Yosemite Valley Plan SEIS, Volume IB Part 2, Short-Long Term

RELATIONSHIP OF SHORT-TERM USES AND
LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY

This section discusses the effects of the short-term use of resources (as proposed in each of the alternatives) on the long-term productivity of the resources. The resources have been grouped into three categories: natural, hazards, and cultural.

Alternative 1

No measurable change from current conditions is expected. The existing relationship of short-term uses of the environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity would be expected to continue. For example, existing structures would remain within highly valued resource areas such as wetlands, meadows, riparian areas, and California black oak woodlands. Existing bridges would also continue to impede flood flows and channel movement. Visitation levels would also continue to grow, resulting in more crowding, congestion, and delays for visitors. The potential risk for unavoidable adverse impacts would continue for structures and human life within the floodplain and rockfall zones. Therefore, the impacts associated with the short-term use of the environment would continue to adversely affect long-term productivity.

Alternative 2

NATURAL RESOURCES

Generally, for most natural resources the long-term productivity gained from large-scale restorations of highly valued resources would outweigh the short-term, adverse impacts on these natural resources. Short-term, adverse impacts to these resources would consist of construction-related impacts of new development and restoration activities (e.g., construction equipment, grading, increased erosion potential, and vegetation removal). The long-term productivity of these resources would be enhanced through increased size, integrity, and connectivity. The long-term or net gains for these natural resources can be quantified as follows:

Water Resources: The removal of Sugar Pine Bridge, the possible removal of Stoneman Bridge, and the replacement of the Happy Isles footbridge would result in short-term impacts caused by increased erosion during demolition activities. However, the beneficial effects of the long-term restoration of the natural river hydrologic processes would outweigh these adverse impacts.
Wetlands: This alternative would provide a net gain of 118 acres of wetlands (141 acres of wetlands restored minus the 23 acres of potential wetlands impacted as a result of the construction and redevelopment of new facilities).
Soils: This alternative would provide approximately 177 acres of restored soils, of which approximately 128 acres would be highly valued resource soil types.
Vegetation, Wildlife, and Special-Status Species: This alternative would restore 175 acres of natural vegetation in Yosemite Valley, of which 160 acres (91%) would be highly valued vegetation types. This restoration would increase habitat availability, integrity, and continuity for plants, wildlife, and special-status species. New development would occur on 75 acres in Yosemite Valley, of which only 21 acres (28%) would be highly valued resource vegetation types.
Scenic Resources and Merced Wild and Scenic River: The short-term disruption of these resources during restoration and implementation activities would be more than offset by the long-term enhancement and preservation of scenic resources and the designated Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Merced Wild and Scenic River segments.

Energy Consumption: In the short term, fuel consumption would likely remain relatively consistent with existing usage. However, after implementation of this alternative, long-term fuel consumption would be reduced.

HAZARDS

Two distinct hazards occur in the Valley as a result of its landscape features: flooding and rockfall. There are structures currently located within the floodplain of the Merced River and within the talus slope and shadow line zones of the Valley walls. The actions of Alternative 2 would reduce the long-term risk to human life and property by relocating a number of structures and high-occupancy gathering places outside of these hazard zones.

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Historic structures would be removed and archeological sites would be disturbed or lost, resulting in long-term, adverse effects to cultural resources. However, the affected resources would be documented in accordance with the Programmatic Agreement, creating permanent records of individual cultural resources. The restoration of natural areas would substantially improve the overall cultural landscape in Yosemite Valley.

Alternative 3

NATURAL RESOURCES

Water Resources: Removal of four bridges would result in short-term impacts caused by increased erosion during demolition activities. However, the beneficial impacts of the long-term restoration of the natural river hydrologic processes would outweigh these adverse impacts.
Wetlands: This alternative would provide a net gain of 139 acres of wetlands (156 acres of wetlands restored minus the 17 acres of potential wetlands impacted as a result of the construction and redevelopment of new facilities).
Soils: This alternative would provide approximately 206 acres of restored soils, of which approximately 144 acres would be highly valued resource soil types.
Vegetation, Wildlife, and Special-Status Species: This alternative would restore 205 acres of natural vegetation in Yosemite Valley, of which 186 acres (91%) would be highly valued resource vegetation types. This restoration would increase habitat availability, integrity, and continuity for plants, wildlife, and special-status species. New development would occur on 102 acres in Yosemite Valley, of which only 14 acres (14%) would be highly valued resource vegetation types.
Scenic Resources and Merced Wild and Scenic River: The short-term disruption of these resources during the restoration and implementation activities would be more than offset by the long-term enhancement and preservation of scenic resources and the designated Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Merced Wild and Scenic River segments.

