Yosemite National Park Announces Availability of the Invasive Plant Management Plan Update Environmental Assessment for Public Review

Yosemite National Park Announces Availability of the Invasive Plant Management Plan Update Environmental Assessment for Public Review
Date: December 8, 2010

Yosemite National Park announces the release of the Invasive Plant Management Plan Update (IPMP Update) Environmental Assessment (EA) for a 45-day public review, ending January 30, 2011. The IPMP update builds upon key elements of the existing plan (Invasive Plant Management Plan for Yosemite National Park, NPS 2008) to provide a more adaptive, efficient and effective framework for responding to the growing challenges of managing invasive plants while protecting Yosemite’s natural and cultural resources.

The IPMP Update describes three alternative approaches for protecting the park’s natural and cultural resources from displacement or other degradation resulting from the introduction and spread of invasive plants. Management under each of the alternatives would be based upon the tested principles of integrated pest management (IPM), a process for ensuring that the most effective techniques (cultural, physical, biological, or herbicide) are used to protect resources, while posing the least possible impact to people and the environment. Elements of IPM include prevention, inventory, prioritization, treatment, monitoring, research, education, and outreach. Under Alternative 3, the preferred alternative, adaptive management would enable effective protection of park resources. Additional herbicides would be assessed for inclusion based upon literature review and expert consultations. In the event of a serious aquatic infestation, managers would use a similar process to evaluate the option of using herbicides specifically developed for water.

The public is invited to discuss the plan and accept comments with park staff on January 5, 2011 at the El Portal Community Hall from 1 to 3 p.m. Park staff will also discuss the plan and accept comments at the January 26th Open House at the East Valley Auditorium in Yosemite Valley from 1 to 4 pm. Printed and CD copies of the plan will be available. A digital copy of the EA is available on the Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website: http://www.parkplanning.nps.gov/YOSE. The preferred method for submitting comments is through the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) System at: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yose. Comments may also be submitted by mail to: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, Attention: IPMP Update EA, PO Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389.

Public, tribal, and agency participation and consultation have played an important role in developing this plan. For full consideration of your comments in the final decision, please submit written comments by January 18, 2011.

For more information on managing invasive plants, visit our program webpage at: http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/invasive-plant-management.htm.