USE ZONES

To address some of the concerns of the public and the impacts occurring in the canyon four options were generated for discussion. Most of the discussion has focused on impacts on and near the Powerdam and nearby neighborhoods, but the group has also discussed how displaced activities may have an impact on other areas of the canyon or the increases in numbers of visitors may just push people to access from other locations. The group developed four management zones

The Urban Creek Zone is a transportation corridor along the creek in the City and features many already established parks

The Front Country Zone is destination focused and includes heavily used BLM, County and City areas areas around Powerdam

The Middle Country Zone is more experiential and includes access points in the neighborhoods along the edge of the canyon and at Flat Pass, as well as some of the more accessible sections of the creek and canyon floor. This zone is mostly BLM managed but interfaces with private property in the City and County

The Back Country Zone is mostly about the journey, and includes BLM managed portions of the canyon upstream and between the canyons that see lower levels of use.

The Stakeholders defined these zones based on how people use these areas, what kind of experiences they have and what they expect in each area. Finally, thresholds and indicators for when protections need to be implemented were established. The table below shows these elements.

URBAN CREEK ZONE

FRONT COUNTRY ZONE

MIDDLE COUNTRY ZONE

BACKCOUNTRY ZONE

USES

Varies in different sections but overall

transportation corridor (bike and pedestrian)
exercise/recreation corridor
links activity hubs (Rotary Park, YGP, Bark Park, Main Street, Anonymous Park)
flood flow is accommodated

Short hikes (usually 4 hrs or less total canyon time)
Swimming
Picnic
Find rock art
Motorized influences in some areas
Social spaces/lots of people

Longer hikes and/or drive/bike ride
Hiking and exploring
Some swimming (though less of a primary goal)
Find rock art
Space for solitude, in some areas

Long hikes (all day or backpacking)
Exploration
Swimming to cool off
Find rock art
Solitude/reflection/wilderness experience

TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR WITH LOCATIONS TO EDDY OUT IN VARIOUS ACTIVITY AREAS ranging from built up and busy at Rotary and Anonymous, to calmer and less develped such as a between 100 W and 500 W

EXPERIENCES

DESTINATION driven (Left Hand pools, Teacups etc.)
IMMEDIATE gratification (get wet, photos, rock art easy to find)

LESS DESTINATION driven and more exploration driven
The journey is the destination as much as a location may be.

EXPLORATION driven.

for some to get through town away from cars
common to see other people, some areas VERY busy
Graffiti is common, and bridge underpasses have murals
periodic law enforcement presence
several memorials are present on this path

Some signage. Very urban experience except 100 W to 500 W
Paved path from Rotary to 100 West; gravel and dirt from 100 W to 500 W/Anonymous

EXPECTATIONS

Low expectation for solitude or quiet during busy season

Lots of activity
Swimming
Hiking
Graffiti - some at arch sites, also near crossing
SAR/EMS activity from time to time
Congestion at certain times of year is extreme, esp. spring and fall, and sometimes in summer
EMS access can be curtailed by congestion

Signage and maps necessary to prevent people from getting lost
Designated trails necessary; trail building/hardening necessary

Expectation for some solitude or quiet
Expect to see other people
Graffiti
SAR/EMS activity from time to time
Trail to creek is sandy/steep climb in/out
Trail in creek is relatively flat and easy
Some destinations in this zone

Limited need for signage and maps to prevent people from getting lost
Designated trails necessary, minimal trail building necessary

Expectation for solitude or quiet
Rare to see other people, except close to lower falls
Graffiti is rare
SAR/EMS activity from time to time

Sometimes people backpack this reach
No expectations of signed trails
Designated routes (especially for roads) but not necessarily for hikers

City maintains most of the parkway & maintains the floodway through town
Landowners and Rim to Rim have been working on reducing fire hazard and improving native plant communities

PROTECTION

Water quality
Soil stability
Public safety
Cultural resources
Access
Neighbor sanity

Quiet, except when vehicles pass through
Water quality
Soil stability
Cultural resources
Access - this area is open to motorized use

Quiet & solitude
Water quality
Soil stability
Cultural resources
Access

No designated trails in this area

ACCESS

Paved path from Rotary to 100 W, most of it is ADA accessible.

Gravel and dirt from 100 W to 500 W and in Anonymous Park.

Relatively easy access, trails not technical, easy to find your way around

More challenging access (either need 4wd or long hike in); some experience needed to find way around

Predominantly hiking access, significant commitment of time and energy; possible technical access points

Due to urban setting, focus is more on public safety and infrastructure maintenance
Fire fuels reduction and flood flow are priorities
safe pathway for large volume and multiple user groups
these thresholds change by reach of creek/path

THRESHOLDS

increase in social trailsI
Erosion increases (along streambank, trails)
EMS/SAR operations are compromised
Increase in damage to rock art, graffiti
Water quality degrades
New user-created access areas are popping up
Neighbor complaints increase

increase in number of people using the areaI
Increase in social trails
Erosion increases (parking areas, along streambank, trails)
Increase in damage to rock art, graffiti
Water quality degrades
New user-created access areas are popping up
Increase in camping activity
Neighbor complaints increase

Increase in number of people using the area
Decrease in perceived solitude/quiet
Increase in social trails
Erosion increases (parking areas, along streambank, trails)
Increase in damage to rock art, graffiti
Water quality degrades
New user-created access areas are popping up
Increase in camping activity

Parking at Powerdam

As the canyon, and more specifically the Powerdam and North Fork Falls have become more popular and sought as a destination, parking has become a larger issue at and near the Powerdam trailhead. Parking may also become an issue at the Highland trailhead now that Cowboy Jaucuzzi has been published on AllTrails as another destination location.

The table below attempts to quantify designated as well as de fact overflow parking in the Powerdam/Powerhouse Lane area to illustrate how much of an impact the de facto overflow parking has on the adjacent neighborhoods and the canyon itself.

Memorial Day weekend 2020, Bynum property near Mill Creek Drive. Photo by Brian Murdock

150+

250+