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 SEKI Wilderness Stewardship Plan and draft EIS
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103 |
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks has announced they are about to release the Wilderness Stewardship Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Once it is released, we can see... The preliminary plan was discussed here: SEKI Wilderness Stewardship Plan Open for CommentI'll post again once it has been officially released. June 16, 2014 Dear Friends of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Wilderness: Please mark your calendars! On June 27, the National Park Service (NPS) will release for public comment and review the Wilderness Stewardship Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (WSP/DEIS) for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (SEKI). An electronic version of the document will be available for your review on June 27 on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/sekiwild. If you have previously signed up to receive a copy of this document, look for it in your mail shortly after June 27. Due to the size of the document, and expense of printing, we have very limited printed copies of the two volume document; however we have CD copies available. Printed copies will be available at area libraries (see enclosed list) and at the SEKI visitor centers. To obtain a CD copy of the document, please contact Nancy Hendricks, environmental protection specialist, at (559) 565-3102. Electronic comments should be submitted through the previously mentioned PEPC website (no email comments will be accepted). Comments will also be accepted in writing (either hand-delivery, by mail, or fax) to: Superintendent, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Attn: Wilderness Stewardship Plan, 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA 93271; fax: (559) 565-4202. Please submit your comments by August 25, 2014. Electronic comments must be entered into the PEPC website by 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on August 25.To learn more about the Wilderness Stewardship Plan/DEIS, you are invited to attend a public meeting which are scheduled for: July 23, 2014 6 – 9:00 p.m.. Richard Trudeau Training Center 11500 Skyline Blvd. Oakland, CA 94605 July 24, 2014 6 – 9:00 p.m Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fairgrounds Tallman Pavilion Bishop, CA 93514 July 28, 2014 6 – 9:00 p.m Visalia Marriott Hotel 300 South Court Street Visalia, CA 93291 The public meetings will begin with an open house, followed by a formal presentation at 7 pm. Park staff will be available to help guide you through the document and to address your questions. In addition, a webinar on the WSP / DEIS is planned for early August. More information on the webinar will be posted on the PEPC website at the previously provided address. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Anonymous comments will not be considered. Wilderness is an important resource, and we value your input on this document. We review all of the written comments submitted to determine whether changes or revisions are necessary in the alternatives, if the analysis needs supplemental information or clarification, or if factual corrections are needed. Following the analysis of public comments, we will prepare a Final Wilderness Stewardship Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, which is anticipated to be completed in early 2015. Thank you for your interest in wilderness management in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Sincerely, Woody Smeck Superintendent Area libraries where printed copies of the WSP/DEIS will be available after June 27, 2014:Clovis Regional LibraryFresno County Libraries: Bear Mountain Branch; Central Branch; Fowler Branch; Kingsburg Branch; Orange Cove Branch; Parlier Branch; Reedley Branch; Sanger Branch; Selma Branch; Sunnyside Branch Kern County Libraries: Bakersfield – Beale Memorial Library Inyo County Libraries: Big Pine Branch; Lone Pine Branch; Bishop Branch Tulare County Libraries: Dinuba Branch; Exeter Branch; Lindsay Branch; Three Rivers Branch; Visalia Branch; Porterville Public Library Merced County Libraries: Merced Library -- Environmental Compliance and Planning Office Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 47050 Generals Highway Three Rivers, CA 93271
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Stewardship Plan and draft EIS
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,572
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,572 |
This looks interesting and important, especially as it covers directly 20%of the MWMT, almost half the JMT and part or all of every west-side approach to our favorite hill. I am going to try to make it over to Oakland for the session on July 23, and would be glad to report for this group. If there are any particular issues of concern you would like me to look out for and perhaps submit questions on, please let me know on this forum. And if you are going to be there too, let's hang out. We may also want to consider submitting comments on Aug 25, either individually, as WHA or in smaller groups. As WHA, we can show numbers that would be worth SEKI's time paying attention to, and as the importance of the west side approaches increases, this is proportionately in our interest. PErhaps othere here would want to plan on a showing at Visalia (Steve?) and Bishop (Aki? Moose? Bob?)to compare notes.
Wherever you go, there you are. SPOTMe!
