 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
|||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||
Management Zoning
Management zoning is a technique used by the National Park Service to classify park areas and prescribe future desired resource conditions, visitor activities, and facilities. Similar to zoning found in other types of land-use planning (such as municipal zoning), management zoning prescribes future desired conditions for a particular area. A management zone is defined in the National Park Services Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) framework as:
A geographical area for which management directions or prescriptions have been developed to determine what can and cannot occur in terms of resource management, visitor use, access, facilities or development, and park operations. Each zone has a unique combination of resource and social conditions, and a consistent management prescription. Different actions will be taken by the National Park Service in different zones with regard to the type and levels of use and facilities (NPS 1997a).
The management zoning adopted by this plan was developed to protect and enhance the Outstandingly Remarkable Values within each segment of the river. Specifically, the Merced River Plan places an emphasis on integrating protection and enhancement of natural and cultural resource Outstandingly Remarkable Values with the protection and enhancement of the diverse recreation Outstandingly Remarkable Values within the river corridor. Management zoning prescribes certain uses and facilities that are not allowed in an area. Before such zoning existed, additional development and higher-intensity uses by park visitors could have resulted in impacts to Outstandingly Remarkable Values over the long term. Management zoning also provides opportunities for restoration of Outstandingly Remarkable Values in areas where lower use and facility levels are prescribed.
In order to protect the spectrum of recreational opportunities (an Outstandingly Remarkable Value), management zoning allows for visitor access and use of facilities in more resilient locations, as well as different intensities of use along the corridor. As part of the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection framework, it also facilitates the development of user capacity analysis. Zoning is consistent with National Park Service requirements and with the provisions of the Wild Scenic Rivers Act, which states, "Management plans for any such component may establish varying degrees of intensity for its protection and development, based on the special attributes of the area."
The various management zones are represented schematically on the management zoning maps. Application of the management zones may require additional mapping and site-specific studies for future activities, such as area plans and restoration projects. However, management zoning does not apply to private property that exists within the river corridor.
Management Zoning Categories
The management zones for the Merced River corridor fall into three general categories: (1) Wilderness zones, (2) Diverse Visitor Experience zones, and (3) Developed zones. Within each of these three categories, there are individual management zones that provide for certain levels and types of visitor experiences, resource conditions, facilities, and uses. Existing uses or facilities that are not compatible with the management prescriptions of their zones could be (but are not required to be) removed, relocated, or modified over time. Management zones generally allow for the repair, maintenance, and reconstruction of established facilities (such as structures, utilities, roads, and bridges) unless specifically noted. The National Park Service may address an existing, nonconforming facility in the corridor at any time, such as through a planning effort. New facilities proposed in the river corridor must meet the stringent requirements of the management zone prescriptions. All management zones permit scientific research and monitoring activities, particularly related to the analysis of visitor experience and resource protection of the river corridor.
The management zones are organized along a continuum of allowed impact intensity. Category 1 zones (Wilderness) generally prescribe the least amount and intensity of visitor use and facility development, leaving the landscape mostly natural and protecting the values reflected in the wilderness segment Outstandingly Remarkable Values. Category 2 zones (Diverse Visitor Experience) allow for a low to high range of visitor use and low to moderate range of facility development. While emphasizing protection and enhancement of natural and cultural resource-related Outstandingly Remarkable Values, they provide the diverse recreational opportunities also identified as Outstandingly Remarkable Values. Category 3 zones (Developed) occur in limited areas in with Scenic and Recreational segments. These zones allow for the most intensive visitor use and/or more developed facilities. The developed areas encourage concentration of higher-impact activities in areas better able to withstand heavy use and at locations that are already developed, enabling better protection of Outstandingly Remarkable Values in other areas. Within each broad zoning category, the level of intensity that is allowed generally increases as the specific zones progress, and each degree of intensity is assigned a letter (e.g., 2A to 2B to 2C). There are certain exceptions to this hierarchy. For example, the Attraction zone (2D) may envision higher use levels than the Camping zone (3A).
Relationship to River Protection Overlay
When considering management decisions for specific projects, the National Park Service may find that the management zoning prescription and the River Protection Overlay provide conflicting guidance. Where the management zoning prescription and the River Protection Overlay are in conflict, the prescription that provides the greater protection and enhancement of the Outstandingly Remarkable Values takes precedence.
Application of Management Zoning
Zoning prescriptions list typical activities, allowed facilities, and examples of facilities not allowed in each zone. These lists provide representative examples of allowed activities and facilities, and are not considered to be exhaustive. In general, the more intensive facilities allowed for in higher category zones would not be allowed in the lower category zones. For example, administrative offices are allowed in Category 3 zones, but not in Category 1 or 2 zones. When determining whether a specific use or facility is appropriate to a management zone, park managers should consider the general character of development and desired resource and visitor experience conditions described for that zone.
Each zone prescribes the maximum level of activities and facilities. In practice, lower levels of visitor use and facilities may be provided than are allowed for in the zoning prescriptions. Typical uses in lower-intensity zones are generally acceptable uses for higher-intensity zones. For example, areas zoned for overnight lodging may be used for less-developed activities such as walk-in camping or could include protected natural areas. These decisions would be based on site-specific conditions as assessed through the standard planning process. In addition, the management zones, delineated on the zoning maps allow future managers to direct development within the management zone. Within a given management zone, there may be some areas used for higher-intensity facilities or activities, while other areas within the same management zone are left natural and open. Management zoning provides overall guidance for decision-making over the long term. Zoning does not attempt to predict or prescribe every conceivable use or facility decision. Small, isolated "spot" zones were not utilized to distinguish particular facilities or use areas.
