National Park Service Yosemite National Park U.S. Department of the Interior

Providing Access and Protecting Resources

Merced Wild and Scenic River

Draft Comprehensive Management Plan

 and Environmental Impact Statement

Appendices

January 2013


APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT AMEND THE 

GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS A-1 

APPENDIX A 

SPECIFIC AMENDMENTS TO THE 

1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 

RESULTING FROM THE MERCED RIVER PLAN 

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires river managing agencies to prepare comprehensive 

management plans for each Wild and Scenic river. The Act generally provides that river management 

plans “shall be coordinated with and may be incorporated into resource management planning for 

affected adjacent Federal lands” (16 USC 1274). 

In the case of the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan (Merced River 

Plan), it will revise portions of the National Park Service’s 1980 General Management Plan for 

Yosemite National Park. The Merced River Plan provides direction for the management of the 

81 miles of the Merced Wild and Scenic River under the jurisdiction of the NPS. No development or 

park use of lands in the river corridor shall be permitted that is inconsistent with the Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act designation of the Merced River, with this plan, or with the General Management Plan. 

Alternative 5 is identified as the Preferred Alternative. If this alternative is ultimately selected for 

implementation, it would result in the following revisions and amendments to the General 

Management Plan.

 The Merced River Plan’s river corridor boundaries, segment classifications, ORVs and 

corresponding management objectives revise the General Management Plan by establishing 

more detailed land-use prescriptions that must be applied in future site-specific planning. 

 The Merced River Plan’s Section 7 determination process (as called for in the Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act) is a tool that augments the goals of the General Management Plan by establishing 

specific guidelines for determining appropriate actions within the bed and banks of the 

Merced River that do not constitute a direct and adverse effect on the river’s free-flowing 

condition, water quality, or other values. 

 The Merced River Plan’s specific programs, including user capacity, ecological restoration, 

and ongoing monitoring revise and augment the previous broad direction provided in the 

General Management Plan. 

 The management actions and site planning presented in Alternative 5 for Yosemite Valley, 

El Portal, and Wawona would revise previous site planning actions proposed in the General 

Management Plan.

Please refer to Table A-2 for a complete list amendments to specific actions of the General 

Management Plan that would result from the Merced River Plan. 
APPENDIX A 

A-2 Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS

MANAGEMENT GOALS 

The General Management Plan establishes five broad goals for managing Yosemite National Park (NPS 

1980: 1-4): 

 Reclaim priceless natural beauty 

 Allow natural processes to prevail 

 Promote visitor understanding and enjoyment 

 Markedly reduce traffic congestion 

 Reduce crowding 

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires comprehensive planning of designated rivers to provide for 

the protection of the river’s free-flowing character and the values that make it worthy of designation. It 

directs that the plan shall address “resource protection, development of lands and facilities, user 

capacities, and other management practices necessary or desirable to achieve the purposes of this Act.” 

While the focus of this river management plan is on the Merced River as a unit of the national wild and 

scenic rivers system, the plan also provides long-term, comprehensive guidance for protecting the 

values of the Merced River that support its inclusion in the national park system and the national 

wilderness preservation. 

The Merced River Plan was developed to be in keeping with the five broad goals of the General 

Management Plan, however its overarching goals are to be in keeping with the mandates of the Wild and 

Scenic Rivers Act. Namely, these are to preserve designated rivers in their free- flowing condition and 

to protect and enhance the river’s ORVs. The goals of the General Management Plan and those of the 

Merced River Plan are intertwined; no one goal can be emphasized to the complete exclusion of the 

others. 

PURPOSE OF THE WILD AND SCENIC RIVER 

The General Management Plan sets forth the purposes of the park and the important resources and 

values that guide resource management, visitor use, and park operations (NPS 1980: 5-10). The 

Merced River Plan establishes what the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act calls, “outstandingly remarkable 

values” for the river. These are the unique, rare, and exemplary characteristics of the river that make it 

stand apart from all other rivers in the nation. These ORVs, along with water quality and the river’s 

free-flowing condition, are central to the overarching purpose of wild and scenic river management: to 

protect and enhance these values while allowing public enjoyment, education, and recreation now and 

in the future. 

The Merced River Plan augments the park’s General Management Plan by further articulating these 

important river-related values for the Merced Wild and Scenic River.
Specific Amendments to the 1980 Yosemite General 

Management Plan Resulting from the Merced River Plan 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS A-3 

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES 

The General Management Plan sets forth a number of Management Objectives that guide resource 

management, visitor use, and park operations (NPS 1980: 5-10). The Merced River Plan amends the 

General Management Plan by providing additional detailed guidance to park managers on how to 

achieve management objectives for the Merced River corridor. 

