The Website for the San Gabriel Watershed is designed as a public information, education, and participation resource related to the ôspecial resource studyö being directed by the National Park Service, as directed by Congress under the ôSan Gabriel River Watershed Study Actö (Home, 2005, p. 1).
The Website provides a copy of the ActÆs legislation, enacted by the California Congress and known as Public Law 108-42, authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a ôspecial resource studyö on portions of the San Gabriel River and its tributaries (Legislation, 2003, p. 1).
A special resource study is authorized to achieve two aims. First, the resources in the area will be assessed to see if they meet the criteria for becoming part of the national park system. Second, the assessment provides recommendations for protecting the resources in the region and ôpublic use and enjoymentö (What, 2005, p. 1). The criteria for becoming part of the national park system are listed in the 2001 NPS Management Policies, a document linked to the San Gabriel Watershed Website.
The Website provides links that explain each of the seven steps involved in the ôstudy process,ö the first of which is currently ongoing and is referred to as ôscopingö (Process, 2005, p. 1). Scoping equates to a 90-day ôpublic comment periodö during which the public is provided information about the proposed project and during which the public is invited to send comments or information to the NPS that may help ôguide and informö the study (Home, 2005, p. 1). The six steps that follow the scoping phase and makeup the steps of the study process are: 1) Resource analysis: sifnificance and suitability; 2) Develop alternatives; 3) Feasibility analysis; 4) Analyze environmental impacts; 5) Draft report; and 6) Final Report/Transmittal to Congress (Process, 2005, p. 1).
The San Gabriel Watershed Web site also
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