Initial phase increases public’s opportunity to comment
POINT REYES STATION, Calif. - The National Park Service will begin planning for a (4,302 KB PDF) to address all lands currently under agricultural lease/permits within Point Reyes National Seashore and the north district of Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
With this announcement, the Park Service presents six concept alternatives, ranging from 20-year agricultural lease/permits with diversification and increased operational flexibility, to reduced ranching, no dairy ranching, and no ranching alternatives. The concept alternatives will also consider the management of tule elk in the planning area, ranging from elimination, to active management, to expansion of the Drakes Beach herd.
The Park Service’s initial proposal would allow existing ranch families to continue beef and dairy operations with 20-year lease/permits and tule elk in the Drakes Beach area would be managed at a level compatible with authorized ranching. Visitor experience improvements, management strategies to protect park resources, and visitor carrying capacities in the planning area will also be addressed.
This announcement initiates a 30-day public comment period that will end on Nov. 15, 2017, during which the Park Service will host two open house meetings. The meetings will be identical in format and are intended to gather public comments for use in shaping the plan. The meetings are scheduled for late-October at the following locations:
Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017
5-7 pm
West Marin School Gym
Point Reyes Station, CA
Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017
5-7 pm
Bay Model Visitor Center
Sausalito, CA
Comments may be submitted online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/poregmpa, at one of the public meetings, or by mailing or hand delivering comments to:
GMP Amendment c/o Superintendent
Point Reyes National Seashore
1 Bear Valley Road
Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
The NPS is required by to complete the GMP Amendment and Environmental Impact Statement with a record of decision by July 14, 2021.
For more information, please see our GMP Amendment Frequently Asked Questions or Point Reyes National Seashore's website: www.nps.gov/pore.
-NPS-
Tags: point reyes point reyes national seashore golden gate national recreation area general management plan general management plan amendment ranching agricultural lease/permits tule elk elk public comment period scoping meetings
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