The Merced River Plans’ management elements include boundaries, classifications, ORVs, Section 7 

determination process, a user capacity program, an ecological restoration program, an ongoing 

monitoring program, management actions needed to protect and enhance river values, and actions to 

address facilities and land use. Taken together, these elements further guide resource management, 

visitor use, and park operations within the Merced River corridor. 

Projects within the river corridor must protect and enhance ORVs and be consistent with the other 

elements of the Merced River Plan. There may be occasions when two or more river values may be in 

conflict with one another. For example, the protection and enhancement of free-flowing condition 

may not be compatible with the protection of historic structures identified as ORVs that are located in 

the bed and banks of the river. When conflicts such as these arise, the managing agency must 

determine appropriate trade-offs to best mange the river system as a whole. Projects adjacent to the 

river corridor must protect ORVs, and depending on location, may need to undergo a Section 7 review 

if they affect the bed or banks of the river. 

As a result of the above, the following is to be inserted on page 5 of the 1980 General Management Plan, 

after the first paragraph under “Management Objectives:” 

The management objectives for the Merced River corridor focus on protecting and enhancing river 

values. These objectives are presented first in Chapter 5 of the Merced River Plan and summarized in 

Table A-1 of this document to demonstrate how they correspond to management objectives set forth 

in the 1980 General Management Plan. 

LAND MANAGEMENT ZONING 

The 1980 General Management Plan divided the park into several zones based on management 

objectives, significance of the resources, and legislative constraints. The zoning plan described the land 

use policies that management would work to achieve over the life span of the plan. 

Much of the Merced River corridor exists within what are referred to as natural zones (including 

Wilderness Subzone, Environmental Protection Subzone, Outstanding Natural Feature subzone, 

Natural Environment Subzone, etc.). The Merced River Plan establishes boundaries and classifications 

for the river in accordance with the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. While no additional zoning was 

established as a management tool in this plan, the management guidance provided in this Merced 

River Plan would remain consistent with the guidance established in these zones. 
APPENDIX A 

A-4 Merced Wild and Scenic River Compreh

TABLE A-1: MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR FREE FLOW, WATER QUALITY, AND OUTSTANDINGLY REMARKABLE VALUES

River Value General Management Plan Management Objectives Merced River Plan Management OFREE-FLOWING CHARACTER (All Segments) 

Restore altered ecosystems as nearly as possible to conditions they would be in today had natural ecological processes not been disturbed 

Reduce the overall amount of human-construbed and banks of the Merced River through rother appropriate methods. 

WATER QUALITY (All Segments) 

Limit unnatural sources of air, noise, visual and water pollution to the greatest degree possible. 

Maintain exceptional water quality on all segmwithin Yosemite National Park and El Portal A

BIOLOGICAL VLAUES 

ORV 1. Numerous small meadows and riparian habitat IN (Segments 1 and 5) 

Restore and maintain natural terrestrial, aquatic, and atmospheric ecosystems so they may operate essentially unimpaired 

Manage human use in meadows and riparian River corridor to maintain high ecological con

fragmentation; and protect the integrity of st

ecosystem processes associated with meadow 

ORV2. Meadows and riparian communities of Yosemite Valley (Segment 2) 

See above (ORV 1) The NPS would manage public use of meadow

the Merced River corridor to minimize habitat high ecological condition, and protect the intconserve ecosystem processes associated with ecological function. 

ORV 3. Sierra sweet bay (Segments 7 and 8) 

Protect threatened and endangered plant and animal species and reintroduce, where practical, those species eliminated from natural ecosystems 

Manage the Sierra sweet bay population to p

population along the South Fork Merced Rive

GEOLOGIC/HYDROLOGIC VALUES 

ORV 4. Upper Merced River canyon (Segment 1) 

See above (ORV 1) Manage to allow natural processes to shape t

geologic values. 

ORV 5. The “Giant Staircase “ (Segment 2) 

See above (ORV 1) Manage to allow natural processes to shape t

geologic values. 

ORV 6. Midelevation alluvial river (Segment 2) 

See above (ORV 1) Protect and enhance natural geologic and hy

overbank flooding and channel migration, wh

as meadow and riparian communities. 

ORV 7. El Portal Boulder Bar 

See above (ORV 1) Manage to allow natural processes to shape t

geologic values. 
Specific Amendments to 

Management Plan Resulting f

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS 

TABLE A-1: MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR FREE FLOW, WATER QUALITY, AND OUTSTANDINGLY REMARKABLE VALUES

River Value General Management Plan Management Objectives Merced River Plan Management O

CULTURAL VALUES 

ORV 8. Yosemite Valley ethnographic resources (Segment 2) 

Preserve, protect, or restore significant cultural resources (historic and prehistoric) Identify, evaluate and determine the significance of cultural resources encompassing buildings, structures, sites and objects Provide for the preservation, restoration, or protection of these significant cultural resources Permit only those uses that are compatible with the preservation of significant cultural resources. 

