Yosemite National Park has been called the crown jewel of the National Park System. How does the park uphold its mission of preserving its natural splendor, while at the same time preserving access to the millions of visitors who come every year?
Correspondent Judy Muller reports.
Update November 17, 2006
On Nov. 3, 2006, U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii ordered a halt to a range of construction and renovation projects in the Yosemite Valley while park officials come up with a new plan to protect the Merced River. Park spokesman Scott Gediman said the ruling was frustrating because some of those construction projects involve basic maintenance, such as repaving roads.
However, Julia Olson - attorney for the environmental groups bringing the lawsuit - said, “For six years we argued that the Merced was completely unprotected and that a host of construction projects should be halted. The Court has now forcefully agreed with us.”
The judge’s ruling comes just a few months after he ordered the U.S. Park Service to come up with a new long-term plan for restoring the Yosemite Valley after it was damaged in the 1997 Merced River flood. At issue is whether the park has adequately protected the environment as well as addressed overcrowding in the park.
- Yosemite National Park
- Yosemite National Park’s planning site, includes Yosemite Valley Plan and Merced River Plan
- National Parks visitation statistics
- Friends of Yosemite Valley, organization that seeks preservation of Yosemite Valley
- Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau, gateway community tourism site
- Mariposa County Visitors Bureau, gateway community tourism site
- “Disturbing Yosemite”, UC Berkeley’s Alumni Magazine, California
- Yosemite’s Interactive Classroom, Yosemite National Park
- Virtual Yosemite, Yosemite Association
- Yosemite Photos, National Geographic
- The Writings of John Muir, John Muir Exhibit by the Sierra Club
- American Experience: Ansel Adams, PBS documentary
- Yosemite Blog
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