What is the definition of potential wilderness, and what are the effects of wilderness designation?
In 1980, after a decade-long wilderness study and public review, the Park Service identified most of Grand Canyon National Park as suitable for immediate wilderness designation. The study also identified approximately 121,000 acres that would qualify as wilderness once temporary incompatible conditions were resolved. For example, some lands were privately owned or subject to grazing or mineral leases. The NPS felt these potential wilderness areas did not qualify as wilderness until the property was acquired and the leases expired. Motorboat use precluded recommending the river corridor for immediate wilderness designation (USDI 1980). While only Congress can designate wilderness, it may, through wilderness legislation, authorize the Secretary of the Interior to designate “potential” wilderness as full-fledged wilderness once the temporary incompatible condition is gone. For now, all Grand Canyon wilderness is “proposed” wilderness and, as required by the Wilderness Act and NPS Manageme
