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After successful execution of the seven scoping meetings in Phase I of the revision of the 1989 Colorado River Management Plan, Grand Canyon National Park asked Mary Orton to build on the positive momentum they had created. This was accomplished by involving stakeholders and the interested public during the period between the end of scoping and the release of the draft environmental impact statement. The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) does not require public input during this period.

Just as she had in Phase I, Mary developed the plan in consultation with the various stakeholder groups, as well as with the Colorado River Management Plan planning team.

On behalf of the Park, The Mary Orton Company sponsored two expert panels to inform the Park, stakeholders, and the general public about the latest research on two complex and contentious issues:

Carrying capacity, group size, and seasonality, and
Allocation of recreational use among user groups.

In addition, Mary sponsored two workshops where stakeholders could quantify their values and identify desirable trade-offs. Stakeholder workshops were held on two subjects:

Spectrum of recreational services available to the public, and
The private river trip permit distribution system.

The workshops utilized an innovative and interactive decision support technology to enhance their effectiveness. This technology provides the ability to collect and document real-time opinions and graphically present them to the group in an anonymous manner for the participants to explore. Data were isolated and compared across stakeholder groups, while the results were enhanced through a rich discussion by the participants.

The expert panels and stakeholder workshops were held in Phoenix, and the panels were connected by videoconference to Flagstaff, Arizona.

Click here to visit Grand Canyon National Park's website for more information about the Park's revision of the Colorado River Management Plan.