Measures For Success: Protecting the Park During Construction
A number of park improvement efforts are finally entering into the construction phase. Even before a shovel ever meets dirt, park staff—led by biologists, hydrologists, archeologists, etc.—conduct exhaustive studies in order to protect and preserve Yosemite’s natural, cultural, and social resources. If a particular resource may be affected by construction, protective measures (known as “mitigation measures”) are put into place. These measures are spelled out in a project’s environmental compliance documents (environmental assessments or environmental impact statements), and they are written into all construction contracts.
Construction in Yosemite National Park is held to a high standard. Before crews get to work, they are made well aware that this is not the same as a job site at home. The National Park Service is entrusted with protecting Yosemite’s natural and cultural resources while allowing for visitor enjoyment. As a result, protection measures are taken before, during, and after a project. Here are a few examples of the mitigation measures that must be followed in Yosemite National Park:
BEFORE
Assessing Territory Months before construction is expected
to begin, teams of park staff survey the immediate project area. Wildlife
biologists look in trees for bird nests and bat roosting areas, which
helps contractors schedule activity around wildlife breeding seasons.
Reviews of park records and on-site surveys help determine if any rare,
threatened, or endangered species are likely to be present, requiring
special considerations. Botanists and archeologists assess the project
area to verify sensitive vegetation, habitats, and archeological sites.
Teams then mark areas in need of special protection, sometimes using brightly
colored fencing, which alerts construction crews of places to avoid.
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| SPOTTED
BAT (Euderma maculatum) There are 17 species of bats in Yosemite National Park, 9 of which are species of concern. Whenever possible, work in the park is scheduled so as not to interfere with breeding and nesting seasons of Yosemite's wildlife. (Drawing by Lawrence Ormsby) |
Training New Workers Upon arrival to the construction site, crew members receive training provided by National Park Service staff. Workers learn to avoid special resource areas or features. They also are made aware of park regulations and the strict environmental protection measures that must be followed, along with safety procedures to protect park visitors and employees.
Protecting Native Plants The seeds and spores of non-native plant species can enter the park on the wheels of any vehicle. To prevent the spread of invasive plants, most construction equipment is cleaned and inspected each time it enters Yosemite. Additionally, backfill material brought into the park must be certified “weed free,” which means that the dirt has been sterilized and is free of seeds and spores.
DURING
Assuring Visitor Access As construction gets underway,
visitors will have access to all of the park’s major destinations.
Most activities occur during the business day and will be scheduled to
minimize disruption to day visitors and overnight guests at park lodgings
and campgrounds. To the greatest extent possible, construction bulletins
will be circulated to park visitor centers and gateway communities, alerting
visitors to possible detours or traffic delays. For increased safety,
informational and directional signs will be clearly posted to ensure safe
pedestrian and vehicle circulation.
Protecting Natural Resources Construction equipment must
be carefully maintained while in the park. Measures are taken to catch
leaks and prevent accidental spills of oil and hydraulic fluids. Crews
often conduct perimeter checks to make sure that wildlife is not trapped
in excavated areas. Protective fencing and catchment basins are placed
in and near streams or watercourses to prevent sediments and other material
from entering rivers or wetlands. Air quality is protected by covering
loose material hauled in trucks and by wetting down temporary access roads
to help control dust.
Removing Debris All debris generated during construction is placed in separate dumpsters to be recycled or otherwise removed from the park by the contractor. Crews also must adhere to park food storage regulations to help protect Yosemite’s wildlife, using food lockers and bear-proof trash dumpsters within the construction site.
AFTER
Rehabilitating the Site Once a project is near completion,
the site is restored to the greatest extent possible. Park staff conduct
a final inspection and verify that signs of construction largely have
been erased. Afterwards, ecological restoration teams—made up of
park staff and vegetation specialists—revegetate the area using
native plants and soils to help return the area to a more natural state.
For up to two years after construction, the site will be monitored to
ensure the success of these restoration efforts.
Protecting the Past
Yosemite National Park contains many archeological sites, manifesting
thousands of years of human occupation. As part of the National Park Service
mission, the park is committed to the protection and preservation of Yosemite's
human history.
During ground disturbing activity (due to construction, trail building,
and routine maintenance and operations activities), archeological monitors
are present in areas considered to potentially contain prehistoric or
historic remains of American Indian culture.
In the event that archeological deposits or artifacts are discovered during ground disturbance, ground disturbing work in the area must be relocated until field monitors can investigate. If human remains are inadvertently discovered, ground disturbance work in the vicinity is stopped, and the associated tribes are contacted in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.
Also
in this newsletter:
- Measures For Success: Protecting the Park During Construction
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| Lucy
Telles and Traditional Basket (Miwok/Paiute), circa 1930s
The Yosemite region has been home to American Indian people for as many as 6,000 years. The park continues to play an important role in the lives of contemporary Indian people for its historical, spiritual, and cultural significance. (NPS Photo) |