Public Comment on Invasive Plant Management Plan in Yosemite Begins June 13th
Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to the integrity of National Park Service lands. Non-native plants invade an estimated 4,600 acres of federal land in the United States every day, and already infest millions of acres in the national parks. Fortunately, Yosemite National Park is at the early stages of invasion, with less than 1% of the landmass within the Park contaminated with invasive plants. Unfortunately, 177 non-native plant taxa have already established within Park borders, many with the potential to spread rapidly.
The purpose of this Invasive Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment for Yosemite National Park is to evaluate a range of alternatives to prevent the establishment and spread of invasive plants into uninfested areas of the park, and quickly and effectively eradicate new infestations.
The public comment period for the Invasive Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment will open on Friday, June 13, 2008 and will run through Sunday, July 13, 2008. The plan is available on the park’s website at http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/invasive.htm. A public meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. during the monthly Open House in the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium. Additionally, park representatives will be available at the El Portal Planning Advisory Meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 7pm in the Clark Community Hall.
Written scoping comments should be postmarked no later than July 13, 2008. Comments can be submitted at public meetings, by mail, fax, email, and through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) commenting system. To request a hard copy or CD ROM version of the EA and to submit written comments:
Mail: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Attn: Invasive Plant Management Plan
PO Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Fax: 209/379-1294
PEPC: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/
For more information on park planning efforts, visit the website at www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt.htm.
For over 30 years now I've enjoyed hiking, backpacking, fishing, photographing and exploring Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. 