Uses or activities allowed in a management zone may be subject to limitations over time. If ongoing monitoring (as implemented through the VERP framework) indicates that impacts on the resource or visitor experience are no longer at an acceptable level, previously designated areas may be further restricted. Management zoning prescriptions can also be temporarily superceded by contingencies, such as the need to respond to emergencies. For example, trails, roads, and facilities may be temporarily closed due to fire, rockfall, or flood.
An area may be designated with two management zones; there are two instances in which multiple zoning is used. The first is where a site may be used for multiple, compatible purposes. Such multiple-use zones are identified with a slash (e.g., 3A/3C). For example, the Yellow Pine Campground in Yosemite Valley is zoned 3A/3C for Camping and Park Operations. This area is currently used as a camping area for park volunteers (an administrative use) and could, in the future, be used as a combination of volunteer and visitor camping or solely as visitor camping.
The second case is where a zoning designation may change in the future depending on specific management actions. Potential conversion zones are indicated with the potential future zone set off in parentheses. For example, the Arch Rock Entrance Station is zoned 3C(2C) for Park Operations/Administration or Day Use. This area is currently used for park operations, but if the entrance station were relocated in the future, the area would convert to Day Use, which would allow for various visitor activities such as picnicking.
The management zones of the Merced River Plan are consistent with the purposes of Yosemite National Park, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and the Wilderness Act. Additionally, the management zoning established by this plan is largely consistent with the General Management Plan. The zones outlined in the General Management Plan include: (1) Natural (wilderness, environmental protection, outstanding natural feature, and natural environment); (2) Cultural (historical, archeological); (3) Development; and (4) Special Use (reservoir). The areas zoned as Natural in the General Management Plan are consistently zoned as Wilderness zones in the Merced River Plan. The General Management Plan consistently designates the Merced River and riparian areas as an "Outstanding Natural Feature" zone, which accords with the Merced River Plans special protection for the corridor through the River Protection Overlay. The General Management Plan designates camping, lodging, and more intensive visitor use areas as "Development" zones, in keeping with the Developed zones in the Merced River Plan.
However, the management zoning established by the Merced River Plan, in some cases, constitutes a revision to the General Management Plan zoning for areas within the river corridor. In the eastern portion of Yosemite Valley, the General Management Plan designates certain areas as Development zones (such as Housekeeping Camp, Upper and Lower River Campgrounds, and North Pines Campground), while in the Merced River Plan these areas are designated for greater resource protection. In all other areas, the management zoning adopted by this plan complements the broad zoning established by the General Management Plan by adding further specificity.
Category 1: Wilderness Zones
Approximately 34 miles of the main stem and 19 miles of the South Fork of the Merced Wild and Scenic River corridors flow through designated Wilderness and are managed under the guidance and requirements of the 1964 Wilderness Act and the California Wilderness Act of 1984. As such, these segments will continue to be managed to preserve an environment in which the natural world, along with the processes and events that shape it, are largely unchanged by human use, and to allow for various forms of exploration in an environment primarily free of modification. Access limits are imposed to control human-induced change, and management actions such as education, regulation, and restoration will occur as appropriate to protect natural and cultural resources and designated Outstandingly Remarkable Values. Visitor use and enjoyment is encouraged as long as such use does not result in levels of human impact that compromise wilderness and river values. Visitors will encounter a variety of opportunities for solitude, primitive and unconfined recreation, and physical challenge. Presence of park staff will be limited, focused on locations of heavy use such as camping areas.
The Wilderness zones will be managed to protect the natural hydrologic and ecologic processes of the Merced River and its immediate environment. Other than trails and designated overnight areas, the Wilderness zones will exhibit natural conditions, with high-quality riparian, meadow, and aquatic habitats. There will be high native plant and animal species diversity and relatively minimal disturbance and human impact. The Merced River will remain free of impoundments, and natural processes, such as deposits of woody debris into the river, will occur without human interference. Water quality in the area will be very high.
The Wilderness zones emphasize the protection of natural resource Outstandingly Remarkable Values, such as biological, geologic, and hydrologic values. By limiting use and development, the Wilderness zones also protect and enhance cultural, scenic, and recreational Outstandingly Remarkable Values, which identify spectacular views, prehistoric sites, and opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation among the important values of the wilderness segments of the Merced River corridor.
The National Park Service manages the designated Wilderness under the direction of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Wilderness Act provides a high level of resource protection for those river segments within Wilderness areas, generally a comparable or more restrictive level than the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. In all cases where the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the Wilderness Act are in conflict, the more restrictive provision will apply (see Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, 16 USC 1281[b]).
There are four Wilderness zones:
Zone 1A: Untrailed
Zone 1B: Trailed Travel
Zone 1C: Heavy Use Trail
Zone 1D: Designated Overnight
Wilderness Zone Management Objectives
The overall management objectives for the Wilderness zones, which are consistent with the Wilderness Management Plan (NPS 1989), are as follows:
Manage for protection of Outstandingly Remarkable Values, with an emphasis on protection and enhancement of natural resource Outstandingly Remarkable Values
Manage for ecosystem integrity
Preserve natural biodiversity
Allow natural processes to prevail
Mitigate, reduce, or eliminate human-caused impacts
Manage for a high-quality wilderness visitor experience
Protect all wilderness values (ecological, geological, scientific, educational, scenic, or historical in nature)
Apply the "minimum requirement" guidance concept in all administrative operational functions in accordance with the Wilderness Act
Manage for the preservation of cultural resources
Zone 1A. Untrailed
The Untrailed zone is primarily free of signs of modern human presence, with extremely high opportunity for solitude due to the remoteness of the area and lack of trails. Management activities in this zone will be minimal, allowing resources and natural processes to exist in their most pristine state. The Untrailed zone will be managed with very low tolerance for resource degradation from visitor use, and management action can be taken to change visitor use patterns if such degradation occurs.