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Stewardship Plan and draft EIS
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103 |
The plan is now available From SEKI News Releases: "June 27, 2014 Draft Wilderness Stewardship Plan for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Available for Public Review and Comment; Public Meetings Scheduled ( PDF, JPEG pg 1, JPEG pg 2)" National Park Service Sequoia and Kings Canyon 47050 Generals Hwy.
U.S. Department of the Interior National Parks Three Rivers, CA 93271
559 565-3341 phone
559 565-3730 fax
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks News ReleaseFor Immediate Release: June 27, 2014 Contact: Dana M. Dierkes Phone Number: (559) 565-3131 (o), 559-679-2866 (cell) Draft Wilderness Stewardship Plan for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Available for Public Review and Comment; Public Meetings ScheduledSEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS, CALIFORNIA-- The National Park Service (NPS) has opened the public comment period for the Wilderness Stewardship Plan / Draft Environmental Impact Statement (WSP/DEIS) for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. All public comments must be received by August 25, 2014. The NPS will use the framework established in the final version of this document to preserve wilderness character, provide opportunities for and encourage public use and enjoyment of the wilderness, and improve conditions in areas where there may be unacceptable levels of impacts on wilderness character. More information, including the WSP/DEIS are available on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/sekiwild or by calling Nancy Hendricks, environmental protection specialist, at (559) 565-3102. A CD-version of the document is available, too. Interested parties are encouraged to make comments about the WSP/DEIS on the PEPC website. Electronic comments will only be accepted through this website. Comments will also be accepted in writing (by hand-delivery, mail, or fax). To submit written comments by letter, you may send them by U.S. Postal Service or other mail delivery service, or hand-deliver your comments to Superintendent, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Attn: WSP/DEIS, 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA 93271. In addition, faxed comments will be accepted at (559) 565-4202. Anonymous comments will not be considered. To learn more about the WSP, the public is invited to attend informational meetings at: July 23, 2014 6 – 9:00 p.m.. Richard Trudeau Training Center 11500 Skyline Blvd. Oakland, CA 94605 July 24, 2014 6 – 9:00 p.m Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fairgrounds Tallman Pavilion Bishop, CA 93514 July 28, 2014 6 – 9:00 p.m Visalia Marriott Hotel 300 South Court Street Visalia, CA 93291 The meetings will begin with an open house at 6 p.m. with posters and information about the alternatives. A formal presentation will occur at 7 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about the plan, to find out how to provide comments on the plan, and to ask questions and discuss the plan with park staff. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Anonymous comments will not be considered.Printed versions of the document may be found at the parks’ visitor centers in Sequoia National Park: Foothills Visitor Center, Mineral King, Giant Forest Museum, and Lodgepole; at the parks’ visitor centers in Kings Canyon National Park at Grant Grove and Cedar Grove; and at the following area libraries: Clovis Regional LibraryFresno County Libraries: Bear Mountain Branch; Central Branch; Fowler Branch; Kingsburg Branch; Orange Cove Branch; Parlier Branch; Reedley Branch; Sanger Branch; Selma Branch; Sunnyside Branch Kern County Libraries: Bakersfield – Beale Memorial Library Inyo County Libraries: Big Pine Branch; Lone Pine Branch; Bishop Branch Tulare County Libraries: Dinuba Branch; Exeter Branch; Lindsay Branch; Three Rivers Branch; Visalia Branch; Porterville Public Library Merced County Libraries: Merced Library Background Information:The parks’ total designated wilderness is now 808,078 acres — approximately 93.3% of the total park acreage of 865,964. In addition, because the southern end of the Hockett Plateau (approximately 29,500 acres) remains proposed wilderness, it is managed as wilderness, according to law (PL 111-11) and NPS policy. The parks also contain several designated potential wilderness additions (DPWA), including the area around the Pear Lake Ski Hut and Bearpaw Meadow High Sierra Camp. Altogether, designated and proposed wilderness areas comprise nearly 97% of the total acreage of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. -- NPS --
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Stewardship Plan and draft EIS
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,572
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,572 |
The document is VERY generally summarized in a series of fact sheets, by far the largest file of these being for the Mt Whitney area: Mt Whitney Fact Sheet Interestingly, the proposed action or Alternative 1, is no action, but some of the alternatives under consideration are pretty significant. The rest of the fact sheets are Here And the whole package can be found here . Let the games begin!
