Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: March 27, 2000

Contact: Tim Ahern (202) 208-5089
Scott Gediman (209) 372-0248

BABBITT ANNOUNCES DRAFT PLAN TO
RESTORE YOSEMITE VALLEY

Remarks at Commonwealth Club unveil approach in which people adapt to park, not vice-versa

SAN FRANCISCO - Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt today announced a draft plan to restore Yosemite Valley by reducing traffic and crowding and restoring portions of the valley which is at the heart of one of the nation's greatest national parks.

"Yosemite Valley is one of nature's most awesome creations," said Babbitt. "Over the years, roads and bridges and structures have been constructed which, in some cases, have contributed to the sprawl and crowding that visitors to Yosemite are trying to avoid. In Yosemite, we're using the lessons and impetus from the New Year's Day flood in 1997 to help adapt visitors to the needs and forces of nature in the Valley, rather than the other way around. We are helping to return the Yosemite Valley to what it has always been - a place of breathtaking beauty."

"The proposals we are making in Yosemite are in line with how we're improving the transportation system in other parks, such as the Grand Canyon, Acadia, and Zion. Our goal in Yosemite, as in those parks, is to make sure visitors spend time appreciating the natural beauty of the parks, rather than focusing on where to park," Babbitt said.

The changes are part of a Draft Yosemite Valley Plan which provides direction and proposes specific actions to preserve Yosemite Valley. The draft plan is based on the broad goals laid out in Yosemite National Park's 1980 General Management Plan of reducing traffic congestion and crowding, allowing natural processes to work, and reclaiming the Valley's natural beauty.

The Draft Yosemite Valley Plan produced by the National Park Service proposes to:

• Rip out Cascades Dam on the Merced River, along with three bridges affecting the natural flow of the stream, restoring riparian, meadow and Black Oak landscapes on its banks

• Remove roads through Stoneman and Ahwahnee Meadows, and tear up most parking in the east Valley other than at lodging, campgrounds and Yosemite Village

• Demolish and restore to nature the Superintendent's House, commercial stables, some units of Housekeeping camp, some NPS Operations and concessioner administration.

The draft plan will restore roughly 180 acres in the Valley to natural conditions. Babbitt stressed that this plan can, in fact, allow more visitors by merely reducing the number of cars, encouraging visitors to leave them behind. "You can't 'love Yosemite to death' with too many people," said Babbitt. "But you can choke it to death with exhaust fumes while looking for parking. That's why we're increasing clean-air shuttles, reducing traffic by 60 percent, and letting people get out of their cars to experience Yosemite up close."

The plan also proposes to:

• Create about 1,600 additional parking areas outside the Valley at Badger Pass, South Landing near Crane flat, and El Portal. Day-use visitors will be encouraged to park outside the Valley and taken shuttle buses into it from those sites.

• Implement a contiguous River Protection Overlay, as proposed in the Draft Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan/EIS

• Convert NPS administrative buildings into natural and cultural history museums.

"This draft plan presents a range of alternatives for making Yosemite Valley a better place," said Yosemite Superintendent David Mihalic. "However, these are just proposals. Now it is the public's turn to read the plan, consider what it means, and tell us their reaction. I cannot emphasize enough the necessity for public input at this crucial time in Yosemite's history."

The Draft YVP will be available for public review and comment from April 7 to July 5, 2000. To obtain a copy of the plan, or submit comments, write Yosemite Valley Plan/SEIS, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite National Park, CA, 95839. Comments must be postmarked by July 5, 2000. Copies will also be available at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planning.htm