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

Providing Access and Protecting Resources

Merced Wild and Scenic River

Final Comprehensive Management Plan 

and Environmental Impact Statement

Volume 3A: Appendices A–L

February 2014
Merced Wild and Scenic River

Final Comprehensive Management 

Plan and Environmental Impact 

Statement 

Volume 3A: Appendices A-L 

February 2014 

Yosemite National Park

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior
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APPENDIX A

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 

1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction................................................................................................................................................ A-1

Why the Final Merced River Plan/EIS amends the 1980 Yosemite General Management Plan .................. A-1

Elements of a Comprehensive Management Plan.................................................................................... A-1

Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan .................................................................... A-3

Introduction (GMP Pages 1-4)................................................................................................................. A-3

Management Objectives (GMP Pages 5-12)............................................................................................. A-5

Land Management Zoning (GMP Pages 10-14) ....................................................................................... A-8

Parkwide Policies and Programs (GMP Pages 15 – 30) ............................................................................. A-9

Developed Area Plans (GMP Pages 31 – 76).......................................................................................... A-15

Wilderness ................................................................................................................................................ A-30

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
APPENDICES

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Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
APPENDIX A

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE

1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this appendix is to describe the ways in which the Merced Wild and Scenic River Final 

Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Final Merced River Plan/EIS) would 

revise the 1980 Yosemite General Management Plan (1980 GMP). Because the Merced River was designated 

“Wild and Scenic” in 1987, seven years after the 1980 GMP was published, the National Park Service (NPS) 

must re-evaluate the actions called for in the 1980 GMP against the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (WSRA) 

mandate to protect and enhance river values. 

Once completed, the Final Merced River Plan/EIS will provide direction for the management of the 81 miles 

of the Merced Wild and Scenic River under the jurisdiction of the NPS. Although Alternative 5 (Preferred) 

from the Final Merced River Plan/EIS integrates numerous actions called for in the 1980 GMP that provide 

for public use and enjoyment of the river resource and that do not adversely impact river values, it proposes 

a number of actions that differ from what was presented in the 1980 GMP. This appendix identifies the 

various changes that would be made to the 1980 GMP if the NPS adopts Alternative 5 (Preferred) from the

Final Merced River Plan/EIS. 

Why the Final Merced River Plan/EIS amends the 1980 Yosemite General 

Management Plan

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act directs river-managing agencies to prepare comprehensive management 

plans for each Wild and Scenic River. WSRA 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, Congress specifically envisioned that the National 

Park Service would fulfill the comprehensive management plan requirements of the Act through 

“appropriate revisions” to the park’s General Management Plan and that such revisions “shall assure that no 

development or use of park lands shall be undertaken that is inconsistent with the designation of such river 

segments” under WSRA. 

Elements of a Comprehensive Management Plan

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires a comprehensive plan for a designated river to provide for the 

protection of the river’s water quality and free-flowing character and other values that make it worthy of 

designation. The Act 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.” The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act also requires that boundaries and segment classifications be 

adopted for each river. The Final Merced River Plan/EIS addresses all of these legal requirements.

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-1 
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

River Corridor Boundary and Segment Classifications

Alternative 5 (Preferred) proposes a river corridor boundary of one-quarter mile from each side of the river. 

This boundary defines the extent of the river corridor within Yosemite National Park and the El Portal 

Administrative Site. Alternative 5 (Preferred) also proposes segment classifications for each of the eight river 

segments. The segment classifications of wild, scenic or recreational would guide and limit future land use 

and development within each segment to ensure that each segment maintains its classification status. 

River Values and Their Management

The Final Merced River Plan/EIS revises the 1980 GMP by articulating the rare, unique, or exemplary and 

river-related values that make the river worthy of designation as Wild and Scenic. Depending on the 

segment, these values include biological, hydrological/geological, scenic, cultural, and recreational values. 

Each river value is discussed in detail in Chapter 5 of the Final Merced River Plan/EIS, including a summary 

of its current condition, associated management concerns and specific actions needed to protect the river 

value. This river- value analysis is the foundation from which all alternatives were developed. 

Visitor Use and User Capacity Management

The user capacity element of the Final Merced River Plan/EIS was developed to conform to federal court 

rulings interpreting the WSRA requirement that comprehensive management plans must “address...user 

capacities.” In an opinion regarding an earlier version of the Merced River Plan, the U.S. Court of Appeals 

for the Ninth Circuit interpreted the Act’s user capacity requirement to mean that the Merced River Plan

“must deal with or discuss the maximum number of people that can be received in the river area,” and that 

the NPS must “adopt specific limits on user capacity consistent with both the WSRA and the instruction of 

the Secretarial Guidelines that such limits describe an actual level of visitor use that will not adversely 

impact the Merced’s ORVs”.1 Alternative 5 (Preferred) in the Final Merced River Plan/EIS includes a variety 

of numeric visitor capacities and facility capacities for each river segment. These capacities were derived 

from a series of analyses which are discussed in greater detail in Chapters 5 and 7, and in Appendix S of the 

Final Merced River Plan/EIS. The 1980 GMP did not take river values into consideration when determining 

the visitor use and facility capacities contained in the GMP. If Alternative 5 (Preferred) from the Final 

Merced River Plan/EIS is selected for implementation, it would result in a number of discrete revisions to the 

1980 GMP in terms of visitor use levels and the size of facilities in the river corridor. 

Development of Lands and Facilities

The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act also requires that comprehensive management plans address “development 

of lands and facilities” in the river area.2 The 1982 Final Revised Guidelines for Eligibility, Classification, and 

Management of River Areas Secretarial Guidelines (1982 Secretarial Guidelines) provide direction on the 

types of facilities that may be located within river areas. The Guidelines provide that major public use 

facilities should be located outside the river corridor unless they are necessary for public use or resource 

protection, do not adversely affect river values, and location outside the corridor is infeasible. Chapter 7 of 

the Final Merced River Plan/EIS assesses facilities in the river corridor according to these criteria. As 

presented in Chapter 7, some facilities or commercial services that the 1980 GMP retained have been 

1 Friends of Yosemite Valley v. Kempthorne, 520 F.3d 1024 (9th Cir. 2008).

2 16 U.S.C § 1274(d).

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

 
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

determined to be feasible to relocate outside the river corridor or are not considered necessary for public 

use and enjoyment of the river resource. While some of the decisions regarding public-use facilities in the 

river corridor may differ from the 1980 GMP; these facility decisions are consistent with the goals of the 

1980 GMP to reduce the development footprint, reduce commercial services, and to promote natural 

processes. Specific facility decisions from the Final Merced River Plan/EIS that would revise provisions of 

the 1980 GMP are detailed below. 

Development of lands and facilities within the river corridor is also addressed in Chapter 4 of the Final 

Merced River Plan/EIS which presents the process that NPS would apply to water resources projects. Water 

resources projects are projects that would occur within the bed or banks or on tributaries to the Merced 

River. 

SPECIFIC REVISIONS TO THE 1980 GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

Introduction (GMP Pages 1-4) 

Text will be added to the General Management Plan explaining the legal background for the Final Merced 

River Plan/EIS-related revisions to the 1980 GMP. In addition, the goals of the Final Merced River Plan/EIS, 

which provide overall guidance for the management and protection of the Merced River Corridor, will be 

added to the GMP3 and the Introduction revised as follows. 

TABLE A-1: INTRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT GOALS OF GMP/MRP

GMP Section

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Introduction 

Page 1.

The intent of the National Park Service is to 

remove all automobiles from Yosemite 

Valley and Mariposa Grove and to redirect 

development to the periphery of the park 

and beyond. Similarly, the essence of 

wilderness, which so strongly complements 

the Valley, will be preserved. The result will 

be that visitors can step into Yosemite and 

find nature uncluttered by piecemeal 

stumbling blocks of commercialism, 

machines, and fragments of suburbia.

The intent of the National Park Service is to 

remove all automobiles congestion from 

Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove and to 

redirect development to the periphery of 

the park and beyond. Similarly, the essence 

of wilderness, which so strongly 

complements the Valley, will be preserved. 

The result will be that visitors can step into 

Yosemite and find nature uncluttered by 

piecemeal stumbling blocks of 

commercialism, machines, and fragments of 

suburbia.

3 Additions to text of the GMP are underlined in the tables, removal of GMP text is indicated with a strike-through. 

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

 
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-1: INTRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT GOALS OF GMP/MRP (CONTINUED) 

Introduction

Page 3

Markedly Reduce Traffic Congestion:

Increasing automobile traffic is the single 

greatest threat to enjoyment of the natural 

and scenic qualities of Yosemite. In the 

near future, automobile congestion will be 

greatly reduced by restricting people’s use 

of their cars and increasing public 

transportation. And the day will come 

when visitors will no longer drive their 

private automobiles into the most beautiful 

and fragile areas of the park. The ultimate 

goal of the National Park Service is to 

remove all private vehicles from Yosemite 

Valley. The Valley must be freed from the 

noise, the smell, the glare, and the 

environmental degradation caused by 

thousands of vehicles. 

Markedly Reduce Traffic Congestion:

Increasing automobile traffic congestion is 

the single greatest threat to enjoyment of 

the natural and scenic qualities of Yosemite. 

In the near future, automobile congestion

this problem will be greatly reduced

addressed by improved roadway circulation, 

clearly delineated parking areas restricting 

people’s use of their cars and increasing 

public transportation and shuttle services. 

And the day will come when visitors will no 

longer drive their private automobiles into 

the most beautiful and fragile areas of the 

park such as the Mariposa Grove. The 

ultimate goal of the National Park Service is 

to remove the impact of all private vehicles 

congestion from Yosemite Valley. The Valley 

must be freed from the noise, the smell, the 

glare, and the environmental degradation 

caused by thousands of vehicles in gridlock 

on peak days.

Page 4 NA The following goals of the Merced River 

Plan Goals will be added to the GMP goals 

on Page 4:

Protect and Enhance the Merced Wild 

and Scenic River: The Final Merced River 

Plan/EIS revises the General Management 

Plan as directed by the Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act. Goals of the Final Merced River 

Plan/EIS are:

Protect and Enhance Ecological and 

Natural Resource River Values: Promote 

the ability of the Merced River to shape 

the landscape by reducing impediments 

to free flow, improving 

geologic/hydrologic processes, restoring 

floodplains and meadows, and protecting 

water quality.

Provide Opportunities for Direct 

Connection to River Values: Support 

opportunities for people to experience 

and develop direct connections to the 

Merced River and its unique values as a 

place of cultural association, education, 

recreation, reflection, and inspiration.

Institute a Visitor-Use Management 

Program: Institute a visitor-use 

management program that provides for 

high-quality, resource-related recreational 

opportunities in the river corridor while 

protecting and enhancing natural and 

cultural river values today and into the 

future.

Determine Land Uses and Associated 

Developments: Provide clear direction on 

land uses and associated developments in 

the river corridor, allowing for the 

infrastructure necessary to support the 

protection and enhancement of river 

values.

Chapter 1: 

Introduction 

A-4 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

Management Objectives (GMP Pages 5-12) 

The 1980 GMP sets forth a number of Management Objectives that guide resource management, visitor use, 

and park operations (NPS 1980: 5-10). The Final Merced River Plan/EIS revises the 1980 GMP by providing 

additional detailed guidance to park managers on how to achieve management objectives for the Merced

River corridor based on protection of its river values. 

The text in the 2014 GMP Revision column below will be added to the 1980 Yosemite General Management 

Plan:

TABLE A-2: MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision 2014 MRP Reference

Resource 

Management

Page 8

N/A Protect and Enhance the Merced River’s Outstandingly 

Remarkable Values, Water Quality and Free Flowing 

Condition as described in the Final Merced River Plan/EIS and 

in the table below

Insert Table 5-1: Outstandingly Remarkable Values of the 

Merced Wild and Scenic River in Yosemite

Chapter 5: River Values 

and Their Management 

Visitor Use

Page 9

N/A Provide for visitor use within the Merced River Corridor in a 

manner consistent with the User Capacity program adopted 

in the Final Merced River Plan/EIS 

Chapter 6: User 

Capacity 

The following table will also be inserted into the 1980 GMP in the Management Objectives Section at the 

end of the Resource Management section on page 8. The management objectives in Table A-3 are taken 

from the Final Merced River Plan/EIS and will provide more specific guidance to park managers for 

protecting the outstandingly remarkable values of the Merced River. 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-5 
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-3: MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR FREE FLOW, WATER QUALITY, AND OUTSTANDINGLY REMARKABLE 

VALUES

River Value 2014 MRP Management Objectives

FREE-FLOWING 

(All Segments)

Reduce the overall amount of human-constructed modifications within the bed and banks of the 

Merced River through restoration, redesign and other appropriate methods.

WATER QUALITY

(All Segments)

Maintain exceptional water quality on all segments of the Merced River within Yosemite National 

Park and El Portal Administrative Area.

BIOLOGICAL VLAUES

ORV 1. Highelevation Meadows 

and Riparian Habitat

(Segment 1 ) 

Manage human use in meadows and riparian habitat within the Merced River corridor to maintain 

high ecological condition; minimize habitat fragmentation; and protect the integrity of streambanks 

to conserve ecosystem processes associated with meadow and riparian function.

ORV2. Mid-elevation 

Meadows and 

Riparian Habitat

(Segments 2A and 

2B) 

The NPS would manage public use of meadows and riparian zones within the Merced River corridor 

to minimize habitat fragmentation, maintain high ecological condition, and protect the integrity of 

streambanks to conserve ecosystem processes associated with meadow hydrologic and ecological 

function.

ORV 3. Sierra sweet 

bay

(Segments 7 and 8)

Manage the Sierra sweet bay population to protect the abundance of the population along the 

South Fork Merced River

HYDROLOGICAL/GEOLOGICAL 

PROCESSES VALUES

ORV 4. Glaciallycarved Canyon in 

Upper Merced River 

Canyon 

(Segment 1)

Manage to allow natural processes to shape the landscape and associated geologic values.

ORV 5. ”Giant 

Staircase “

(Segments 2A and 

2B) 

Manage to allow natural processes to shape the landscape and associated geologic values.

ORV 6. A Rare, Midelevation Alluvial 

River

(Segments 2A and 

2B) 

Protect and enhance natural geologic and hydrologic processes, such as overbank flooding and 

channel migration, which sustain river values such as meadow and riparian communities.

ORV 7. Boulder Bar

in El Portal Manage to allow natural processes to shape the landscape and associated geologic values.

CULTURAL VALUES

ORV 8. Yosemite 

Valley American 

Indian ethnographic 

resources

(Segments 2A and 

2B) 

Maintain ethnographic resources, and encourage future propagation to meet cultural restoration 

purposes to the extent ecologically feasible. Support access for traditional practitioners and other 

traditionally associated American Indians through the administrative elements of the user capacity 

and non-recreational tribal pass programs, and ongoing consultation with traditionally associated 

tribal groups to ensure the success of these programs.

ORV 9. Yosemite 

Valley Archeological 

District

(Segments 2A and 

2B) 

Ensure protection and enhancement of the Yosemite Valley Archeological District as a whole, and 

ensure that human impacts are not adversely affecting the district’s essential character and integrity.

ORV 10. Yosemite 

Valley Historic 

Resources

Yosemite Valley Historic Resources will be managed to ensure protection and enhancement of the 

Yosemite Valley Historic District

ORV 11. El Portal 

Archeological 

District

(Segment 4)

Archeological sites within the El Portal Archeological District would be monitored to ensure 

protection and enhancement of the district as a whole, and to ensure that human impacts are not 

adversely affecting the district’s essential character and integrity.

A-6 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

TABLE A-3: MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR FREE FLOW, WATER QUALITY, AND OUTSTANDINGLY REMARKABLE 

VALUES

River Value 2014 MRP Management Objectives

ORV 12. Regionally 

Rare Archeological 

Features, including 

Rock Ring Features

(Segment 5)

Prehistoric archeological sites with rock rings along the South Fork of the Merced River above 

Wawona will be monitored to ensure that human impacts do not adversely affect the essential 

character and integrity of the sites.

ORV 13. Wawona 

Archeological 

District

(Segments 5-8)

Archeological sites within the Wawona Archeological District would be monitored to ensure 

protection and enhancement of the district as a whole, and to ensure that human impacts are not 

adversely affecting the district’s essential character and integrity.

ORV 14. Wawona 

Historic Resources

These structures will be managed to ensure the protection and enhancement of their historical 

integrity. Protection and enhancement will ensure that management actions, including managing for 

visitor uses, do not adversely impact the ORV.

SCENIC VALUES

ORV 15. Scenic 

Views in Wilderness

(Segment 1)

The NPS will focus efforts primarily on development in the river corridor. While visitor density or 

encounter rates can affect one’s ability to appreciate scenery, visitor use is more appropriately 

addressed by the Recreation ORV. Similarly, bare soils and river bank erosion can affect foreground 

views, but are better addressed by the Biological ORV. This high country segment is also susceptible 

to regional air quality impacts, so the NPS will participate in regional efforts to reduce air pollution. 

Human activity contributes only to highly localized air quality problems. The NPS would maintain the 

visitors’ ability to experience and appreciate the Scenic ORV by providing a river corridor that is 

relatively free of development.

ORV 16. Iconic 

Scenic Views in 

Yosemite Valley

(Segments 2A and 

2B) 

Segments 2A and 2B are the most highly accessible segments of the Merced River, visited by the 

greatest numbers of park visitors. The NPS will maintain 47 scenic vista points within the river 

corridor and ensure that all future development provide low contrast ratings under the VRM system 

analysis: form, line, color and texture. A Sense of Place: Design Guidelines for Yosemite National 

Park (NPS 2012) established architectural and site design guidelines that are intended to promote 

harmony between the built and natural environments.

ORV 17. Scenic 

Views in the Merced 

River Gorge

(Segment 3)

Segment 3 is classified as a scenic reach of the river, fully accessible by El Portal Road, and will be 

managed to promote visitor enjoyment from the river, from roadside pullouts, and from the roadway 

itself. Any further development is precluded.

ORV 18. Scenic 

Wilderness Views 

along the South 

Fork Merced River

(segments 5 and 8)

The NPS will maintain primitive conditions in Wilderness areas adjacent to the river, within the river 

corridor and beyond. The NPS will continue to manage visitor use through the Wilderness permit 

system, and to manage vegetation through prescribed fire and controlled burning practices when 

necessary and appropriate.

RECREATIONAL 

VALUES

ORV 19. Wilderness

Recreation above 

Nevada Fall

(Segment 1)

Provide for high quality river-related recreational opportunities oriented toward Wilderness values of 

unconfined, self-reliant or solitude experiences in a setting that is consistent with the Wilderness 

character of the area.

ORV 20. Riverrelated Recreation in 

Yosemite Valley 

(Segments 2A and 

2B) 

Provide for a diversity of high quality river-related recreational opportunities that allow visitors to 

directly connect with the river and its environs amidst the spectacular scenery of Yosemite Valley.

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-7 
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

Land Management Zoning (GMP Pages 10-14) 

The 1980 GMP divided Yosemite National Park and the El Portal Administrative Site into several zones 

based on management objectives, significance of the resources, and legislative constraints. The zoning plan 

described land-use policies to be achieved over the life of the plan. Much of the river corridor exists within 

what are referred to in the 1980 GMP as natural zones (including Wilderness Subzone, Environmental 

Protection Subzone, Outstanding Natural Feature subzone, Natural Environment Subzone, etc.). 

The Final Merced River Plan/EIS would establish a quarter mile river boundary on each side of the river. It 

also divides the river corridor into eight segments, each classified as wild, scenic or recreational. The 

concept of “zones” established by the 1980 GMP is now complemented and, in some cases, superseded by 

guidance from WSRA for those areas of the park within the river corridor. The segment classifications of 

wild, scenic or recreational would guide and limit future land use and development within each segment to 

ensure that each segment maintains its classification status. Furthermore, projects proposed within the bed 

and banks of the Merced River or its tributaries would be subject to review under Section 7 of the Wild and 

Scenic Rivers Act. 

With regard to Land Management Zoning prescribed in the 1980 GMP, the Final Merced River Plan/EIS will 

make the following revisions:

TABLE A-4: LAND MANAGEMENT ZONING GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision 2014 MRP Reference

Land Management 

Zoning-Natural 

Zone 

Page 12

N/A Insert the following new heading and subsection:

Merced Wild and Scenic River Corridor

In addition to the zones described above, all 

management decisions regarding lands within the 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Corridor shall be guided 

by the following segment classifications: 

Wild: Rivers or sections of rivers that are free of 

impoundment and generally inaccessible except by trail, 

with watersheds or shorelines essentially primitive and 

water unpolluted. These represent vestiges of primitive 

America.

Scenic: Rivers or sections of rivers that are free of 

impoundments, with shorelines or watersheds still 

largely primitive and shorelines largely undeveloped, but 

accessible in places by roads.

Recreational: Rivers or sections of rivers readily 

accessible by road or railroad, may have some 

development along their shorelines, and may have 

undergone some impoundment or diversion in the past. 

All projects proposed within the bed and banks of the 

Merced River or its tributaries will be evaluated 

according to the process described in Section 7 of the 

Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

Insert the following from the Final Merced River 

Plan/EIS: Figure 3-1 “Merced Wild and Scenic River 

Segment Boundaries and Classifications” and Table 3-1 

“Segment Classifications for the Merced Wild and 

Scenic River”

Chapter 3 “Merced Wild 

and Scenic River 

Boundaries and Segment 

Classifications” 

Figure 3-1 and Table 3-1 

Chapter 4 “Section 7 of 

the Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act-Determination 

Process for Water 

Resource Projects” 

A-8 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

Parkwide Policies and Programs (GMP Pages 15 – 30) 

The 1980 GMP 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 amount and 

location of development to fulfill and support the plan’s objectives. As described above, the Final Merced River 

Plan/EIS revises those 1980 GMP policies and programs in order to comply with the Wild and Scenic Rivers 

Act and includes a user capacity program that is protective of river values. Furthermore, the field of 

“recreation ecology” and “social sciences” has substantially advanced since the time the 1980 GMP was 

developed. The National Park Service’s understanding of the relationship between the amount of people 

and the types of impacts felt by both people and park resources is more sophisticated and has been 

incorporated into the Final Merced River Plan/EIS. 

With regard to Parkwide Policies and Programs prescribed in the 1980 GMP, the Final Merced River 

Plan/EIS would make the following revisions:

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-9 
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-5: PARKWIDE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS GMP/MRP

GMP Section and 

Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision 2014 MRP Reference

Visitor Use 

Page 15 N/A The following text would be added under the “Parkwide Policies and 

Programs” heading: 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 Final 

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

Chapter 8: Alternatives, 

Chapter 6: User Capacity

The following text would be added under the “VISITOR USE” heading at 

the top of page 15: 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 within the Merced 

River Corridor will be guided by the management elements of the Final 

Merced River Plan/EIS. In particular, visitor use levels and activities within 

the corridor will be guided by, and must comply with the user capacity 

program presented in Chapter 6 of the MRP and the specific use limits 

established in Chapter 8 for Alternative 5. In the event of a conflict 

between Parkwide Policies and Programs in the General Management 

Plan and specific elements of the Final Merced River Plan/EIS, the Final 

Merced River Plan/EIS will control

Table 8-35: “User 

Capacities by Use Type 

and Location-Alternative 

5”

At the present time, it is not proposed to limit day use by 

controlling entry into the park, but this may be necessary 

sometime into the future. 

The overnight use level for the developed areas of the park 

will be 15,713 people, based on the combined capacities of 

overnight accommodations and campsites. 

The day use level for Yosemite Valley will be lower than the 

level of use that is currently provided because the significant 

amount of parking that will be removed from the Valley will 

more than offset the new parking with bus service at El 

Portal, Crane Flat, and Wawona.

At the present time, it is not proposed to limit day use by controlling 

entry into the park, but this may be necessary sometime into the future

The overnight capacity for the developed areas of the park will be 

15,7132264 people, based on the combined capacities of overnight 

accommodations and campsites. 

The user capacity for Yosemite Valley (day and overnight use) will be 

18,710 People-at-One-Time

lower than the level of use that is currently provided because the 

significant amount of parking that will be removed from the Valley will 

more than offset the new parking with bus service at El Portal, Crane Flat, 

and Wawona.

4 Total overnight use level in the GMP has been revised to incorporate lodging and camping totals described in the MRP and reflected in the “Revised Visitor Use Levels 

from Merced River Plan” table below. This number does not reflect changes in overnight accommodations that have taken place parkwide since 1980 or that are 

proposed in the Tuolumne River Plan. 

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

 
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

TABLE A-5: PARKWIDE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS GMP/MRP

GMP Section and 

Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision 2014 MRP Reference

Visitor Use Levels for Developed Areas

Visitor Use Levels Presented in 1980 GMP User Capacities Established in the Merced River Plan (PAOT)5

Page 17 Location Day Use Level Overnight 

Use Level Location Day Use Capacity Overnight Capacity Table 8-35

Yosemite Valley 10,530 7,711 Yosemite Valley 10,530 9,852 7,711 8,860

Cascades/Arch Rock 360 0 

Cascades/Arch 

Rock Merced River

Gorge

360 882

 0 

El Portal 765 0 El Portal 765 1960 0 775

Wawona 1,689 1,622 Wawona 1,689 1,666 1,622 908

High Sierra Camps 0 168 High Sierra Camps 0 168 156

Visitor Facilities and Services-Campgrounds

Page 17 The number of campsites within the park will increase to 2,504 

sites. 

The number of campsites within the park will increase to be 2,504

2,213 sites6. 

Visitor Facilities and Services-Overnight Accommodations

Page 19 The number of accommodations will be reduced parkwide by 180 

units, for a total of 1,552 units. The number of accommodations 

in the Valley will be decreased by 268.

The number of parkwide accommodations (lodging) will be 

reduced parkwide by180 units, for a total of 1,552373 units6. The 

number of accommodations in the Valley will be 1,082

units.decreased by 268

Visitor Facilities and Services-Transportation 

Pages 19 The National Park Service is committed to reduce the effects of 

private vehicle use on the park experience and resources. Private 

vehicles will ultimately be excluded from Yosemite Valley. The 

immediate steps to be taken include the removal of more than 

1,000 parking spaces from the Valley and enforcement of an 

automobile carrying capacity. This will be accomplished through 

an information system at park entrance stations, with traffic 

controls at the Pohono and El Capitan crossovers to restrict access 

to the east end of the Valley when daily capacities are reached. 

The shuttle bus system will be improved to provide optimum 

service, including service to the Valley from parking areas at El 

Portal, Crane Flat, and Wawona. Traffic within Mariposa Grove 

will be restricted, and the shuttle will be extended.

The National Park Service is committed to reduce the effects of 

private vehicle use traffic congestion on the park experience and 

resources. Private vehicles will ultimately be excluded from 

Yosemite Valley. The immediate steps to be taken include the 

removal of more than 1,000 parking spaces from the Valley and 

enforcement of an automobile carrying capacity. This will be 

accomplished through an intelligent transportation system 

information system at park entrance stations, with traffic controls 

at strategic locations when daily capacities are reached. The shuttle 

bus system will be expanded and improved to provide optimum 

service, including service to the Valley from a parking area at El 

Portal, Crane Flat. The NPS will rely on regional agency partners 

to provide transit service from gateway communities to the park.

Chapter 6: User CapacityTransportation System 

Performance

Chapter 9: Analysis TopicsSociocultural ResourcesTransportation

5 User Capacities are “People-at-One-Time” (PAOT) and include both visitor and administrative use. 

6 The total number of campsites and accommodations (lodging units) parkwide was derived from the changes proposed in the Final Merced River Plan/EIS subtracted from 

the number of campsites and lodging units proposed in the 1980 GMP for areas in the Merced River corridor. 

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

 
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-5: PARKWIDE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS GMP/MRP

GMP Section and 

Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision 2014 MRP Reference

Visitor Facilities and Services-Transportation (cont.)

Page 19 A study will be undertaken to find a method to totally eliminate 

cars and other obtrusive vehicles from Yosemite Valley. As 

additional bus service from outlying areas on the periphery of the 

park and in gateway communities becomes feasible, all day 

visitors and ultimately all overnight visitors will be able to enjoy 

the Valley without their cars. Each phase of the transportation 

system will be adequately planned to minimize environmental 

impact, solve operational problems, and promote public 

acceptance.

A study will be undertaken to find a method to totally eliminate 

cars and other obtrusive vehicles from Yosemite Valley. As 

additional bus service from outlying areas on the periphery of the 

park and in gateway communities becomes feasible, all day visitors 

and ultimately all overnight visitors will be able to enjoy the Valley 

without their cars. A parkwide transportation program and 

intelligent transportation system will be implemented. Each phase 

of the The transportation system will be adequately planned

managed to minimize environmental impact, to solve operational 

problems, and to promote public acceptance access and mobility. 

Indian Cultural Programs 

Page 24 The Indian museum in Yosemite Valley is an appropriate 

beginning for recognizing the Indian culture. It will be expanded 

in the future as part of the museum of Man in Yosemite and the 

existing Indian Garden will be retained.

The Indian museum in Yosemite Valley is an appropriate beginning 

for recognizing the Indian culture. It will be expanded in the future 

as part of the museum of Man in Yosemite and the existing Indian 

Garden will be retained. 

The Yosemite Museum’s Indian Cultural Exhibit and Village will 

continue to interpret the cultural history of Yosemite’s native 

people.

N/A

Park Operations/Visitor Protection

Administration, 

Maintenance, 

Visitor 

Protection, and 

Employee 

Housing 

Pages 24-25

The park headquarters will be moved from the Valley to El Portal, 

along with the majority of the administrative and maintenance 

support facilities for government and concession operations. Only 

those facilities essential to daily operations in the Valley will 

remain, and these facilities will be redesigned and consolidated to 

minimize their physical intrusion. Nonessential facilities for Valley 

district functions will be moved to El Portal. 

The p Park headquarters will be moved from remain in the Valley 

to El Portal, along the majority of the while administrative and 

maintenance support facilities are relocated to El Portal and 

Mariposa. Only those facilities essential to daily operations in the 

Valley will remain, and these Only those facilities essential to daily 

operations will remain in the Valley. Nonessential facilities for 

Valley district functions will be moved to El Portal. 

Chapter 8: Alternatives, 

Chapter 9: Analysis TopicsSociocultural ResourcesPark Operations and 

Facilities

The National Park Service will conduct a housing study to assess 

the potential availability of employee housing outside the park, to 

determine the exact need for employee housing in the Valley and 

other locations, and to assess the environmental impacts of each 

alternative. Pending completion of this study, preliminary 

estimates indicate that a maximum of 480 NPS and YP&CC 

(concessioner) employees will reside in the Valley, 170 on a 

permanent basis and an additional 310 during the peak visitor 

season only. It appears that about a thousand employees will be 

relocated to Wawona and El Portal, or they will find housing 

outside the park, as indicated in the following table.

The National Park Service will conduct a housing study to assess 

the potential availability of employee housing outside the park, to 

determine the exact need for employee housing in the Valley and 

other locations, and to assess the environmental impacts of each 

alternative. Pending completion of this study, preliminary estimates 

indicate that a maximum of 480 NPS and YP&CC (concessioner) 

employees will reside in the Valley, 170 on a permanent basis and 

an additional 310 during the peak visitor season only. It appears 

that about a thousand employees will be relocated to Wawona 

and El Portal, or they will find housing outside the park, as 

indicated in the following table.

A-12 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

TABLE A-5: PARKWIDE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS GMP/MRP

GMP Section and 

Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision 2014 MRP Reference

Number of Employees Housed in Areas Number of Employees Housed in Areas Chapter 6: User Capacity

Tables 6-12,6-13,6-15 Existing Proposed Existing Proposed

Yosemite Valley Summer Winter Summer Winter Yosemite 

Valley Summer Winter Summer Winter

NPS 210 70 70 30 NPS 210 70 70 30

YP&CC 1,240 620 400 130 YP&CC 1,240 620 400 130

Other 60 50 10 10 Other 60 50 10 10

Total 1,510 740 480 170 Total 1,510 740 480 170

El Portal and Nearby Communities El Portal and Nearby Communities

NPS 80 50 150 70 NPS 80 50 150 70

YP&CC 50 40 650 390 YP&CC 50 40 650 390

Other 60 50 80 60 Other 60 50 80 60

Total 190 140 880 520 Total 190 140 880 520

Wawona and Nearby Communities Wawona and Nearby Communities

NPS 90 30 170 60 NPS 90 30 170 60

YP&CC 90 20 210 40 YP&CC 90 20 210 40

Other 50 20 Other 50 20

Total 180 50 430 120 180 50 430 120

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-13
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-5: PARKWIDE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS GMP/MRP

GMP Section and 

Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision 2014 MRP Reference

Number of Employees Housed in Areas (Peak Season)

Yosemite Valley

Existing GMP Summer7 Proposed MRP8

Employees Units Employees 

(People)

NPS 210 71 164

Concessioner 1,240 865 865

Other 60 16 33

Total 1,510 952 1,062

El Portal

Existing GMP Summer Proposed MRP

Employees Units Employees 

(People)

NPS/Other9 140 178 375

Concessioner 50 160 160

Total 190 338 535

Wawona

Existing GMP Summer Proposed MRP

Employees Units Employees 

(People)

NPS/Other 90 79 121

Concessioner 90 118 118

Total 180 197 239

7 Maximum number of existing summer employees at time of 1980 GMP 

8 Maximum number of NPS housing is shown as the number of housing units (houses and apartments) and the maximum amount of employees (people) during peak season.

Concessioner housing numbers are reported as the number of beds provided 

9 Residents in El Portal who are neither NPS nor concessioner employees are shown here as “Other” 

A-14 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

 
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

Developed Area Plans (GMP Pages 31 – 76) 

The 1980 GMP presented Development Concepts for all development nodes within the park, including 

Yosemite Valley, El Portal and Wawona – all of which are located in the river corridor (NPS 1980: 31-49 and 

55-58). The Development Concepts were based on information current at that time, and the 1980 GMP 

envisioned that final designs for these areas would be refined and shaped by new information and resource 

studies. Many scientific studies regarding resource conditions and visitor use have been completed since 

1980, and many others were completed specifically for the Final Merced River Plan/EIS. This information 

has shaped the actions in the Final Merced River Plan/EIS that are designed to address user capacity, 

resource protection and development of lands and facilities, as required by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 

The Final Merced River Plan/EIS includes site-specific resource restoration and development proposals for 

Yosemite Valley, the Merced River Gorge area, El Portal and Wawona. Detailed descriptions of these 

proposals are included in Alternative 5 (Preferred) from the Final Merced River Plan/EIS. The restoration 

and development actions proposed in Alternative 5 (Preferred) would supersede many of the proposals 

contained in the 1980 GMP on pages 31-53 and 57-59.

While some aspects of the 1980 GMP’s Development Concepts are compatible with the site plans presented 

in the Final Merced River Plan/EIS, new conceptual design drawings have been prepared for specific areas 

within the river corridor. These design plans supersede those presented in the 1980 GMP. It should also be 

noted that the Final Merced River Plan/EIS’s design plans for Yosemite Valley include actions adjacent to, 

but outside of, the river corridor. The Final Merced River Plan/EIS considered the entirety of Yosemite 

Valley for planning purposes because actions adjacent to the river corridor but outside of the river 

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

With regard to Developed Area Plans established by the 1980 GMP, the Final Merced River Plan/EIS would 

make the following revisions:

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-15
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Yosemite Valley District –Yosemite Valley

Page 31 While the National Park Service intends to remove all automobile traffic 

from the Valley, the immediate plan is to greatly reduce traffic there, by 

restricting automobile use to established capacities and encouraging 

visitors to leave their automobiles at parking areas with bus service to 

the Valley. Visitors who drive their automobiles to overnight 

accommodations or day parking areas in the Valley will use the Valley 

shuttle buses for transportation during their stay. Those employees 

who must commute to work will be encouraged to use carpools or 

buses, rather than private automobiles.

While the National Park Service does not intends to remove all automobile traffic 

from the Valley, the immediate plan is to greatly reduce traffic congestion there will 

be reduced by restricting automobile use managing use in accordance with to

established capacities, and encouraging visitors to leave their automobiles at 

designated parking areas and expanding with bus service within and into of to the 

Valley. Visitors who drive their automobiles to overnight accommodations or day 

parking areas in the Valley will use have enhanced opportunities to access the 

Valley shuttle buses for transportation during their stay. Those employees who 

must commute to work will be encouraged to use carpools or buses, rather than 

private automobiles.

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

Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Valley Campgrounds, other Valley Areas, Cascades, 

Arch Rock, El Portal, and Wawona will comply with the management elements of 

the Final Merced River Plan/EIS (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 Final Merced River 

Plan/EIS, that development concept would be superseded by the Final Merced River 

Plan/EIS. Actions adjacent to the river corridor but outside of the river boundary 

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

Chapter 4: 

Section 7 

Determination,

Chapter 5: 

River Values, 

Chapter 6: 

User Capacity, 

Chapter 8: 

Alternatives

Chapter 8: 

Alternatives, 

Alternative 5 

Maps

Page 32 Interpretation in the Valley will provide a general overview of the entire 

park as well as in-depth treatment of each theme in the natural history 

museum, the museum of Man in Yosemite, and the Happy Isles nature 

center. Historic sites and structures will be used as exhibits, adding to 

the variety and richness of the interpretive experience, and personal 

contact between interpreters and visitors will be emphasized.

Interpretation in the Valley will provide a general overview of the entire park as well 

as in-depth treatment of each theme in the natural history Yosemite museum, the

museum of Man in Yosemite and the Happy Isles nature center. Historic sites and 

structures will be used as exhibits, adding to the variety and richness of the 

interpretive experience, and personal contact between interpreters and visitors will 

be emphasized.

The proposal removes: central warehousing, heavy maintenance, 

major park housing, administrative facilities, school, and all other 

nonessential buildings and functions 

The proposal removes (from Yosemite Valley): central warehousing, heavy

maintenance, and major park housing, administrative facilities, school, and all other 

nonessential buildings and functions 

reduces: employee housing, offices, banking services, campsites, 

accommodations, clothing sales, gift shops, parking, auto movement, 

gas stations, and personal services

reduces: employee housing, offices, banking services, campsites,

accommodations,10 campsites, accommodations, clothing sales, gift shops, 

parking, auto movement traffic congestion, gas stations, and personal services

increases: shuttle bus routes, bicycling opportunities, natural 

landscape, interpretive opportunities, scenic quality, air quality, facilities 

for special populations, and year-round use

increases: shuttle bus routes, parking, bicycling opportunities, natural landscape, 

interpretive opportunities, scenic quality, air quality, facilities for special 

populations, and year-round use

10 The Final Merced River Plan/EIS increases campsites and lodging units from 2014 levels. However, a number of units have been lost due to rockfall and flooding after the 1980 

GMP was completed. Therefore, there is a net reduction in lodging and camping since 1980.

A-16 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

 
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Pages 33-34 Yosemite Valley Development Concept Map and Yosemite Village 

Development Concept Map

Replace with Alternative Map Series from Final Merced River Plan/EIS for Curry 

Village and Campgrounds, Yosemite Village and Housekeeping Camp, Yosemite 

Lodge and Camp 4, and West Yosemite Valley and Conceptual Site Drawings

Chapter 8: 

Alternatives, 

Alternative 5 

Maps 

Page 35 Existing Proposed Change Existing

GMP11 Proposed MRP Change Chapter 8: 

Alternatives 

Tables 8-35,8-

36, 8-37, 8-

38, 8-39

Chapter 6: 

Segment 2

Accommodations 1,528 1,260 -268 Accommodations (Lodging) 1,528 1,260 1,082 -268 -446

Day Parking Spaces 2,513 1,271 -1,242 Day Parking Spaces 2,513 1,271 2,520 1242 +712

Campsites 872 756 -116 Campsites 872 756 640 -116 -232

Employees Housed (summer 

maximum)

1,510 480 -1,030 Employees Housed (summer 

maximum)

1,510 480 1,062 1,030 - 481

Yosemite Village

Page 35 The village center will be redesigned to separate interpretive services 

and commercial visitor services.

The Valley transportation system stop in the village will be designed so 

that as visitors debark they will be visually oriented to Yosemite Falls 

and the interpretive services. Degnan’s will be removed to provide a 

visual distinction between the two areas.

The following functions will be retained or provided in the western 

portion of the village: Valley administration, museum of Man in 

Yosemite, natural history museum, and Best's Studio. Commercial and 

retail space will be reduced by removing some structures, such as 

Degnan’s, the garage, and the service station, and by adapting other 

structures, such as the bank building and the Pohono Gift Shop, for 

visitor services and Valley administration. Commercial functions that 

will stay at present or reduced levels are grocery sales, food service, 

limited postal service, essential banking service, and some YP&CC 

offices. These will be accommodated within existing buildings in 

Yosemite Village. Most parking behind the Village Store will be 

removed. The residential areas immediately east and west of the village 

center will be removed.

The village center will be redesigned to separate interpretive services and 

commercial visitor services.

The Valley transportation system stop in the village will be designed so that as 

visitors debark disembark they will be visually oriented to Yosemite Falls and the 

interpretive services. Degnan’s will be removed to provide a visual distinction 

between the two areas.

The following functions will be retained or provided in the western portion of the 

village: Valley administration, museum of Man in Yosemite, natural history 

Yosemite museum, Visitor Center, theatre and auditorium and Best's Studio, Ansel 

Adams Gallery, and the wilderness center. Commercial and retail space will be 

reduced by removing some structures, such as Degnan’s the Art Activity Center 

building, the garage, and the service station and by adapting other structures, such 

as the bank building and the Pohono Gift Shop, such as the Village sport shop for 

visitor services and Valley administration. Commercial functions that will stay at 

present or reduced levels are grocery sales, food service, and postal service. 

essential banking service and some ,YP&CC offices. These will be accommodated 

within existing buildings in Yosemite Village. Most parking behind the Village Store 

will be removed. The residential areas immediately east and west of the village 

center will be removed.

Chapter 8: 

Alternatives,

Alternative 5 

and Actions 

Common to 

All Maps: 

“Yosemite 

Village and 

Housekeeping 

Camp”, 

Conceptual 

Site Drawings: 

“Yosemite 

Village Day 

Use Parking” 

and “Yosemite 

Valley 

Maintenance 

Area”

Visitor Use 

Goals

Page 36

Provide adequate parking, improved vehicular and pedestrian circulation in a central 

location at Yosemite Village 

11 Existing Yosemite Valley accommodations (lodging), day parking spaces, campsites, and employees at time of 1980 GMP compared with proposed maximum that can be 

accommodated in the Final Merced River Plan/EIS for Yosemite Valley (Segment 2A/B) 12 The total day parking spaces in the Final Merced River Plan/EIS includes a 300 car parking lot in El Portal for day visitors to Yosemite Valley

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-17

 
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Visitor Use

Actions

Pages 35-36

Redesign village mall area to remove parking spaces and include 

interpretive spaces, pedestrian circulation areas, shuttle bus stops, and 

public restrooms

Retain design village mall area to remove parking spaces and include interpretive 

spaces, pedestrian circulation areas, shuttle bus stops, and public restrooms

Immediately remove unneeded parking behind the Village Store. Retain 

a maximum of 50 spaces for service and employee needs

Immediately remove unneeded Redesign parking behind the Village Store to create 

a day-use parking area with a total of 750 spaces at the Yosemite Village Day-use 

Parking Area. Retain a maximum of 50 spaces for service and employee needs

Adaptively use the NPS headquarters building, the old museum, the 

post office, and bank building to accommodate a natural history 

museum, a museum of Man in Yosemite, Valley district office, minimal 

banking, personal services, and post office services

Adaptively use the Retain the NPS headquarters building, the old museum, visitor 

center and the post office, and bank building to accommodate a natural history 

museum, a museum of Man in Yosemite, Valley district office, minimal banking, 

personal services, and post office services

Remove Degnans, which includes a restaurant, fast-food service, 

delicatessen, and gift sales

Retain move Degnans, which includes a restaurant, fast-food service, and 

delicatessen., and gift sales

Redesign Village Store for grocery sales, YP&CC office, and food service Retain design Village Store for grocery and gift sales, Concessioner office, and food 

service

Retain Best’s Studio Retain Best’s Studio Ansel Adams Gallery

Retain shuttle stops on Visitor Center Loop Drive

Replace Village Sport Shop with visitor contact station

Eliminate existing Art Activity Center and improve pedestrian access

Improve pedestrian connections and bike paths east and west of the Yosemite 

Village Day-use parking area

Move parking northward to provide 150-foot riparian buffer and reduce 

encroachment of day use parking area on river corridor. Restore wetlands and 

meadows

Re-route Northside Drive to conform to the 150-foot riparian buffer. Consolidate all 

parking north of the roadway, minimize pedestrian and vehicular conflicts

Provide 750 day-use parking spaces. Provide landscaped areas with large numbers 

of trees to screen parking bays and serve as bioswales that will treat storm water 

run-off. Provide pedestrian pathways

Construct a traffic circle to alleviate traffic congestion at the intersection of 

Northside Drive and Village Drive

Re-align Sentinel Drive into a “T” intersection with a re-routed Northside Drive. 

Create a “sense of arrival” through wayfinding and landscape treatments

Reconstruct Northside Drive and Visitor Center Loop Drive as a “T” intersection

Enhance Village Drive by establishing a tree-lined roadway as a connection to dayuse parking facilities and lodging

A-18 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Remove roadside parking along Sentinel Drive and along Cook’s meadow that 

encroaches on sensitive habitat. Ecologically restore area to natural conditions

Park 

Operations

Goals 

Page 36

Remove nonessential functions and facilities from the Valley Remove Reduce nonessential functions and facilities from in the Valley

Consolidate essential functions of NPS and YP&CC Consolidate essential functions of NPS and YP&CC the concessioner

Remove nonessential housing Remove nonessential housing temporary and substandard housing

Park 

Operations

Actions 

Pages 36-37

Relocate NPS and YP&CC headquarters to El Portal Relocate NPS and YP&CC headquarters to El Portal Relocate non-essential NPS and 

concessioner personnel and offices to El Portal, Mariposa or other locations outside 

the park

Remove heavy maintenance and warehousing facilities; redesign NPS 

maintenance area to accommodate NPS, YP&CC and Pacific Telephone 

Company essential maintenance functions, emergency visitor protection 

facilities, detention facility, and magistrate’s office

Remove heavy maintenance and warehousing facilities;* Redesign NPS 

maintenance area to accommodate NPS and concessioner, YP&CC and Pacific 

Telephone Company light maintenance and custodial functions, emergency visitor 

protection facilities and detention facility, and magistrate’s office

Remove the concessioner headquarters building Remove the concessioner headquarters building

Eliminate the Concessioner General Office and Concessioner Garage located 

between the Village Store and Ahwahnee Meadow to repurpose this area as visitor 

parking

Relocate Concessioner General Office from Yosemite Village to the Concessioner 

Maintenance Building and Warehouse

Relocate nonessential NPS and YP&CC personnel, plus employees of the 

school, Pacific Telephone Company, Wells Fargo Bank, Yosemite 

Institute, post office, and Yosemite Church outside the Valley

Relocate nonessential NPS and YP&CC personnel, plus employees of the school, 

Pacific Telephone Company, Wells Fargo Bank*, Yosemite Institute*, post office, 

and Yosemite Church outside the Valley

Remove the Lower Tecoya residential area, the Ahwahnee Row houses, 

and Camp 6; also remove houses in the southern portion of the NPS 

housing area if not needed

Remove the Lower Tecoya residential area, the Ahwahnee Row houses, and Camp 

6; also remove houses in the southern portion of the NPS housing area if not 

needed

Retain the Upper Tecoya residential area (34 homes) and the northern 

half of the NPS residential area (44 homes) for essential permanent NPS 

and YP&CC employees.

Retain the Upper Tecoya residential area (34 homes) and the northern half of the 

NPS residential area (44 homes) for essential permanent NPS and YP&CC 

employees.

Retain Ahwahnee Row, Tecoya, and NPS employee housing areas for essential NPS 

and concessions employees

Provide 120 beds in dormitories at Lost Arrow (behind the Valley post office)

Enhance Indian Creek by removing parking and residential yard uses within 50 feet 

of the creek. Use fencing and native riparian plants to create a natural area

Convert school building to residential use Convert Retain school building to support existing residential community to 

residential use

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-19
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Remove facilities and restore the Church Bowl area to a natural 

condition

Remove facilities and restore Retain the picnic area at the Church Bowl area to a 

natural condition

Relocate shuttle bus maintenance to existing service bays in the historic 

Government Utility Building. Maintain other existing NPS uses and operations 

within the building

Construct a 4,500 square-foot building with service bays and administrative office 

space for light-duty use by road crews, essentially covered parking and equipment 

repair

Rehabilitate and organize covered storage buildings for more efficient use. Improve 

outdoor storage area, including sand storage for winter use

Construct a structural, load-bearing pad for temporary use of emergency electric

generator; improve access road

Retain concessioner fueling station

Delineate flex parking and equipment staging area.

Delineate short-term, high-turnover shuttle bus parking spaces. Use additional area 

for bus parking or snow storage

Maintain telecommunications building

Expand the Concessions Central Warehouse building for administrative functions.

Yosemite Lodge and Camp 4 Area

Provide food, gas, and gift sales services Provide food gas*and limited gift sales retail services Chapter 8: 

Alternatives,

Alternative 5 

and Actions 

Common to 

All Maps: 

“Yosemite 

Lodge and 

Camp 4”, 

Conceptual 

Site Drawing: 

“Yosemite 

Lodge and 

Camp 4”

Improve traffic flow on Northside Drive while providing safe pedestrian access from 

Yosemite Lodge to Lower Yosemite Fall trail

Visitor Use 

Actions

Pages 37-38

Remove 52 cabin-with-bath units and 33 cabin-without-bath units Remove 52 cabin-with-bath units and 33 cabin-without-bath units* 

Remove Pine Cottage, containing 16 with-bath units and 16 withoutbath unitsRemove Pine Cottage, containing 16 with-bath units and 16 without-bath units* 

Retain 32 cabin-with-bath units, 58 cabin-without-bath units, and 274 

motel units

Retain 32 cabin-with-bath units, 58 cabin-without-bath units, and 274 motel units* 

Remove post office Remove post office and snack stands 

Relocate bicycle rental facilities outside of river corridor

Remove clothing sales, use space for interpretation/information Remove clothing sales, use space for interpretation/information

Retain gift shop, restaurants, cafeteria, and bar in their present 

locations and capacities

Retain gift shop, grocery store, restaurants, cafeteria, and bar in their present 

locations and capacities

A-20 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Repurpose Nature Shop

Maintain existing Yosemite Lodge guest lodging buildings, consisting of 245 guest 

rooms, swimming pool, maintenance and housekeeping space, and parking areas

Retain Sunnyside walk-in campground, 38 sites Retain Sunnyside walk-in campground, 38 sites

Retain 35 existing walk-in campsites at Camp 4. Construct 35 additional walk-in 

sites east of the existing parking lot

Construct a shuttle stop at Camp 4

Construct 41 new parking spaces at Camp 4

Redesign gas station for existing service levels Redesign gas station for existing service levels Remove gas station*

Redesign Yosemite Falls parking area into shuttle bus stop, immediately 

removing 60 spaces

Retain design Yosemite Falls parking area into shuttle bus stop on Northside 

Driveimmediately removing 60 spaces* 

Determine location and design of a grade-separated pedestrian crossing at the 

intersection of Northside Drive and the entrance to the Yosemite Lodge Area in a 

tiered consultation and compliance process 

Replace a section of paved trail within Leidig Meadow side channel with an 

elevated boardwalk

Extend and improve existing tour bus loading and uploading areas to 

accommodate 6 tour buses. Add 25 spaces for lodge guests outside Alder Cottage. 

Enhance on-site pedestrian circulation system

Construct 300 visitor parking spaces and a comfort station in previously-disturbed 

lodge “annex” area. Maintain existing vegetation to separate and screen parking 

bays where possible. Provide pedestrian pathways and bioswales that will treat 

stormwater run-off

Protect and enhance a 150-foot riparian buffer outside area of prior disturbance

Direct river access to the Swinging Bridge sandbar and fence sensitive riparian area

Yosemite Lodge Development Concept Map Replace with Final Merced River Plan/EIS Alternative Map Series for Yosemite Lodge 

and Camp 4 and Conceptual Site Drawing

Park 

Operations 

Actions

Page 39

Retain dormitory housing for 200 YP&CC employees Remove dormitory housing and construct permanent employee housing with 104 

beds in 2 two-story buildings with 52 occupants per building, provide 42 employee 

parking spaces per building

Remove temporary employee housing structures from Highland Court, 82 beds. 

Return use of the existing paved area to prior parking purposes with 117 parking 

spaces

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-21
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Relocate Yosemite Lodge maintenance, linen storage and laundry buildings from 

the 100-year floodplain to the food service building, as an addition or outbuilding. 

Reconfigure truck loading and unloading area behind food service building. 

Remove abandoned concessioner wellness center

Curry Village

Visitor Use 

Goals

Pages 39-41

Reduce the density of tent cabins Reduce the density of tent cabins Chapter 8: 

Alternatives,

Alternative 5 

and Actions 

Common to 

All Maps: 

“Curry Village 

and 

Campgrounds

” 

Conceptual 

Site Drawing: 

“Curry 

Village”

Visitor Use 

Actions 

Pages 39-41

Remove 83 visitor tent cabins from the rockfall zone Remove 83 visitor tent cabins structures as described by the Curry Village Rockfall 

Hazard Zone Structures Project Environmental Assessment 

Redesign visitor tent cabin area to provide up to 335 tent cabins Redesign visitor tent cabin area to provide up to 335 tent cabins Provide a total of 

482 guest units at Curry Village and Boys Town including tent cabins, hard sided 

cabins, and rooms at Stoneman Cottage 

Retain the 99 cabin-with-bath, 19 lodge-with-bath, and 90 cabinwithout-bath unitsRetain the 99 cabin-with-bath, 19 lodge-with-bath, and 90 cabin-without-bath 

units

Construct accessible pathways connecting all guest units and parking facilities

Remove permanent ice rink (provide portable ice rink in winter) Remove permanent ice rink (provide portable ice rink in winter) Remove ice rink, 

bicycle and raft stands and storage facilities and provide these functions in areas 

outside the river corridor. Adapt the existing paved area for parking 

Reserve site for a seasonal ice rink installation in existing Curry Village Parking Area, 

with refrigeration unit equipment shed (outside river corridor) 

Remove shed and residence west of ice rink Remove shed and residence west of ice rink Remove shed and residence* west of 

ice rink

Provide a grocery store and bike rental Provide a grocery store and bike rental

Groceries sold from shop in reconstructed Curry Pavilion. Relocate bicycle and raft 

rental service outside river corridor

Remove parking at ice rink (25 spaces) Remove parking at ice rink (25 spaces)

Remove shoulder parking at east end of tent cabin area (10 spaces) Remove shoulder parking at east end of tent cabin area (10 spaces) 

Remove Curry dump parking and restore area Remove Curry dump parking and restore area(160 spaces)

Undertake clean closure and remediation efforts at Curry Village landfill, stabilize 

and improve area for wilderness parking (190 spaces)

A-22 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Immediately remove 200 additional day parking spaces from Curry 

Orchard

Immediately remove 200 additional day parking spaces from Curry Orchard

Improve parking at the Curry Orchard Parking Area with 415 spaces and landscape 

buffers with trees and bioswales that will treat storm water run-off.

Re-establish the Valley Loop Trail near the historic alignment along the base of talus 

slope

Page 40 Curry Village Development Concept Map Replace with Final Merced River Plan/EIS Actions Common to All, Alternative 5 

Maps, and Conceptual Site Drawing for Curry Village 

Park 

Operations

Actions 

Page 41

Remove 75 employee tent cabins, including those in the rockfall zone, 

and retain 75 tent cabins to accommodate 150 essential employees

Remove 75 employee tent cabins, including those in the rockfall zone, and retain 

75 tent cabins to accommodate 150 essential employees

Retain the historic Peterson (“Huff House”) residence for employee housing

Remove tents, cabins without baths, and supporting modular structures from the 

temporary concessioner employee housing area 

Retain 10 tents to house 20 employees with a common kitchen and sanitary 

building for seasonal use

Curry Village Development Concept Map Replace with Final Merced River Plan/EIS Alternative 5 Actions Common to All Maps 

and Conceptual Site Drawing for Curry Village

Page 42 Housekeeping Camp Development Concept Map Replace with Final Merced River Plan/EIS Alternative 5 Map for Yosemite Village 

and Housekeeping Camp

The Ahwahnee Hotel

Visitor Use

Actions 

Page 43

Retain the 99 Ahwahnee hotel rooms and 22 cabin rooms Retain the 99 123 Ahwahnee hotel and cabin rooms 

Retain 132-car parking area Retain 132-car parking area Redesign the existing parking lot. Construct new 50-

space parking lot to the east 

Remove the golf course Remove the golf course* Restore the former golf course to natural conditions

Page 44 Ahwahnee Hotel Development Concept Map Replace with Final Merced River Plan/EIS Actions Common To All Alternatives Map

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-23
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Campgrounds

Visitor Use 

Actions 

Page 43

Remove facilities that are sources of impact on riparian areas Remove facilities that are sources of impact on riparian areas and archeological 

sites

Table 8-36

Remove campground sites and other development adjacent to the 

Merced River:

Upper Pine Campground (18 units)

Lower Pine Campground (22 units)

North Pine Campground (25 units)

Upper River Campground (15 units)

Lower River Campground (36 units)

Total: 116 units

Remove campground sites and other development adjacent to the Merced River 

and retain and restore remaining campsites as follows:

Upper Pine Campground (18 units)

Lower Pine Campground (22 units)

North Pine Campground (25 units)

Upper River Campground (15 units)

Lower River Campground (36 units)

Total: 116 units

Camp 4: Provide 70 walk in sites

Backpackers: Provide 26 walk in sites

Upper Pines: Provide 325 sites 

Lower Pines: Provide 71 sites

North Pines: Provide 72 sites

Yellow Pine Administrative: Provide 4 group sites.

Upper River: Provide 30 walk-in sites and 2 group sites

Lower River: Provide 30 walk-in and 10 drive-in sites

Retain Muir Tree and Sunnyside walk-in campgrounds (58 sites) and 

group campground (14 sites)

Retain Muir Tree and Sunnyside walk-in campgrounds (58 sites) and group 

campground (14 sites)

Retain and revegetate 684 drive-in campsites; restrict self-contained 

vehicle camping and separate tent camping from vehicle camping

Retain and revegetate Provide a total of 684 640 drive-in campsites; restrict selfcontained vehicle camping and separate tent camping from vehicle camping;

Restore and revegetate riparian areas 

Direct visitors at Lower and North Pines campgrounds to resilient sandy beaches 

through signage and maps

Relocate RV dump station at Upper Pines campground away from the river to 

remove potential threat to water quality

A-24 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Other Valley Areas

Visitor Use 

Goals 

Page 45

Reduce congestion and automobile activity in Yosemite Valley Reduce congestion and automobile activity in Yosemite Valley Chapter 5: 

River Values 

and Their 

Management, 

Chapter 6: 

User Capacity, 

Chapter 7 

Development 

of Land and 

Facilities,

Chapter 8: 

Alternatives, 

Alternative 

Maps and 

Conceptual 

Site Drawings

Remove facilities from significant scenic areas Remove facilities from significant scenic areas Manage scenic vistas as described in 

the Scenic Vista Management Plan

Remove excessive day parking spaces Remove excessive day roadside parking spaces and consolidate parking in 

designated areas

Visitor Use 

Actions

Page 45

Enforce established use levels for Yosemite Valley; implement a visitor 

information and control system at gateway communities and entrance 

stations

Enforce Manage visitation according to established use levels for Yosemite Valley; 

implement a visitor information and control traffic management system at in 

coordination with gateway communities and entrance stations

Provide a 16-mile bike trail along both sides of the river, using existing 

trails wherever possible

Improve existing paved trails to accommodate wheelchair use

Provide a 16-mile Improve the bike trail network along both sides of the river 

within Yosemite Valley, using existing trails infrastructure wherever possible

Improve existing paved trails to accommodate wheelchair use

Immediately remove 500 strip parking spaces; delineate remainder Immediately rRemove 500 300-400 strip roadside parking spaces that are 

encroaching on meadows or interfering with traffic flow ; delineate remainder

Remove Degnan residence and Masonic Hall Remove Degnan residence and Masonic Hall * 

Remove superintendent’s house, garage, and access road Remove Superintendent’s house and garage, and access road

Retain YP&CC stables, Happy Isles nature center, Le Conte Memorial 

Lodge, and Yosemite Valley Chapel

Retain YP&CC concessioner stables, Happy Isles nature center, Le Conte Memorial 

Lodge, and Yosemite Valley Chapel

Improve wayfinding aids from shuttle stop to Happy Isles and the Mist and John 

Muir Trails 

Construct Indian cultural center at the former Indian village site west of 

Sunnyside campground

Construct Indian cultural center at the former Indian village site west of Sunnyside 

campground Camp 4 

Create an interpretive nature walk through Lower Rivers area that emphasizes riverrelated natural processes and stewardship

Rehabilitate informal trails that impact archeological sites. Increase interpretation 

and education effort about cultural resources for climbers and other visitors 

Re-direct visitors accessing the Merced River near El Capitan Bridge from sensitive 

riverbanks to resilient sandbar points. Fence and re-vegetate the eroded areas

Construct a formal shuttle bus stop near El Capitan Bridge

Relocate parking from Devil’s Elbow to the east of current parking lot. Delineate a 

trail for river access to the large sandbar to the east 

Designate river access at Cathedral Beach Picnic Area and direct use to more 

resilient areas

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-25
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Redesign the picnic area at Sentinel Beach to better accommodate visitor use levels 

and delineate parking. Designate river access points and protect sensitive areas

with fencing

Delineate picnic area at Swinging Bridge. Stabilize adjacent riverbank and restore 

natural resources

Park 

Operations

Actions

Page 46

Upgrade electrical systems Electrical systems upgraded with underground lines and new substations, 

augmented by energy efficient systems

Cascades

Park 

Operations 

Goals 

Page 46

Continue power production Continue power production*

Continue use of the historic Cascades Powerhouse as an electrical substation

Arch Rock

Visitor Use 

Actions

Page 46

Redesign Entrance facility Redesign Entrance facility and/or relocate

Park 

Operations 

Actions 

Page 46

Remove two residences Remove two residences Retain housing for NPS employees so long as there is a 

need to support operations in the Merced River Gorge

El Portal

Page 47 The El Portal administrative site, authorized by Congress in 1958, will 

become park headquarters and the major park administrative site. 

The El Portal administrative site, authorized by Congress in 1958, will serve as

become park headquarters and the major park site the NPS center for park 

operations and maintenance. 

Chapter 8: 

Alternatives 

Actions 

Common To 

All and 

Alternative 5 

Maps “El 

Portal”

Visitor Use 

Goals

Page 47

Provide orientation and information/reservation system for overnight 

accommodations and campgrounds

Provide orientation and information/reservation system for overnight 

accommodations and campgrounds

Provide experimental remote staging area for Valley day visitors Provide experimental remote staging parking area for Valley day visitors

A-26 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Visitor Use 

Actions 

Page 47

Provide an information/reservation station and develop a community 

museum at the Bagby station

Provide an information/reservation station and develop a community museum at 

the Bagby station

Provide a commercial facilities area for services, including automobile 

service, restaurants, grocery store, clothing and gift sales, bank, beauty 

and barber shop

Provide a commercial facilities area for services, including automobile service, 

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

shop

Provide up to a 150-car day parking area and bus service into the Valley Provide up to a 150300-car day-use parking area, restroom facilities, and bus

shuttle service into the Valley 

Reserve space for possible expansion of staging area Reserve space for possible expansion of staging area

Park 

Operations

Actions

Pages 47-48

NPS and YP&CC maintenance, warehousing, laundry, and bus service 

area

NPS and YP&CC maintenance, warehousing, laundry, and bus service area, 

equipment and materials storage

NPS and YP&CC open air storage NPS and YP&CC open air storage

NPS permanent housing for a maximum of 70 employees NPS permanent housing for a maximum of 70 employees

YP&CC permanent housing for a maximum of 390 employees YP&CC permanent housing for a maximum of 390 employees

YP&CC seasonal housing for a maximum of 60 employees YP&CC seasonal housing for a maximum of 60 employees

Permanent and seasonal housing for other employees associated with 

the management and operation of El Portal (about 80 employees)

Permanent and seasonal housing for other employees associated with the 

management and operation of El Portal (about 80 employees)

Provide permanent NPS and concessioner housing in Rancheria and El Portal for a 

total of 535 employees13

Remove or Relocate 36 existing private residences at Abbieville and Trailer Village

Remove petroleum products terminal facilities and restore site 

Residential amenities, including community recreation and services, 

open space and landscaping, utilities, meeting hall, fire station, post 

office, and law enforcement facilities

Residential amenities, including community recreation and services, open space and 

landscaping, utilities, meeting hall, fire station, post office, elementary school, 

library and law enforcement facilities

Page 49 El Portal Development Concept Map Replace with Final Merced River Plan/EIS Alternative 5 Map “El Portal”

13 El Portal Employee housing total includes existing units in addition to new units constructed to replace those removed from Yosemite Valley, Abbieville and Trailer Village. It 

does not include private residences in El Portal Village.

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-27

 
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Wawona District

Page 56 Wawona Development Concept Map Replace with Final Merced River Plan/EIS Alternative 5 Map “Wawona” Chapter 8: 

Alternatives 

Actions 

Common To 

All and 

Alternative 5 

Maps 

“Wawona”

Visitor Use 

Actions

Pages 57-58

Provide 145 overnight accommodation units by utilizing historic 

structures and a new structure compatible with the historic district

Retain 104 lodging units at the Wawona Hotel Provide 145 overnight 

accommodation units by utilizing historic structures and a new structure 

compatible with the historic district

Retain golf course, YP&CC stables, tennis court, and swimming pool Retain golf course, YP&CC concessioner stables, tennis court and swimming pool

Remove parking from in front of the hotel complex and construct a 

145-car area north of the complex

Remove Retain parking from in front of the hotel complex and construct a 145-car 

area north of the complex

Provide 120 parking spaces at the store

Rehabilitate the existing 100-site campground and 30 person group 

camp for year-round use

Rehabilitate Provide 83 sites, one group site, and two stock sites for a total of 86 

sites at the existing 100-site campground and 30 person group camp for yearround use

Remove 13 sites that are either within 100 feet of the river or in culturally sensitive 

areas

Relocate campground and amphitheater Relocate campground and amphitheater

Construct 200-site campground in Section 35 Construct 200-site campground in Section 35

Retain 25-horse campground Retain Relocate horse stock campground

Provide trailhead parking (50 spaces) at Chilnualna Falls trailhead Retain low-impact trailhead parking at Chilnualna Falls trailhead and provide for 

parking and light visitor use at sites such as Flat Rock and South Fork Swinging 

Bridge 

Park 

Operations 

Actions

Pages 58-59

Provide facilities for employee housing and recreational amenities to 

accommodate a maximum of 60 permanent and 110 seasonal NPS 

employees, a maximum of 40 permanent and 170 YP&CC employees, 

and 20 permanent and 30 seasonal other employees, only if housing is 

unavailable outside the park boundary

Provide facilities for employee housing and recreational amenities to accommodate 

a maximum of 60 permanent and 110 seasonal NPS employees, a maximum of 40 

permanent and 170 YP&CC employees, and 20 permanent and 30 seasonal other 

employees, only if housing is unavailable outside the park boundary

Retain existing housing facilities for 121 NPS employees

Relocate the existing NPS Building and Grounds Maintenance Facility to a new 

facility at a previously-disturbed site between Wawona Ranger District headquarters 

and water treatment plant. Construct storage and office administrative space. 

Provide 20 parking spaces for employees and service vehicles

Construct NPS wildland fire facility with engine bays, administrative office space 

and meeting space. Provide access driveways, hose drying rack, and snow storage 

area

A-28 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Specific Revisions to The 1980 General Management Plan

TABLE A-6:DEVELOPED AREA PLANS GMP/MRP

GMP Section 

and Page # 1980 GMP Text 2014 GMP Revision

2014 MRP 

Reference

Remove modular structures currently used as wildland fire facility and build 20 

parking spaces for employee use (including seasonal staff)

Maintain existing use of the Wawona District interpretive services field office and 

Wawona Campground reservation center

Construct a district Roads Maintenance Facility headquarters consolidated into one 

building for a machine shop and equipment storage with administrative office 

space

Provide oversized vehicle and heavy equipment parking spaces and material stockpile bins 

accessed by a common drive aisle.

Provide general outdoor storage area with a covered sand storage shed

Provide 15 parking spaces for visitor and employee use

Remove existing wooden buildings used for Buildings and Grounds, Roads 

Maintenance and fire apparatus storage from the 150-foot riparian buffer

Relocate stock camp from sensitive resource area along the river to an alternative 

site located outside the riparian buffer but in the same general vicinity 

Protect and enhance area within the 150-foot riparian buffer

Maintain access to green waste transfer station

Construct a new water treatment, storage, and distribution system Construct a new water treatment, storage, and distribution system Expand capacity 

for water treatment, storage, and distribution system to accommodate residential 

use and preserve free-flowing conditions in the South Fork

Construct a new wastewater treatment plant with provisions for yearround disposalConstruct a new wastewater treatment plant with provisions for year-round 

disposalExpand wastewater treatment plant with provisions for waste water 

reclamation for the public campground and residential community at peak season

Connect new and existing visitor and employee facilities and Section 35 

structures to the new wastewater treatment plant

Connect new and existing visitor and employee facilities and Section 35 structures 

to the new wastewater treatment plant*

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS A-29
APPENDIX A 

ACTIONS THAT REVISE THE 1980 YOSEMITE GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

WILDERNESS

The 1980 GMP was published four years before the Yosemite Wilderness was designated in 1984 and seven 

years before the river was added to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. The Final Merced River Plan/FEIS

classifies three segments of the river as “wild” river segments (Segments 1, 5 and 8). Wild river segments are 

those that are generally inaccessible except by trail and with watersheds or shorelines essentially primitive. 

Wild segments represent vestiges of primitive America. At the time the 1980 GMP was adopted, the areas 

comprising these wild river segments were classified as “backcountry” areas. The 1980 GMP provided 

“backcountry management objectives” and established zones, capacities, and visitor use management 

strategies for these areas. The 1980 GMP explains that the established carrying capacities for each backcountry 

zone were designed to limit use and preserve resource integrity. These carrying capacities and trailhead quotas 

were re-evaluated during the Merced River planning process to ensure that user capacities for wild Segments 1 

and 5 and 8 would be protective of river values. The user capacity limits adopted through the Final Merced 

River Plan/EIS and reflected in Table A-7 below replace the previous carrying capacity limits for these areas.

TABLE A-7: USER CAPACITY AMENDMENTS TO THE GMP FOR SEGMENTS 1, 5 AND 8 

1980 GMP

Wilderness Management 

Plan (post 1984 

designation) and current 

condition

MRP Alternative 5 

(Preferred) proposed 

User Capacities

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

Under the Wilderness Act, the NPS can only authorize commercial services in wilderness if they are 

necessary to realize wilderness purposes. Furthermore, the Final Merced River Plan/EIS allows only the 

amount of commercial use in wilderness that is within the established user capacities. The Final Merced 

River Plan/EIS would revise and augment management of commercial use in wilderness areas throughout 

the Merced river corridor consistent with the Extent Necessary Determination described in Appendix L.

A-30 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
APPENDIX B

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Past........................................................................................................................................................... B-1

Present ..................................................................................................................................................... B-8

Reasonably Foreseeable Future ........................................................................................................... B-18

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
This page intentionally left blank.

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
APPENDIX B 

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) describes a cumulative impact as follows (Regulation 1508.7):

A “Cumulative impact” is the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the 

action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what 

agency (federal or nonfederal) or person undertakes such other actions. Cumulative impacts can result from 

individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time.

The cumulative projects addressed in this analysis include past and present actions, as well as any planning 

or development activity currently being implemented or planned for implementation in the reasonably 

foreseeable future. Cumulative actions are evaluated in conjunction with the impacts of an alternative to 

determine if they have any additive impacts on a particular resource. The following are considered in the 

analysis of cumulative impact projects for this project.

PAST

Cascades Diversion Dam Removal

The Cascades Diversion Dam was located on the main stem of the Merced River at the far west end of 

Yosemite Valley. The dam was a timber “crib” structure with associated concrete abutments. Removing the 

dam was part of the overall intent of the Merced River Plan and Yosemite Valley Plan to restore freeflowing conditions to the Merced Wild and Scenic River. In its deteriorated condition, the dam presented a 

significant public health and safety hazard due to the potential for uncontrolled collapse. Removal of this 

structure and related facilities was completed in 2004.

Cascades Housing Removal

The Cascades area houses became cost prohibitive to maintain because of substandard construction and 

inadequate site development (drainage) and non-compliance to construction codes. The houses contained 

asbestos and lead paint concerns; abatement costs would have been prohibitive. Removal of these structures 

was deemed compatible with park values, and the General Management Plan targeted these structures for 

removal. While the houses were nominated for the Historic Register, they were approved for removal

through consultation efforts with the California State Preservation Office. The removal included the 

complete removal of structures and foundations, while significant historical components were saved. Five 

housing units were removed and area vegetation was restored. The project was completed in 2004.

Cook’s Meadow Ecological Restoration

This project restored a dynamic and diverse wetland ecosystem. The Cook’s Meadow restoration project 

involved the following actions: 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS B-1 
APPENDIX B 

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

• Filling four drainage ditches created by early Euro-American settlers

• Removing a raised, abandoned roadbed and a trail that bisected the meadow 

• Reconstructing the trail on an elevated boardwalk that now allows water to flow freely and reduces 

foot traffic on sensitive meadow plants 

• Installing culverts under Sentinel Road to direct runoff into the meadow and restore the natural 

flow of water from the Merced River during seasonal periods of high water 

• Reducing non-native plant species encroaching on native species by using manual, mechanical, and 

chemical control methods. This project was completed at the end of 2005, and ongoing monitoring 

will continue.

Curry Village Employee Housing

This project included the design and construction of new employee housing and related facilities to 

accommodate approximately 217 concessionaire employees in the area west of Curry Village in Yosemite 

Valley. This housing replaced concessionaire housing lost in the January 1997 flood. The employee housing 

units were designed in accordance with the character of the area, with particular focus on the Curry Village 

Historic District. The scope of this housing project included providing parking and access, an employee 

wellness center, concessionaire housing, management offices, maintenance facilities, postal facilities, and 

housing related storage. The compliance for this project was completed in 2004, and construction was 

completed in 2007. 

Curry Village Huff House Temporary Housing

This temporary solution was developed in consultation with litigants as part of the 2009 Settlement Agreement 

concerning the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan. This action provided 

temporary lodging for 102 employees, and was needed to help meet immediate short-term housing needs for 

the park concessioner until permanent employee housing is available. The Huff House housing area includes 

the historic Huff House, and is located within the Yosemite Valley Historic District and the Camp Curry 

Historic District. This project installed 51 temporary, portable kiosk-like hard-sided cabins without baths 

(WOBs) and/or canvas tent cabins, and 2 modular shared facilities at infill and peripheral locations at the 

existing Huff House temporary employee housing area at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley. The 21 temporary 

structures placed in infill locations were tent cabins salvaged from the closed areas of Curry Village. 

Installation of 30 additional temporary tent cabins or WOBs along the northern edge of the Huff House 

housing area, plus installation of the two shared modular facilities, and relocation of one WOB to an infill 

location were also accomplished under this project. This project was completed in fall 2009.

Curry Village Registration Building, Guest Lounge and Amphitheater 

Rehabilitation

This project included the rehabilitation of the Curry Village registration, lounge, and amphitheater structures. 

The lounge project included the complete rehabilitation of the building's architectural, structural, mechanical, 

and electrical systems. Included in the project were repairs and improvements to the outdoor amphitheater on 

the south end of the lounge building. The registration building project included the complete rehabilitation of 

the building's architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems. All rehabilitation work was 

B-2 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Past

constructed in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The project was 

completed in 2009. 

Curry Village Rockfall Hazard Zone Structures Project

Built in the 1920s, rustic hard-sided cabins with bath and cabins without bath make up the majority of the 

structures in the closed zone. Six other structures include the Foster Curry Cabin (Tresidder Residence), 

associated visitor support structures (e.g., restrooms, shower house), and two non-historic structures. 

The project removed all structures to maximize safety for park visitors and employees and eliminate the 

need for administrative access to the closed area. This entailed documentation of the historic structures, 

salvage of historic materials for reuse, removal of all structures remaining in the rockfall zone, installation of 

interpretative materials, and allowing the area to return to its natural state. The Finding of No Significant 

Impact (FONSI) was signed on February 7, 2012, and the corresponding Memorandum of Agreement 

(MOA) was signed on December 28, 2011. The majority of the project was implemented by December 2013.

Since the signing of the FONSI and MOA, new data determined that an additional five (5) buildings were 

located within the rockfall hazard area. The disposition of these structures will be amended to the Curry 

Village Rockfall Hazard Zone Structures Project FONSI and MOA. Implementation of the plan will occur 

prior to the signing of the Decision Document for the Merced River Plan in 2014. 

Curry Village Rehabilitation of Historic Cabins with Bath Structures

This project addressed a rehabilitation program for the twenty-six (26) guest cabins with baths (24 duplex 

and 2 quadplex Bungalows, or WIBs) that are still being used for guest accommodations on the western side 

of Curry Village just north of the rockfall hazard zone. Built from 1918 to 1922 by Curry Company, these 

26 bungalow structures have deteriorating and failing foundations. The structures were originally built using 

rocks as piers where practical and most often with wood piers set directly on the ground. Perpetual shade of 

the southern cliffs, the flow of water off Glacier Point cliffs, and seasonally deposited silt on the upslope side 

are rotting out many softwood piers, rim joists, sub and finish floor, and exterior vertical base sheathing. 

This project corrected the structural deficiencies of these buildings by rehabilitating building foundations 

and roof trusses to meet current loads. The project provided an adequate HVAC system, electrical wiring 

that meets the current National Electric Code, and a fire alarm and suppression system for each building. 

The building's exteriors were restored, including siding, windows, doors and all building trim to a level 

where cyclic maintenance can be performed without significant restoration. Federal accessibility standards 

were incorporated into the project. The majority of the project was implemented by December 2013.

Revised Curry Village and East YV Campgrounds Improvements

Because the Yosemite Valley Plan, and in turn the Curry Village and East Yosemite Valley Campgrounds 

Environmental Assessment, was tiered from the overturned 2005 Revised Merced River Plan, a decision was 

made to rescind these plans. A revised Finding Of No Significant Impact was issues in January 2010. In the 

2009 Settlement Agreement, the Curry Village and East Yosemite Valley Campgrounds EA/FONSI was 

rescinded except for the reduction in the number of visitor accommodation units and limited tree removal 

in Upper Pines Campground. 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS B-3 
APPENDIX B 

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

East Yosemite Valley Utilities Improvement Plan

The existing utility infrastructure serving Yosemite Valley was identified as a potential problem due to its 

age, condition inadequate capacity, inaccessibility to future facilities and inappropriate location in 

environmentally sensitive areas. The National Park Service completed an Environmental Assessment and a 

Finding of No Significant Impact for the Utilities Master Plan was signed in October 2003 to allow efficient 

relocation and upgrading of utility systems to provide for utility needs while reducing long-term 

environmental impacts from utility repair and maintenance activities. Construction of phase 1 of the 

improvement began in 2005 and has been ongoing with implementation of the utility improvements 

occurring in three phases over 10 years. 

El Portal Road Improvement Project

Significant damage occurred during the 1997 flood, necessitating an almost complete reconstruction of the 

El Portal Road. Since then, the NPS has rebuilt the westernmost 6.5 miles of the road — referred to as 

Segments A, B, and C — but prior to completion, reconstruction of the final one-mile segment of the 

project, referred to as Segment D, was halted as a result of a successful legal challenge. The court decision 

directed the NPS to prepare a comprehensive management plan for the Merced Wild and Scenic River 

before completing road repairs.

Completion: A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed by the Regional Director in July, 

2007. Actions were completed in 2008.

Fern Springs Restoration

Ecological restoration, split rail fencing, and an interpretive wayside exhibit comprised Phases 1 and 2 of 

this project. Actions were completed in 2007.

Happy Isles Dam Removal

The Happy Isles Dam impoundment was located at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, had been abandoned 

since the mid-1980s. The remaining infrastructure consisted of a low rock and concrete dam, two steelreinforced concrete and iron diversion gates, numerous pipes above and below ground near the dam, and an 

8-foot by 12-foot granite powerhouse foundation. The dam and diversion gates cause a large eddy and scour 

pool (100 feet wide by 15 to 20 feet deep) directly upstream of the obstruction, which dramatically alters local 

hydrology, water chemistry, and ecology. The project consisted of removing Happy Isles dam and associated 

infrastructure and revegetating the riverbanks to prevent post-project bank erosion.

This project was completed in 2006. 

Happy Isles Fen Habitat Restoration Project

The Happy Isles Fen is a 2-acre wetland immediately west of the Nature Center at Happy Isles in east Yosemite 

Valley. In 1928, the National Park Service filled in about 3 additional acres of the fen to create a parking lot. 

The asphalt parking lot was removed in 1970, though imported fill remained. The area affected by parking lot 

construction was restored to wetland conditions by removing imported fill and associated upland vegetation 

and revegetating with native wetland plants. This project was completed in the fall of 2003.

B-4 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Past

Happy Isles Gauging Station Bridge Removal

The Happy Isles Gauging Station Bridge spanned the Merced River in the east end of Yosemite Valley. The 

bridge was badly damaged during the January 1997 flood and was deemed unsafe by representatives of the 

Federal Highway Administration. The bridge began to show signs of immediate failure in 2000 when a large 

sinkhole appeared on the west abutment. Due to the threat to public health and safety, the bridge was 

removed in the fall of 2001, thereby improving free-flowing conditions of the Merced River. The east 

abutment was retained to protect the operation stream flow gauge. The bridge was removed in 2001.

Happy Isles to Vernal Fall Trail Reconstruction

This project reconstructed 5,400 linear feet of the Vernal Fall Trail from Happy Isles to the base of the Mist 

Trail stairs. Actions included constructing an average tread width of seven feet, rebuilding trail walls, 

redistributing old pavement as a sub-base, and resurfacing. On steeper sections of the trail, improved 

traction is now provided for pedestrians. A functioning drainage system has been established in the trail 

corridor by paving water breaks and constructing rock drainages to channel water away from the trail.

Lower Yosemite Fall Project

The Lower Yosemite Fall area is the most highly visited natural feature in Yosemite National Park. The 

project rehabilitated and reconstructed the existing system of trails and bridges, relocated the restroom, and 

removed the existing parking area in the Lower Yosemite Fall area.

Completion: A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed by the Regional Director in May, 

2002. Actions were completed in 2004.

Reconstructing Critically Eroded Sections of El Portal Road 

The purpose of this project was to reconstruct the critically eroded sections of El Portal Roadand repair 

those portions of the road and embankment that are at risk of failure as a result of the damage initially 

caused by high-water events of the Merced River, including the devastating flood of January 1997. By 

promptly reconstructing the failing portions of El Portal Road, park visitors are protected from the hazard 

of a sudden road failure, and access to Yosemite Valley will be maintained. The Finding of No Significant 

Impacts was signed in July 2007. 

Red Peak Pass Trail Rehabilitation

This project reconstructed the trial from Red Peak Pass to the Triple Peak Fork of the Merced River. Work 

included rehabilitation of rock retaining wall, rip-rap tread, water breaks, terrace steps, and restoration of 

meadow rutting. The project began in 2006 and was completed in 2011.

Rehabilitate Yosemite Valley Campground Restrooms

This project rehabilitated 19 six-stall restrooms in Upper Pines, Lower Pines, and North Pines 

Campgrounds, as well as the 15- to 20-foot walkway approach to each restroom. Work included 

replacement of partitions by installing graffiti-resistant surfaces, painting of exterior trim and interior walls 

and floors, replacement of mirrors and toilet paper dispensers, repair of outside privacy screens, 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS B-5 
APPENDIX B 

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

improvements to meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements, replacement of wall vents, 

replacement of signs, replacement of electric service panels, improvement of lighting, and replacement of fill 

materials for walkway approaches. This project was completed in 2004.

South Entrance Station Reestablish Exit Lane

The project included re-establishing the old road alignment for exiting-southbound traffic from Yosemite 

National Park and then completing asphalt repairs on the existing pavement surrounding the South 

Entrance Kiosk. Work included an initial geotechnical investigation to determine the roads design profile. 

With this design information the road subgrade was regraded and compacted, then compacted fill and base 

material was used to create a structurally sound subbase and then the final surface treatment was compacted 

asphalt pavement. The initial geotechnical investigation, included 2-deep borings up to 10-ft. deep (6" Dia.) 

and 3-shallow borings up to 2-ft. deep (6" Dia.), to determine the existing subgrade conditions and to 

develop the necessary design to withstand the current traffic loadings that use this road surface. This work 

also included relocation of telecommunication and power lines, a light pole, as well as abandonment of an 

existing ventilation shaft. Construction was completed May 2012.

Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment

Because the Yosemite Valley Plan, and in turn the Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment Environmental was 

tiered from the overturned 2005 Revised Merced River Plan, a decision was made to rescind this plans 

(except for a few discrete elements). A revised Finding Of No Significant Impacts was issued in January 

2010. 

In the 2009 Settlement Agreement, the Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment EA/FONSI was rescinded 

except for the planned construction of the new Wahhoga Indian Cultural Center. 

Yosemite Valley Lost Arrow Temporary Employee Housing

This project temporarily located 6 units of portable housing for park concessioner employees from Curry 

Village to the existing 40 units of Lost Arrow temporary employee housing area at Yosemite Village, which 

was created subsequent to the 1997 flood that destroyed existing employee housing at other valley locations. 

This proposed temporary solution was developed as a part of the settlement agreement that also includes 

preparation of the Revised Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan/EIS. This 

project was completed in 2009.

Yosemite Valley Ahwahnee Temporary Employee Housing

Rockfall events at Curry Village in October 2008 resulted in the permanent closure of the Terrace tent cabin 

employee housing area and other hard sided structures located in the rockfall hazard zone at Curry Village, 

as revised and expanded based on analysis conducted after the October rock fall. Prior to the October 2008 

rock fall, Yosemite Institute had use of tent cabins and hard-sided structures at Curry Village for student 

and teacher lodging. Subsequent to the closure of tent cabins and other hard sided structures within the 

revised rockfall hazard zone, the former Boys Town tent cabin employee housing was converted to student 

and teacher lodging for Yosemite Institute, leaving a deficit of concessioner employee housing. Of the 

293 Curry Village employee beds lost to closure or conversion as a result of the October 2008 rock fall, 

B-6 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Past

relocation of housing for concessioner employees was essential to support visitor use. The park 

concessioner needed to replace approximately 243 to 273 employee beds. This proposed temporary 

solution was developed in consultation with Friends of Yosemite as part of a litigation settlement that also 

includes preparation of the Revised Merced Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact 

Statement (EIS). This action provided temporary lodging for 12 employees, and was needed to help meet 

immediate short-term housing needs for the park concessioner until permanent employee housing is 

available. This project was completed in 2009.

Yosemite Valley Loop Road Rehabilitation

This project repaired and resurfaced existing roadway pavement, improved drainage facilities, and defined 

roadside parking throughout the project area. No widening or realignment of roadway off of the existing 

road bench was done. Areas with soft or poorly draining subgrade were excavated and replaced with better 

foundation materials. Low-lying areas subject to flooding will be evaluated with alternative concepts to 

determine the potential impacts. 

Completion: A Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed by the Regional Director in February 

2006. Actions were completed in 2008. 

Yosemite Valley Plan

Because the Yosemite Valley Plan, and in turn the Yosemite Lodge Area Redevelopment Environmental 

Assessment and Curry Village and East Yosemite Valley Campgrounds Environmental Assessment, were tiered 

from the defeated 2005 Merced River Plan, the adverse decision from the 9th Circuit had profound 

implications on the ability of the National Park Service to defend these tiered NEPA documents in litigation. 

As a result, in consultation with the former Regional Director, a decision was made that it was better to 

rescind these plans (except for a few discrete elements) than attempt to defend them. Certain projects that 

have been completed in whole relied upon the YVP EIS and ROD for their NEPA compliance, in addition to 

individual NEPA compliance in the form of EAs and FONSIs or categorical exclusions (CEs). The EAs and 

FONSIs or CEs for the following projects will remain in place, as supporting those completed projects:

• Removal of Cascades Dam and screening house and ecological restoration of site

• Removal of Cascades houses and restoration of area to natural conditions

• Yosemite Falls Area Plan implementation

• El Portal Resources Management and Science Building installation

• Yosemite Valley Shuttle Fleet replacement

• Removal of El Capitan picnic area parking (formerly south of Northside Drive)

• Removal of six Ahwahnee tent cabins

• Installation of Valley-wide interpretive exhibits

• Removal and restoration to natural conditions of flooded Tenaya Creek Group campground

• Curry Village Employee Housing

• Happy Isles Bridge Removal

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS B-7 
APPENDIX B 

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

Yosemite Valley Shuttle Bus Stop Improvements

This project consisted of the preparation of preliminary design plans, environmental compliance 

documents, and construction drawings; the construction of six, 10-foot by 80-foot concrete braking pads, 

and the rehabilitation or replacement of 94,000 square feet of asphalt road approaches and the construction 

of bus stop shelters. Construction was completed in 2010.

Wawona Road Rehabilitation Project

This project pulverized and repaved approximately 25 miles of the Wawona Road (Route 0014; FMSS# 

10814) between Southside Drive and South Entrance. The proposal included minimal work at pullouts and 

intersections, which were within the existing paved footprint. This project did not alter the historic 

character of the road. The road width remained the same and all drainage improvements were done in 

accordance with the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, in 

consultation with the Division of Resources Management and Science. This project was completed in 2011.

PRESENT

Ahwahnee Comprehensive Rehabilitation Plan

The purpose of this project is to develop a comprehensive plan for phased, long-term rehabilitation of The 

Ahwahnee National Historic Landmark hotel and associated guest cottages, employee dormitory, and 

landscaped grounds in order to: 

• restore, preserve, and protect the historic integrity and character-defining features of The 

Ahwahnee by rehabilitating aged or altered historic finishes and contributing landscape features;

• enhance visitor and employee safety by bringing the buildings and grounds into compliance with 

current building, fire, life safety, and seismic standards;

• improve hotel energy efficiency and operations by repairing or replacing outdated or inefficient 

building systems and components; and

• protect and enhance the visitor experience at The Ahwahnee through improved operational 

efficiency, increased accessibility, and rehabilitation of historic resources. 

After more than 80 years in service, the hotel and associated structures are in need of rehabilitation because 

the facilities at The Ahwahnee are not fully compliant with the most recent building and accessibility codes, 

including International Building Code (IBC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Code, Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), IBC seismic requirements, and Americans with Disabilities Act 

(ADA) standards.

Many of the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems serving The Ahwahnee facilities are aging and 

need to be replaced and updated. Some historic hotel finishes and landscape components are timeworn or 

have been altered over the years, potentially affecting the historic integrity of this property. The current 

operational layout of some working areas reduces the efficiency of providing a high level of visitor services. 

The Finding of No Significant Impact was signed on January 3, 2012. Implementation of the plan will be 

through a long-term, phased approach as funding becomes available likely over a 20-year period.

B-8 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Present 

Invasive Plant Management Plan Update

There are over 150 non-native plant species in Yosemite National Park, which is approximately 10% of the 

park’s flora. Of these, 28 species are listed for control by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, California 

Department of Food and Agriculture, or California Exotic Pest Plant Council. Species targeted for control in 

Yosemite include bull thistle, mullein, yellow star thistle, spotted knapweed, perennial pepperweed, purple 

vetch, rose and burr clovers, Himalayan blackberry, white and yellow sweet clover, non-native wildflowers, 

and escaped landscaping plants such as foxglove, ox-eye daisy, pink mullein, French broom, tree-of-heaven, 

and black locust. The current control program includes using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology 

to map plant populations. Crews then remove plants using a variety of techniques, including hand pulling. 

Treated areas are photographed and re-visited each year to assess the results and provide follow-up 

treatment.

The plan defines a set of comprehensive programs, including the following:

• Education and focused research.

• Prioritized prevention and control efforts using a variety of techniques and appropriate mitigation 

measures.

• Systematic monitoring and documentation of invasive plant status and the results of management 

efforts.

• Restoration of ecosystems altered by invasive plants.

Control methods being considered include some combination of thee following: hand-pulling or using 

various machines to try and remove plants; releasing predatory insects or fungus to attach plants; educating 

users and staff about preventative measures; and using chemical treatments derived from natural products 

like vinegar, or manufactured chemicals like glyphosphate. Program goals include eradicating (or at least 

controlling) invasive plant species; preventing new invasions; restoring and maintaining desirable plant 

communities and healthy ecosystem; enhancing the visitor experience; and educating park staff, partners, 

and users.

The original FONSI was signed in 2008 and an update was completed in 2011. Annual workplans are posted 

on the park website for public review.

Administration of Private Land in Section 35, the Town of Wawona

Prior to 1985 and before the South Fork Merced River’s designation as wild and scenic, the use of private 

land and development in the Section 35 area of Wawona were managed under the exclusive jurisdiction of 

the NPS. Not content with land acquisitions in the 1960’s and ‘70’s and the federal regulations that were 

perceived as antithetical to their rights to develop and enjoy private property, local owners petitioned the 

U.S. District Court for a declarative judgment to protect their interests. On August 8, 1985, following 

extensive negotiation with the Department of Interior and a proposal made to the State of California Public 

Lands Commission, the NPS relinquished partial jurisdiction of Section 35, including land use planning and 

development of private parcels, to the State of California, which in turn delegated land use and management 

authorities of privately-owned parcels to the County of Mariposa. 

On October 1, 1985, the county’s board of supervisors adopted a memorandum of understanding with the 

NPS, stipulating land use authorities and regulations that were subsequently defined by a specific plan, 

which was completed and adopted in October, 1987. Consistent with state enabling regulations, the specific 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS B-9 
APPENDIX B 

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

plan has been amended three times, most recently in January 2012. The NPS cooperated in the production 

and review of the specific plan, and plays a custodial role in the plan’s implementation through 

collaboration with the county’s planning department and board of supervisors.

Although Section 6 of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act provides for the acquisition of private lands within a 

river corridor, Subsection 6(b) prohibits the condemnation of property that lies within political subdivisions 

of a state (including Mariposa County) unless the acreage amounts to 50 percent or more of land within the 

entire river corridor. Moreover, Subsection 6(c) states that the NPS cannot condemn, “for the purpose of 

including such lands in any national wild, scenic or recreational river,” lands that “are located within any 

incorporated city, village or borough which has in force and applicable to such lands a duly adopted, valid 

zoning ordinance,” so long as the ordinance prohibits commercial and industrial development and includes 

provisions (acreage, frontage and setback requirements) for the river’s protection. Given this prohibition on 

condemnation processes for the purpose of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in Wawona, private parcels will 

continue to be administered according to the provisions of Mariposa County’s pre-existing land 

management plan and zoning ordinance.

Section 35 currently includes 509 parcels. 174 parcels are owned by the NPS, with 118 single-family 

residences used for employee housing. The NPS owns 56 vacant parcels. 335 parcels are privately owned, 

253 of these are improved, leaving 82 unimproved or vacant privately-owned parcels. The minimum lot size 

is 6,000 square feet for any residential parcel in Section 35. The NPS has no current plans involving 

development or redevelopment of the property that it owns or manages in Section 35. Private property 

owners will retain the ability to develop or redevelop any of the 335 parcels in Section 35 according to the 

provisions of the specific plan.

The Wawona Town Planning Area Specific Plan includes the following land use classifications: Mountain 

Residential Districts No. 1 and No. 2, Limited Commercial District (in recognition of pre-existing land 

uses), Environmental Protection District and Floodplain Overlay. Each district includes specific 

development standards, such as minimum lot sizes and subdivision requirements, building height and 

setback limitations, and minimum frontage requirements. The full text of the specific plan can be found on 

the county’s website: www.mariposacounty.org.

Under the terms of the MOU, the County of Mariposa provides local planning, permitting and building 

inspection services. The community school is operated under agreement with Mariposa County Unified 

School District. The NPS retains jurisdiction for local law enforcement and emergency services, such as 

structural firefighting and search and rescue. Water supply and waste water disposal functions are served by 

private wells, sceptic tanks and leach fields on most private parcels, while government facilities are served by 

a domestic water distribution system and a local waste water treatment plant that is currently permitted to 

treat 105,000 gallons of effluent per day. In order to protect South Fork water quality and to maintain freeflowing conditions, the NPS proposes to expand domestic water and waste water storage facilities in 

Wawona. A treated waste water storage tank with a capacity to hold 100,000 gallons of water each day will 

nearly double the capacity of the treatment plant at peak season, when permitted.

Camp Wawona

Within the area known as Section 35 lies Camp Wawona, a 30 acre facility owned and operated by the 

Central California Conference of Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Camp Wawona is an institutional camp 

that has been owned and operated by the Central California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Church 

B-10 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Present 

for more than 75 years. The camp is located on private property owned by the Seventh-day Adventists in 

Wawona, which includes private lands that are within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park. In August 

of 2005, the property owners submitted a revised application to upgrade their facilities and to expand the 

use of the site beyond its traditional summer camp usage with no land exchange with the National Park 

Service, supplemented by additional information in 2006. The 20-year redevelopment plan included

replacing or expanding the existing camp facilities, modifying necessary planning policies and designations 

to resolve the existing land use plan, maintaining an effective buffer between the developed camp facilities 

and operations and the designated Yosemite Wilderness Area. The NPS originally approved the 

redevelopment of Camp Wawona in 2007 and again in 2008, but in 2012 withdrew that approval after 

finding that additional NEPA review was appropriate.

Commercial Use Authorization for Commercial Activities

The purpose for the issuance of these commercial use authorizations (CUA, previously titled Incidental 

Business Permit) is to regulate and oversee operations of permit holders involved in conducting commercially 

guided day hiking, overnight backpacking, fishing, photography workshops, stock use (pack animal trips and 

pack support trips for hikers), and Nordic skiing activities in Yosemite National Park. In addition to the base 

CUA, additional uses and activities may be allowed depending on the holder's request and compliance with all 

applicable laws, regulations, and guidelines. Conditions for these additional activities are stipulated in the body 

of the individual permit for each activity. The permitted activities are to be conducted only in those areas of 

Yosemite National Park open to the public and authorized by the permit. The permit holder is required to 

obtain any additional permits or licenses as required by law. Permits are renewed annually.

Comprehensive Ecological Restoration Projects

The NPS completed a suite of ecological restoration projects throughout Yosemite during the last several 

decades. The Merced River was a focus for many projects including the removal of the Cascades Diversion 

Dam and Happy Isles dam, and river-related ecological restoration at Eagle Creek, Lower River, former El 

Capitan Picnic Area and Dump, Devil’s Elbow, Lower Yosemite Valley, Sentinel Bridge, North Pines, 

Housekeeping Camp. Other restoration projects in Yosemite Valley included ecological restoration at 

Cook’s Meadow, Happy Isles Fen, Happy Isles Gauging Station Bridge Removal, and Fern Springs. 

Elsewhere in the park, ecological restoration projects took place in the Wilderness, Wawona Meadow, the 

Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, and other areas. These projects improved aquatic, meadow, riparian, 

and upland habitats throughout the park.

Yosemite National Park General Management Plan

As defined in the NPS park planning program standards, the purpose of the GMP is to ensure that park 

managers and stakeholders share a clearly defined understanding of the resource conditions, opportunities 

for visitor experiences, and general kind of management, access, and development that will best achieve the 

park’s purpose and conserve its resources unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. The GMP is 

the blueprint for improving and preserving the park for the next century. It was finalized and signed in 1980. 

The plan describes actions that would achieve five broad goals: 

• Reclaim Priceless Natural Beauty; 

• Markedly Reduce Traffic Congestion; 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS B-11
APPENDIX B 

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

• Allow Natural Processes to Prevail; 

• Reduce Crowding; and 

• Promote Visitor Understanding and Enjoyment.

A complete description of how the Yosemite National Park GMP interfaces with the Merced River Plan is 

included in Appendix A. 

Half Dome Trail Stewardship Plan

The NPS developed a management plan to address impacts caused by crowding and congestion along the 

Half Dome trail. The purpose of this project was to provide appropriate opportunities for recreation on the 

Half Dome Trail given its location in designated wilderness. The wilderness character of the trail corridor 

and the ability of visitors to manage their own risk has been improved. Prior to the plan, increased use of the 

Half Dome Trail led to conditions that adversely impact wilderness character, including:

• Unconfined Recreational Experience: Crowding and long lines on the sub dome, summit, and 

cables limit freedom of movement

• Opportunities for Solitude: High encounter rates on the trail result in inappropriate conditions for 

experiencing solitude in wilderness 

• Natural Conditions: Visitor impacts include trail erosion, habituated wildlife, litter, and human 

waste have resulted in long-term effects to natural resources

• Self-Reliance: Queuing and congestion on the cables compromise the ability of hikers to manage 

their own risks

• An interim permit system was implemented in 2010-2012, limiting day use on the trail to 400 people 

per day. The selected action limits use to 300 people per day.

The FONSI was signed December 12, 2012 and the plan was implemented for the hiking season in 2013.

High Elevation Aquatic Resources Management Plan

Two species of native amphibians (Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog and Yosemite toad) are experiencing 

serious population declines. Habitat restoration and preventative measures are needed to prevent additional 

loss and the potential extirpation or extinction of these species within the park or the Sierra Nevada, 

respectively. The presence of introduced nonnative invasive aquatic species is decreasing the abundance 

and distribution of native species, resulting in unnatural diversity and abundance, and impacting the healthy 

functioning Yosemite's high elevation aquatic ecosystems. Management action is needed to remove and 

limit the spread of existing invasive species, and prevent the introduction of new invasive species. Protection 

of the park's high elevation aquatic ecosystems requires an understanding of the current status of these 

systems and a framework for evaluating and prioritizing research needs and management actions that may 

be necessary to ensure that park resources and values within these systems are unimpaired. 

Public Scoping was conducted in summer 2008.

B-12 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
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Wahhoga Indian Cultural Center

In keeping with Yosemite’s General Management Plan, the National Park Service entered into an agreement 

with the American Indian Council of Mariposa County, Inc. (also known as The Southern Sierra Miwuk 

Nation) in 1997 to work together in establishing an Indian Cultural Center at Wahhoga, the site of the last 

historically occupied Indian village in Yosemite Valley (just west of the Camp 4 walk-in campground). The 

center will provide a location for traditionally associated American Indian peoples to practice traditional 

cultural activities and ceremonies, as well as teach traditional lifeways. The center will be available to the 

public and provide a unique opportunity for visitor awareness of local Native American cultures. Through 

this understanding of local culture and traditions, guests will gain a greater understanding of the park’s 

natural and cultural resources and their significance to the cultural systems of traditionally associated 

American Indians. The project has been designed to include both traditional and modern structures. The 

traditional structures planned for the site include a ceremonial roundhouse, one sweatlodge, and numerous 

cedar bark umachas (conical houses), and a sun shelter and demonstration area. A historic cabin would be 

relocated to the site. A community building and small parking area would comprise the modern buildings 

and structures.

Construction on traditional structures began in 2009; there is no current estimated date for project 

completion. 

Inyo National Forest Travel Management Plan and Forest Plan Revision 

(US Forest Service)

The U.S. Forest Service will be developing travel management plans and forest plans for all national forests 

in California over the next few years. Travel management plans specify which forms of travel are allowed in 

which areas of the national forests. Forest plans guide where and under what conditions an activity or 

project on national forest lands can generally proceed. Some of the forests have completed one or both of 

these tasks. 

Scheduled/projected completion: mid-2010s. 

Restoration of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

Nearly 150 years after U.S. Congress passed landmark legislation preserving both the Mariposa Grove of 

Giant Sequoias and Yosemite Valley, comprehensive actions are needed to ensure that the Mariposa Grove 

ecosystem continues to thrive and provide inspiration and enjoyment for future generations. The primary 

goals of this project are to restore degraded habitat and natural processes critical to the long-term health of 

the Grove and improve the overall experience for visitors. The park began public scoping for this project in 

fall of 2011. A Draft EIS was released to the public in February 2013. A Final EIS was released in November 

2013; a subsequent Record of Decision is anticipated in late 2013 or early 2014.

Scenic Vista Management Plan

The purpose of the Scenic Vista Programmatic Management Plan for Yosemite National Park is to develop a 

systematic program to protect and restore Yosemite’s important viewpoints, vistas, and the natural 

processes that created them. This plan will fulfill the park’s obligations under the National Historic 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS B-13
APPENDIX B 

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

Preservation Act (NHPA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The program will replace the 

park’s current case by case approach and will enable and guide management actions by the NPS to:

• Develop an objective process to determine what methods would be used to manage vistas

• Preserve the historic and cultural settings in which the viewpoints were established

• Restore and maintain scenic vistas through appropriate vegetation management actions such as 

trimming or removing trees and clearing brush

• Accomplish scenic vista management, whenever practicable, by restoring natural species 

composition, structure, and function to systems, preferably by using traditional American Indian 

vegetation management practices, including fire

The Finding of No Significant Impact was signed in 2010 and associated actions are being implemented in 

locations outside of the Merced River corridor. The Merced River Plan will be the compliance document 

for scenic vista management actions to be taken within the river corridor.

Sierra Nevada Big Horn Sheep Environmental Assessment

The National Park Service (Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks), in cooperation with California 

Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), the US Geological Survey (USGS), and Inyo National Forest, is 

conducting a scientific study of Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae), a federally 

endangered subspecies endemic to the parks. This study will provide scientific data needed to inform 

development of a new Wilderness Stewardship Plan (and environmental impact statement) for Sequoia and 

Kings Canyon National Parks and to implement key tasks of the Recovery Plan for Sierra Nevada Bighorn 

Sheep (USFWS 2007). 

An environmental assessment was completed for this project and released for public review in June 2011. A 

finding of no significant impact was approved by the NPS Regional Director in August 2011. Project 

implementation is scheduled to begin in 2012. 

Tioga Road Rehabilitations

The project proposes restoration of the roadbed by repaving, restoring ditches and shoulders, addressing 

turnouts, and replacing undersized or failing culverts to facilitate drainage. Specifically proposed in this 

plan: 

• Historic stone culvert headwalls would be maintained or carefully removed and reconstructed. 

• In addition to culverts, drainage ditches along this segment would be reconstructed to help 

facilitate proper drainage of the roadway. 

• Some undesignated turnouts would be restored to natural conditions. These areas are either 

considered unsafe due to their inadequate size, sight distance, and/or location partially on and off 

the roadway; or they incur damage to nearby natural resources. 

• Designated, formal parking areas would be retained and repaved. Additional parking areas would 

be delineated and formalized with paving. 

• Selective thinning of roadside trees would occur to improve sight distance and prevent root 

penetration into the roadway, which is currently causing upheavals in the shoulder and paved 

roadway surface. Thinning of trees would also reduce ice build-up on the road, and reduce snow 

plow damage. 

B-14 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Present 

A Finding of No Significant Impacts was signed. Implementation will be phased over 5 or more years.

Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan

The NPS is preparing a comprehensive management plan for the segments of the Tuolumne River corridor 

within Yosemite National Park. When completed, this document will guide the future management of the 

river to ensure the protection and enhancement of the river’s Outstandingly Remarkable Values and its freeflowing condition. The plan will also determine more specifically the programs and activities needed to 

meet river protection goals in Tuolumne Meadows and throughout the river corridor. 

To achieve these objectives, the Tuolumne River plan will:

• review, and if necessary revise, the existing boundaries and segment classifications of the Wild and 

Scenic River corridor;

• establish management zoning in the river corridor to provide for a spectrum of interrelated 

resource conditions and visitor experiences; 

• establish clearly stated long-term goals (desired conditions) for resource protection and visitor 

experiences, and identify the indicators and standards for a monitoring program that will ensure 

these goals are met and maintained over time;

• address user capacity by identifying the appropriate kinds and levels of use that protect river values 

while achieving and maintaining the desired conditions; and

• identify specific programs and facilities needed to implement the long-term goals for the Tuolumne 

Meadows area established by the Tuolumne River plan. 

The Tuolumne is rich in what the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act calls outstandingly remarkable values. It is 

home to a vast range of ecologic and sociocultural values, including:

• intact ecosystems providing habitat for a remarkable diversity of species;

• some of the most extensive subalpine meadow and riparian communities in the Sierra Nevada;

• exceptionally well preserved evidence of glacial processes;

• regionally significant archeological evidence of prehistoric travel, trade, and settlement;

• Prehistoric resources important for maintaining cultural traditions of American Indian people;

• Magnificent scenery; 

• Outstanding opportunities for a diversity of recreational experiences; and 

• Invaluable opportunities to examine natural and cultural resources with high research value.

A final environmental impact statement is anticipated in 2014. 

Yosemite Environmental Education Campus

NatureBridge, an NPS nonprofit park partner, has provided environmental education programs in 

Yosemite National Park since 1971 at the NPS facility at Crane Flat. Most of the campus structures and 

utilities are more than 60 years old, energy inefficient, and difficult to retrofit to achieve modern standards 

for health, safety, and accessibility. In addition, the facility can accommodate only a fraction of the students 

in the program; the remainder must be based elsewhere in the park, in expensive commercial lodging. To 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS B-15
APPENDIX B 

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

address these issues, NatureBridge and the NPS are considering options to provide better facilities by 

redeveloping the existing campus (Crane Flat) or constructing a new education center at a different location 

(and restoring the Crane Flat campus to natural conditions). The draft environmental impact statement 

(EIS), released in May 2009, proposes to develop a new educational facility at Henness Ridge, near Yosemite 

West, and to restore Crane Flat to natural conditions and provide habitat for sensitive species.

Scheduled/projected completion: The Record of Decision was signed by the Regional Director on April 2, 

2010.

The purpose of the proposed action is to:

• Promote the development of future stewards for the environment and our national parks

• Provide an environmental education campus location and program that better serves the combined 

missions of the Yosemite Institute and Yosemite National Park

• Provide a safe and universally accessible campus facility that meets modern health and safety 

standards

• Increase overall program student capacity and reduce reliance upon commercial lodging (i.e., 

reduce the number of students currently staying overnight in Yosemite Valley) to make the 

program more affordable and more accessible to all children.

• Provide a location conducive to multi-day experiential programs that complement California state 

educational standards and offer opportunities for research and study of the natural world

• Provide a campus facility that meets or exceeds national Leadership in Energy and Environmental 

Design (LEED) standards

• Create a campus design that better encourages responsible interaction with the environment

• Establish an ecologically sensitive campus that protects park resources and provides exemplary 

environmental educational learning opportunities

The Final EIS for this project was released in January 2010 followed by a Record of Decision in spring of 

2010.

Yosemite National Park Fire Management Plan/EIS 

This plan guides a complex fire management program, including wildland fire suppression, wildland fire used 

to achieve natural and cultural resource benefits, fire prevention, prescribed fire, fire ecology research, and the 

use of mechanical methods to reduce and thin vegetation in and around communities. The plan calls for the

use of prescribed fire and passive fuel reduction techniques to achieve protection and ecosystem restoration 

goals. More aggressive treatment strategies are prescribed in developed areas, if needed. Managed wildland 

fires (lightning-ignited fires) are allowed to burn where practicable, if specific conditions are present.

Yosemite National Park’s fire management program employs a variety of methods to accomplish and 

support fire and resource management objectives and to reduce the risk of wildfire in and adjacent to the 

park. Strategies in this plan are based on knowledge gained from fire and fuels research and monitoring. 

Federal fire policy has changed in the past 30 years from suppression of all wildfires to a policy allowing a 

single fire to be used as a tool to meet multiple land management and public safety objectives. Fuel 

B-16 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Present 

reduction and prescribed burning have increased since the 1990 A-Rock Fire, and the fuels management 

program focuses on the wildland-urban interface to protect developed areas from uncontrolled wildfires. 

Yosemite National Park’s 2008 Operational Fire Management Plan serves to utilize the new fire 

management guidelines in outlining procedures for managing fire in Yosemite National Park; for restoration 

and maintenance of ecosystems, for reduction of hazard fuels, for protection of natural and cultural 

resources, and for protection of wildland urban interface communities. 

Wilderness Sierra Nevada Yellow-Legged Frog Reintroduction

In Yosemite, there are as few as six populations of Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs with 50 or more 

individuals, 24 populations with 10 to 49 individuals, and 164 populations with one to nine individuals. The 

decline of the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog is being driven primarily by the introduction of non-native 

fish and the emerging infectious disease, chytridiomycosis. This project will increase the amount of high 

quality aquatic habitat for the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog and improve the success rate of Sierra 

Nevada yellow-legged frog reintroductions.

This project entails: 1) eradicating fish from 10 to 18 lakes, ponds, and marshes using gill nets, electrofishers, 

and fish traps; 2) transporting equipment and gear to restoration sites using pack stock; 3) temporarily 

installing bear boxes at restoration sites at the beginning of each season and packing them out at the end of the 

season; 4) conducting experimental translocations including augmenting 2 existing translocation sites and 

conducting one new translocation; 5) transporting translocated frogs by helicopter; 6) treating frogs prior to 

translocation with antifungal drug Itraconazole followed by; 7) experimental bioaugmentation with naturally 

occurring bacteria, Janthinobacterium lividum; 8) continuing long-term monitoring at approximately 130 sites 

annually and approximately 450 sites during summer 2012 using VES, continuing to PIT tag and swab 

individuals at 13 long-term mark-recapture sites, temporarily installing 1 digital recording device at each of 

two sites; and 9) salvaging egg masses and tadpoles from populations threatened by drought. This project will 

occur over the course of five years, ending in December 2016.Wawona Road Wildlife Crossings. 