Maintain ethnographic resources, and encour

meet cultural restoration purposes to the exteSupport access for traditional practitioners anassociated American Indians through the admuser capacity and non-recreational tribal pass consultation with traditionally associated tribasuccess of these programs. 

ORV 9. Yosemite Valley Archeological District (Segment 2) 

See above (ORV 8) Ensure protection and enhancement of the Y

District as a whole, and ensure that human imaffecting the district’s essential character and 

ORV 10. Yosemite Valley Historic Resources 

See above (ORV 8) The Yosemite Valley Historic Resources ORV w

protection and enhancement of this historic dsetting. Protection and enhancement entails edo not adversely affect (per WSRA) the colleccharacteristics of the Yosemite Valley Historic corridor, described above. While individual el

may be lost, the collective of elements will coimportant historic patterns of development in the important landscape characteristics of the District. 

ORV 11. El Portal Archeological District (Segment 4) 

See above (ORV 8) Archeological sites within the El Portal Archeo

monitored to ensure protection and enhance

whole, and to ensure that human impacts are district’s essential character and integrity. 

ORV 12. Rock Ring Features (Segment 5) 

See above (ORV 8) Prehistoric archeological sites with rock rings 

Merced River above Wawona will be monitorimpacts do not adversely affect the essential csites. 

ORV 13. Wawona Archeological District (Segments 5-8) 

See above (ORV 8) Archeological sites within the Wawona Arche

monitored to ensure protection and enhancewhole, and to ensure that human impacts are district’s essential character and integrity. 

ORV 14. Wawona Historic Resources 

See above (ORV 8) These structures will be managed to ensure t

enhancement of their historical integrity. Protensure that management actions, including m

not adversely impact the ORV. 
APPENDIX A 

A-6 Merced Wild and Scenic River Compreh

TABLE A-1: MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR FREE FLOW, WATER QUALITY, AND OUTSTANDINGLY REMARKABLE VALUES

River Value General Management Plan Management Objectives Merced River Plan Management O

SCENIC VALUES 

Scenic Value ORV 15.Montaine lakes, pristine meadows, slickrock cascades, and High Sierra peaks (Segment 1) 

Identify the major scenic resources and the places from which they are viewed Provide for the preservation or protection of existing scenic resources and viewing stations Provide for historic views through vista clearing Permit only those levels and types of use that are compatible with the preservation or protection of the scenic resources and with the quality of the viewing experience 

The NPS will focus efforts primarily on develoWhile visitor density or encounter rates can aappreciate scenery, visitor use is more approp

Recreation ORV. Similarly, bare soils and river foreground views, but are better addressed bhigh country segment is also susceptible to rethe NPS will participate in regional efforts to activity contributes only to highly localized air would maintain the visitors’ ability to experienORV by providing a river corridor that is relati

ORV 16. Iconic scenery of Yosemite Valley (Segment 2) 

See above (ORV 15) Segment 2 is the most highly accessible portio

visited by the greatest numbers of park visitohighest levels of service and accommodations 

NPS has the greatest obligation to manage viand to protect and enhance the conditions thpossible viewing experiences. The NPS will remfrom the river corridor and ensure that all futobjectives that provide low contrast ratings uanalysis: form, line, color and texture. A Sensfor Yosemite Valley (NPS 2004) established arguidelines that are intended to promote harmnatural environments. 

ORV 17. Continuous cascade under Sierra outcrops and domes (Segment 3) 

See above (ORV 15) Segment 3 is classified as a scenic reach of th

Portal Road, and will be managed to promote river, from roadside pullouts, and from the rodevelopment is precluded. 

ORV 18. Vast scenic beauty (segments 5 and 8) 

See above (ORV 15) The NPS will maintain primitive conditions in 

the river, within the river corridor and beyondmanage visitor use through the Wilderness pevegetation through prescribed fire and contro

necessary and appropriate. 
Specific Amendments to 

Management Plan Resulting f

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS 

TABLE A-1: MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR FREE FLOW, WATER QUALITY, AND OUTSTANDINGLY REMARKABLE VALUES

River Value General Management Plan Management Objectives Merced River Plan Management O

RECREATIONAL VALUES 

ORV 19. Wildernessoriented recreation (Segment 1) 

Assist all people in understanding, enjoying, and contributing to the preservation of the natural, cultural, and scenic resources Provide only for those types and levels of programs and activities that enhance visitor understanding and enjoyment of park resources 

Provide for high quality river-related recreatiotoward Wilderness values of unconfined, self-experiences in a setting that is consistent with the area. 

