|
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
Introduction
Purpose Of and Need For the Project
Relationship to Yosemite National Park Plans
Overview of the Alternatives
Alternative 1: No Action
Alternative 2
Alternative 3: Preferred Alternative
Environmentally Preferable Alternative
Alternative 1: No Action
Alternative 2
Alternative 3: Preferred Alternative
Environmentally Preferred Alternative
Chapter I: Purpose and Need
Background
Purpose Of and Need For the Project
Purpose Of the Project
Need For the Project
Planning Context
Relationship to Yosemite National Park Plans
Regulations and Policies
National Park Service Organic Act
The Prohibition on Impairment of Park Resources and Values
Management Goals
General Management Plan Goals
Merced River Plan Goals
Yosemite Valley Plan Goals
Issues and Concerns
Natural Resources
Cultural Resources
Social Resources
Other Issues: Planning Processes, Management, and Operations
Organization of the Environmental Assessment
Chapter II: Alternatives
Overview of the Alternatives
Alternative 1: No Action
Alternative 2
Alternative 3 (Preferred)
Preliminary Project Sequencing
Alternatives Considered but Dismissed
Curry Village
Campgrounds
Mitigation Measures Common to All Action Alternatives
Sustainable Design and Aesthetics
Construction Mitigation Measures
Resource-Specific Mitigation Measures
Comparison of Alternatives
Environmentally Preferable Alternative
Summary of Environmental Consequences
Chapter III: Affected Environment
Introduction
Impact Topics Considered in this Environmental Assessment
Impact Topics Dismissed from Further Analysis
Regional Setting
Local Setting
Natural Resources
Geologic Resource
Floodplains
Wetlands
Vegetation
Wildlife
Special-Status Species
Air Quality
Noise
Cultural Resources
Overview of Human Occupation
Archeological Resources
Ethnographic Resources
Cultural Landscape, Historic Sites and Structures
Social Resources
Scenic Resources
Park Operations and Facilities
Transportation Planning
Visitor Experience
Socioeconomics
Chapter IV: Environmental Consequences
Introduction
Impact Analysis
Cumulative Impacts
Impairment
Methodologies and Assumptions
Geologic Processes
Soils
Hydrology and Water Quality
Floodplains
Wetlands
Vegetation
Wildlife
Special-Status Species
Air Quality
Noise
Cultural Resources
Archeological Resources
Ethnographic Resources
Cultural Landscape Resources, Historic Sites, and Structures
Scenic Resources
Park Operations and Facilities
Transportation
Visitor Experience and Recreation
Social and Economic Environment
Alternative 1: No Action
Natural Resources
Cultural Resources
Social Resources
Alternative 2
Natural Resources
Cultural Resources
Social Resources
Alternative 3: Preferred
Natural Resources
Cultural Resources
Social Resources
Chapter V: Merced Wild and
Scenic River
Introduction
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
1987 Designation of the Merced Wild and Scenic River
Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan
Merced Wild and Scenic River Management Elements
Methodology
Protection and Enhancement of Outstandingly Remarkable Values
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Section 7 Determination Process
Consistency with the Merced River Plan
Outstandingly Remarkable Values
Relationship to Boundary
Classifications
River Protection Overlay
Management Zoning
Visitor Experience and Resource Protection
Chapter VI: Consultation and
Coordination
Compliance History
Scoping History
Coordination
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
California State Historic Preservation Officer
American Indian Consultation
Future Information
List of Agencies, Organizations, and Businesses that Received the
Curry Village and East Yosemite Valley Campgrounds Improvement Project
Environmental Assessment
Chapter VII: List of Preparers
and Reviewers
Chapter VIII: Glossary and
