San Gabriel Watershed and Mountains
Special Resource Study

Study Process

A special resource study is prepared when the National Park Service is requested by Congress to study an area for possible inclusion in the national park system.

In a special resource study, a proposed addition to the national park system receives a favorable recommendation from the National Park Service only if it meets all of the following criteria:

• it possesses nationally significant natural or cultural resources;
• it is a suitable addition to the system;
• it is a feasible addition to the system; and
• it requires direct NPS management, instead of alternative protection by other public agencies or the private sector.

(To learn more about the criteria for addition to the national park system click here)

The San Gabriel Watershed and Mountains Special Resource Study seeks to bring together the NPS process for special resource studies with the realities of densely populated urban communities, managed by many different landowners, agencies, and jurisdictions, interfacing with large areas of open space and wildlands. Using this combined approach, the primary emphasis of the San Gabriel Watershed and Mountains Special Resource Study is identifying opportunities for collaborative management and partnerships among local, state and federal governments and other entities, in order to:

• Address current and future recreation and open space needs;
• Protect or restore significant natural resources and important habitats;
• Preserve historic and cultural resources;
• Maintain or improve water quality, water conservation and flood protection.

Click on the following steps to learn more about the process:

1 Public Start-up of Study Process (Scoping)
2 Resource Analysis: Significance and Suitability
3 Feasibility Analysis
4 Develop Alternatives -- we are here
5 Analyze Environmental Impacts
6 Draft Report
7 Final Report / Transmittal to Congress

Project Schedule: