FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF YOSEMITE:

The General Management Plan for Yosemite National Park---the "blueprint" for improving and preserving the park for the next century---was finalized and signed in 1980. Thousands of people across the country participated in formulating the plan and we are now on the verge of changing Yosemite in a very positive way.

Because the General Management Plan (GMP) has been out of print and difficult to obtain for some time, we believe that providing an online version is a viable means of reaching many people who are interested in the plans for the future of Yosemite, but have no access to the printed document. Every effort was made to keep the copy and graphics from the 1980 document as close to the original as possible. Graphics and maps were scanned from a printed copy of the document and are presented on two levels. Smaller inline graphic files are included with the text. Clicking on the graphics brings up the files at actual dimensions of those in the original document. Since many of the graphics are very large, approximate file sizes of the actual-size files appear under all of the inline graphics, giving users an idea about approximate download times.

A major goal was to make the online version of the GMP a useful document, and it can be used in two ways:

1. For those who want to go through the document in order, "Next Page" hotlinks are provided at the bottom of each page which leads to the next page.
2. For those who are interested in specific parts of the plan, all pages and graphics are accessible directly from the Table of Contents/Illustration List page.

Every effort has been made to cross-reference copy and graphics to corresponding page numbers on the original document. All map graphics have the page numbers, where they appeared on the GMP, listed below the graphics. For copy, corresponding page numbers are listed at the bottom of each Web page for the copy as it appears in the printed document.

It is also important to remember that the General Management Plan has already been amended once, by the 1992 Concession Services Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement. This plan made modifications to the number and mix of accomodations presented in the General Management Plan. The General Management Plan will be amended by more detailed plans as we work through the details of realizing the goals of reducing congestion and crowding, restoring areas to natural conditions and improving opportunities for you to enjoy the park.