Visitor experience is primarily based on hiking through often difficult terrain. There are no formal trails or directional markers in this zone. There are few, if any, human encounters, and wilderness skills and knowledge are necessary to safely navigate these areas. Natural and cultural resources can be observed, but there are no formal interpretation or visitor accommodations. This area will provide substantial opportunities for scientific study of natural processes in undisturbed conditions.
The difficulty of access characterized by the Untrailed zone serves to limit visitor use, thereby protecting and enhancing biological, geologic, hydrologic, cultural, scenic, and scientific Outstandingly Remarkable Values. Opportunities for solitude, primitive and unconfined recreation, and enjoyment of natural river sounds are among the recreational Outstandingly Remarkable Values prominent in this zone.
Activities The following activities will be typical in this zone:
Overnight camping 100 feet or more from a water body, by permit
Hiking
Rock climbing and mountaineering
Swimming and wading
Fishing[2]
Photography and nature study
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
Limited numbers of legal and appropriately dispersed campsites
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
Support facilities such as food storage, ranger stations, and compost toilets
Utilities
Bridges
Formal trails
Interpretive signs or programs
Commercial overnight facilities
Zone 1B. Trailed Travel
The Trailed Travel zone is characterized by light to moderate use focused on marked and maintained trails. Opportunities for solitude will range from moderate to high. There will be some management presence to accommodate resource protection and visitor use. The Trailed Travel zone will be managed with very low tolerance for resource degradation from visitor use, and management action can be taken to change visitor use patterns if such degradation occurred.
Most visitors will experience this area by hiking, although a small percentage of visitors traditionally use pack animals and can continue to do so. Visitor encounters will be infrequent, except in areas common for campsites and at key trail junctions. While there will be opportunities for challenge and adventure, the well-marked and maintained trails will allow visitors with a diversity of hiking abilities to experience the wilderness.
Through limitations on development and access, the Trailed Travel zone will protect and enhance biological, geologic, hydrologic, cultural, scenic, and scientific Outstandingly Remarkable Values. Opportunities for solitude, primitive and unconfined recreation, and enjoyment of natural river sounds are among the recreational Outstandingly Remarkable Values prominent in this zone.
Activities The following activities will be typical in this zone:
Overnight camping 100 feet or more from a water body or trail, by permit
Hiking
Rock climbing and mountaineering
Stock use as allowed in the Wilderness Management Plan
Swimming and wading
Fishing
Photography and nature study
Very limited interpretive programs (e.g., guided walks for small groups)
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
Marked and maintained trails (walls and water bars could be used to provide for protection of resources)
Limited numbers of legal and appropriately dispersed campsites
Historic features
Occasional directional and regulatory signs, and safety signs only as necessary
Footbridges only at trail crossings where necessary for resource protection and visitor access (in compliance with the Wilderness Management Plan)
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
Large campsites with facilities
Commercial overnight facilities
Utilities
Zone 1C. Heavy Use Trail
The Heavy Use Trail zone is characterized by high levels of use on marked and maintained trails and associated areas. Due to high use levels, opportunities for solitude at peak times will be more limited on trails in this area. In some locations, sections of paved or rocked trails and fencing can be used to direct visitor use away from sensitive ecosystems. The Heavy Use Trail zone will be managed with a low tolerance for resource degradation due to visitor use, and management action can be taken to redirect use if such degradation occurred.
Most visitors will experience this area by hiking, although a small percentage of visitors traditionally use pack animals and can continue to do so. Encounters with other visitors can be frequent during certain periods of the day or at key trail junctions, vistas, and other high use locations. The well-marked and maintained trails will allow for visitors with a diversity of hiking abilities to experience the wilderness.
Through limitations on development, the Heavy Use Trail zone will protect and enhance biological, geologic, hydrologic, cultural, scenic, and scientific Outstandingly Remarkable Values. While opportunities for solitude will be lower than in the less-traveled Untrailed and Trailed Travel zones, this zone will provide ready access to wilderness hiking and backpacking near the Merced River.
Activities The following activities will be typical in this zone:
Hiking
Rock climbing and mountaineering
Stock use as allowed in the Wilderness Management Plan
Photography and nature study
Swimming and wading
Fishing
Very limited interpretive programs (e.g., guided walks for small groups)
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
Marked and maintained trails (Some trails could have remnant paving, soil amendments, or hardened surfaces. Stairs, walls, fencing, and other trail features may be constructed for visitor use management and protection of sensitive areas.)
Directional, regulatory, and safety signs
Footbridges only at trail crossings where necessary for resource protection and visitor access (in compliance with the Wilderness Management Plan)
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
Campsites
Commercial overnight facilities
Zone 1D. Designated Overnight
The Designated Overnight zone is characterized by the heaviest overnight use of all areas of the Wilderness zones. Designated overnight areas will be centered at destination locations with facilities for resource protection and visitor use, specifically at the Little Yosemite Valley Campground, Moraine Dome Campground, Merced Lake Campground, and the Merced Lake High Sierra Camp (a potential Wilderness addition). Opportunities for solitude will range from low to moderate, depending on the season. Social interaction will be common. Presence of National Park Service staff will be moderate to high in order to prevent or mitigate most adverse impacts. The Designated Overnight zone will be managed with a low tolerance for resource degradation due to visitor use. Facilities such as signs and fencing can be used to prevent unacceptable impacts. Campsites will be located away from any sensitive natural or cultural areas, including meadows, streams, lakes, and historic and archeological sites, to minimize impacts.
Most visitors will experience this area by hiking and/or staying overnight. Small percentages use pack animals and can continue to do so. Visitor encounters with others will be frequent during much of the hiking seasons. The well-marked trails and facilities will allow for a diversity of users to experience the wilderness.
The Designated Overnight zone concentrates visitor facilities in a localized area, allowing for higher protection and enhancement of biological, geologic, hydrologic, cultural, scenic, and scientific Outstandingly Remarkable Values outside this zone. This zone also ensures that historic structures such as the High Sierra Camp can remain for continued use or for interpretive purposes. Signs, fencing, and other features can be used to direct visitors away from sensitive biological and cultural Outstandingly Remarkable Values, as necessary.
Activities The following activities will be typical in this zone:
Overnight camping only within a campground setting, by permit
Hiking
Wilderness skiing
Photography and nature study
Very limited interpretive programs (e.g., occasional ranger talks, guided walks)
Stock use as allowed in the Wilderness Management Plan
Use of High Sierra Camps as allowed in the Wilderness Management Plan
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
High Sierra Camps as allowed in the Wilderness Management Plan
Designated campsites of moderate size
Food storage and campfires, subject to regulation
Compost toilets and toilet enclosures (as necessary to protect resources)
Structures such as the Little Yosemite Valley Campground and Ranger Station, Merced Lake Campground, and Merced Lake High Sierra Camp (to concentrate use and reduce or mitigate ecosystem degradation, or for interpretation as a cultural resource)[3]
Marked and maintained trails (Some trails could have remnant paving, soil amendments, or hardened surfaces. Stairs, walls, fencing, and other trail features could be constructed for visitor use management and protection of sensitive areas.)
Directional, safety, informational, and regulatory signs, and minimal interpretive signs when required for protection of resources
Utilities associated with above facilities
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
New commercial overnight facilities
Campsites outside of designated areas
Category 2: Diverse Visitor Experience Zones
The Merced River corridor serves as an important recreational resource, providing opportunities for nature study, hiking, picnicking, swimming, fishing, and other activities for many of the nearly 4 million people who visit Yosemite National Park each year. The Merced River corridor also serves as a continuous visual element of the landscape, setting off significant features such as waterfalls, granite domes, and peaks.
Natural resource management in these zones will strive to protect and enhance the natural functioning of ecological and hydrological systems while accommodating moderate levels of visitor use. The Category 2 zones are designed to protect and enhance biological, hydrologic, geologic, scenic, cultural, and scientific Outstandingly Remarkable Values, as well as the recreational Outstandingly Remarkable Values. This will be achieved by maintaining, wherever possible, the integrity of an overall ecological unit (such as a meadow, woodland, or wetland), while allowing for some human alteration of the landscape. Riparian, aquatic, and meadow communities in the river corridor play a particularly critical role in a variety of ecosystem processes and also contribute to the cultural landscape. Restoration of the ecological and hydrological systems in these areas will focus on enhancing the diversity and stability of natural functions. Resource degradation will be minimized by the careful design and siting of facilities that direct visitor and administrative activities to locations able to withstand heavy use. Monitoring of visitor impacts on natural and cultural resources will help ensure adaptive and timely management responses to potential resource degradation.
The Diverse Visitor Experience zones will be managed to protect and enhance the hydrologic and ecologic processes of the Merced River and its immediate environment. Riparian areas and meadows shall remain largely intact, supporting a diversity of native vegetation and wildlife species. However, localized areas can be developed with trails, roads, and parking areas and a greater amount of resource protection features (e.g., fencing and boardwalks) to allow for visitor access. Higher levels of resource impacts, such as trampling and soil erosion, and a greater amount of resource protection features might be expected in limited areas within the Day Use and Attraction zones to accommodate high numbers of visitors. The free flow of the river will remain primarily unimpeded. Water quality in the area shall be high.
The Diverse Visitor Experience zones protect cultural Outstandingly Remarkable Values, such as historic structures and prehistoric sites, by directing visitor access to areas able to withstand heavy use. Restoration of natural features such as wetlands and meadows will also restore the cultural landscape. Interpretation of historic resources is allowed in these zones to provide visitor education opportunities.
The Category 2 zones also protect and enhance recreational Outstandingly Remarkable Values, which emphasize the value of providing diverse recreational opportunities for visitors. The lower-intensity zones Open Space and Discovery provide opportunities for quiet enjoyment of the river corridor, while the Day Use and Attraction zones accommodate higher levels of use at park destinations.
Four management zones are defined for the Diverse Visitor Experience zone category:
Zone 2A: Open Space (and Undeveloped Open Space)
Zone 2B: Discovery
Zone 2C: Day Use
Zone 2D: Attraction
Objectives
The overall management objectives for the Diverse Visitor Experience zones are:
Manage for protection, enhancement, and restoration of Outstandingly Remarkable Values, sensitive resources, and natural processes
Provide opportunities for varied levels of recreational use
Provide quality interpretive and educational programs
Direct visitors to locations able to withstand heavy use
Manage major attraction areas to allow visitors to enjoy the resource with minimal environmental damage
Manage for the protection and maintenance of cultural resources, including historical and archeological sites
2A. Open Space
The Open Space zone is characterized by relatively undisturbed natural areas that receive only incidental or casual use. Maintenance of these conditions will allow for the protection and enhancement of the biological, hydrologic, scenic, cultural, and scientific Outstandingly Remarkable Values while providing access to diverse visitor activities.
