Moseley. STATEMENT OF JOHN J. MOSELEY, SUPERVISORY PARK PLANNER, NATIONAL PARK SERVK3E Mr. MOSELEY. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I am John J. Moseley, Supervisory Park Planner in charge of Reservoir Recreation Planning, in the Southwest Region of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. My statement concerns an appraisal of the outdoor recreation aspects of the two water storage features of the Bureau of Reclamation's Dixie project, with conclusions and recommendations which have been developed as a result of this study. The Virgin City Reservoir, larger of the two improvements, would be located in a very scenic setting on the Virgin River, 26 miles northeast of St. George, Utah. The upper end of the improvement would be within a quarter of a mile of the south boundary of Zion National Park. The spectacular, multicolored standstone cliffs which rise over 4,000 feet in the park and the equally scenic Kolob Plateau, would form part of the reservoir's backdrop to the northeast and north. During the height of the recreation season, the surface acreage of the Virgin City Reservoir, according to Bureau of Reclamation data, would vary from an average high pool of 3,000 acres to a low pool surface area of 2,480 acres. Such latitude is considered to be quite satisfactory for recreation purposes. It is the opinion of the National Park Service that the Virgin City Reservoir would offer overall recreation opportunities of State and possibly regional significance. The reservoir because of its proximity to Zion National Park, should receive considerable tourist use and should assist in the mitigation of damage to Zion National Park, brought about by heavy camping use. Basic recreation facility development is recommended at three shoreline locations. The principal site is located on the north side of the reservoir near the confluence of North Creek and the Virgin River and would be accessible by way of Utah State Highway No. 15. Recreation facilities recommended here would make provision for camping, picnicking, and boating. It is anticipated that the major use at this site would be by visitors to Zion National Park. Because of difficult topography on the south side of the reservoir, a public use access road is not recommended. Mineral development at this site is recommended, however, which would make this shoreline attractive for visitors arriving at the site by boat. In the dam vicinity, on the south side of the reservoir, a public use development is recommended that would take advantage of an existing low standard road. The development of this site for camping picnicking, and boating would tend to disperse public use and at the same time take advantage of possible road development required for other project purposes. The cost of land acquisition which would be in addition to lands acquired for other project purposes, is estimated at $ 7,500. Purchase of this land would, it is believed, provide realization of the Virgin City Reservoir's optimum present and future outdoor recreation potential. 36- 351- 64 4 |