Wherever you go, there you are. SPOTMe!
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Stewardship Plan and draft EIS
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 84
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 84 |
One interesting thing in here, relevant to the whole WAG bag discussion, is that the NPS are proposing building a new toilet IN THE WILDERNESS at the PCT Rock Creek crossing. The logic is that a toilet improves the wilderness experience in areas of high human usage...
They are also proposing trialling WAG bags at a couple of other locations, restricting the number of days that can be spent camping in various places (including potentially Crabtree meadows/guitar lake) and making 'official' sites at guitar lake (I guess with an associated limit on usage/permits in that area).
There is also a 'preferred option' to eliminate a number of bear boxes in the wilderness (retaining upper crabtree but removing lower crabtree for example), and to trial locking one of the boxes in the rock creek drainage (page 101, table 15). In a bizarrely contradictory argument, some bear boxes are earmarked for removal because there are good counterbalance trees in the vicinity.
I found that the c.60MB download of I think chapter 2 seemed to contain most of the "meat" of the discussion.
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Re: SEKI Wilderness Stewardship Plan and draft EIS
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103 |
Man, lots of PDF documents! I looked through Chapter 1, "Purpose and Need" tonight. 01-WSPDEIS-ch1.pdf01 (5.2 MB, PDF file)Considering our discussions here concerning SPOT, InReach and PLB units is an interesting contrast to an item on the last page (50), in Table 3: Elements or Topics Outside the Scope of the Wilderness Stewardship Plan:Planning Issue or Topic
Some visitors feel that electronics such as GPS, portable music devices, satellite phones, and cell phones bring modern civilization into wilderness and are thus inappropriate (NPS 2011a).
Outside the Scope of the Plan Rationale
Despite the prevalence of technology in modern society, 29% of wilderness visitors who responded to a 2011 survey (Martin and Blackwell 2013) reported traveling without any hand-held technology. This number increased to 34% for cross-country wilderness travelers. The technological devices most commonly used by wilderness visitors were cameras (39.4%), smartphones (29%), GPS devices (25.5%), smart phones or tablets (19.5%), and other cell or satellite phones (21%) (Martin and Blackwell 2013).
The visiting public may find that the use of hand-held and other electronic devices (such as personal locator beacons and satellite phones) impedes their ability to experience the solitude and self-reliance values of wilderness. The NPS is not considering any prohibitions of these small devices, but encourages visitors to go without the aid or support of modern technology to take full advantage of the wilderness experience. The Wilderness Act does not prohibit the uses of cell phones and other personal electronic devices. The NPS currently has no authority to restrict electronics in wilderness; however the NPS has regulations to manage noise. Appendix F, Wilderness Regulations and Permit Conditions, provides further information. I am glad they declared this item outside the scope of the plan, for whatever reasons. I think it is quite a controlling attitude to take on to demand that people NOT carry their favorite device, lest they lose that elusive "solitude experience". 
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SEKI Final Wilderness Stewardship Plan and EIS
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103 |
April 2, 2015 Dear Friends of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks: I am pleased to announce the release of the Wilderness Stewardship Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (WSP/FEIS) for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. This plan provides direction to the National Park Service (NPS) for the next 15 to 20 years as it makes decisions regarding the use and protection of the wilderness encompassed by these parks. The NPS will use the management framework established by the WSP to preserve wilderness character, to encourage and provide opportunities for public use and enjoyment of wilderness, and to improve conditions in areas where there may be unacceptable levels of impact. Input from the public and agencies helped to shape this plan since its initiation in 2010. We received 255 comment letters during the 60-day public review of the draft plan which occurred last summer. Key issues brought forward during the public review included visitor access, trail management, stock use, research and the disposition of the Redwood Canyon Cabin, and commercial services in wilderness. The final WSP/FEIS is available on the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/sekiwild. A limited number of printed documents are available. To request printed documents or CDs, call (559) 565-3102, or write to me at the above address. A 30-day “no-action” period will begin on the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of availability of the final plan in the Federal Register, which is scheduled for April 3, after which the NPS will prepare a record of decision (ROD). After approval of the ROD by the Pacific West Regional Director, we will announce the selected plan through local and regional press, and on the PEPC website. Following the signing of the ROD, changes to current wilderness management practices would be phased in over the next few years. New wilderness management practices would not be implemented during the summer of 2015 in order to avoid mid-season changes that could confuse our wilderness visitors. Your contributions to this planning effort make a difference in protecting the wilderness of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Thank you for your involvement in this important plan. Woody Smeck Superintendent -- Environmental Compliance and Planning Office Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks 47050 Generals Highway Three Rivers, CA 93271
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Re: SEKI Final Wilderness Stewardship Plan and EIS
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,158
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,158 |
The Preferred Alternative 2 is packed full of possible actions they may or may not implement. They should call it the "Trust Us" Alternative. Maybe they will reduce trail quotas, maybe they will remove bear boxes, maybe they will remove toilets, maybe they will require wag bags, maybe they will designate campsites, maybe they will limit camp nights in certain areas, etc etc.