The visitor experience in this zone will be self-directed, with few visitor or management encounters, which will contribute to the diversity of experiences specified in the recreation Outstandingly Remarkable Value. The Open Space zone will be managed with very low tolerance for resource degradation from visitor use to protect and enhance biological, hydrologic, scenic, cultural, and scientific Outstandingly Remarkable Values. Visitation levels may be controlled by parking limitations and by the lack of shuttle bus stops. These limits on use and facilities will allow natural areas to remain relatively unimpaired and to receive continued protection, restoration, and enhancement.
There will be limited trails and interpretive facilities. These will direct visitors away from hazardous areas and sensitive Outstandingly Remarkable Values, such as unique wetlands, and promote understanding of natural processes. These areas will generally be quiet with limited facilities. The areas can be relatively easy to access or require considerable walking and skill to access. Though not directly accessible by vehicles or from parking areas, noise from nearby vehicles could affect visitor experiences in this zone.
Resource protection activities in this zone will include preservation of cultural resources and restoration of natural processes impacted by contemporary development, restoration of natural flood cycles and river channel dynamics to sustain native plant and wildlife species, and use of fire management practices called for in the Fire Management Plan to enhance biological and hydrologic Outstandingly Remarkable Values. This zone also encourages the protection and enhancement of cultural resource Outstandingly Remarkable Values, including archeological sites, by limiting development and access. Restoration of natural resources such as wetlands and meadows will also contribute to the restoration of the cultural landscape.
Activities The following activities will be typical in this zone:
Hiking and walking
Photography and nature study
Stock use in specified locations
Swimming and wading
Fishing
Rock climbing
Very limited interpretive programs (e.g., guided walks for small groups)
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
Vehicle roads can be realigned or relocated where they do not adversely affect Outstandingly Remarkable Values
Limited turnouts for short-term parking and scenic viewing or shuttle bus stops
Limited unpaved trails for hiking
Limited interpretive signs to protect natural or cultural resources or to promote understanding of natural processes
Boardwalks, fencing, and other features to direct travel appropriately to avoid sensitive resources, such as meadows
Bridges where necessary for access, improved circulation, safety, and resource protection
Utilities (wells, utility lines, pump stations, and other facilities where they are screened from view)
Minimal utility crossings of the river, only where necessary to support park operations
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
New roads and paved trails
Day-visitor parking
Support facilities, such as restrooms and picnic tables
Interpretive centers
Food services
Bicycle paths
Non-motorized watercraft launch and removal facilities
Campgrounds and lodging
2A+. Undeveloped Open Space
The Undeveloped Open Space zone is managed as de facto wilderness, primarily free from signs of human presence due to its inaccessibility. This zone will be used to protect those areas outside designated Wilderness that have limited or no trail access, such as the area west of the Wawona Campground along the South Fork. While Undeveloped Open Space areas will remain in pristine condition, visitors can experience some human influence due to noise from nearby roads. Typical activities include hiking, rock climbing, swimming, nature study, and fishing. Access will require considerable effort because of lack of trails.
This zone will be managed in a similar manner as the Untrailed zone (1A) by protecting and enhancing biological, geologic, hydrologic, cultural, scenic, and scientific Outstandingly Remarkable Values through limitations on development and access. The following facilities normally allowed in the Open Space zone (2A) are not allowed in this zone, but other prescriptions from the 2A zone will apply:
Roads, either existing or new
Turnouts
Interpretive or directional signs
Trails, boardwalks, or fencing
Bridges
Utilities
2B. Discovery
The Discovery zone is characterized by relatively quiet natural areas where visitor encounters are low to moderate, which will contribute to the diversity of experiences specified in the recreation Outstandingly Remarkable Value. However, during high-use periods, some concentrated use and more frequent visitor encounters can occur on trails that link destination points through the Discovery zone. The Discovery zone will be managed with low tolerance for resource degradation from visitor use, emphasizing the protection and enhancement of biological, hydrologic, scenic, cultural, and scientific Outstandingly Remarkable Values. The zone also emphasizes low-intensity visitor uses, which contribute to the spectrum of river-related activities specified in the recreation Outstandingly Remarkable Values. Limits on use and facilities will allow natural areas to remain relatively unimpaired, when they are not close to one of the few access roads. There will likely be trail access and interpretive signs at principal features and gathering areas, but the visitor experience would be largely self-directed. Areas in the Discovery zone can be used by individuals or smaller, organized groups. Access to these areas can require a moderate level of physical exertion, although some locations would be served by an access road and parking turnouts.
Within the Discovery zone, visitors will likely experience a variety of resources, including distant and close-range scenic views as well as opportunities to wade, swim, or fish in the river and to observe wildlife and plants. If use levels began to show an impact on resources, resource protection measures can be used, such as fencing and signs to direct travel from sensitive resources, well-marked trails and boardwalks, recycling and trash containers, relocation of shuttle bus stops in this or adjacent zones, or other measures as needed.
Resource protection activities in this zone include restoration of natural processes affected by past or current human use, restoration of natural flood cycles and river channel dynamics to sustain native plant and wildlife species, and use of fire management practices called for in the Fire Management Plan to enhance biological and hydrologic Outstandingly Remarkable Values. This zone also encourages the protection and enhancement of cultural resource Outstandingly Remarkable Values, including archeological sites, by limiting development and access. Restoration of natural resources such as wetlands and meadows also contribute to the restoration of the cultural landscape.
