East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan

Yosemite National Park - National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior

Executive Summary
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Introduction

Over the last several decades, the existing utility infrastructure serving Yosemite Valley was developed incrementally as needed. A variety of different underground utility corridors were constructed throughout the Valley to provide service to developed areas. As a result, there has been no unified approach to infrastructure design, and these utility lines criss-cross their way around the Valley. Wastewater, potable water (referred to hereafter as water), electric, and communication lines are located primarily in individual underground corridors, with multiple utility corridors currently serving the same developed areas. Some of these utility corridors cross through meadows identified in the Yosemite Valley Plan for ecological restoration, as well as other environmentally sensitive areas.

In order to implement many of the actions called for in the Yosemite Valley Plan, existing utility facilities in the Valley must be upgraded, relocated and/or removed, or abandoned in place. Development of a utilities improvement plan is needed to provide long-term guidance to utility infrastructure improvements. This plan will also ensure that the utility system developed maximizes the efficiency of utility operations and minimizes adverse impacts on the park’s natural and cultural resources. Where possible, various utilities would be consolidated into integrated corridors to ensure adequate service to existing and proposed facilities. The integration of utilities into fewer corridors would reduce existing operation and maintenance impacts on park resources. This would be achieved by removing some utility infrastructure from the Merced River riverbed and floodplain and relocating some utilities out of environmentally sensitive areas, thus allowing for the proposed ecological restoration of those areas identified in the Yosemite Valley Plan. The East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan was developed to achieve these goals. This park conducted public scoping on this project, then called the Yosemite Valley Integrated Utility Master Plan, in January 2003. The project name has been changed to more accurately reflect the scope of the project, which looks at major utility improvements in the east Valley, from the Yosemite Creek Lift Station to the park water storage tank near Happy Isles.

The East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan identifies potential utility corridors that would (1) allow for efficient consolidation of utilities, (2) maximize use of existing and proposed transportation corridors, and (3) minimize use of environmentally sensitive areas. The specific utilities addressed in the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan include wastewater, water, electric, and, to a limited extent, communications facility improvements located in the east Valley.

Purpose Of and Need For the Project

The purpose of this project is to develop an East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan for Yosemite Valley that will guide the phasing, upgrade, relocation, and consolidation of various utilities into fewer utility corridors. There is a need for a utility plan that will:

§ Ensure adequate service to facilities relocated or developed under the Yosemite Valley Plan.

§ Implement upgrades needed to address previously identified utility condition and capacity issues.

§ Maximize use of existing transportation and underground utility corridors and proposed new transportation corridors.

§ Minimize potential future impacts to environmentally sensitive areas.

§ Protect and preserve the Merced Wild and Scenic River as called for in the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan (Merced River Plan) (NPS 2001)

The need for this project was identified during the development of the Yosemite Valley Plan. The existing utilities have problems due to age and poor condition, inadequate collection and distribution capacity, inaccessibility to those areas proposed for development, and inappropriate location of existing utilities in environmentally sensitive areas. Development of the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan will provide a long-term plan for east Valley utilities and allow the National Park Service to efficiently repair and replace wastewater infrastructure within the context of the long-term plan for these facilities. The result will be a utility system that maximizes the efficiency of utility operations and maintenance and minimizes the potential for future environmental impacts.

Relationship to Other Plans

The Yosemite National Park 1980 General Management Plan, Merced River Plan, and Yosemite Valley Plan are the guiding documents for the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan, which would be implemented within the Wild and Scenic River boundaries of the Merced River and within Yosemite Valley. The General Management Plan is the overall guiding document for planning in Yosemite National Park. The Merced River Plan is a programmatic plan that derives its authority from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. In designating the Merced River as a Wild and Scenic River, Congress authorized the National Park Service to prepare a management plan for the river by making appropriate revision to the park’s General Management Plan (16 United States Code 1274[a][62]). The East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan complies with conditions outlined in the Merced River Plan. The Yosemite Valley Plan is an implementation plan that presents a comprehensive management plan for Yosemite Valley. The East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan is required to implement actions called for in the Yosemite Valley Plan. Specific actions proposed by this project are consistent with guidance set forth by the General Management Plan, the Merced River Plan, and the Yosemite Valley Plan.

