Tomales Point Area Plan

 
An aerial photo of a narrow grass-covered peninsula with beige cliffs rising above the ocean in the lower left. A narrow bay separates the peninsula from the mainland, which stretches into the distance.
Aerial photograph of Tomales Point.

NPS Photo / Anela Kopshever

 

The National Park Service (NPS) initiated a public planning process for the Tomales Point area of Point Reyes National Seashore on March 31, 2022. This plan will update management guidance of the wilderness-designated peninsula, including management of the tule elk herd in this region of the park. The park will collaborate with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria to incorporate tribal views and traditional ecological knowledge throughout this process.

The development of an area plan for Tomales Point is needed at this time based on the severity and frequency of two historic droughts in Marin County and Point Reyes National Seashore since 2013. Current management guidance for this area did not anticipate these drought conditions or consider climate change, resulting in emergency actions taken to provide supplemental water and minerals for the tule elk at Tomales Point in the summer of 2021.

The planning area includes the 2,900-acre Tomales Point Tule Elk Reserve. More than 85% of the reserve is within the Congressionally-designated Phillip Burton Wilderness. The plan will review cultural and natural resources, management considerations in wilderness, and visitor use and access. The plan will include resource and site-specific analysis that can be implemented when the plan is final, as well as programmatic analysis and overall management of Tomales Point, as may be needed.

This first pre-National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public engagement will inform the development of an environmental impact statement anticipated to be initiated in the spring of 2023. Additional opportunities for public comment including public meetings will be offered at that time and after development of a draft planning document. The NPS anticipates completing the environmental review by the end of 2024. Once completed, this plan will replace the 1998 Tule Elk Management Plan and the park's General Management Plan for the planning area. This planning is separate from the recent General Management Plan Amendment which addressed ranching within the park and free-ranging tule elk.

 

Sign Up

Members of the public play an important role in the Tomales Point Area Plan. Please sign up to receive email notifications and updates about the planning process. Signing up is a quick three step process:

  • On the first page, enter your email address and click on the "Submit" button.
  • On the second page, click on the check box to agree to the privacy policy and click on the "Submit" button.
  • On the third page, scroll to the bottom of the list of options and select "Point Reyes National Seashore | Planning" and click on the "Submit" button.
 

Initial Public Comment Period

Please see our Tomales Point Area Plan Initial Public Comment Period page for details on the initial 30-day+ public comment period from March 31, 2022, to May 9, 2022.

 

Background Information

Please see our Tomales Point Area Plan Background Information page for information relevant to this planning process.

 

News Releases

Please see our Tomales Point Area Plan News Releases page for all news releases related to this plan.

 

Project Timeline

  • Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS), 30-day public comment period and meetings: spring 2023
  • NPS develops a draft EIS for the Tomales Point Area Plan: to be determined (TBD)
  • Draft EIS released for 45-day public review & comment period, including public meetings: TBD
  • NPS develops final EIS for the Tomales Point Area Plan: TBD
  • Final EIS released to the public, followed by a minimum 30-day waiting period: TBD
  • Tomales Point Area Plan record of decision signed by NPS Regional Director: end of 2024

Events in bold above are opportunities for public engagement.

 

Questions

If you have additional questions regarding the Tomales Point Area Plan, please call Outreach Coordinator Melanie Gunn at 415-464-5131.

The Citizen's Guide to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a useful resource for those that are not familiar with NEPA or Council on Environmental Quality Regulations. This 45-page guide, published in December, 2007, describes the NEPA process and provides information on how citizens can get involved.

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Last updated: July 18, 2022

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

1 Bear Valley Road
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

Phone:

415-464-5100
This number will initially be answered by an automated attendant, from which one can opt to access a name directory, listen to recorded information about the park (i.e., directions to the park; visitor center hours of operation; fire danger information; wildlife updates; ranger-led programs; seasonal events; etc.), or speak with a ranger. Please note that if you are calling between 4:30 pm and 10 am, park staff may not be available to answer your call.

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