ORV 20. Yosemite Valley recreation (Segment 2) 

Assist all people in understanding, enjoying, and contributing to the preservation of the natural, cultural, and scenic resources Provide only for those types and levels of programs and activities that enhance visitor understanding and enjoyment of park resources Permit only those levels and types of accommodations and services necessary for visitor use and enjoyment of Yosemite Provide transportation services that facilitate visitor circulation and enhance preservation and enjoyment of park resources 

Provide for a diversity of high quality river-relaopportunities that allow visitors to directly coenvirons amidst the spectacular scenery of Yo
APPENDIX A 

A-8 Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS

POLICIES AND PROGRAMS 

The 1980 General Management Plan established a visitor carrying capacity that was based on the capacity 

of facilities and infrastructure in the park at that time (NPS 1980: 15-19). The plan recommended 

changes to the kinds and levels of development to fulfill and support the plan’s objectives. 

Understanding of visitor uses and capacities has expanded and changed since the General Management 

Plan was published; similarly, the Wild and Scenic Rivers system has also expanded to include the 

Merced, South Fork Merced, and Tuolumne Rivers in Yosemite. Litigation on the Merced Wild and 

Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan resulted in additional directives regarding the 

establishment of “specific numerical limits” as part of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act mandate to 

address user capacity. 

For these reasons, the visitor use limits and rationale proposed in the 1980 General Management Plan 

have been revised. Alternative 5 from the Merced River Plan proposes a user capacity program that 

establishes the kinds and amounts of visitor use that can be permitted while protecting and enhancing 

river values in the Merced River corridor, including a maximum number of people. This includes 

specific measurable limits on day and overnight use levels for each river segment. The Merced River 

Plan also establishes a program of indicators and standards to assess the condition of river values over 

time to ensure that these limits and management programs continue to be protective of all river values 

(see Chapter 6). 

This new user capacity program will guide each new planning effort undertaken in the Merced River 

corridor and will therefore amend the General Management Plan for areas within the Merced corridor 

as regards user capacity. The following specific sections are added to page 15 of the 1980 General 

Management Plan: 

 The first paragraph under “Park Policies and Programs” shall have this addition: 

Parkwide policies and programs with respect to visitor use, Indian cultural programs, 

park operations and visitor protection described in this section have been amended by the 

Merced River Plan for all areas within the Merced River corridor. 

 The first paragraph under “Visitor Use” shall have this addition: 

The sections below that address appropriate activities, visitor use levels, visitor facilities and 

services, overnight accommodations, concessions, regional cooperation, transportation, 

interpretation, and provisions for special populations will be guided by the management 

elements of the Merced River Plan. Visitor use levels and activities are further guided by, 

and must comply with, the management elements of the Merced River Plan. In the event of a 

conflict between Parkwide Policies and Programs in the General Management Plan and 

specific elements of the Merced River Plan, the Merced River Plan will control. 

 The first paragraph under “Visitor Use Levels” shall have this addition: 

The section below that addresses visitor use levels, visitor facilities and services, overnight 

accommodations, and transportation for the Merced River corridor in Yosemite Valley, 

El Portal, and Wawona is amended by the Merced River Plan. Specifically, General 
Specific Amendments to the 1980 Yosemite General 

Management Plan Resulting from the Merced River Plan 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS A-9 

Management Plan visitor use levels for Yosemite Valley, El Portal, and Wawona are no 

longer in effect. These visitor use levels are superseded by the user capacity management 

program in the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan. 

 The table on page 17 under “Visitor Use Levels” shall have these additions: 

TABLE A-2: USER CAPACITY AMENDMENTS TO THE GMP FOR SEGMENT 2 

GMP	 Current	management	or	

“No	action”	

Alternative	5:		

Enhanced	experiences	

and	essential	riverbank	

restoration	

Visitor overnight capacity		

Camping	 ~3,301	 2,892	 4,032	

Lodging	 ~4,410	 3,672	 3,697	

Total 7,711 6,564 7,729

Visitor day‐use capacity

Day	parking	 ~3,685	 7,260	 7,549	

Regional	transit	 ~6,845	293	 684	

Tour	buses	 720	 720	

Total 10,530 8,272 8,954

Administrative capacity

Employee	housing	 480	 1,315	 1,136	

Employee	day	parking	 Not	Specified	 332	 332	

Total 480 1,647 1,468

TOTAL SEGMENT CAPACITY		 ~18,721 16,483 18,151

TABLE A-3: USER CAPACITY AMENDMENTS TO THE GMP FOR SEGMENT 3 

GMP	 Current	management	or	

“No	action”	

Alternative	5:		

Enhanced	experiences	

and	essential	riverbank	

restoration	

Visitor overnight capacity		

People	at	one	time	at	parking	

areas	

Not	Specified	 470	 470	

People	at	one	time	on	roadway		 Not	Specified	 399	 399	

Total Not	Specified 869 869

Administrative capacity

Employee	housing	 0	 9	 9	

Administrative	day	parking	 Not	Specified	 4	 4	

Total Not	Specified 13 13

TOTAL SEGMENT CAPACITY		 Not	Specified 882 882
APPENDIX A 

A-10 Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS

TABLE A-4: USER CAPACITY AMENDMENTS TO GMP FOR SEGMENT 4 

GMP	 Current	management	or	

“No	action”	

Alternative	5:		

Enhanced	experiences	

and	essential	riverbank	

restoration	

Visitor day‐use capacity

People	at	one	time	at	parking	

areas	 ~392	 740	 740	

Administrative capacity

People	in	residential	housing		 680	 192	 288	

Administrative	staff	PAOT	 Not	Specified	 1,220	 1,220	

TOTAL SEGMENT CAPACITY		 ~1,072 2,152 2,248

TABLE A-5: USER CAPACITY AMENDMENTS TO GMP FOR SEGMENTS 6 AND 7 

GMP	 Current	management	or	

“No	action”	

Alternative	5:		

Enhanced	experiences	

and	essential	riverbank	

restoration	

Visitor overnight capacity		

Wawona	Hotel	 ~345	 247	 247	

Wawona	Campgrounds	 ~1,980	 618	 540	

Visitor day‐use capacity

Day	parking	 Not	Specified	 911	 911	

Regional	transit	 Not	Specified	 0	 311	

Tour	buses	 Not	Specified	 384	 384	

Administrative capacity

Employee	housing		 410	 121	 121	

Administrative	day	use		 Not	Specified	 60	 60	

TOTAL SEGMENT CAPACITY		 ~2,735 2,368 2,574

DEVELOPED AREA PLANS 

The General Management Plan contained Developed Area Plans for the Yosemite Valley, El Portal and 

Wawona within the Merced River corridor (NPS 1980: 62-65). Future plans for Yosemite Valley, 

El Portal and Wawona must comply with the management elements of the Merced River Plan 

(boundaries, classifications, Outstandingly Remarkable Values and their protection, Section 7 

determination process, user capacity program, restoration program, monitoring program, and 

management actions). Therefore, the development concepts presented in the General Management 

Plan have been amended by Alternative 5 of the Merced River Plan. 
Specific Amendments to the 1980 Yosemite General 

Management Plan Resulting from the Merced River Plan 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS A-11 

The Merced River Plan will provide guidance for any future development or redevelopment activities 

within the Merced River corridor, including the development concepts as described in the 1980 

General Management Plan. While some of the General Management Plan’s site planning goals are 

compatible with those established in the Merced River Plan, the range of site planning alternatives for 

the Merced River Plan has been developed with particular focus on the protection of river values. To 

the extent that any development concept presented in the General Management Plan would not 

comply with the elements of the Merced River Plan, that development concept is superseded by the 

Merced River Plan. Therefore the specific actions called for in the Yosemite Valley, El Portal, and 

Wawona sections of the General Management Plan are replaced by those management actions called 

for in the Merced River Plan, which has ensured that all actions protect and enhance river values. 

Actions adjacent to the river corridor but outside of the river boundary must also protect the Merced 

River’s established Outstandingly Remarkable Values. 

For this reason, the following paragraph is to be inserted into the General Management Plan on 

page 32: 

Future plans for the Yosemite Village, Yosemite Lodge, Curry Village, the Ahwahnee, Yosemite 

Valley Campgrounds, Other Valley Areas, Cascades, Arch Rock, El Portal, and Wawona must 

comply with the management elements of the Merced River Plan (river boundaries, river 

classifications, Outstandingly Remarkable Values, Section 7 determination process, user capacity 

management program, ecological restoration program, monitoring program, and management 

actions). To the extent that any development concepts presented in the General Management Plan 

do not comply with the elements of the Merced River Plan, that development concept would be 

superseded by the Merced River Plan. Actions adjacent to the river corridor but outside of the river 

boundary must also protect the Merced River’s established Outstandingly Remarkable Values.

A more detailed list of the specific actions that would be amended by the Merced River Plan is 

included in Table A-7. 

Wilderness 

The General Management Plan was published four years before the Yosemite Wilderness was 

designated in 1984. Although the area encompassed by Segments 1 and 5 were not designated as 

wilderness at the time the General Management Plan was written, backcountry management objectives 

were established, along with zones, capacities, and visitor use management strategies. 

The Merced River Plan would continue to steward the wild segments of the river in accordance with 

provisions of the Wilderness Act and overarching goals for backcountry management as articulated in 

the General Management Plan. Furthermore, 1,900 acres within Little Yosemite Valley would continue 

to be managed as wilderness as indicated in the General Management Plan. An upcoming Wilderness 

Stewardship Plan will provide further guidance on wilderness activities in the river corridor. 
APPENDIX A 

A-12 Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS

TABLE A-6: USER CAPACITY AMENDMENTS TO THE GMP FOR SEGMENTS 1 AND 5 

GMP	 Current	management	or	

“No	action”	

Alternative	5:		

Enhanced	experiences	

and	essential	riverbank	

restoration	

Visitor overnight capacity		

	Wilderness	zone	user	capacities	

LYV	Zone	 Not	Specified	 150	 150	

Merced	Lake	Zone	 Not	Specified	 50	 50	

Washburn	Lake	Zone	 Not	Specified	 100	 100	

Mount	Lyell	Zone	 Not	Specified	 10	 10	

Clark	Range	Zone	 Not	Specified	 10	 10	

South	Fork	Zone	 Not	Specified	 15	 15	

Johnson	Creek	 Not	Specified	 5	 5	

Chilnualna	Creek	 Not	Specified	 0	 0	

Merced	Lake	HSC	 Not	Specified	 60	 42	

Total Not	Specified 400 382

Visitor day‐use capacity

Half	Dome	“pass	through”	use	 Not	Specified	 300	 300	

Other	day	use	 Not	Specified	 50	 50	

Total Not	Specified 350 350

Administrative capacity

		Employee	housing	 Not	Specified	 15	 15	

	Administrative	day	patrols	 Not	Specified	 10	 10	

Total Not	Specified 25 25

TOTAL SEGMENT CAPACITY Not	Specified 775 757

The Merced River Plan would revise and augment management of commercial use throughout the river 

corridor consistent with the Extent Necessary Determination (Appendix L). 
Specific Amendments 

Management Plan Resultin

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS 

Facility/Service/Activity GMP CSP Amendment 

ALL SEGMENTS: Visitor Use Picnicking Provide additional opportunities 

for picnicking in Yosemite Valley 

Lower River: Add 8 picnic ta

Swinging Bridge: Delineate 

revegetating the river terrace approximately 50 feet from thmark. Sentinel Beach: Redesign thlocation to accommodate picCathedral Beach: Direct use 

Remove parking in the ripariaplant appropriate vegetation Remove infrastructure (toiletsin the 10-year floodplain. 

SEGMENT 1: Merced Lake High Sierra Camp Lodging 56 tent cabins at 5 locations Retain the Merced Lake High 

capacity to 11 units (42 beds)with composting toilet.

SEGMENT 2: Yosemite Valley Transportation Valley Shuttle New bus service at El Portal, 

Crane Flat and Wawona 

Improve operation, expand service Expand shuttle system to Wes

Construct shuttle bus stops aMeadow 

Regional Transit Integration with regional 

transportation systems 

Expanded regional public tranFresno and Yosemite Valley 

Transportation System Traffic controls at Pohono and 

El Capitan crossovers to restrict access when daily limits are reached 

Transportation fees at entranYosemite Valley day-use parkseason 

Private Vehicles Private vehicles ultimately 

excluded from Yosemite Valley 

No ultimate exclusion of priva

SEGMENT 2: Employee Housing Yosemite Valley Concessioner Employee Housing 

450 Concessioner Employee Housing Beds 

 972 concessioner beds in Yos

housing with 439 beds removwith 318 beds replaced in Yo
APPENDIX A 

A-14 Merced Wild and Scenic River Compre

Facility/Service/Activity GMP CSP Amendment 

SEGMENT 2: Employee Housing (cont.) Tecoya Dorms and Ahwahnee Row Retain 34 homes at Upper Tecoya 

Remove 22 Ahwahnee Row residences 

Housing and development beAhwahnee Meadow remain. 

Yosemite Lodge Remove 48 tent cabins 

Retain dormitory housing for 200 concessioner employees 

Remove old and temporary hand the Thousands Cabins. Cconcessioner housing areas h(26 in each structure/double o78 employee parking spaces. 

Curry Village Remove 75 tent cabins/ Retain 

75 tent cabins to accommodate 150 employees 

Temporary housing at Huff Hremoved. Construct 16 buildiusing the same dormitory pro

Concessioner Stables Not Specified Retain associated housing (25 SEGMENT 2: East Yosemite Valley Campgrounds Showers Add concessioner-operated showers 

at major campgrounds 

Not mentioned. 

Yosemite Valley Campgrounds Remove campsites and other 

development adjacent to the river 

 Remove all campsites within 

high-water mark. Restore 6.5 Designate river access point a

Backpacker’s Campground Not mentioned 26 sites total (15 removed, 16 Upper Pines 240 sites (18 removed) 238 campsites 

Remove 2 sites for cultural reAdd 36 RV sites Add 51 walk-in sites including 

Lower Pines 173 sites (22 removed) 71 sites (5 removed from 100North Pines 86 sites (25 removed) 72 sites (14 removed from 10Upper River Campground 109 sites (15 removed) 32 sites Lower River Campground 102 sites (36 removed) 40 walk-in sites Muir Tree and Sunnyside (Camp 4) Walk-In Campgrounds 

58 sites Muir Tree not mentioned. 

70 walk-in sites (add 35 sites) 

Group Campground (Yellow Pines?) 14 sites 4 group sites (up to 120 peop
Specific Amendments 

Management Plan Resultin

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS 

Facility/Service/Activity GMP CSP Amendment 

SEGMENT 2: Ahwahnee Hotel Area Lodging 123 Same Restaurant, Bar, Sweet Shop, Gift Shop 

 Dining room with 360 seats inside, 

65 seats outside Retain bar, sweet shop, and gift shop

Same 

Golf Course and Tennis Courts Golf course and tennis courts 

removed 

Same 

Hotel Services Typical deluxe hotel services: 

doorman, bell service, room service, concierge, etc. 

Remove pool. 

Parking 132 spaces 231 spaces (formalize and adSEGMENT 2: Yosemite Village Area Village Store Grocery, deli, photo service (close 

4-hour developing), recycling redemption center, transportation kiosk, gift shop and Village Grill (20 inside seats); remove beauty shop, uniform center, enlarge restrooms 

Village Store and Grill retaineVillage Sport Shop repurpose

Concessioner Garage Remove Valley Garage from 

Yosemite Valley 

Remove Concessioner Garage functions to Government Util

Bank Remove sales office; move 

ATM/check cashing to another location; adapt use for art activity center 

Repurpose the Village Sport Sremove the Arts and Activitie

Concessioner General Offices Retain Concessioner Headquarters 

Building 

Remove building, relocate functions Building is removed from rive

Essential functions infilled into existing Concessioner MainteBuilding behind Valley Visitor 

NPS Headquarters Relocate NPS headquarters to 

El Portal 

 Not mentioned 

Concessioner Fire Station Remove existing building, construct 

new fire station 

Not mentioned 
APPENDIX A 

A-16 Merced Wild and Scenic River Compre

Facility/Service/Activity GMP CSP Amendment 

SEGMENT 2: Yosemite Village Area (cont.) Housekeeping Remove 68 units (34 buildings) 

and retain 232 units 

Retain small camp store Retain shower and coin-operated laundry 

Remove 34 lodging units and ordinary high water mark. Reunits. Remove the grocery sto

SEGMENT 2: Yosemite Lodge Lodging Retain 440 units (Subject to minor 

design-related adjustments.) 

Retain 245 units 

Restaurant, Bar, Store, Gift Shop Retain with approximately 640 seats 

inside, 40 outside; remodel within existing service area Design smaller bar elsewhere in restaurant complex Retain gift shop; remove clothing sales, use space for information, interpretation 

Not mentioned 

Bike Stand Move to site near bike trail Remove bike rental Swimming Pool and Snack Stand Remove swimming pool and Service station Redesign 27 mini-service pumps Not mentioned Post Office Remove post office Same Residence 1 Remove Residence 1, Garage, and 

access road 

Relocate Residence 1 (the SupNPS housing area and rehabilSecretary of the Interior's StaHistoric Properties (NPS 1995Report (2012). 

SEGMENT 2: Curry Village Total Lodging Units 420 (subject to minor design-related 

adjustments ) 

453 

Stoneman House 18 18 Cabin Rooms 252 145 Cabins without baths 0 0 Tent Cabins 150 290 
Specific Amendments 

Management Plan Resultin

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS 

Facility/Service/Activity GMP CSP Amendment 

SEGMENT 2: Curry Village (cont.) Food Service, Bar, Merchandise Redesign food service and fast-food 

units; approximately 370seats inside; Relocate bar away from picnic setting; Redesign Meadow Deck building for combined mountaineering center and sports shop, enlarge grocery store, add deli, separate gift shop 

Retain Curry grocery store, piand cafeteria, and swimming 

Ice Rink, Bike, Ski, and Raft Rental Retain and redesign ice rink 

Provide bike rental at ice rink Redesign Meadow Deck building with space allocated for cross country ski rental Retain raft rental near ice rink 

Remove the Happy Isles snack rink. 