This project takes proactive measures to reduce Pacific fisher mortalities from vehicle collisions (road-kill) 

along Wawona Road by building innovative wildlife crossing structures that facilitate safe animal 

movement. Pacific fishers are a candidate for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act, and recent 

camera research in the park indicates that a very small population exists in the southern portion of 

Yosemite, including the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, along Wawona Road near Chinquapin, and 

near Wawona. Fishers inhabiting this area of the southern Sierra Nevada are at the northernmost tip of their 

current range and must be able to safely cross the road on a regular basis if their population is to recover by 

expanding northward into historically occupied areas. Since 2007, six fisher road-kill mortalities have been 

recorded along Wawona Road, which bisects a narrow corridor of highly suitable fisher habitat. Within this 

same time period, three additional fishers have been killed by vehicles just south of the park on Highway 41 

in Sierra National Forest. Wildlife crossing structures would provide a safer option for animals inhabiting 

this narrow corridor of suitable habitat to cross the road, and may help give this small fisher population its 

best chance at survival and potential recovery.

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS B-17
APPENDIX B 

CUMULATIVE ACTIONS

REASONABLY FORESEEABLE FUTURE

Concessioner Prospectus

The National Park Service (NPS) has continued the contract with DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. 

to provide visitor services within the park from October 1, 2011 through January 31, 2015. The previous 

contract extension expires on September 30, 2011. The park is continuing the process of developing a new 

prospectus for visitor services. The continuation of the contact was deemed necessary to ensure that there is 

no disruption of visitor services while the park works on several planning efforts. The provisions of the 

current contract will not change. DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. will continue to provide existing 

services from October 1, 2011 through January 31, 2015 or until such time as a new contract regarding the 

visitor services provided under the contract is awarded, whichever comes first.

Yosemite Wilderness Stewardship Plan 

The Purpose of the Wilderness Stewardship Plan is to describe how the National Park Service will provide 

current and future generations with opportunities to experience wilderness in Yosemite (comprising 95% of 

the park) while preserving wilderness character. This plan will be prepared pursuant to The Wilderness Act 

and will replace the 1989 Yosemite Wilderness Management Plan (WMP). The purpose of this plan is to 

establish a management framework that preserves the five components of wilderness character in 

Congressionally-designated Wilderness in Yosemite. The plan will address land management issues 

including visitor use, administrative use, commercial use, stock use, vegetation associations, air resources, 

noise issues, watershed, soils, cultural landscapes, and other natural, cultural, and social resource variables. 

The plan will also address the use of the five High Sierra Camps in Yosemite National Park. 

The development of the EIS update to the plan is anticipated to begin in 2013.

B-18 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

General Construction Management Measures................................................................................................ C-1 

Soils and Geohazards..................................................................................................................................... C-2 

Hydrology and Water Quality ......................................................................................................................... C-3 

Vegetation and Wetlands............................................................................................................................... C-9 

Wildlife and Special Status Species............................................................................................................... C-14

Lightscapes.................................................................................................................................................. C-16

Soundscapes................................................................................................................................................ C-16

Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................... C-18

Visitor Experience......................................................................................................................................... C-19

Transportation ............................................................................................................................................. C-19

Historic Structures........................................................................................................................................ C-23 

Archeological Resources............................................................................................................................... C-28

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

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APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-1 

APPENDIX C: MITIGATION MEASURES

The National Park Service places a strong emphasis on avoidance, minimization, and mitigation of impacts. To help ensure that field activities 

protect natural, cultural, and social resources and the quality of the visitor experience, mitigation measures have been developed. The following 

section discusses mitigation measures that would occur prior to, during, and after construction of specific management actions. 

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT MEASURES

MM-GCM-1 

General 

Construction 

Management

All Contractor and subcontractor employees shall receive a brief orientation about working in Yosemite National Park and 

the El Portal Administrative Site prior to actually performing work. The orientation describes the efforts to be taken by the 

Contractor and subcontractor employees to protect the natural, cultural and physical resources of YNP while working on this 

and other projects. This orientation also describes mitigation and other environmental protection measures that must be 

adhered to at all times while in the Park. 

All contractor and subcontractor employees shall view a government provided orientation video to ensure each is fully aware 

of the natural and cultural resource protection and mitigation requirements of work at YNP, or in the El Portal Administrative 

Site. Government staff will provide the initial orientation. Subsequent on-going awareness orientation for new employees 

and when site conditions change shall be performed by contractor and integrated into construction operation procedures. 

The Contractor shall maintain a manifest tracking all contractor personnel, when they received their orientation training, and 

when they started work. Contractor personnel shall be field identifiable as having received their orientation training by 

means of a readily visible sticker on their hard hat. 

Prior to entry into the park, Contractor shall steam-clean heavy equipment to prevent importation of non-native plant 

species, tighten hydraulic fittings, ensure hydraulic hoses are in good condition and replace if damaged, and repair all 

petroleum leaks. Inspect the project to ensure that impacts stay within the parameters of the project area and do not 

escalate beyond the scope of the environmental assessment, as well as to ensure that the project conforms with all 

applicable permits or project conditions. Store all construction equipment within the delineated work limits. Contractor shall 

also confine work areas within creek channels to the smallest area necessary. 

If deemed necessary, demolition/construction work on weekends or federal government holidays may be authorized, with 

prior written approval of the Superintendent.

Contractor shall remove all tools, equipment, barricades, signs, surplus materials, and rubbish from the project work limits 

upon project completion. Contractor shall repair any asphalt surfaces that are damaged due to work on the project to 

original condition. Contractors shall also remove all debris from the project site, including all visible concrete, timber, and 

metal pieces. 

The park shall develop a Communications Strategy Plan to alert necessary park and Concessioner employees, residents and 

visitors to pertinent elements of the construction work schedule.

Contractor shall verify utility locations by contacting the Underground Services Alert prior to the start of construction. 

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-2 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT MEASURES (cont.)

MM-GCM-1 

General 

Construction 

Management 

(cont.)

The Contractor shall provide protective fencing enclosures around construction areas, including utility trenches to protect 

public health and safety.

The NPS will apply for and comply with all federal and state permits required for construction-related activities.

Contractor and NPS shall implement compliance monitoring to ensure that the project remains within the parameters of 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) compliance documents.

Develop an emergency notification plan that complies with park, federal, and state requirements and allows contractors to 

properly notify park, federal, and/or state personnel in the event of an emergency during construction activities. This plan will 

address notification requirements related to fire, personnel, and/or visitor injury, releases of spilled material, evacuation

processes, etc. The emergency notification plan will be submitted to the park for review/approval prior to commencement of 

construction activities.

Notify utilities prior to construction activities Identify locations of existing utilities prior to removal activity to prevent damage 

to utilities. The Underground Services Alert and NPS maintenance staff will be informed 72 hours prior to any ground 

disturbance. Construction-related activities will not proceed until the process of locating existing utilities is completed (water, 

wastewater, electric, communications, and telephone lines). An emergency response plan will be required of the contractor. 

SOILS AND GEOHAZARDS

MM-GEO-1 

Soils 

Management

The Contractor shall confine all earth moving activities to within the work limits as defined in the site plans. The 

displacement of soil or other materials outside the defined limits shall be approved by the contracting officer.

Landscape: Land forms and other landscape features indicated and defined on the drawings to be preserved shall be clearly 

identified by marking, fencing, or other approved techniques. The Contractor shall restore landscape features damaged or 

destroyed during construction operations outside the limits of the approved work area.

Topsoil shall be salvaged and placed in a separate location from sub-soils and replaced on top of other soils as the trench is 

backfilled. The location for stock piling soils and other woody materials shall be approved by the contracting officer.

Fungal Pathogens In Soil (Root Rot): Fungal pathogens that have negative impacts on oaks and conifers are present in certain 

areas in Yosemite Valley. Soil infected with these pathogens shall not be imported into areas that are free of the pathogens.

If construction drawings indicate that infected soil is present in the work site, the following procedures must be followed:

• Ensure that infected soil is stored within the construction zone. Should infected soils be stockpiled outside of the 

construction zone, ensure that stockpiles are placed outside of areas that do not have the fungal pathogen. Protect 

stockpiles of infected soil to prevent transport by wind, water, animal, or human traffic.

• Clean equipment buckets and tires or hand tools used in areas containing fungal pathogens before moving to or working 

in unaffected areas.

• Whenever possible, all stumps shall be removed from excavations and disposed of in a legal manner outside of the 

Yosemite National Park boundary.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-3 

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

SOILS AND GEOHAZARDS (cont.)

MM-GEO-1 

Soils 

Management 

(cont.)

• Stump Treatment when stumps cannot be removed: The treatments following tree removal must be universal throughout 

the park to avoid inadvertently spreading infection. Eradication of the disease is not possible, but its’ spread can be 

managed.

- Conifers: Treat all stumps (>6 inches in diameter in recreational use areas, >12 inches diameter in undeveloped areas) 

with Sporax within a few days of felling the tree. If a stump is ground, it still must be treated with Sporax, and then 

covered with soil. If the stump is removed, no chemical treatment is required. Remove all of the root material >3 inches 

in diameter. Standing trees that have been dead for less than one year must have stumps treated with Sporax once 

they are removed.

- Deciduous: Oaks should be left whenever possible, if the tree must be cut, the entire stump and root system must be 

removed from the Park. 

- Disturb no more than 15 percent of the roots for any given tree.

- Do not over-water oak trees.

- Do not compact soil within drip lines of the tree.

• Treatment of Infected Soils: Remove root material by sifting or sorting soil before backfilling.

- Treatment of soils in an annosus zone. Only infected HA areas need to be treated for removal of root material. 

Standard specification for roots to be removed from disturbed soil: >3 inches diameter or >20 inches in length. Remove 

ALL stumps from excavation.

- Do not move soil from infected areas.

- Topsoil shall be salvaged and reused in the same place from which it was excavated. If the soil is to be windrowed and 

used later, it should be sorted for root chunks prior to storage.

- Conserve and salvage topsoil for reuse. Materials will be reused to the maximum extent possible

- All disturbed soil and fill slopes shall be stabilized in a manner consistent with the provisions of MM-HYD-1.

HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY

MM-HYD-1 

Stormwater 

Pollution 

Prevention Plan

Contractor shall prepare and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) that designates construction best 

management practices to be used to control the sources of fine sediment and to capture and filter it before entering the 

river. The SWPPP shall define the characteristics of the site, identify the type of construction that will be occurring, and 

describe the practices that will be implemented to control erosion and the release of pollutants in stormwater. At a 

minimum, the SWPPP shall address the following, as applicable: 

Contractor 
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-4 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY (cont.)

MM-HYD-1 

Stormwater 

Pollution 

Prevention Plan 

(cont.)

Stabilization Practices

• The stabilization practices to be implemented shall specify the intended stabilization practices, which may include one or 

more of the following: temporary seeding, mulching, geotextiles, sod stabilization, vegetative buffer strips, erosion control

mats, protection of trees, preservation of mature vegetation, etc. On the daily Contractor Quality Control (CQC) Report, 

the Contractor shall record the dates when the major grading activities occur, (e.g., clearing and grubbing, excavation, 

embankment, and/or grading); when construction activities temporarily or permanently cease on a portion of the site; and 

when stabilization practices are initiated. Unless otherwise directed by the Contracting Officer for the reasons below (i.e.,

unsuitable conditions or no activity for less than 21 days), stabilization practices shall be initiated as soon as practicable, in 

any portion of the site where construction activities have temporarily or permanently ceased, but no more than 14 

calendar days after the activities cease.

• Unsuitable Conditions - Where the initiation of stabilization measures by the 14th day after construction activity 

temporarily or permanently ceases is precluded by unsuitable conditions caused by the weather, stabilization practices 

shall be initiated as soon as practicable after conditions become suitable. 

• No Activity for Less Than 21 Days - Where construction activity will resume on a portion of the site within 21 days from 

when activities ceased (e.g., the total time period that construction activity is temporarily ceased is less than 21 days), then 

stabilization practices do not have to be initiated on that portion of the site by the 14th day after construction activity 

temporarily ceased.

Structural Practices

• The Contractor shall implement structural practices to divert flows from exposed soils, temporarily store flows, or 

otherwise limit runoff and the discharge of pollutants from exposed areas of the site. Structural practices shall be 

implemented in a timely manner during the construction process to minimize erosion and sediment runoff. Location and 

details of installation of structural practices shall be depicted on the construction drawings.

Silt Fences 

• The Contractor shall provide silt fences as a temporary structural practice to minimize erosion and sediment runoff. Silt 

fences shall be properly installed to effectively retain sediment immediately after completing each phase of work where 

erosion would occur in the form of sheet and rill erosion (e.g. clearing and grubbing, excavation, embankment, and 

grading). Silt fences shall be installed in the locations indicated on the drawings or as needed based on Contractor 

operations. Final removal of silt fence barriers shall be upon approval by the Contracting Officer.

• Silt fences shall extend a minimum of 16 inches above the ground surface and shall not exceed 34 inches above the 

ground surface. Filter fabric shall be from a continuous roll cut to the length of the barrier to avoid the use of joints. 

When joints are unavoidable, filter fabric shall be spliced together at a support post, with a minimum 6-inch overlap, and 

securely sealed. A trench shall be excavated approximately 4 inches wide and 4 inches deep on the upslope side of the 

location of the silt fence. The 4-inch by 4-inch trench shall be backfilled and the soil compacted over the filter fabric. Silt 

fences shall be removed upon approval by the COR.
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-5 

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY (cont.)

MM-HYD-1 

Stormwater 

Pollution 

Prevention Plan

(cont.)

Straw Bales 

• Straw bales are not authorized for use in storm water control at YNP. They have the potential to introduce exotic species 

into the Park environment.

Diversion Dikes

• Diversion dikes shall have a maximum channel slope of 2 percent and shall be adequately compacted to prevent failure. 

The minimum height measured from the top of the dike to the bottom of the channel shall be 18 inches. The minimum 

base width shall be 6 feet and the minimum top width shall be 2 feet. The Contractor shall ensure that the diversion dikes 

are not damaged by construction operations or traffic. Diversion dikes shall be located as shown on the drawings or as 

needed based on Contractor operations. Location of diversion dikes shall be fully coordinated with cultural and natural 

environmental protection requirements described in Section 01355, Natural, Cultural, and Physical Resources Protection.

Filter Fabric

• The geotextile shall comply with the requirements of ASTM D 4439, and shall consist of polymeric filaments that are 

formed into a stable network such that filaments retain their relative positions. The filament shall consist of a long-chain 

synthetic polymer composed of at least 85 percent by weight of ester, propylene, or amide, and shall contain stabilizers 

and/or inhibitors added to the base plastic to make the filaments resistance to deterioration due to ultraviolet and heat 

exposure. Synthetic filter fabric shall contain ultraviolet ray inhibitors and stabilizers to provide a minimum of six months

of expected usable construction life at a temperature range of 0 to 120 degrees F. The filter fabric shall meet the 

following requirements: 

FILTER FABRIC FOR SILT SCREEN FENCE

Physical Property Test Procedure

Grab Tensile ASTM D 4632 100 lbs. min.

Strength Requirement

Elongation (%) 30 % max.

Trapezoid Tear ASTM D 4533 55 lbs. min.

Permittivity ASTM D 4491 0.2 sec-1

AOS (U.S. Std Sieve) ASTM D 4751 20-100

Silt Fence Stakes and Posts

• The Contractor may use either wooden stakes or steel posts for fence construction. Wooden stakes utilized for silt fence 

construction, shall have a minimum cross section of 2 inches by 2 inches when hardwood is used and 4 inches by 4 inches 

when softwood is used, and shall have a minimum length of 5 feet. Steel posts (standard "U" or "T" section) utilized for silt

fence construction, shall have a minimum weight of 1.33 pounds per linear foot and a minimum length of 5 feet.

Identification Storage and Handling

• Filter fabric shall be identified, stored and handled in accordance with ASTM D 4873.
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-6 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY (cont.)

MM-HYD-1 

Stormwater 

Pollution 

Prevention Plan

(cont.)

Maintenance

• The Contractor shall maintain the temporary and permanent vegetation, erosion and sediment control measures, and 

other protective measures in good and effective operating condition by performing routine inspections to determine 

condition and effectiveness, by restoration of destroyed vegetative cover, and by repair of erosion and sediment control 

measures and other protective measures. The following procedures shall be followed to maintain the protective measures. 

• Silt fences shall be inspected in accordance with the below paragraph, Inspections. Any required repairs shall be made 

promptly. Close attention shall be paid to the repair of damaged silt fence resulting from end runs and undercutting. 

Should the fabric on a silt fence decompose or become ineffective, and the barrier is still necessary, the fabric shall be 

replaced promptly. Sediment deposits shall be removed when deposits reach one-third of the height of the barrier. When 

a silt fence is no longer required, it shall be removed with approval of COR. The immediate area occupied by the fence 

and any sediment deposits shall be shaped to an acceptable grade. 

• Diversion dikes shall be inspected in accordance with the below paragraph, Inspections. Close attention shall be paid to

the repair of damaged diversion dikes and necessary repairs shall be accomplished promptly. When diversion dikes are no 

longer required, they shall be shaped to an acceptable grade. 

Inspections

• The Contractor shall inspect disturbed areas of the construction site, areas used for storage of materials that are exposed 

to precipitation that have not been finally stabilized, stabilization practices, structural practices, other controls, and area 

where vehicles exit the site at least once every 7 calendar days and within 24 hours of the end of any storm that produces 

0.5 inches or more rainfall at the site. Where sites have been finally stabilized, such inspection shall be conducted at least 

once every month.

• Disturbed areas and areas used for material storage that are exposed to precipitation shall be inspected for evidence of, or 

the potential for, pollutants entering the drainage system. Erosion and sediment control measures identified in the Storm 

Water Pollution Prevention Plan shall be observed to ensure that they are operating correctly. Discharge locations or 

points shall be inspected to ascertain whether erosion control measures are effective in preventing significant impacts to 

receiving waters. Locations where vehicles exit the site shall be inspected for evidence of offsite sediment tracking.

• For each inspection conducted, the Contractor shall prepare a report summarizing the scope of the inspection, name(s) 

and qualifications of personnel making the inspection, the date(s) of the inspection, major observations relating to the 

implementation of the Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, maintenance performed, and actions taken. The report 

shall be furnished to the COR within 24 hours of the inspection as a part of the Contractor's daily CQC Report. A copy of 

the inspection report shall be maintained on the job site.

MM-HYD-2 

Non-Hazardous 

Liquid Waste 

Management

Waste water from construction activities, such as onsite material processing, concrete curing, foundation and concrete cleanup, water used in concrete trucks, forms, etc. shall not be allowed to enter water ways or to be discharged prior to being 

treated to remove pollutants. The Contractor shall dispose of the construction related wastewater off Government property 

in accordance with all Federal, State, Regional and Local laws and regulations.

Water contaminated with silt, grout, or other construction by-product must be pumped to a holding tank. Location of the 

holding tank will be proposed by Contractor and approved by Contracting Officer.

Contractor
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-7 

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY (cont.)

MM-HYD-3 

Hazardous 

Materials and 

Wastes

• Identify potentially hazardous substances to be used on the job site.

• Identify handling procedures to ensure that hazardous substances are not released into the air, water, or ground.

• Comply with Federal, State, and local laws and regulations for storage, handling, and disposal of these materials.

• Storage of hazardous or flammable chemicals in the staging area or elsewhere on the site is prohibited except as 

approved by the Contracting Officer.

• Hazardous materials shall not be discarded into the jobsite debris or waste-disposal facilities.

• Empty containers shall be removed from the site and disposed of in a manner prescribed by law.

• Used lubricants and used oil to be discarded shall be stored in marked corrosion-resistant containers and recycled or 

disposed in accordance with 40 CFR 279, State, and local laws and regulations.

• A copy of the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and the maximum quantity of each hazardous material to be on site at 

any given time is to be maintained on site and submitted to the Contracting Officer.

• Before new hazardous materials are brought on site or removed from the site, the MSDS file shall be updated and 

submitted to the Contracting Officer.

Contractor 

MM-HYD-4 

Spill Prevention 

and Response 

Plan (SPRP)

The California Regional Water Quality Control Board has issued a Cleanup and Abatement Order and Time Schedule Order 

to Yosemite National Park ordering that no sewage spills occur. The Contractor shall be required to follow the requirements 

of the Order and shall prepare a Spill Prevention and Response Plan and take appropriate spill prevention measures during all

phases of the work. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board requires a minimum of 10 days to review the SPRP.

All recommendations by the Board will be implemented at no additional cost to the NPS.

The primary purpose of the SPRP is to prevent sewage spills from occurring by proper planning and protection of the project 

area, and then to respond to any sewage spills that may occur during the course of this project including appropriate 

notification of staff. The Plan will be general in nature and typical to all phases of the work with site specific plans required 

for each area involving trenching or any work with the possibility of accessing the existing system. The sewer lines are 

located throughout Yosemite Valley and in close proximity to waterways and stream channels such that spilled sewage could 

possibly reach the Merced River.

The SPRP is structured in two parts – first a Spill Prevention Plan and then a Spill Response Plan. The Spill Prevention Plan 

(SPP) includes evaluation of specific conditions, set-up of containment for actual construction work as well as for bypass 

pumping. Sewer bypasses must be constructed to tie existing lines into the new system and to tie the new system into the 

existing system. The Spill Response Plan (SRP) includes the initial response to stop and contain a spill, notification of staff, 

clean-up, and follow-up documentation. The SPP and the SRP together comprise the entire SPRP. A template of a plan 

follows at the end of this Section. An electronic version of this template will be provided to the successful bidder.

All Contractor employees are required to be trained in the Spill Prevention Control in accordance with this SPRP.

Contractor 
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-8 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY (cont.)

MM-HYD-5 

Hazardous 

Materials Spill 

Prevention and 

Response Plan

Contractor shall provide a Hazardous Materials Spill Prevention and Response Plan to address spill prevention and response 

measures for hazardous substances used on site, including fuels. Prior to the start of work, the Contractor shall submit a plan 

that complies with YNP, Federal and State requirements and allows contractors to properly notify officials in the event of an 

emergency occurring during construction activities. YNP requirements include, and the plan shall state, at a minimum:

• During non-work operations, stationary equipment shall be parked over specially prepared containment pads designed to 

trap any leaking oil, fuel, or hydraulic fluids.

• Inspect construction site daily for proper storage of hazardous materials, proper parking of equipment on containment 

pads, and for hydraulic and oil leaks of equipment, tighten hoses, and ensure they are in good condition.

• Routine oiling and lubrication shall be conducted in areas with secondary containment using Best Management Practices 

(BMPs) at all times. Refueling of equipment in wetlands or stream channel areas is not allowed at any time.

• Contractor shall maintain secondary containment for all equipment operating with fluids (such as drilling) or when direct 

discharge of leakage, spills, or other source of construction or equipment fluids can flow directly to any streambed, 

whether flowing with water or dry. Containment shall be designed and installed so as to prevent accidental spills into 

streambeds in the event of mechanical failure or hose breakage.

• Contractor shall maintain spill response materials on the project site when using heavy equipment to ensure rapid 

response to small spills. These materials shall include absorbent pads, booms, or other materials as appropriate to contain 

oil, hydraulic fluid, solvents, and hazardous material spills. A list of the spill response materials to be kept on site shall be 

submitted to the Contracting Officer.

• Contractor shall provide names and phone numbers of appropriate contractor’s personnel to be contacted at any time 

(24 hours per day) regarding accidental release of hazardous substances to air, soil or water. This list shall be submitted to 

the Contracting Officer and a copy visibly displayed in work areas on site.

• Contractor shall have the Contracting Officer’s and other appropriate Government emergency numbers posted and shall 

immediately notify the Contracting Officer or other Government representative on any accidental release of hazardous 

substances to air, soil or water.

• Hazardous or flammable chemicals shall be prohibited from storage in the staging area, except for those substances 

identified in the Oil and Hazardous Materials Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plan. Hazardous waste 

materials shall be immediately removed from project site in approved containers.

• Comply with all applicable regulations and policies during the removal and remediation of asbestos, lead paint, and 

polychlorinated biphenyls.

Contractor

MM-HYD-6 

Establish 

Boundary of 

Riparian Buffer 

Zone 

Prior to developing construction design documents for projects within the river corridor, the contractor shall survey the 

ordinary high water mark; the determination of the high water mark will be in accordance with U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers guidance. Survey(s) of the ordinary high water mark will be used to determine the boundary of the riparian buffer. 

All new development shall be located outside of the riparian buffer, which encompasses the area within 150 feet of the 

ordinary high water mark on both sides of the river. 

Contractor 
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-9 

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

VEGETATION AND WETLANDS

MM-VEG-1 

Protection from 

Exotic Plant 

Species

The park and contractor shall undertake measures to prevent the introduction of exotic species in the project area and 

staging areas. All earth moving equipment must enter the Park free of dirt, dust, mud, seeds, or other potential 

contaminant. Equipment exhibiting any dirt or other material attached to frame, tires, wheels, or other parts shall be 

thoroughly cleaned by the Contractor before entering the Park.

All equipment will be directed to the El Portal Maintenance Facility for inspection prior to commencing work. Areas inspected shall 

include, but not be limited to, tracks, track guard/housings, belly pans/under covers, buckets, rippers, and other attachments. 

Equipment that does not pass inspection will be turned around to the nearest cleaning facility outside the park. If vehicles are 

unable to drive to El Portal due to size or load restrictions, vehicles will be inspected at a mutually agreed site by the Contracting 

Officer prior to entering the Park. The Contractor shall notify the Construction manager at least two work days (not including 

weekends) prior to bringing any equipment into the Park. Equipment found to have entered the Park with potential 

contaminants will be removed from the Park at the direction of the Contracting Officer at Contractor's sole expense.

Contractor shall minimize ground disturbance to the greatest extent possible.

The contractor shall get approval in writing from the Contracting Officer for fill material that must be used in a way or stored 

in a location not clearly specified in the contract.

Fill materials used within the top 12 inches of finished grade are required to be free of exotic and noxious weed species and

shall have the source locations approved by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall submit to the Contracting Officer a 

list of proposed sources for imported fill materials requiring certification 30 calendar days in advance of importing material. 

The presence of noxious weed species is grounds for rejection of the source. 

If exotic weed species are found or suspected, the Contractor may be required to strip the top 12 inches of source material 

and only import sub-surface material and/or sterilize the material, at the Contracting Officer's discretion. The presence of the 

following particularly noxious weed species are grounds for rejection of the source: spotted knapweed, yellow star-thistle, 

perennial pepperweed, broom species, and other species on the California State List of Noxious Weeds. If spraying is 

required, the Contractor shall provide a licensed operator to spray according to applicable state regulations and park 

management guidelines (e.g., the Invasive Species Management Plan). The Contractor shall not spray any herbicides until 

approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.

Drain and flush all pumps, tanks, live wells, buckets and other containers that might carry water contaminated with exotic 

plants and animals, such as the zebra mussel, prior to bringing equipment into the park. Thoroughly wash all hauling tanks 

and equipment using a hard spray from a garden hose. If equipment was used in infested waters, use the following steps to 

clean the equipment: 

• Wash with hot water (140 F or 40 C) or a high pressure washer (250 pounds per square inch). Remove all aquatic weeds --

they can carry zebra mussels. 

• Disinfect equipment. Recent research shows that disinfection of nets and equipment with benzalkonium chloride at 

typical treatment rates (10 milligrams per liter for 24 hours, 100 milligrams per liter for 3 hours, or 250 milligrams per liter 

for 15 minutes) will effectively eliminate most exotic animals. Two other commonly used disinfectants, calcium 

hypochlorite and iodine, are ineffective against zebra mussels.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-10 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

VEGETATION AND WETLANDS (cont.)

MM-VEG-1 

Protection from 

Exotic Plant 

Species (cont.)

• Adult zebra mussels can live more than a week out of water in moist, shaded areas. Dry pumps, nets and other 

equipment used in infested waters in the sun for two to four days after cleaning. If adult mussels are present, dry 

equipment for two weeks.

MM-VEG-2 

Vegetation 

Inventory and 

Assessment

Plant Condition Inventory: The Contractor and the Contracting Officer or designated representative, shall perform an on-site 

inventory of trees and other overall vegetation features within or near to the work limits. A print of the contract drawings 

showing tree locations and a photo record will be used to note condition of trees and vegetation. This annotated drawing 

will be retained by the Contracting Officer for use during the final walk-through and tree/vegetation assessment. This walk 

through shall be a part of the project closeout requirements (see Section 01770, Project Closeout).

On-site inventory shall be scheduled in coordination with the pre-construction conference.

Avoid construction, trenching, grading, paving, and staging within the drip line of valley oaks (Quercus lobata) and black 

oaks (Quercus Keloggii). If removal, damage or such activity cannot be avoided, contractor shall consult with the Park 

Botanist to develop a mitigation strategy prior to construction in addition to the measures outlined below. Access to work 

sites requiring travel through undeveloped areas outside the work limits must be approved by the contracting officer. 

Provide temporary barriers (e.g., orange construction fence) to protect existing trees, plants and critical root zones that are 

designated to remain, but are: (1) within the construction limits; 2) on or just outside the construction limits; (3) within the 

clearing limits (i.e., the zone extending 5 feet beyond the staked construction limits); or (4) on, or just outside the clearing 

limit line. Barriers shall be in place before construction begins.

Trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and other vegetative features indicated and defined on the construction drawings to be 

preserved shall be clearly identified by marking, fencing, or any other approved techniques. The Contractor shall restore 

vegetative features damaged or destroyed during construction operations outside the limits of the approved work area.

Except in areas indicated on the drawings or specified to be cleared, the Contractor shall not remove, cut, deface, injure, or 

destroy resources including trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, topsoil, and landforms without approval. No ropes, cables, or guys 

shall be fastened to or attached to any trees for anchorage unless specifically authorized.

Removal of trees will be performed by YNP in advance of Contractor's work. Should it be determined during the course of 

work that additional trees or tree roots require removal, Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer who will coordinate

an inspection and determination by the appropriate authorities whether to remove the tree or not.

After tree removal, large roots may remain in the ground. Contractor shall be responsible for carefully removing in-ground 

tree roots of removed trees to permit excavation, drilling, or other ground penetrating construction activities. During tree 

root removal, do not use backhoes, chains, or other equipment in a manner that will harm roots of adjacent trees.

Minimize disturbance to tree trunks and root zones to prevent damage to trees.

Adjust trenches and other excavations to keep them beyond the drip line wherever possible.

Attempt to maintain the following minimum clearances between the edges of tree trunks and excavation: 

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-11

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

VEGETATION AND WETLANDS (cont.)

MM-VEG-2 

Vegetation 

Inventory and 

Assessment

(cont.)

• for trees more than 30-inch-in-diameter - 10 feet

• for trees between 15-inch and 30-inch-in-diameter - 8 feet

• for trees less than 15-inch-in-diameter - 5 feet

Adjust the survey line, as necessary to maintain required clearances.

Notify the Contracting Officer of any proposed trenches or other excavations within the drip line of trees.

Steps to Mitigate Damage to Roots Due to Excavation:

Take steps (as called for below) to mitigate damage to tree roots due to excavation, wherever the following circumstances 

apply:

• Wherever excavation must take place within the drip line of oak trees regardless of diameter.

• Wherever excavation must take place within the drip line of trees other than oaks, for all trees 12 inches or larger in 

diameter.

Trees which are anticipated to meet these criteria and therefore require steps to mitigate damage to roots due to excavation 

are shown on the drawings. Adjustments in trench alignment or other factors may result in variations in which trees are 

affected. The Contractor shall accommodate these variations at no additional expense to the Government.

Following are the steps which are required to mitigate damage to roots due to excavation:

• Excavate carefully where tree roots might be encountered. Where roots 2 inches and larger are encountered, hand 

excavate as required to prevent damage to roots. Tunnel under roots to be saved, hand excavating as necessary.

• Do not cut roots over 2-inch-in-diameter without approval of Contracting Officer. 

• Cleanly saw-cut roots between 1-inch and 2-inch-in-diameter where they interfere with work; do not cut roots except as 

necessary. Roots between 1-inch and 2-inch-in-diameter which must be cut shall be cleanly saw-cut near the edge of 

trench closest to the tree to prevent roots from being dislodged from soil by equipment.

• Avoid soil compaction within plant root zones with heavy equipment and vehicles within the project work limits. 

• Do not cut wheels or make sharp turns with wheeled or tracked equipment in root zones.

• Do not pile excavated soil against tree trunks.

• Do not mechanically compact soils in undeveloped areas except to meet minimum compaction requirements as approved 

by the contracting officer.

• Maintain original soil topography in plant root zones whenever possible.

Preserve tree snags where feasible as potential bat or bird habitat.
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-12 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

VEGETATION AND WETLANDS (cont.)

MM-VEG-3 

Plant Appraisal

If the Contractor destroys or injures trees and vegetation designated for protection or outside the work limits, the Contractor 

will be assessed damages prior to final progress payment.

Replacement costs for damaged vegetation will be computed according to the method described in the International Society 

of Arborculture's 1992 Guide for Plant Appraisal. This method is based on the cost of the largest commonly available tree or 

shrub, with modifications based on species value, condition, and location. A trained arborist or professional plant appraiser 

from the California region will be hired by the NPS to make the damage appraisal. The arborist's fees will be included in the

damage assessment.

This damage appraisal process will be triggered by any of the following types of damage to vegetation outside the work 

limits or unauthorized disturbance of vegetation within the work limits.

• Removal of any tree or shrub.

• Pruning or removal of more than 30 percent of a tree or shrub canopy.

• Removal or fracture of any limb or trunk that is one of the major structural entities of the damaged plant.

• Removal or fracture of any limb greater than 12 inches in diameter.

• Bark damage or removal around more than 30 percent of the trunk circumference.

• Trenching or soil disturbance within the critical root zone that is deeper than 1-foot unless shown on the Drawings.

If the damaged vegetation is protected under the Endangered Species Act or other special legislation, additional penalties 

may be assessed as per consultation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Pruning or removal of vegetation shall be supervised by Contracting Officer. The designated personnel may designate plant 

species for salvage. When authorized and supervised by the Contracting Officer, the Contractor is exempted from any 

penalties that might be assessed due to damage to vegetation.

• Acceptable disturbance to roots is limited to 15 percent of the area under the drip line being either cut or filled. Any tree 

with more than 50 percent of its roots disturbed should be removed during construction at the direction of the 

Contracting Officer.

• Wounds occurring from construction activity may be possible entry sites for disease spores. If a tree is accidentally injured 

during construction, it may need to be removed at the direction of the Contracting Officer.

Trench alignments or other factors may result in variations in which trees are affected. The Contractor shall accommodate 

these variations at no additional expense to the Government.

Minor cuts and damaged areas shall be assessed by the Contracting Officer. Repair to the plant will be at the 

recommendation of the YNP personnel and approval of the Contracting Officer.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-13

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

VEGETATION AND WETLANDS (cont.)

MM-VEG-4 

Wetlands 

Delineation

Delineate wetlands and apply protection measures during construction. Wetlands shall be delineated by qualified National 

Park Service staff or certified wetland specialists and clearly marked prior to work. Perform activities in a cautious manner to 

prevent damage caused by equipment, erosion, siltation, etc.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-VEG-5 

Wetlands 

Regulation

The Contractor shall adhere at all times to the conditions of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit No. 33, 

Temporary Construction, Access and Dewatering, with the following conditions as a minimum:

• All work will be subject to the Standard and Technical Conditions of the Certification of the California Regional Water 

Quality Control Board, a copy which will be provided to the Contractor.

• Work in streambeds is to be performed in periods of low water conditions. Contractor shall monitor stream flow 

conditions and weather forecasts at all times during the course of the work. During thunderstorms or other intense rain 

conditions, streambeds at Yosemite can fill rapidly.

Re-grade and restore disturbed areas to preexisting contours to maintain drainage patterns.

Contractor 

MM-VEG-6 

Wetlands 

Protection

The Contractor shall fence construction areas adjacent to aquatic habitats to prohibit the movement of aquatic species into 

the construction area and to control siltation and disturbance in aquatic habitats.

The Contractor shall salvage and reuse wetland soils as fill to the maximum extent possible.

The Contractor shall use trench plugs where designated on the drawings in wetland areas to prevent changes to natural flow 

patterns. 

During dewatering, intakes shall be completely screened with wire mesh not larger than 5 millimeters to prevent aquatic 

species from entering the pump system. Water shall be released or pumped downstream at an appropriate rate to maintain 

downstream flows during construction. 

Access routes to and through work locations in the meadows and wetlands shall be planked with 1 1/8” plywood, 

stabilization mats or other method approved by the contracting officer.

Yosemite 

National Park, 

Project Manager; 

Contractor

MM-VEG-7 

Monitoring

Ongoing monitoring undertaken by Yosemite’s interdisciplinary Visitor Use and Impacts Monitoring Program regularly 

assesses conditions in meadows and along riverbanks, providing important information on the success of restoration efforts. 

In addition, the park performs regular monitoring for invasive plants, stock use impacts, wildlife abundance and diversity, 

and visitor experience. To evaluate the success of particular restoration actions, monitoring plans will be implemented 

specific to each restoration project. Geophysical and biological parameters will be monitored over time to determine 

restoration success and recovery rates. Pre and post-restoration vegetation and soil sampling and photo points are examples 

of monitoring to measure project success.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-14 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

WILDLIFE AND SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES

MM-WL-1 

Fish and Wildlife 

Protection 

The Contractor and Contractor’s employees shall not feed any animals within Yosemite National Park.

The Contractor shall make all reasonable efforts in accordance with the plans and specifications for the protection of 

threatened or endangered or candidate species including their habitat in accordance with Federal, State, Regional, and local 

laws and regulations.

Contractor shall schedule construction activities with seasonal consideration of wildlife lifecycles to minimize impacts during 

sensitive periods (i.e., after bird nesting seasons, when bats are neither hibernating nor have young, etc); limit the effects of 

light and noise on adjacent habitat through controls on construction equipment; and provide adequate education and 

enforcement to limit construction worker activities that are destructive to wildlife and habitats.

Contractor shall maintain routes of escape from excavated pits and trenches for animals that might fall in. During 

construction activities, Contractor personnel shall maintain vigilance for animals caught in excavations and take appropriate 

action to free them.

• Excavation pits shall have a ramp or incline at either end to allow for human and wildlife escape.

• Each morning prior to commencing work activities, Contractor shall inspect construction site for trapped wildlife in 

excavation pits and carefully remove. If necessary, contact the Contracting Officer for assistance.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-WL-2 

Bear Precautions

Bears may be present at any location within the YNP boundaries, including at the project site. The Contractor shall 

incorporate the following precautions in all activities within the YNP boundary.

All food, toiletries, and scented items (i.e., bug spray) shall be placed in bear boxes at the construction site provided by the 

Contractor. Bear boxes must remain closed and latched at all times, unless items are being retrieved. No food, toiletries, or 

scented items shall be stored in vehicles or left out.

• All food waste and food-related waste shall be disposed of in accordance with Non-Hazardous Solid Wastes requirements 

described elsewhere within this section.

• All vehicles shall be checked daily to ensure that no items that may attract bears remain inside an unattended vehicle.

Items that shall not be left in vehicles include canned food, drinks, soap, cosmetics, toiletries, domestic trash, recyclable

food containers, ice chests, grocery bags, and unwashed items used for preparing or eating meals.

• All windows and doors in recreational vehicles or trailers used for lodging or office space shall be closed and latched when 

not occupied.

• The Contractor shall walk the job site at the end of each day and check for trash, food, and food-related items remaining 

at the site and dispose of the items in a bear-proof receptacle.

• Proper food storage is important to the welfare of the Yosemite bear population and is required by law. The Contractor 

shall receive and all Contractor personnel shall read a brochure entitled, The Bears are not to Blame, provided by NPS staff 

as a courtesy. Contractor staff shall call the Save-a-Bear hotline (209) 372-0322 to report overflowing trash containers, 

improperly stored food, or bear sightings.

Contractor 
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-15

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

WILDLIFE AND SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES (cont.)

MM-WL-3 

Special Status 

Plant Species

If special-status plant species are identified within the construction disturbance zone, in particular within restoration and 

revegetation areas, avoid special-status plant populations to the extent feasible during construction activities. 

If it is not feasible for construction activities to avoid special status plant species, species conservation measures will be 

developed in coordination with Yosemite National Park natural resources staff. Measures may include salvage of specialstatus plants for use in revegetating disturbed areas and transplantation of special-status plants wherever possible using 

methods and monitoring identified in the revegetation plan, monitoring to ensure successful revegetation, protection of 

plantings, and replacement of unsuccessful plant materials if practicable.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-WL-4 

Elderberry 

Longhorn Beetle 

Conservation 

Guidelines

Yosemite National Park and Contractor shall adhere to the “Conservation Guidelines for the Valley Elderberry Longhorn 

Beetle” (USFWS 1999) to avoid and minimize adverse impacts on the federally listed valley elderberry longhorn beetle. The 

guidelines specify avoidance and protection measures; transplantation specifications; requirements for planting additional 

seedlings, cuttings, and associated native species; monitoring; and reporting. Establish an estimated 1.53 acre conservation 

area at the Greenemeyer Sand Pit for elderberry shrubs and required additional species, pending specifications of U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion for the final Merced River Plan/EIS.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-WL-5 

Construction 

Timing

Schedule construction activities with seasonal consideration of wildlife lifecycles to minimize impacts during sensitive periods 

(i.e., after bird nesting seasons, when bats are neither hibernating nor have young, etc). 

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-WL-6 

Bat Habitat 

Protection 

Guidelines

A qualified bat biologist will conduct surveys prior to construction to evaluate whether habitat that will be affected by the 

proposed action provide hibernacula or nursery colony roosting habitat for bat species.

If bats are detected during reproduction or hibernation periods, disturbance of potential habitat will be delayed until the bats 

can be excluded from the area in a manner that does not adversely affect their survival or that of their young. 

If bats are detected during reproduction or hibernation periods, disturbance of potential habitat will be delayed until the bats 

can be excluded from the area in a manner that does not adversely affect their survival or that of their young.

If surveys conducted immediately prior to construction do not reveal any bat species present within the project area, then the 

action will begin within three days to prevent the destruction of any bats that could move into the area after the survey.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-WL-7 

Bird Habitat 

Protection 

Guidelines

Beginning in early spring, a park wildlife biologist will conduct bird surveys and review current owl reports to determine 

whether special status species are present and may be mating, nesting, or foraging in the project vicinity. 

If nesting birds are observed (e.g., discovered by workers) that are not special status species, the project manager will notify 

the park wildlife biologist who will recommend steps to avoid undesirable impacts to the nest or young.

Yosemite 

National Park, 

Project Manager
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-16 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

LIGHTSCAPES

MM-LITE-1 

Yosemite 

Lighting 

Guidelines

All new sources of lighting, or substantial modifications to structures with existing sources of exterior lighting, shall conform 

to the standards set forth in the Yosemite Lighting Guidelines, available on the park’s website at:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/dark-night-sky.htm. 

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-LITE-2 

Night Lighting 

During 

Construction 

Minimize night lighting during work. If night lighting is necessary, design lighting to be minimal, directed downward, and 

shielded.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

SOUNDSCAPES

MM-NOI-1 

Construction 

Work Plan and 

Schedule

Contractor shall submit to the park for review and approval prior to commencement of construction a construction work 

plan/schedule that specifies the ways in which the contractor will minimize construction-related noise in noise-sensitive areas. 

At a minimum, the plan shall state the following:

• Ensure that all construction equipment has functional exhaust muffler systems.

• Use hydraulically or electrically powered construction equipment, when feasible. 

• Locate stationary noise sources as far from sensitive receptors as possible. 

• Limit the idling of motors except as necessary (e.g., concrete mixing trucks).

• A construction schedule that minimizes impacts to adjacent noise-sensitive activities.

• Engine braking (“jake” brakes) shall not be used in lodging, camping or residential areas. Engine brakes that are used 

shall be muffled.

• Continuous noise abatement is required to prevent disturbance and nuisance to Park visitors and workers and to the 

occupants of adjacent premises and surrounding areas.

• If the Contracting Officer determines excessive noise is emanating from the construction site, the Contractor may be 

required to provide sound barriers to deflect noise transmission from visitor areas or other areas impacted by noise.

Construction noise shall be minimized through use of best available noise control techniques wherever feasible. Sound levels 

must be kept to a minimum at all times. Equipment and machinery shall not exceed 85 db when measured at 100 linear feet 

distance. Contractor shall use sound attenuated compressors and generators that comply with the most recent California 

Department of Transportation standards.

Contractor
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-17

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

SOUNDSCAPES (cont.)

MM-NOI-2 

Noise 

Management 

Levels

Contractor shall ensure that all construction equipment and practices adhere to the following noise limitations:

Repetitive and/or intermittent, high-level noise: Permitted only during Daytime.

Do not exceed the following dB(A) limitations at 50 feet: 

Sound Level in dB(A)

70 More than 12 minutes in any hour

Time Duration of Impact Noise

80 More than 3 minutes in any hour

Maximum permissible construction equipment noise levels at 50 feet:

Earthmoving dB(A) Materials Handling

Front Loaders 75 Concrete Mixers 75

dB(A)

Backhoes 75 Concrete Pumps 75

Dozers 75 Cranes 75

Tractors 75 Derricks Impact 75

Scrapers 80 Pile Drivers 95

Graders 75 Jack Hammers 75

Trucks 75 Rock Drills 80

Pavers, Stationary 80 Pneumatic Tools 80

Pumps 75 Saws 75

Generators 75 Vibrators 75

Compressors 75

Contractor

Ambient Noise:

Maximum noise levels (dB) for receiving noise area at property line shall be as follows:

Residential receiving area Daytime: 65 dB

Nighttime: 45 dB

Commercial/Industrial receiving area Daytime: 67 dB

Nighttime: 65 dB

In the event the existing local ambient noise level exceeds the maximum allowable receiving noise level (dB), the 

receiving noise level maximum for construction operations shall be adjusted as follows:

Residential receiving area: Maximum 3 additional dB above the local ambient as measured at property line. 