The problem I see is they are not describing criteria to evaluate how these decisions will be made. For example, they are locking up lots of bear boxes as a test to see if they can be removed. What's the definition of "success" with locked bear boxes? Are they depending on people to report their food was stolen? Are they going to wait until someone gets hurt or a bear has to be put down? They will be testing wag bags in new areas, again, how will "success" be determined - by only seeing X number of bags on the trail? They might remove toilets at Pear Lake or Emerald Lake if maintenance becomes "prohibitively expensive." In other words, they will probably just let them rot like they did on Whitney.
This Alternative looks to me like a wolf dressed up as a bighorn sheep. Its basically a laundry list of restrictions that can be implemented on a whim at any time in the future, and this is the environmental documentation they need to do it. Nice strategy to avoid negative public comments since so much is left up in the air. "Trust Us" is not a substitute for specifics.
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Re: SEKI Final Wilderness Stewardship Plan and EIS
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,158
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,158 |
In browsing through the public comments this one resonated because its from a NPS Ranger warning about locking up the wilderness with regulations. More protection against stock damage to meadows seems obvious, but other than that, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  
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Re: SEKI Final Wilderness Stewardship Plan and EIS
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103 |
WHOA!!!! THAT comment sure targets my sentiments. Keeping people out is not the best way to manage a park.
Can someone figure out what the 4th paragraph/sentence means: "Looking at the historical graphs our impacts at SEKI happened 30 years ago and have since fallen 50%. To survive in our mission we need to rectify that." Impacts have fallen???
Thanks, SN, for digging into the comments and finding that jewel.
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Re: SEKI Final Wilderness Stewardship Plan and EIS
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103
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OP
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,509 Likes: 103 |
June 8, 2015 Dear Sir or Madam: I am pleased to announce the completion of the Wilderness Stewardship Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (WSP/EIS) for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. The final step was taken on May 27, 2015 with the signing of the Record of Decision (ROD) by the National Park Service’s Pacific West Acting Regional Director Patty Neubacher. We appreciate your interest and input on this project. We have incorporated substantive input from the public through the planning process. A wide array of management options has been explored and discussed in development of the final methods and actions that will be used to protect the parks’ wilderness for the next 15-20 years. The NPS will use the developed framework established by the WSP/FEIS and approved by the ROD to manage the parks’ wilderness to meet the mandates of the Wilderness Act and other associated laws: to preserve wilderness character, to provide opportunities for and encourage public use and enjoyment of the wilderness, and to improve conditions in areas where there may be unacceptable levels of impacts on wilderness character. The implementation of changes from current wilderness practices and restrictions—especially changes that directly affect public use—will be phased in over the next few years. Phased implementation will provide for adequate opportunities to inform the public of changes the WSP will make in public use and access in wilderness. To stay apprised of the changes, please visit our public webpage at: http://www.nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/wilderness.htm To view or download an electronic copy of the ROD and the supporting materials, please visit the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/sekiwild. If you prefer a printed copy of the document, please call Nancy Hendricks, environmental protection specialist, at (559) 565-3102 or send your request by email to seki_planning@nps.gov. Sincerely, Woody Smeck Superintendent
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