Electronic Newsletter, February 2008

February 1, 2008

Yosemite National Park Managers Invite Public to Tuolumne Planning Workshop
in Yosemite Valley

On February 9, 2008 from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm in the Valley Visitor Center Auditorium, the National Park Service in Yosemite will host the next in its ongoing series of public planning workshops in support of the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan (Tuolumne River Plan).

The purpose of the workshop is to share with the public how the park planning team develops indicators of river health and quality visitor experiences for the Tuolumne River Plan. Future indicators will be included as part of the monitoring program to ensure the protection of river values in the 54 miles of the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River corridor that flows through Yosemite National Park.

The workshop series began in early 2007 and is intended to provide members of the public with an opportunity to discuss and understand elements of the Tuolumne River Plan as it is being developed. The draft Tuolumne River Plan/Tuolumne Meadows Plan and Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be released for public comment in the summer of 2009.

RSVP to Kristina Rylands by calling 209/379-1175 or by email. Details regarding this and future Tuolumne planning workshops will be posted to the park's website at www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/trp.htm. Visitors attending the workshop will have the park entrance fee waived. For more information on this and other Yosemite projects, visit online at www.nps.gov/yose/planning.

Merced Wild and Scenic River Plan: Draft Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs) Report and Workshop

The Draft ORV Report will be available online beginning Tuesday, February 5, 2008 on the park's web site at www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/newmrp.htm. Additionally, please join Yosemite National Park for the second Public Planning Workshop devoted to the new Merced River Plan on Saturday, February 23, 2008. This public workshop will present the DRAFT Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORV) of the river corridor, and participants will be asked to join in an exercise focusing on Desired Conditions (the future conditions to be achieved) for the ORVs. Additional workshop materials will be available online prior to the workshop. Please RSVP to Elexis Mayer by phone at 209/379-1377, or by email, no later than Wednesday, February 20, 2008.

REVISED DOCUMENT: Superintendent’s Compendium

Each National Park Service (NPS) site is regulated using the laws established in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The CFR contains the regulatory provisions that protect natural and cultural values, as well as public safety and visitor experience on a national level.

The Superintendent’s Compendium acts as a supplement to the CFR, and is specific to each site. For example, Yosemite’s Compendium includes sections about food storage and closures particular to Yosemite in order to best protect the park’s resources and keep visitors safe. The regulatory needs of Yosemite National Park change with recreational trends and increased resource knowledge. Because of this, the Superintendent’s Compendium is reviewed regularly with changes, explanations, and clarifications made as needed.

Some of the revisions to this latest version of the Superintendent’s Compendium include:

• Standardization of Wilderness food storage regulations
  Previous regulation exempted Wilderness users from carrying approved food storage containers in some park areas. Approved food storage containers are now required parkwide for overnight Wilderness users.
  
  
• Standardization of Wilderness, frontcountry, and stock camping
  Previously, checkout times varied from campground to campground. The 2008 Compendium establishes a standard checkout time (noon). Additionally, clearer guidance is given to wastewater disposal, number of cars allowed per campsite, and group size limits. Clear direction is given to travelling with stock.
  
  
• Clarification of climbing and slack line regulations
  Prior versions of the Compendium did not include specific direction allowing climbers to be exempt from obtaining wilderness permits for their time on Yosemite’s walls. Additionally, the new Compendium addresses specific resource and safety concerns pertaining to climbing gear left in walls and slack lines left in campsites.
  
  
• Use restrictions on sensitive areas
  Several restrictions have been established for the protection of Yosemite’s natural and cultural resources. These include protecting Peregrine falcon nesting areas, and restricting commercial bus access to Fern Spring.
  
  
• Use restrictions for public safety and visitor experience
  Restrictions have been placed on some activities in specific areas due to risk to public safety or to protect the visitor experience. These include some boating restrictions, quiet hours, and clarification of pet regulations.

The compendium is now available on the web at https://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm.

For more information, or to request a copy, please contact the National Park Service:

By phone: [phone]

By mail:

Superintendent’s Compendium
PO Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389