Overview of the Alternatives

The East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan Environmental Assessment presents and analyzes three alternatives. The No Action Alternative represents continuing the existing operation and maintenance of utility systems in Yosemite Valley. The No Action Alternative also includes implementation of wastewater repair projects that are required to deal with existing wastewater system deficiencies identified in a Cleanup and Abatement Order issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. The two action alternatives represent a reasonable range of options to satisfy the purpose of and need for the project, while also meeting all relevant legal requirements. Each of the action alternatives aims to achieve the goals of this project, but varies in how to implement the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan.

The National Park Service has identified Alternative 2, East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan with Merced River Crossing at Housekeeping Camp, as the preferred alternative. It protects resources, meets the direction of the Yosemite Valley Plan, complies with the goals of the General Management Plan and Merced River Plan, and reflects the spirit of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Meeting these needs complies with the National Park Service Organic Act and Yosemite National Park enabling legislation. The selection of a final alternative will be documented in a Finding of No Significant Impact.

Alternative 1: No Action

The No Action Alternative would continue the existing management and operation of the utility systems currently operating within Yosemite Valley. Maintenance of utility infrastructure is an ongoing park administrative responsibility, and this alternative would result in the continuation of routine operations, including repairs and maintenance of the various utility facilities as needed. This alternative also includes conducting emergency, immediate, and intermediate repairs required to comply with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board Cleanup and Abatement Order. This Order requires the park to address capacity and condition problems with the existing wastewater collection system in the Valley to resolve public health, safety, and environmental concerns related to recent utility failures.

Under the No Action Alternative, there would not be a consolidation of utility corridors. The current dispersed utility corridors throughout Yosemite Valley would remain in place. Existing utility crossings of the Merced River and its tributaries would remain in place. Existing utility lines in the meadow areas identified for ecological restoration in the Yosemite Valley Plan would not be removed or abandoned. This could limit the range of options for ecological restoration and result in continued environmental degradation in these areas as utilities are repaired and maintained in the future.

The No Action Alternative would not provide service to the redeveloped or proposed new facilities identified in the Yosemite Valley Plan. This would adversely affect the park’s goal of providing opportunities for high-quality, resource-based visitor experiences and limit the park’s ability to implement many of the actions called for in the Yosemite Valley Plan.

Alternative 2: East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan with Merced River Crossing at Housekeeping Camp

Under Alternative 2, the proposed East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan would be implemented. This alternative would result in the designation of new consolidated utility corridors, construction of new utility infrastructure to effectively serve existing and proposed facilities, and removal of utility corridors in areas designated for ecological restoration in the Yosemite Valley Plan. It would ensure that the park’s investment in infrastructure provides for efficient utility services that protect park resources over the long term.

Under Alternative 2, there would be a consolidation of and a reduction in the total number of utility corridors throughout Yosemite Valley. Utility corridors in the meadow areas proposed for ecological restoration in the Yosemite Valley Plan would be removed or abandoned in place, thereby reducing existing environmental impacts and eliminating the potential for future impacts in these areas from ongoing repairs, maintenance, and upgrades. Consolidation of these utility corridors would also increase the efficiency of park operations by reducing the number of corridors and total length of pipelines and, accordingly, reducing future costs for repairs and maintenance.

Alternative 3: East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan with Merced River Crossing at Sentinel Bridge

Alternative 3 would also implement the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan, but would involve placing the Merced River crossing near Sentinel Bridge rather than near Housekeeping Camp. This alternative would allow for implementation of an integrated utility plan that ensures system condition problems are resolved in a timely manner, ensures systems are designed with sufficient capacity to provide adequate service for long-term demands, provides utility service to areas proposed for development that do not currently have utility service, and allows for the removal of infrastructure from environmentally sensitive areas proposed for restoration under the Yosemite Valley Plan.