Happy Isles Snack Stand Retain seasonal operation Remove Happy Isles Snack StaIce Rink Parking Remove 25 spaces Curry Dump Parking Remove 160 spaces Shoulder parking at east end of tent cabin area 

Remove 10 spaces 

Curry Orchard Remove 200 spaces 430 spaces SEGMENT 2: Concessioner Stables Concessioner Stables Move stables from river bottom to 

old Curry dump sites 

Retain Concessioner Stables icurrent configuration. Kennecommercial day horseback ridRetain associated housing (25 

Commercial Horseback Rides Retain services including various 

rides in Yosemite Valley, to valley rim areas and overnight, limit valley routes, require interpretation, discontinue pony rides 

Eliminate commercial day horValley. 

Kennel Retain at stables Same 
APPENDIX A 

A-18 Merced Wild and Scenic River Compre

Facility/Service/Activity GMP CSP Amendment 

SEGMENT 2: West Valley Former Bridalveil Sewage Treatment Plant 

Remove sewage treatment plant and ponds near Bridalveil Meadow and restore area 

 Same 

SEGMENTS 3-4: Gorge and El Portal Arch Rock Residences Remove 2 residences Not mentioned Visitor Services Provide information/reservation 

station and develop a community museum at the Bagby station 

 Not mentioned 

Commercial Facilities Provide automobile service, 

restaurants, grocery store, clothing and gift sales, bank, beauty and barber shop 

 Not mentioned 

Remote Parking 150 spaces (Greenmeyer Sandpit) 200 spaces (Abbieville/El PortOther Facilities and Services NPS Administration Building Not mentioned  Concessioner Administrative 

Building 

 Not mentioned 

NPS and concessioner maintenance, warehousing, laundry and bus service 

 Not mentioned 

NPS and concessioner open storage 

 Not mentioned 

Residential amenities including community recreation and services, open space and landscaping, utilities, meeting hall, fire station, post office, and law enforcement facilities 

 Not mentioned 

SEGMENTS 3-4: Employee Housing NPS Employees 70permanent and 80 seasonal Not mentioned Concessioner Employees 390 permanent, 60 seasonal 84 beds in Rancheria Flat 

12 beds constructed in Old El 
Specific Amendments 

Management Plan Resultin

Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / DEIS 

Facility/Service/Activity GMP CSP Amendment 

SEGMENTS 3-4: Employee Housing (cont.) Other Employees Permanent and seasonal housing 

for other employees (about 80) 

 Not mentioned 

SEGMENT 5-8: Wawona Wawona Hotel Lodging 104 Same Wawona Hotel Commercial Services 

Retain golf course, stables, tennis court and swimming pool 

Redesign store and gift shop to historic scene Retain dining room bar service Retain hotel dining room, golf shop snack bar, add small restaurant outside hotel complex: approximately 170 seats inside, 50 outside 

Retain golf course, tennis couswimming pool. The stables operation and day 

Wawona Hotel Parking Remove parking from in front of 

the hotel complex and construct a 145-car area north of complex. Provide 50 day use parking spaces adjacent to Wawona Hotel complex 

 Not mentioned 

Chilnualna Trailhead Parking Provide trailhead parking (50 

spaces) at Chilnualna Falls trailhead 

 Not mentioned 

Pioneer History Center Parking Redesign parking area so users 

are not required to cross traffic 

 Not mentioned 

Wawona Campground 100 sites 30-person group camp; 

Relocate campground amphitheater 

 83 sites 

Remove 13 sites that are eithriver or in culturally sensitive a

Wawona Stock Campground Retain 25-horse campground 2 sites relocated to area near 

Yard. 

Section 35 Camping Construct 200-site campground in 

Section 35 

 Not mentioned 

Picnicking Provide additional picnicking and 

parking areas as needed 

Increase the number of picnic more picnicking near the stor
APPENDIX A 

A-20 Merced Wild and Scenic River Compre

Facility/Service/Activity GMP CSP Amendment 

SEGMENT 5-8: Wawona (cont.) Transportation Provide winter bus service to 

Badger Pass and year-round bus service to Yosemite Valley 

Expand shuttle system to Wes

SEGMENTS 5-8: Employee Housing Wawona Employee Housing 410 121