Energy Consumption: In the short term, fuel consumption would likely remain relatively consistent with existing usage. However, after implementation of this alternative, long-term fuel consumption would be reduced.

HAZARDS

Two distinct hazards occur in the Valley as a result of its landscape features: flooding and rockfall. There are structures currently located within the floodplain of the Merced River and within the talus slope and shadow line zones of the Valley walls. The actions of Alternative 3 would reduce the long-term risk to human life and property by relocating a number of structures and high-occupancy gathering places outside of these hazard zones.

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Historic structures would be removed and archeological sites would be disturbed or lost, resulting in long-term, adverse impacts to cultural resources. However, the affected resources would be documented in accordance with the Programmatic Agreement, creating permanent records of individual cultural resources. The restoration of natural areas would substantially improve the overall cultural landscape of Yosemite Valley.

Alternative 4

NATURAL RESOURCES

Water Resources: Removal of four bridges would result in short-term impacts caused by increased erosion during demolition activities. However, the beneficial effects of the long-term restoration of the natural river hydrologic processes would outweigh these adverse impacts.
Wetlands: This alternative would provide a net gain of 131 acres of wetlands (149 acres of wetlands restored minus the 18 acres of potential wetlands impacted as a result of the construction and redevelopment of new facilities).
Soils: This alternative would provide approximately 193 acres of restored soils, of which approximately 141 acres would be highly valued resource soil types.
Vegetation, Wildlife, and Special-Status Species: This alternative would restore 193 acres of natural vegetation in Yosemite Valley, of which 174 acres (90%) would be highly valued resource vegetation types. This restoration would increase habitat availability, integrity, and continuity for plants, wildlife, and special-status species. New development would occur on 102 acres in Yosemite Valley, of which only 14 acres (14%) would be highly valued resource vegetation types.
Scenic Resources and Merced Wild and Scenic River: The short-term disruption of these resources during the restoration and implementation activities would be more than offset by the long-term enhancement and preservation of scenic resources and the designated Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Merced Wild and Scenic River segments.

Energy Consumption: In the short term, fuel consumption would likely remain relatively consistent with existing usage. However, after implementation of this alternative, long-term fuel consumption would be reduced.

HAZARDS

Two distinct hazards occur in the Valley as a result of its landscape features: flooding and rockfall. There are structures currently located within the floodplain of the Merced River and within the talus slope and shadow line zones of the Valley walls. The actions of Alternative 4 would reduce the long-term risk to human life and property by relocating a number of structures and high-occupancy gathering places outside of these hazard zones.

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Alternative 5

NATURAL RESOURCES

Generally, for most natural resources the long-term productivity gained from large-scale restorations of for most natural resources would outweigh the short-term, adverse impacts on these natural resources. Short-term, adverse impacts to these resources would consist of construction-related impacts of new development and restoration activities (e.g., construction equipment, grading, increased erosion potential, and vegetation removal). The long-term productivity of these resources would be enhanced through increased size, integrity, and connectivity. The long-term or net gains for these natural resources can be quantified as follows:

Water Resources: Removal of two bridges would result in short-term impacts caused by increased erosion during demolition activities. However, the beneficial impacts of the long-term restoration of the natural river hydrologic processes would outweigh these adverse impacts.
Wetlands: This alternative would provide a net gain of 104 acres of wetlands (131 acres of wetlands restored minus the 27 acres of potential wetlands impacted as a result of the construction and redevelopment of new facilities).
Soils: This alternative would provide approximately 161 acres of restored soils, of which approximately 122 acres would be highly valued resource soil types.
Vegetation, Wildlife, and Special-Status Species: This alternative would restore 163 acres of natural vegetation in Yosemite Valley, of which 147 acres (91%) would be highly valued resource vegetation types. This restoration would increase habitat availability, integrity, and continuity for wildlife and special-status species. New development would occur on 69 acres in Yosemite Valley, of which only 16 acres (23%) would be highly valued resource vegetation types.
Scenic Resources and Merced Wild and Scenic River: The short-term disruption of these resources during the restoration and implementation activities would be more than offset by the long-term enhancement and preservation of scenic resources and the designated Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the Merced Wild and Scenic River segments.

Energy Consumption: In the short term, fuel consumption would likely remain relatively consistent with existing usage. However, after implementation of this alternative, long-term fuel consumption would be reduced.

HAZARDS

Two distinct hazards occur in the Valley as a result of its landscape features: flooding and rockfall. There are structures currently located within the floodplain of the Merced River and within the talus slope and shadow line zones of the Valley walls. The actions of Alternative 5 would reduce risk to human life and property by relocating a number of structures and high-occupancy gathering places outside of these hazard zones.

CULTURAL RESOURCES

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