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As a result of a 2004 court ruling, the National Park Service has prepared the Merced Wild and Scenic River Revised Comprehensive Management Plan and Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (Revised Merced River Plan/SEIS). This plan revises the June 2000 Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (Merced River Plan/FEIS). For more information about Yosemite's Merced River management planning process, please visit www.nps.gov/yose/planning/mrp/revision/. The specific purpose of this document is to address user capacities in the Merced River corridor, reassess the river boundary in El Portal, and amend the park's General Management Plan. The document can be viewed online as HTML or PDF files. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 5 or better) to view the PDF files. Most computers come with the software already installed, but if you don't have it, you can obtain the necessary software free of charge at www.nps.gov/hfc/plugins/. Record of Decision html (139k) | pdf (413k) Letter from the Superintendent html (11k) | pdf (363k) Abstract html (11k) | pdf (38k) Summary of How This Document Has Changed Executive Summary html (104k) | pdf (802k) Introduction What is the purpose of this Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement? User Capacity Management and the VERP Framework What are the methods for managing user capacity? How does Yosemite National Park currently manage user capacity? What are the Proposed Alternatives? Alternative 1: No Action Alternative 2: VERP Program with Interim Limits (Preferred) Alternative 3: VERP Program with Segment Limits Alternative 4: VERP Program with Management Zone Limits Environmental Analysis Environmentally Preferable Alternative Consultation and Coordination Process Chapter I: Purpose of and Need for the Project html (97k) | pdf (1,200k) Introduction What is a Wild and Scenic River? Merced Wild and Scenic River Legal History Project Background Purpose of the Project Need for the Revised Merced River Plan/SEIS Planning Context Relationship to Yosemite National Park Plans Regulations and Policies Public Comment Process Issues and Concerns Addressed in this Document Issues and Concerns Not Addressed in this Document Organization of the Revised Merced River Plan/SEIS Chapter I: Purpose of and Need for the Project Chapter II: User Capacity Management Program Chapter III: Alternatives Chapter IV: Affected Environment Chapter V: Environmental Consequences Chapter VI: Consultation and Coordination Chapter VII: List of Preparers Chapter VIII: Glossary Chapter IX: Bibliography Appendices Chapter II: User Capacity Management Program html (275k) | pdf (1,900k) Introduction What is User Capacity? Background User Capacity Assumptions User Capacity Methods Yosemite National Park's Existing User Capacity Management Program Yosemite's Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) Program Desired Conditions/Management Zones Specific and Measurable Indicators and Standards Monitoring Enforcing VERP Limits through Management Actions Overview of 2005 Standards and Indicators How VERP Works Chapter III: Alternatives html (380k) | pdf (1,200k) Introduction Relationship between the User Capacity and El Portal Boundary Elements Organization of this Chapter Elements Common to All Alternatives Merced River Plan Management Elements Wilderness Management Private Land and Public Agency Easements Administrative Uses Traditional Uses by American Indian Tribes Mitigation Measures Common to All Construction Projects within the Corridor Descriptions of the Alternatives Alternative 1: No Action Alternative 2: VERP program with Interim Limits (Preferred) Alternative 3: VERP program with Segment Limits Alternative 4: VERP program with Management Zone Limits Alternatives Considered but Dismissed from Further Analysis User Capacity El Portal Boundary Comparison of the Alternatives Environmentally Preferable Alternative Chapter IV: Affected Environment html (988k) | pdf (1,000k) Introduction Impact Topics Considered in this Plan Impact Topics Dismissed from Further Analysis Regional Setting Natural Resources Geology, Geohazards, and Soils Hydrology, Floodplains, and Water Quality Wetlands Vegetation Wildlife Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Air Quality Noise Cultural Resources Overview of the Human Occupation of the Merced River Corridor Archeological Resources Traditional Cultural Resources Historic Sites, Structures, and Landscapes Visitor Experience Recreation Orientation and Interpretation Visitor Services Wilderness Experience Social Resources Land Use Transportation Scenic Resources Socioeconomics Park Operations and Facilities Chapter V: Environmental