(Photo by Mike Floyd/NPS)

Record of Decision Signed for Merced River Plan

On August 1, a Record of Decision (ROD) was signed for the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan/Final Environmental Impact Statement, signifying the completion of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for the Merced River Plan. The Draft Merced River Plan/EIS was released for a 70-day public review period from January 14, 2000 through March 24, 2000. The Merced River Plan was revised based on public comments, and a final plan was released on June 30, 2000. The 30- day No Action Period concluded on July 30, and the Record of Decision was signed on August 1, 2000.

As a programmatic document, the Merced River Plan does not specify detailed actions. Instead, it applies management elements to prescribe desired future conditions, typical visitor activities and experiences, and allowed park facilities and management activities in the Merced River corridor. Changes to the Draft Merced River Plan/EIS based on public comments are summarized below and are presented in the Merced River Plan/FEIS:

• The boundaries of the preferred alternative were revised to be a quarter-mile throughout the Merced River corridor, with the exception of the El Portal Administrative Site, which includes a floodplain boundary.
• The segment classifications were revised pursuant to the boundary changes to accurately reflect existing development in the corridor.
• Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs) were refined based on the criteria set forth by the Interagency Wild and Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council, including that ORVs be directly river-related and rare, unique, or exemplary to the region or nation.
• A formalized approach was established to determine whether proposed actions within the bed or banks of the river would have an adverse impact on the values for which the river was designated.
• The criteria for the River Protection Overlay was revised to be consistent with the formalized approach of Section 7 determination process to comply with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
• The discussion of the Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) framework was greatly expanded in the Merced River Plan/FEIS and includes a firm commitment to implement VERP within 5 years after the Record of Decision.
• The management zones and management zoning prescriptions were revised in response to public comment