Activities The following activities will be typical in this zone:
Hiking and walking
Bicycling
Photography and nature study
Stock use in specified locations
Swimming and wading
Fishing
Rock climbing
Picnicking, relaxing, and gathering at informal locations
Limited interpretive opportunities (e.g., informal ranger contacts, guided walks for small groups)
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
Vehicle roads and improved trails (can be realigned or relocated where they do not adversely affect Outstandingly Remarkable Values)
Small turnouts for trail access parking, scenic viewing, or shuttle bus stops
Trails for hiking and through-trails for bicycling
Minimal restroom facilities as needed to protect resources
Fences, boardwalks, platforms, and other features to direct travel around sensitive resources
Interpretive, directional, and safety signs
Bridges where necessary for access, improved circulation, safety, and/or resource protection
Utilities such as well sites, utility lines, pump stations, and other facilities (where screened from view)
Minimal utility crossings of the river, only where necessary to support park operations
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
Day-visitor parking
Picnic facilities
Non-motorized watercraft launch and removal facilities
Interpretive centers
Food services
Campgrounds and lodging
2C. Day Use
The Day Use zone is intended to be applied to popular park destinations, where visitors could spend significant periods of time enjoying the park resources in a relatively accessible setting. The Day Use zone enhances opportunities for visitors to enjoy more intensive recreational activities near the Merced River and supports a range of active recreational opportunities such as swimming, picnicking, and rafting, which contributes to the diversity of experiences specified in the recreation Outstandingly Remarkable Value. Visitors can expect moderate to high numbers of encounters with other park users and crowding on certain peak days. Large groups can use these areas. Day Use areas may be accessible by automobile, shuttle bus, and by bicycle, with interpretive trails or other marked trails leading to waterfalls, beaches, and scenic views. In order to accommodate heavier and more concentrated activity, facilities such as parking areas, restrooms, fencing of sensitive areas, picnic tables, and recycling and trash receptacles are allowed.
Resource protection activities in this zone are comparable to those described in zones 2A and 2B. However, due to the larger volume of visitors, the Day Use zone will be managed with moderate tolerance for resource degradation from visitor use in specified areas. To protect and enhance cultural, biological, and hydrologic Outstandingly Remarkable Values, more extensive resource protection measures may be needed to direct visitor use away from sensitive resources. Examples include boardwalks adjacent to meadows or fencing to prevent trampling and overuse. By encouraging higher visitor use in the Day Use zone, adjacent Open Space and Discovery zones will experience the desired lower visitor use for these areas. Some Day Use areas also protect historic resources, such as continued use of the Wawona Golf Course.
Activities The following activities will be typical in this zone:
Hiking and walking
Photography and nature study
Picnicking and social gathering
Bicycling
Stock use in specified locations
Swimming and wading
Rock climbing
Fishing
Use of non-motorized watercraft
Full range of interpretive programs (e.g., ranger-led walks, talks)
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
Roads and improved trails (can be realigned or relocated where they do not adversely affect Outstandingly Remarkable Values)
Day-visitor parking
Turnouts for parking or scenic lookouts
Bicycle trails
Shuttle bus stops
Support facilities (e.g., restrooms, picnic tables, telephones)
Marked, maintained, and paved trails, including bike paths and interpretive trails
Fences, boardwalks, walls, signs, and other features to direct travel appropriately around sensitive resources
Non-motorized watercraft launch and removal facilities
Interpretive, directional, and safety signs and exhibits
Utilities such as well sites, utility lines, pump stations, and other facilities (where screened from view)
Utility crossings of the river (where necessary to support park operations)
Bridges where necessary for access, improved circulation, safety, and/or resource protection
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
Interpretive centers
Food services
Campgrounds and lodging
2D. Attraction
The Attraction zone is applied to main park features that attract large numbers of visitors, such as viewing areas for Bridalveil Fall. Due to the high number of visitors, this zone will be managed with moderate tolerance for resource degradation in specified areas, not to exceed established standards. The visitor experience in this zone will be highly structured, with well-marked and often paved trails or other trails to guide visitors, which will contribute to the diversity of experiences specified in the recreation Outstandingly Remarkable Value. Visitors can expect a high level of encounters with other visitors in these moderately to very busy areas. Attraction areas can be accessible by automobile, shuttle bus, bicycle, and/or trail.
To accommodate high visitor use, substantial facilities such as restrooms, parking lots, bus access and parking, and picnic tables can be provided at the entry point of the attraction area or another appropriate site. Facilities will be concentrated within the attraction area to minimize the extent of development and impacts. As a result, many areas within an Attraction zone will have a well-used trail, but minimal developed uses away from the entry "hub" or access point. Trails can be paved, fenced, and well-signed to reduce potential resource impacts. Visitor use in sensitive areas will be formalized and concentrated to avoid resource damage.
By encouraging higher visitor use in the Attraction zone, adjacent Open Space and Discovery zones will experience the desired lower visitor use for these areas. This zone also will ensure that visitors have the opportunity to enjoy the parks most popular features, some of which are designated scenic, recreational, or cultural Outstandingly Remarkable Values (e.g., views of granite domes, Wawona Covered Bridge).
