TUOLUMNE WILD AND SCENIC RIVER COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN/TUOLUMNE MEADOWS PLAN EIS Public Scoping Report December 2006 Tuolumne River Plan/Tuolumne Meadows Plan EIS Public Scoping Report Table of Contents Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................ I INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 PUBLIC SCOPING PROCESS SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 1 CONCERN ANALYSIS AND SCREENING PROCESS ........................................................................................................ 3 Comment Analysis Process .................................................................................................................................. 3 Next Steps - Screening Public Scoping Concerns ................................................................................................ 4 USING THIS REPORT ................................................................................................................................................... 5 List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................... 5 PLANNING PROCESS AND POLICY .................................................................................................................... 6 PARK MANAGEMENT, PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE .................................................................................................. 6 LEGAL AUTHORITY ................................................................................................................................................... 6 APPLICABLE LAWS, EXECUTIVE ORDERS, POLICIES, AND GUIDELINES ..................................................................... 7 Wild and Scenic Rivers Act .................................................................................................................................. 7 Wilderness Act...................................................................................................................................................... 7 Americans with Disabilities Act ........................................................................................................................... 8 PLANNING PROCESS................................................................................................................................................... 8 PLANNING TIMEFRAME .............................................................................................................................................. 9 CLARITY OF PLANNING DOCUMENTS ...................................................................................................................... 11 LAND USE AND ACQUISITION .................................................................................................................................. 12 PROJECT AREA BOUNDARIES ................................................................................................................................... 12 Tuolumne River Plan Boundary ......................................................................................................................... 12 Tuolumne Meadows Plan Boundary .................................................................................................................. 13 SCIENCE/RESOURCE-BASED DECISION-MAKING ..................................................................................................... 14 RELATIONSHIP TO STATE AND COUNTY PLANNING ................................................................................................. 15 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK PLANS ................................................................................ 16 General Management Plan ................................................................................................................................ 16 Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan ................................................................... 17 Yosemite Valley Plan ......................................................................................................................................... 18 Wilderness Management Plan ............................................................................................................................ 18 Implementation Plans and Projects ................................................................................................................... 19 FUNDING ................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Implementation Funding .................................................................................................................................... 19 Funding Sources ................................................................................................................................................ 19 Park Fees ........................................................................................................................................................... 21 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ............................................................................................................................................ 22 Informational Materials ..................................................................................................................................... 24 Written Comments .............................................................................................................................................. 25 Public Meetings.................................................................................................................................................. 26 STATE AGENCY CONSULTATION ............................................................................................................................. 27 FEDERAL AGENCY CONSULTATION ......................................................................................................................... 27 TRIBAL GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ................................................................................................................... 28 CONSULTATION WITH CONCESSIONERS, PARK PARTNERS, AND GATEWAY COMMUNITIES ..................................... 29 NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS CONSULTATION ........................................................................................ 30 WILD AND SCENIC RIVER MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................... 31 EXISTING CONDITIONS ............................................................................................................................................ 31 MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ...................................................................................................................................... 31 OUTSTANDINGLY REMARKABLE VALUES (ORVS) .................................................................................................. 32 BOUNDARIES ........................................................................................................................................................... 35 CLASSIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................................................... 38 December 2006 i Tuolumne River Plan/Tuolumne Meadows Plan EIS Public Scoping Report Table of Contents WILDERNESS MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................................... 39 MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ...................................................................................................................................... 39 VISITOR USE ............................................................................................................................................................ 40 WILDERNESS TRAILHEAD QUOTA SYSTEM .............................................................................................................. 41 HETCH HETCHY .................................................................................................................................................... 42 CONSOLIDATION OF PLANNING DOCUMENTS .......................................................................................................... 42 INCLUSION IN WILD AND SCENIC RIVER MANAGEMENT PLANNING ........................................................................ 42 REMOVAL OF O’SHAUGHNESSY DAM AND RESTORATION OF HETCH HETCHY VALLEY ......................................... 44 PROTECTION OF CULTURAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................................. 47 AGENCY COLLABORATION AND MANAGEMENT ...................................................................................................... 47 RECREATION AND VISITOR SERVICES ...................................................................................................................... 48 NATURAL RESOURCES .......................................................................................................................................