Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment Environmental Assessment

Yosemite National Park

Lead Agency: National Park Service

 

ABSTRACT

 

 

This Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment Environmental Assessment is intended to guide the redevelopment of Yosemite Lodge, redesign of the Camp 4 walk-in campground, and relocation of Northside Drive within Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park. This environmental assessment is also intended to guide development of the Indian Cultural Center within Yosemite Valley, which is being undertaken by the National Park Service in partnership with the American Indian Council of Mariposa County (aka Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation).The actions identified herein would be implemented consistent with the General Management Plan and Yosemite Valley Plan; the Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment Environmental Assessment is tiered from the Final Yosemite Valley Plan/Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement. This environmental assessment represents National Park Service compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act as well as parallel compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act and Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

 

This environmental assessment includes four distinct projects that have been combined in this document to accurately analyze the environmental and cultural impacts that would occur as a result of overall implementation. The environmental assessment identifies and analyzes three alternatives: Alternative 1 – the No Action Alternative, Alternative 2 (preferred), and Alternative 3.

 

The No Action Alternative represents the status quo; the existing facilities would remain unchanged, with 245 lodging units at Yosemite Lodge and 37 campsites at Camp 4, except for normal maintenance and repair. It provides the basis for comparison of each action alternative. Alternative 2 (preferred) and Alternative 3 both would implement approved Yosemite Valley Plan actions for the Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment, including providing 251 lodging units and associated parking at Yosemite Lodge, providing 65 campsites and associated parking at Camp 4, relocating Northside Drive south of the Lodge, and converting existing Northside Drive to a multi-use paved trail. Alternative 2 and Alternative 3 differ primarily in the Lodge site layout and the provision and location of Lodge and Camp 4 community facilities. Consistent with the 1980 General Management Plan, both action alternatives would develop the Indian Cultural Center at the site of the last-occupied Indian village in Yosemite Valley, west of Camp 4.

 

Written comments regarding this document must be submitted in writing by October 11, 2003 and should be directed to:

 

Mail:          Superintendent, Yosemite National Park

                    ATTN.: Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment

                    P.O. Box 577

                    Yosemite, California 95389

 

Fax:            209/379-1294

Email:        Yose_Planning@nps.gov

 

Written comments will also be accepted at the National Park Service planning meeting held on September 24, 2003 (2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center East Auditorium. Planning teams will be on hand to answer questions and provide more information regarding the Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment as well as several other Yosemite National Park planning efforts.

 

Individuals submitting comments may request that their name and/or address be withheld from public disclosure, and such requests will be honored to the extent allowable by law. Requests must be stated prominently in the beginning of the comments. There also may be circumstances wherein the National Park Service will withhold a respondent’s identity as allowable by law. As always, the National Park Service will make available to public inspection all submissions from organizations or businesses and from persons identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations and businesses; and anonymous comments may not be considered.

 

This document can be reviewed online at www.nps.gov/yose/planning. To request a printed copy, refer to the information directly above or phone 209/379-1365.