Activities and Uses The following uses will be typical in this zone:
Hiking and walking
Photography and nature study
Sightseeing
Stock use in specified locations
Swimming and wading
Fishing
Rock climbing
Bicycling (only in specified locations, to ensure visitor safety and resource protection)
Full range of interpretive programs (e.g., ranger-led walks, talks)
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
Roads (can be realigned or relocated where they do not adversely affect Outstandingly Remarkable Values)
Day-visitor parking (to accommodate visitor access and administrative needs at high use areas)
Bicycle trails
Shuttle bus stops
Support facilities such as restrooms, picnic tables, telephones, stables, and limited food services (where appropriate)
Marked, maintained, and paved trails, including bike paths and interpretive trails (Trails can be hardened to direct visitors and minimize resource damage. Fences, boardwalks, walls, signs, and other features could be used to direct travel.)
Interpretive centers
Interpretive signs, exhibits, displays, and kiosks
Utilities such as wells, utility lines, pump stations, and other facilities (where screened from view)
Bridges where necessary for access, improved circulation, safety, and/or resource protection
Limited utility crossings of the river (where necessary to support park operations)
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
Non-motorized watercraft launch and removal facilities
Campgrounds and lodging
Category 3: Developed Zones
Carefully designed and located facilities are needed to meet the diverse needs of the many people who visit Yosemite National Park each year. The use of limited Developed zones provides sites for the facilities that enable the park to support its year-round visitor and employee populations and serve the needs of visitors. These include lodging, utilities, housing, and transportation facilities. Most of the Developed zones are located in areas that are currently, or that were previously, altered by development.
The purpose of the Developed zones is to direct high-impact activities and facilities to areas better able to withstand heavy use and/or already developed locations in order to further protect and enhance the hydrologic, biological, geologic, cultural, scenic, scientific, and recreation Outstandingly Remarkable Values in other parts of the corridor. The facilities allowed for in the Developed zones, such as campsites, lodging, day-visitor parking, operational facilities, and utilities are necessary to properly accommodate park visitors, many of whom are coming to experience the scenic, recreational, and other Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Merced Wild and Scenic River.
While these zones can absorb the most concentrated visitor and administrative use, resource impacts will be minimized through design and siting of facilities, and the application of mitigation and restoration measures. These measures can include temporary or permanent fencing to reduce or exclude use in sensitive resource areas, revegetation with native species, and/or the prevention of the establishment of non-native species. Visitor use will be managed to reduce the potential impacts of concentrated use.
Higher levels of resource impacts (e.g., through the development of parking and other facilities) will be tolerated in specified areas within the Developed zones. In development areas, with more users and types of uses, there will be more site hardening and other management actions in order to maintain riparian areas, meadows, archeological sites, and other resources. While high-quality riparian habitat and meadows are not found in the Developed zones, use in these zones will be managed to prevent degradation or interference with the natural functions of adjacent zones. The free flow of the river will remain primarily unimpeded, with the exception of existing development such as historic bridges in Yosemite Valley and riprap along the El Portal Road. Three management zones are defined within the Developed zones:
Zone 3A: Camping
Zone 3B: Visitor Base and Lodging
Zone 3C: Park Operations and Administration (includes day-visitor parking)
Developed Zone Management Objectives
The overall management objectives for the Developed zones include:
Manage for protection and enhancement of Outstandingly Remarkable Values
Concentrate support facilities to reduce development pressure on the remainder of the river corridor
Provide overnight accommodations, support services, and amenities for visitors
Provide quality interpretive and educational programs
Provide support facilities for park operations
Provide transportation facilities designed for sustainability
Manage for the protection of cultural resources and cultural Outstandingly Remarkable Values
Implement natural resource mitigation and restoration to greatest extent feasible
3A. Camping
The Camping zone provides visitors with opportunities for both vehicle-access (or drive-to) camping and walk-in camping. Drive-to camping areas will include campsites with adjacent parking, providing convenient access to various facilities. Support facilities such as picnic tables and restrooms will be provided at camping areas. The Camping zone primarily supports the recreational Outstandingly Remarkable Values by ensuring access to diverse recreational activities near the Merced River. Most areas designated as Camping zones have been previously developed, including historic resources such as Camp 4 (Sunnyside Campground), which will be preserved under this zone. By concentrating relatively high-impact development to localized areas, this zone helps to protect and enhance natural and cultural resource Outstandingly Remarkable Values in the zone as a whole and in other parts of the river corridor.
Walk-in camping will provide an opportunity for visitors to camp away from vehicles, but retain access to facilities such as restrooms, water, and picnic tables. Campsites will be accessed by relatively short and well-marked trails with directional and informational signs. In walk-in camping areas, visitors will have the opportunity to engage more directly with the natural environment of the Merced River corridor without the visual impacts of entry roads, parking lots, vehicles, or other major facilities.
While the Camping zone allows for both drive-to and walk-in camping, the less-intensive walk-in camping will be directed to more sensitive areas (e.g., North Pines), while drive-to camping will be directed to areas better able to withstand heavy use (e.g., Upper Pines). In both drive-to and walk-in camping areas, visitor encounters will be moderate to high in the relatively dense clusters of campsites. The Camping zone will be managed with moderate to high tolerance for resource impacts in localized areas. While a certain level of hardening for parking sites and trampling by campers is expected, use will be directed away from sensitive areas. River access will be provided via marked and potentially hardened trails to direct visitors to areas better able to withstand heavy use, such as annually (or regularly) flooded gravel bars.