Acronyms
Glossary of Terms
Acronyms
Chapter IX: Bibliography
References
Map Data
Appendices
Appendix A: Regulations and Policies
Appendix B: Yosemite Valley Geologic Hazard Guidelines
Appendix C: Special-Status Species Evaluation
Appendix D: Projects Included in the Cumulative
Impacts Analysis
Appendix E: Draft Wetland Statement of Findings
Appendix F: Draft Floodplain Statement of Findings
List of Tables
Table ES-1 Alternative Components Comparison
Table I 1 Yosemite Valley Plan Actions - Curry Village and East Yosemite
Valley Campgrounds
Table II-1 Alternative Components Comparison
Table II-2 Alternative 2 - Overnight Parking at Curry Village
Table II-3 Alternative 3 - Overnight Parking at Curry Village
Table II-4 Preliminary Project Sequencing
Table II-5 Comparison of the Key Features of the Project Alternatives
Table II-6 Summary of Environmental Consequences
Table III-1 Project Area Soils
Table III-2 1997 Flood Extent
Table III-3 Project Planning Areas - Wetlands
Table III-4 Project Planning Areas - Vegetation
Table III-5 Project Planning Areas - Wildlife
Table III-6 Project Planning Areas - Special-Status Species Expected
to Occur
Table III-7 Recent Ozone and PM10 Concentration Data for Yosemite
National Park and Vicinity
Table III-8 Project Area Scenic Quality Rating
Table III-9 1998 Travel Modes of Visitors Entering Yosemite Valley
Table III-10 Existing Overnight Lodging
Table III-11 Population by County
Table III-12 2000 Employment by Major Industry Sector
Table III-13 2000 Economic Output by County and Industry Sector (in
Millions of 2000 Dollars)
Table III-14 2000 Total Taxable Retail Sales by County (in Millions
of 2000 Dollars)
Table IV 1 Soil Impact Intensity Definitions
Table IV 2 Floodplain Impact Intensity Definitions
Table IV 3 Typical Noise Levels from Construction Equipment
Table IV 4 Alternative 1 Historic Resources and Impacts
Table IV 5 Typical Noise Levels from Construction Equipment
Table IV 6 Alternative 2 Historic Resources and Impacts
Table IV 7 Existing and Proposed Camping Facilities by Development
Area
Table IV 8 Typical Noise Levels from Construction Equipment
Table IV 9 Alternative 3 Historic Resources and Impacts
Table IV 10 Existing and Proposed Camping Facilities by Development
Area
Table V-1 Effects of the Action Alternatives on Outstandingly Remarkable
Values in the Yosemite Valley Segment of the Merced Wild and Scenic
River Corridor
List of Figures
Figure I 1 Location Map
Figure II-1 No Action Alternative
Figure II-2 Alternative 2 Composite
Figure II-3 Curry Village Alternative 2 - Existing and Proposed Development
Figure II-4 Curry Village Alternative 2 - Program Summary
Figure II-5 Typical Trail Cross Sections
Figure II-6 Specific Buildings - Alternative 2
Figure II-7 Specific Buildings - Alternative 2
Figure II-8 South Camp - Alternative 2
Figure II-9 Upper Pines Campground - Alternative 2
Figure II-10 Lower Pines Campground - Alternative 2
Figure II-11 Alternative 3 - Composite (Preferred Alternative)
Figure II-12 Curry Village Alternative 3 - Existing and Proposed Development
(Preferred Alternative)
Figure II 13 Curry Village Alternative 3 - Program Summary (Preferred
Alternative)
Figure II-14 Curry Village Campgrounds Alternative 3 - Pedestrian
Paths & Multi-Purpose Trails
Figure II-15 Specific Buildings - Alternative 3
Figure II-16 Specific Buildings - Alternative 3
Figure II-17 South Camp - Alternative 3
Figure II-18 Upper Pines Campground - Alternative 3
Figure II-19 Lower Pines Campground - Alternative 3
Figure III-1 Project Area
Figure III-2 Geologic Hazards
Figure III-3 Existing Vegetation
Figure III-4 Existing Special-Status Species
Figure III-5 NPS Scenic Rating Classification
Figure III-6 Existing Curry Village Views
Figure III-7 Existing Infrastructure
Figure III-8 Existing Roadways
Figure III-9 Existing Project Area Trails
|