Consequences html (1,900k) | pdf (2,800k) Introduction Cumulative Impacts Impairment Methodologies Natural Resources Visitor Experience Social Resources Alternative 1: No Action Natural Resources Cultural Resources Visitor Experience Social Resources Unavoidable Adverse Impacts Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources Relationship of Short-Term Uses of the Environment and Long-Term Productivity Responsiveness of Alternative 1 to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' Direction on the Merced River Plan Alternative 2: Interim Limits with VERP program Natural Resources Cultural Resources Visitor Experience Social Resources Unavoidable Adverse Impacts Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources Relationship of Short-Term Uses of the Environment and Long-Term Productivity Responsiveness of Alternative 2 to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' Direction on the Merced River Plan Alternative 3: VERP program with Segment Limits Natural Resources Cultural Resources Visitor Experience Social Resources Unavoidable Adverse Impacts Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources Relationship of Short-Term Uses of the Environment and Long-Term Productivity Responsiveness of Alternative 3 to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' Direction on the Merced River Plan Alternative 4: Management Zone Limits with VERP Natural Resources Cultural Resources Visitor Experience Social Resources Unavoidable Adverse Impacts Irreversible and Irretrievable Commitments of Resources Relationship of Short-Term Uses of the Environment and Long-Term Productivity Responsiveness of Alternative 4 to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' Direction on the Merced River Plan Chapter VI: Consultation and Coordination html (48k) | pdf (133k) Consultation Scoping History Public Review of Revised Merced River Plan/SEIS Results of Draft Review Comments Comment Analysis and Response Process Coordination U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service California State Historic Preservation Officer U.S. Forest Service California Department of Transportation Bureau of Land Management American Indian Consultation Gateway Communities List of Agencies, Organizations, and Businesses that Received the Revised Merced River Plan/SEIS Federal Agencies United States Representatives State Agencies American Indian Tribes County and Local Governments Organizations and Businesses Libraries Newspapers Radio Television Colleges and Universities Chapter VII: List of Preparers html (59k) | pdf (52k) Chapter VIII: Glossary html (104k) | pdf (155k) Glossary of Terms Acronyms and Abbreviations Chapter IX: Bibliography html (124k) | pdf (197k) References Map Data Appendix A: Governing Mandates html (24k) | pdf (98k) Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Interagency (Secretarial) Guidelines on the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Wilderness Act 1978 National Parks and Recreation Act 16 USC Section 1a-7 CFR (Title 36) National Park Service Management Policies Appendix B: Mitigation Measures Common to All Alternatives html (20k) | pdf (68k) Prior to Construction During Construction Post-Construction Appendix C: User Capacity Alternative Assumptions html (80k) | pdf (108k) Appendix D: Special-Status Species html (480k) | pdf (185k) Appendix E: Potential Cumulative Actions html (75k) | pdf (150k) Reasonably Foreseeable Actions Present Actions Past Actions Appendix F: Summary of Public Comments and Responses html (873k) | pdf (1,200k) Introduction Public Comments and Responses Results of Draft Review Comments How To Use This Document Concerns, Comments, and Responses Planning Process and Policy Relationship to Other Planning Efforts Implementation Plans and Projects Applicable Laws and Regulations Consultation and Coordination Alternatives Other Alternatives Cumulative Effects Analysis Park Resources Visitor Experience and Resource Protection Special Land Designations Visitor Experience Access Visitor Services Transportation Socio-economic Environment List of Figures Figure I-1 Regional Map Figure I-2 Revision Process for the Merced Wild and Scenic River Revised Comprehensive Management Plan Figure I-4 Classifications and Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Merced Wild and Scenic River Figure I-5 River Protection Overlay Cross-Sections Figure II-1 VERP Framework Figure II-2 Management Zones for the Merced Wild and Scenic River Figure II-3 Yosemite Valley Management Zones for the Merced Wild and Scenic River Figure II-4 Gorge Management Zones for the Merced Wild and Scenic River Figure II-5 Wawona Management Zones for the Merced Wild and Scenic River Figure II-6 Range of Potential