Activities The following activities will be typical in this zone:
Overnight camping within designated campsites
Hiking and walking
Swimming and wading
Fishing
Sightseeing and photography
Picnicking
Bicycling (only in specified locations, to ensure visitor safety)
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
Designated campsites (could be equipped with fire rings, picnic tables, nearby restroom facilities, and RV hookups)
Roads and parking areas
Shuttle bus stops
Marked, maintained, and paved trails (fences, boardwalks, walls, footbridges, signs, and other features can be used to protect resources)
Maintenance and administrative facilities needed to support campgrounds
Directional, safety, informational, regulatory, or interpretive signs
Bridges where necessary for access, improved circulation, safety, and/or resource protection
Utilities such as wells, utility lines, pump stations, and other facilities (where screened from view)
Interpretive facilities such as an amphitheaters
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
Lodging, food services, stores
Administrative offices not associated with camping
Maintenance facilities not associated with camping
3B. Visitor Base and Lodging
The Visitor Base and Lodging zone includes areas developed for visitor overnight use as well as support facilities and services such as orientation facilities, eating establishments, gift shops, and equipment rental. Most areas designated as Visitor Base and Lodging zones have been previously developed, including historic resources such as The Ahwahnee, Wawona Hotel, and LeConte Memorial Lodge, which will be preserved under this zone. The visitor can expect a bustling atmosphere in these areas, with high incidence of visitor encounters during peak-use times. Facilities and lodging areas will be easily accessible by shuttle bus, automobile, trail, and bicycle.
With its relatively intense level of development, a higher degree of resource impacts may be tolerated in localized areas within the Visitor Base and Lodging zone. Future projects in this zone will be designed to minimize the footprint of developed areas and to protect and restore adjacent natural and cultural resources. River access will be provided via marked and potentially hardened trails to direct visitors to areas most able to withstand heavy use, such as annually (or regularly) flooded gravel bars. Structures such as fences, boardwalks, or walls can be provided to reduce impacts on riparian areas from casual river access generated by nearby lodging facilities.
The Visitor Base and Lodging zone primarily supports recreational Outstandingly Remarkable Values by providing for visitor uses facilitated by development such as visitor centers, museums, and lodging, which enable visitors to access the park and learn about its natural and cultural resources. Additionally, by concentrating relatively high-impact development to localized areas, this zone will help to protect and enhance natural and cultural resource Outstandingly Remarkable Values in the zone as a whole and in other parts of the river corridor.
Activities The following activities will be typical in this zone:
Lodging
Hiking and walking
Swimming and wading
Fishing
Sightseeing and photography
Bicycling (only in specified locations, to ensure resource protection and visitor safety)
Shopping
Dining
Full range of formal interpretation (e.g., slide shows, visitor center, walks)
Marked, maintained, and paved trails
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
Bicycle trails
Visitor overnight accommodations (lodges, motel-type units, cabins, tent cabins)
Fences, boardwalks, walls, signs, and other features to direct use and protect resources
Visitor services (e.g., visitor center, museums, eating establishments, gift shops, equipment rental)
Roads and parking areas
Bus turnouts, stops, and parking
Bridges where necessary for access, improved circulation, safety, and/or resource protection
Utilities such as wells, pump stations, utility lines, and other facilities (screened from view)
Interpretive facilities, such as amphitheaters
Supporting operational facilities, such as employee housing, only where it is ancillary to the primary use (i.e., a small percentage of the total available area)
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
Administrative offices not associated with visitor base or lodging operations
Maintenance facilities and major utilities not associated with visitor base or lodging operations
Day-visitor parking/transit center
3C. Park Operations and Administration
The limited use of the Park Operations and Administration zone provides locations for facilities that support the efficient functioning of the park. Many areas designated as 3C have been previously developed, including historic resources such as the Chapel in Yosemite Valley, which will be preserved under this zone. The Park Operations and Administration zone will also provide opportunities for the management of private vehicles and public transit in the park, as well as interpretive centers that help visitors learn about the parks natural and cultural resources. Visitor use and experience of these zones will be limited. These areas will likely be relatively busy, with heavy impacts from vehicles and will be managed with a high tolerance for resource impacts in localized areas. New facilities will use sustainable design and construction principles to protect adjacent natural and cultural resources and would be subject to the criteria and considerations.
The Park Operations and Administration zone will primarily support access to the recreational Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Merced River by providing space for necessary park operations as well as for day-visitor parking. Additionally, by concentrating relatively high-impact development in localized areas, this zone will help to protect and enhance natural and cultural resources in the zone as a whole and in other parts of the river corridor.
Activities The following activities will be typical in this zone:
Administrative activities by park staff
Maintenance and repair activities by park operations staff
Transportation/transit-related activities
Visitor orientation and interpretation near parking/transit areas
Picnicking near parking/transit areas
Bicycling (only in specified locations, to ensure visitor safety)
Marked, maintained, and paved trails, including bike paths and interpretive trails
Facilities The following facilities are allowed in this zone:
Day-visitor parking/transit center
Roads, paved and unpaved (In strictly administrative areas, roads could be dirt or paved and closed to non-administrative traffic.)
Support facilities (including park administrative offices, employee housing, storage, construction staging areas, and utilities such as wastewater treatment plants, sprayfields for reclaimed water, domestic water supply, power plants, and other facilities)
Interpretive facilities
Visitor support facilities such as restrooms, picnic tables, telephones, food services, bike rental, small gift shops, showers, and lockers for visitors and employees
Park information and orientation signs, exhibits, and kiosks
Bridges where necessary for access, improved circulation, safety, and/or resource protection
The following are examples of facilities that are not allowed in this zone:
Campgrounds and lodging for visitors
Footnotes
Fishing is allowed subject to California Department of Fish and Game regulations in all management zones.(back)
As provided for in the California Wilderness Act of 1984, if overnight use of the Merced Lake High Sierra Camp were restricted through a future, more detailed level of planning (e.g., update to the Wilderness Management Plan), the designation would change from potential Wilderness addition to designated Wilderness.(back)