Environmentally Preferable Alternative

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Park Service NEPA guidelines require that “the alternative or alternatives which were considered to be environmentally preferable” be identified (CEQ Regulations, Section 1505.2). Environmentally preferable is defined as “the alternative that will promote the national environmental policy as expressed in the National Environmental Policy Act’s Section 101. Ordinarily, this means the alternative that causes the least damage to the biological and physical environment; it also means the alternative that best protects, preserves, and enhances historic, cultural, and natural resources” (CEQ 1981).

Section 101 of the NEPA states that “… it is the continuing responsibility of the Federal Government to … (1) fulfill the responsibilities of each generation as trustee of the environment for succeeding generations; (2) assure for all Americans safe, healthful, productive, and aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings; (3) attain the widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation, risk to health or safety, or other undesirable and unintended consequences; (4) preserve important historic, cultural, and natural aspects of our national heritage, and maintain, wherever possible, an environment which supports diversity, and variety of individual choice; (5) achieve a balance between population and resource use which will permit high standards of living and a wide sharing of life’s amenities; and (6) enhance the quality of renewable resources and approach the maximum attainable recycling of depletable resources.” The environmentally preferable alternative for the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan is based on these national environmental policy goals.

Alternative 1: No Action

The No Action Alternative represents continued operation and maintenance of the existing utility facilities within Yosemite Valley. Under this alternative, the park’s natural, cultural and social resources would continue to be adversely affected through the continued presence of, and continued repairs and maintenance of, utility infrastructure located within the river- and creekbeds, floodplains, and other environmentally sensitive areas identified for ecological restoration under the Yosemite Valley Plan. This alternative would not allow for implementation of actions identified in the Yosemite Valley Plan, which were designed to meet the park’s goal of providing opportunities for high-quality, resource-based visitor experiences while protecting the park’s natural, cultural, and scenic resources.

Alternative 2: East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan with Merced River Crossing at Housekeeping Camp

Alternative 2 would implement the East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan, thus reducing utility infrastructure within environmentally sensitive areas and concentrating utility development in previously disturbed or less environmentally sensitive areas. By providing for safe and efficient utility service and minimizing adverse environmental effects, this alternative is consistent with the national environmental policy goals that call for the following:

§ Acting as a responsible trustee of the environment

§ Assuring safe, healthful, productive, and aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings

§ Attaining a wide range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation, risk to health or safety, or other undesirable and unintended consequences

§ Preserving important historic, cultural, and natural aspects of our national heritage, and maintain, wherever possible, an environment that supports diversity, and variety of individual choice

§ Achieving a balance between population and resource use that will permit high standards of living and a wide sharing of life’s amenities

§ Enhancing the quality of renewable resources and approaching the maximum attainable recycling of depletable resources

Alternative 3: East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan with Merced River Crossing at Sentinel Bridge

From an environmental perspective, Alternative 3 differs from Alternative 2 only in the location of the Merced River crossing of the integrated utility corridor. Alternative 3 would be less sensitive to the NEPA policy goals than Alternative 2 because additional cultural resources would be affected. This alternative would affect cultural resources near the Sentinel Bridge.

Environmentally Preferable Alternative

The environmentally preferable alternative is Alternative 2 because, among the alternatives considered in detail, it most fully satisfies the national environmental policy goals stated in Section 101 of the NEPA. Alternative 2 would result in a consolidation of utility infrastructure into existing roadway corridors and other previously disturbed areas, while removing utility infrastructure from highly sensitive natural resource areas that were identified for ecological restoration in the Yosemite Valley Plan. These utility improvements are expected to allow the park to achieve a balance between providing essential utility services, while minimizing impacts on sensitive natural resources and mitigating effects to sensitive cultural resources to the extent possible.

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