Management Actions Figure II-7 VERP Framework Figure III-1 Alternative 1, El Portal Boundary Figure III-2 Alternative 2, El Portal Boundary (Preferred) Figure III-3 Alternative 3, El Portal Boundary Figure III-4 Alternative 4, El Portal Boundary Figure IV-1 YARTS Ridership along Highway 140 May 2000 through July 2000 Figure IV-2 Yosemite National Park Visitation by Bus Figure IV-3 Percent of Annual Buses and Bus Visitors by Month Figure IV-4 Annual Park Visitation 1980 to 2000 Figure IV-5 Average Monthly Park Visitation List of Tables Table ES-1 Existing User Capacity Management Program Overview Table ES-2 Alternative 2: User Capacity Management Program Overview Table ES-3 Alternative 2: Interim Limits on Facilities and Specific Activities Table ES-4 Alternative 3: User Capacity Management Program Overview Table ES-5 Alternative 4: User Capacity Management Program Overview Table I-1 Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Merced River (Main Stem and South Fork) Table II-1 Yosemite Wilderness Trailhead Quota System Table II-2 Management Zone Prescription Summary Table II-3 Management Action Toolbox Table II-4 Possible Levels of NEPA Compliance for Various Management Actions Table II-5 Yosemite's VERP Program: Indicators and Standards by Management Zone Table III-1 Existing User Capacity Management Program Overview Table III-2 Alternative 1: Existing Use Levels Table III-3 Alternative 2: User Capacity Management Program Overview Table III-4 Alternative 2: Interim Limits on Facilities and Specific Activities Table III-5 Comparison of General Management Plan Visitor Use and Employee Housing Levels (1980) with Existing Conditions (2004) and Proposed Capacity Levels with Full Implementation of the General Management Plan Table III-6 Comparison of Number of General Management Plan Facilities (1980) with Interim Facility Limits, and General Management Plan Facilities Proposed Facilities Table III-7 Alternative 3: User Capacity Management Program Overview Table III-8 Alternative 3: Segment and Corridorwide Limits Table III-9 Alternative 4: User Capacity Management Program Overview Table III-10 Alternative 4: Management Zone and Corridorwide Limits Table III-11 Comparison of Alternatives and Key Assumptions Table III-12 Summary of Environmental Consequences Table IV-1 Summary of California Wildlife Habitat Relationship Types in the Merced River Corridor Table IV-2 Air Basin Attainment/Nonattainment Designations Table IV-3 Recent Ozone and PM-10 Concentration Data for Yosemite National Park and Vicinity Table IV-4 Recreational Opportunities Typical within the Merced River Corridor Table IV-5 Concessioner Stock Use Table IV-6 Interpretive Programs Table IV-7 Total YARTS Ridership along Highway 140, Merced to Yosemite Valley, May 2000 through July 2004 Table IV-8 Summary of Major Intrusions Within Each Scenic Category Table IV-9 Population by County Table IV-10 County Population Projections, 2000-2050 Table IV-11 1996 Employment by Major Industry Sector Table IV-12 1996 Income by Major Industry Sector Table IV-13 1996 Economic Output by County and Industry Sector Table IV-14 1998-2002 Total Taxable Retail Sales by County Table IV-15 Employee Housing at Selected Locations in Yosemite National Park Table IV-16 Monthly Parkwide Visitation 1980 through 2004 Table IV-17 Local Overnight Visitors' Lodging Locations (Summer) Table IV-18 Existing Lodging and Camping Capacity in the Yosemite Region (excluding National Park Service facilities) Table IV-19 Average Daily Spending by Yosemite Visitors in the Affected Region Table IV-20 Total Spending by Yosemite Visitor Population Categories in 1998 Table IV-21 Ethnicity of Yosemite Visitors and California and Yosemite Region Residents Table IV-22 Annual Household Income of Yosemite Visitors, California and Yosemite Region Residents Table IV-23 2003 Yosemite Valley Energy Consumption Table V-1 Effect of Alternative 1 on the ORVs of the Merced River Table V-2 Typical Noise Levels from Construction Equipment Table V-3 Effect of Alternative 2 on the ORVs of the Merced River Table V-4 Effect of Alternative 3 on the ORVs of the Merced River Table V-5 Effect of Alternative 4 on the ORVs of the Merced River Table C-1 Alternative 1: No Action Alternative Table C-2 Alternative 2: Interim Limits on Facilities and Specific Activities Table C-3 Comparison of GMP Visitor Use and Employee Housing Levels (1980) with Existing Conditions (2004) and GMP Proposed Levels at full implementation Table C-4 Alternative 3: Segment and Corridorwide Limits Table C-5 Alternative 4: Management Zone and Corridorwide Limits Table D-1 Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species Considered in this Analysis |
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