Commercial/Industrial receiving area: Maximum 5 additional dB above the local ambient as measured at the 

property line. 
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-18 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

SOUNDSCAPES (cont.)

MM-NOI-3 

Field Quality 

Control 

Contractor shall assess potential effects of construction noise on adjacent neighbors or facility occupants in accordance with 

ASTM E1686 and as follows:

Ambient noise measurement: Measure at the property line at a height of at least four (4) feet above the immediate 

surrounding surface. Average the ambient noise level over a period of at least 15 minutes. 

Ambient noise measurement at urban sites: Conduct during morning peak traffic hour between 7 A.M. and 9 A.M. and 

afternoon peak traffic hour between 4 P.M. and 6 P.M. In addition, conduct a 24-hour measurement at the proposed 

project site to document the noise pattern throughout the day. Adjust and weight for seasonal and climatic variations.

Monitor noise produced from construction operations in accordance with ASTM E1780.

Contractor 

AIR QUALITY

MM-AIR-1 

Dust Abatement 

Program

The Yosemite National Park and/or a contractor (as appropriate) shall prepare, implement, and comply with a dust 

abatement program during construction. Measures include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Water or apply soil stabilizers to disturbed areas;

• When hauling dry materials, securely cover truck beds to prevent blowing dust or loss of debris;

• Limit speeds to a maximum of 15 mph within construction areas. Slower speeds shall be maintained if necessary to reduce 

dust formation.

• Minimize vegetation clearing;

• Re-vegetate disturbed areas post construction;

• At construction zone access points, prevent paved areas from accumulating mud, soils, and other organic materials.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-AIR-2 

Equipment 

Exhaust Controls

The Yosemite National Park and/or a contractor (as appropriate) shall prepare, implement, and comply with equipment 

exhaust controls program during construction. Measures include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Idling times shall be minimized either by shutting equipment off when not in use or reducing the maximum idling time to 

two minutes. Clear signage shall be provided for construction workers at all access points;

• Require that all construction equipment, diesel trucks, and generators be equipped with Best Available Control 

Technology for emission reductions of NOx and PM;

• Require all contractors use equipment that meets CARB’s most recent certification standard for off-road heavy duty diesel 

engines;

• Require all equipment operations to occur during daytime hours to minimize effects of local inversions;

• Equipment operations shall be in accordance with all Federal and State air emission and performance laws and standards.

• Vehicles or equipment with excessive emissions or discharging black smoke will be removed from operation immediately 

and may not be used until appropriate maintenance and repairs have corrected the emissions problem.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-19

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

VISITOR EXPERIENCE

MM-VEX-1 

Non-Hazardous 

Solid Waste 

Management 

Measures

Waste, trash, and debris shall be controlled at all times and disposed in authorized containers in the Contractor’s staging 

area.

All sanitary waste (garbage) must be disposed of in approved, bear-proof disposal bins. Provide lockable, bear-proof 

dumpsters with lids for waste (garbage) storage. Lids shall be equipped with carabineers/heavy wire lid locks. Verify that 

dumpster lids are secure at close of work each day.

Construction debris (rubbish) may be stored in unlidded dumpsters or construction debris truck/trailers and removed on a 

regular basis. Do not mingle sanitary or green waste with construction debris.

All large, normally open top, waste bins or dumpsters shall be lidded and clearly marked “No Food or Trash”.

All construction personnel shall adhere to park regulations concerning food storage and refuse management.

The Contractor shall designate an employee to police the work site daily for waste, wrappers, food packaging and the like. 

All waste shall be picked up and disposed of in lidded bear-proof dumpsters.

Green waste shall be segregated from other non-green waste for processing at disposal site.

Burying or burning of trash and debris on-site is not permitted. All un-used materials, trash, and debris shall be the property 

of the Contractor and shall be transported outside of the YNP boundary for disposal in accordance with law.

Remove debris from permanently closed spaces prior to enclosing them.

Properly secure trash during the workday and remove all trash from site at the end of each workday

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-VEX-2 

Scenic Resource 

Protection 

Fence construction staging areas and construction activity areas to visually screen construction activity and materials.

Consolidate construction equipment and materials to the staging areas at the end of each work day to limit the visual 

intrusion of construction equipment during nonwork hours.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

TRANSPORTATION

MM-TRA-1 

Traffic Control 

Plan

Contractor shall prepare a Traffic Control Plan. This plan shall include but not be limited to the following:

• Maps showing how any detour routes will be signed and controlled.

• Submission of specific street closure and detour plans for each segment of the project no less than 3 weeks prior to 

beginning construction on any segment.

• Description of how Contractor shall provide for the protection of pedestrians and bicyclists, and safe vehicle passage 

through the use of signs and flagpersons. In addition, address how access for emergency vehicles, chain-up areas and 

snow plow turn around areas, police, rangers, fire and disaster units shall be maintained at all times.

• Show how any detour routes will be signed and controlled. Furnish and install all signs. Provide flagpersons as required.

• Revise and update the Traffic Control Plan to reflect changes in the project schedule or sequence of work, as required. 

Contractor
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-20 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

TRANSPORTATION (cont.)

MM-TRA-1 

Traffic Control 

Plan (cont.)

• Show measures to reduce erosion of temporary roadbeds by construction traffic, especially during wet weather. Plan shall 

include measures to minimize the amount of mud and dust transported onto paved public roads by vehicles or runoff.

• Revise and update specific Traffic Control Plan to reflect changes in the project schedule as required, or to accommodate 

the traffic control plans of other projects concurrently under construction in the project vicinity or the Yosemite Valley.

The YNP Project Manager will provide temporary traffic routing and control information from other on-going or planned 

projects that may affect the Contractor’s Traffic Control Plan. The Contractor shall accommodate the information from these 

other traffic control plans as necessary and bring any conflicts to the attention of the COR immediately.

MM-TRA-2 

Road Closure 

Traffic Control 

and Detour Plans 

contents.

Prepare and submit specific Road Closure Traffic Control and Detour Plans for each area of the project not less than 3 weeks 

before beginning construction on any segment. Provide for the following:

• Temporary closure of both lanes of traffic (subject to the requirements listed herein) shall be limited to periods of

20 minutes maximum. Requests for additional closure periods shall be submitted in writing to the Contracting Officer a 

minimum of 7 days prior to any planned road closures.

• Single lane traffic diversions shall comply with the detail in "Traffic Control System for Two Lane Conventional State 

Highways" in California Department of Transportation Standard Specifications, Section 02201, Paragraph 1.1 D.

Contractor 

MM-TRA-3 

Traffic Control 

Devices

Traffic control devices shall be provided in sufficient quantities and types as required to provide safe and adequate traffic 

control.

During hours of darkness, approved lights and/or flares shall be included, in proper working order, to illuminate signs and 

hazards and alert approaching traffic.

Barricades shall be furnished and maintained along all open trenches in contact with traffic.

No work may begin on any day or at any time before traffic control devices have been placed, test driven and, if required, 

adjusted and revised.

All traffic control devices shall be placed in accordance with the Manual of Traffic Controls and favorably reviewed Traffic 

Control Plan.

Locations of devices shall be adjusted to suit the conditions and circumstances of each detour situation. In all cases, signs 

shall be placed to most effectively convey their messages to approaching traffic.

Immediately after traffic control devices have been placed, the detour shall be test driven by the COR and Contractor's 

representative. 

Test drive shall include approach to the detour from each possible direction and traversing full length of each detour route.

The Contractor shall adjust and revise all traffic control devices as determined to be required by test drive through and shall 

repeat test drive if determined necessary by the COR.

The Contractor shall provide additional traffic control devices if required to maintain flow of traffic through construction 

operation.

Contractor 
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-21

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

TRANSPORTATION (cont.)

MM-TRA-3 

Traffic Control 

Devices (cont.)

The Contractor shall maintain all traffic control devices, at proper locations and in proper working order, at all times during 

construction operations and whenever a hazard resulting from Contractor's operations exists.

The Contractor shall adjust and revise traffic control devices, placement, etc., to suit changing conditions around 

construction operations.

Traffic control devices shall remain in place at all times required to alert approaching traffic of upcoming hazards.

After hazard has been removed, all traffic control devices shall be removed. Signs shall be removed or their messages 

covered.

MM-TRA-4 

Traffic Control 

Flaggers

The Contractor shall employ flaggers:

• As required for each specific detour.

• At all locations on a construction site where barricades and warning signs cannot control the moving traffic.

Where flaggers are required, they shall be logically placed in relation to the equipment or operation so as to give adequate 

warning and shall be placed approximately 100 feet ahead of impact point.

A warning sign shall be placed ahead of the flagger reading: "Flagger Ahead." The distance between the sign and the 

flagger should be based on the average traffic speed, allowing approximately 50 feet for each 10 miles per hour.

During hours of darkness, flagger stations shall be illuminated such that the flagger will be clearly visible to approaching 

traffic. Lights for illuminating the flagger station shall receive favorable review by the COR. 

The flagger shall be provided with and wear a red or orange warning garment when flagging. Flaggers shall be provided 

with approved hand signs and two way radios for communication.

When flagging during hours of darkness, the flagger shall signal with a red light or flare and shall have a belt and suspender 

harness outside his garment fitted with reflectors or made from reflectorized cloth, unless the garment is well reflectorized in 

one of these ways.

Contractor 

MM-TRA-5 

Traffic Control 

and Maintenance 

Traffic control and construction operations shall conform to the requirements of California Department of Transportation 

Standard Specifications, Section 12, except as modified herein.

The Contractor shall provide, install, and maintain all necessary signs, lights, flares, barricades, markers, cones, flagmen, and 

other protective facilities and shall take all necessary precautions for the protection and for the convenience and safety of 

Park employees, public traffic, and Yosemite Concession Service operations. All such protective facilities and precautions to

be taken shall conform to the U. S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform 

Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways, Part VI-Traffic Control for Highway Construction and Maintenance 

Operations, latest edition, and as amended.

Provide for the protection of pedestrians, bicyclists, and equestrians at all times.

Contractor 
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-22 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

TRANSPORTATION (cont.)

MM-TRA-5 

Traffic Control 

and Maintenance

(cont.)

Provide adequate, safe, non-skid bridging material over trenches, including shoring when trenching in pavement areas to 

handle all types of vehicular traffic.

Whenever the Contractor's operations create a hazardous condition, the Contractor shall furnish flagpersons and guards as 

necessary to give adequate warning of any dangerous conditions to be encountered, and shall furnish, erect, and maintain 

such fences, barricades, lights, signs, and other devices as necessary to prevent accidents and avoid damage or injury to 

persons. Employ flagpersons to direct traffic as required to ensure safe vehicular travel. While on duty, flagpersons and 

guards shall be equipped with orange safety wearing apparel and a paddle-type signal, which shall be clean and in good 

repair. 

Provide two-way programmable radios to flagpersons if they are not in sight of each other at all times, or if necessary to 

ensure safe passage of vehicles.

Provide, install, and maintain all signs, barricades, posts, guards and notices whenever a road or trail must be completely 

closed. Note that if posts are installed in ground, Contractor must contact USA-Dig and Archaeological Monitor for clearance 

to avoid culturally-sensitive areas. Remove or cover signs in conflict with traffic control requirements.

Provide for passage and access of emergency vehicles, police, rangers, fire and disaster units at all times. Contractor assumes 

any and all liability for any damages resulting from failure to provide said access.

Replace permanent pavement markings and traffic signs upon completion of each phase of work.

At the end of each day's work or as soon as the work is completed remove all traffic control devices no longer needed to 

permit free and safe passage of traffic. Removal shall be in reverse order of installation. The traveled way shall not be 

obstructed with material, bedding, trench soil, nor with barricades or excavations. Excavations shall be backfilled, covered 

with steel traffic plate covers, or otherwise suitably protected so that traffic can pass unobstructed, as required, at night or 

over weekends and holidays. Temporary road repairs shall include road base and cold mix as specified to maintain a smooth, 

hard surface. The Contractor shall provide weekend and holiday road maintenance and repairs as necessary.

All roads shall be kept open for public travel at all times unless specific written permission to close or restrict the use of a 

particular road is given by the COR. The Contractor is responsible for snow and ice control within the project limits utilizing 

NPS approved methods. Permission shall be granted upon approval of the specific Street Closure Traffic Control and Detour 

Plan for the intended closure. In the event that closing of a particular road is approved, it shall be the responsibility of the 

Contractor to notify the COR to reconfirm the hours and dates of the street closure and routes of detours at least 7 calendar 

days in advance of their occurrence, and again to notify the COR when the travel restriction is discontinued.

No materials or equipment shall be stored where it will interfere with the free and safe passage of public traffic, and at the 

end of each day's work and at other times when construction operations are suspended for any reason, the Contractor shall 

remove all equipment and other obstructions from that portion of the roadway to be opened for use by public traffic. No 

material or other obstructions shall be placed within 20 feet of fire hydrants, which shall at all times be readily accessible to 

the fire department, nor within 10 feet of United States mailboxes. Off-loading of materials at staging area shall be 

coordinated with the Contracting Officer as necessary.
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-23

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

TRANSPORTATION (cont.)

MM-TRA-5 

Traffic Control 

and Maintenance

(cont.)

Traffic delays due to Contractor's activities and associated traffic control shall not exceed 20 minutes, unless prior written 

approval has been received from the Contracting Officer.

Alternative access for Park visitors to all major features and facilities in the Park shall be maintained using the existing road 

system.

Full access shall be provided year-round to the public for all operating Park facilities (hotels, campgrounds, bike paths, trails, 

stores, restaurants, museums, restrooms, etc.), unless the project includes closing, rehabilitating or reconstructing those 

facilities, except trail closures for equipment and material transfer or transport described in Section 01110, Summary of 

Work. 

HISTORIC STRUCTURES

MM-HIST-1 

Historic Road 

Character

To minimize the effect of new culvert construction on historic road character within the valley, new retaining walls in the 

vicinity of the road, if necessary, should be stone (not veneer), constructed using compatible stone in a form and masonry 

pattern that is compatible with the nearby historic period masonry. 

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-HIST-2 

Evaluation of The 

Ahwahnee 

Tennis Court 

Prior to meadow restoration, the park shall, as per Section 106 of the NHPA, reevaluate the Ahwahnee tennis court for its 

continued integrity and eligibility as a contributor to the Ahwahnee Hotel Complex, and the extent to which the removal of 

the now defunct tennis court would impact the remaining contributors to the hotel complex. In the event that this resource 

is determined the maintain sufficient integrity to reflect its historic significance as a contributor, and that its loss would result 

in an adverse effect to the National Register hotel, in the event that avoidance is infeasible, the Park shall attempt resolution

of adverse effects as per CFR § 800.6 establish appropriate mitigation of adverse effects through a Memorandum of 

Agreement between the Park and SHPO. Potential mitigation of impacts may include such actions as completing recordation 

through photographic and archival documentation, or providing for photographic interpretation of the site within the 

Ahwahnee Hotel.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-HIST-3 

Evaluation of 

Revetment 

Removal Sites

Prior to any ground disturbing activities associated with revetment, further analysis and possible documentation at each site

would be required in order to assess potential adverse effects to historic resources.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-HIST-4 

Evaluation of 

Revetment 

Removal Sites

As per Section 106 of the NHPA, prior to construction or demolition activities, the Park shall survey the project area for 

potential impacts to historic buildings, structures, and districts within the project area of potential effect (APE). This will 

include a review of existing known historic resources for their continued integrity and eligibility for listing in the National 

Register, identification of currently unknown historic properties within the APE, determination of potential adverse effects 

and resolution of those effects in compliance with 36 CFR Part 800 – Protection of Historic Properties. Every effort shall be 

made to avoid adverse impacts. These efforts may include screening and/or sensitive design that would be compatible with 

cultural landscape resources.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-24 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

HISTORIC STRUCTURES (cont.)

MM-HIST-5 

Submittals

Historic Preservation Treatment Program: The contractor shall submit a written plan for each phase or process including 

protection of surrounding materials during operations. Contractor shall describe in detail materials, methods, and equipment 

to be used for each phase of work.

If alternative methods and materials to those indicated are proposed for any phase of work, contractor shall provide a 

written description including evidence of successful use on other, comparable projects, and program of testing to 

demonstrate effectiveness for use on this Project. 

The contractor shall document, through videotape or photograph and submit to the Contracting Officer prior to 

commencement of work, existing conditions of adjoining construction and site improvements, including finish surfaces that 

might be misconstrued as damage caused by historic treatment operations. 

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-HIST-6 

Removed and 

Salvaged Historic 

Materials:

Contractor shall handle removed and salvaged historic materials in accordance with the following:

• Clean salvaged historic items.

• Pack or crate items after cleaning. Identify contents of containers.

• Store items in a secure area until delivery to the NPS.

• Transport items to storage area approved by Contracting Officer.

• Protect items from damage during transport and storage. 

• Do not dispose of items removed from existing construction without prior written consent of Contracting Officer.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-HIST-7 

Removed and 

Reinstalled 

Historic Materials

Contractor shall handle removed and reinstalled historic materials in accordance with the following:

• Clean and repair historic items to functional condition adequate for intended reuse.

• Pack or crate items after cleaning and repairing. Identify contents of containers.

• Protect items from damage during transport and storage.

• Reinstall items in locations indicated. Comply with installation requirements for new materials and equipment. Provide 

connections, supports, and miscellaneous materials necessary to make item functional for use indicated.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-HIST-8 

Existing Historic 

Materials to 

Remain 

The contractor shall protect construction indicated to remain against damage and soiling during historic treatment. When 

permitted by Contracting Officer, items may be removed to a suitable, protected storage location during historic treatment, 

and cleaned and reinstalled, as appropriate, to their original locations after historic treatment operations are complete.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-HIST-9 

Storage and 

Protection

When removed from their existing location, contractor shall store historic materials within a weather-tight enclosure where 

they are protected from wetting by rain, snow, or ground water, and temperature variations. Contractor shall secure stored 

materials to ensure protection from theft.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-25

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

HISTORIC STRUCTURES (cont.)

MM-HIST-9 

Storage and 

Protection (cont.)

• Identify removed items with an inconspicuous mark indicating their original location.

• Develop a key plan when many similar items are scheduled for removal and reinstallation.

MM-HIST-10

Exterior Cleaning 

and Repairing

Contractor shall conduct exterior cleaning and repair of historic structures in accordance with the following: 

• Proceed with the work only when forecasted weather conditions are favorable.

• Not attempt repairs during rainy or foggy weather. Not apply primer, paint, putty, or epoxy when the relative humidity is 

above 80 percent. Not remove exterior elements of structures when rain is forecast or in progress.

• Not perform exterior wet work when the air temperature is below 40 deg F (5 deg C). 

• Not begin cleaning, patching, or repairing when there is any likelihood of frost or freezing.

• Not begin cleaning when either the air or the surface temperature is below 45 deg F (7 deg C) unless approved means are 

provided for maintaining a 45 deg F (7 deg C) temperature of the air and materials during, and for 48 hours subsequent 

to, cleaning.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-HIST-11

General Historic 

Resource 

Protection

Contractor shall undertake the following historic resource protection measures:

• Comply with manufacturer's written instructions for precautions and effects of products and procedures on adjacent 

building materials, components, and vegetation.

• Ensure that supervisory personnel are present when work begins and during its progress.

• Protect existing materials during installation of temporary protections and construction. Not deface or remove existing 

materials. 

• Obtain Contracting Officer approval prior to Attaching temporary protection to existing construction.

• Protect landscape work adjacent to or within work areas as follows:

- Provide barriers to protect tree trunks.

- Bind spreading shrubs.

- Use coverings that allow plants to breathe and remove coverings at the end of each day. Do not cover plant material 

with a waterproof membrane for more than 8 hours at a time.

- Set scaffolding and ladder legs away from plants.

• Prior to the start of work or any cleaning operations, test drains and other water removal systems to ensure that drains 

and systems are functioning properly. 

• Notify Contracting Officer immediately of drains or systems that are stopped or blocked. Not begin Work of this Section 

until the drains are in working order.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-26 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

HISTORIC STRUCTURES (cont.)

MM-HIST-11

General Historic 

Resource 

Protection (cont.)

• Provide a method to prevent solids including stone or mortar residue from entering the drains or drain lines. Clean out 

drains and drain lines that become blocked or filled by sand or any other solids because of work performed on 

corresponding project.

• Protect storm drains from pollutants. Block drains or filter out sediments, allowing only clean water to pass.

MM-HIST-12

Protection During 

Application of 

Chemicals 

Contractor shall undertake the following during the application of chemicals:

• Protect persons, motor vehicles, surrounding surfaces of building being restored, building site, plants, and surrounding 

buildings from harm or damage resulting from applications of chemical cleaners and paint removers.

• Comply with requirements in Division 01 Section "Temporary Facilities and Controls."

• Cover adjacent surfaces with materials that are proven to resist chemical cleaners selected for Project unless chemicals 

being used will not damage adjacent surfaces. Use covering materials that contain only waterproof, UV-resistant 

adhesives. Apply masking agents to comply with manufacturer's written instructions. Do not apply liquid masking agent 

to painted or porous surfaces. When no longer needed, promptly remove masking to prevent adhesive staining.

• Do not clean surfaces during winds of sufficient force to spread cleaning solutions to unprotected surfaces.

• Neutralize and collect alkaline and acid wastes and dispose of outside park boundaries.

• Dispose of runoff from chemical operations by legal means and in a manner that prevents soil erosion, undermining of 

paving and foundations, damage to landscaping, and water penetration into building interiors.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor

MM-HIST-13

Protection During 

Use of HeatGenerating 

Equipment

Contractor shall comply with the following procedures while performing work with heat-generating equipment, including 

welding, cutting, soldering, brazing, paint removal with heat, and other operations where open flames or implements 

utilizing heat are used:

• Obtain Contracting Officer’s approval for operations involving use of open-flame or welding equipment.

- Notification shall be given for each occurrence and location of work with heat-generating equipment.

- Obtain the appropriate permit from the park as required.

• As far as practical, use heat-generating equipment in shop areas or outside the building.

• Before work with heat-generating equipment commences, furnish personnel to serve as a fire watch (or watches) for 

location(s) where work is to be performed.

• Do not perform work with heat-generating equipment in or near rooms or in areas where flammable liquids or explosive 

vapors are present or thought to be present. Use a combustible gas indicator test to ensure that the area is safe.

• Remove and keep the area free of combustibles, including, rubbish, paper, waste, etc., within area of operations.

- If combustible material cannot be removed, provide fireproof blankets to cover such materials.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-27

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

HISTORIC STRUCTURES (cont.)

MM-HIST-13

Protection During 

Use of HeatGenerating 

Equipment 

(cont.)

• Where possible, furnish and use baffles of metal or gypsum board to prevent the spraying of sparks or hot slag into 

surrounding combustible material.

• Prevent the extension of sparks and particles of hot metal through open windows, doors, holes, and cracks in floors, 

walls, ceilings, roofs, and other openings.

• Inspect each location of the day's work not sooner than 30 minutes after completion of operations to detect hidden or 

smoldering fires and to ensure that proper housekeeping is maintained.

• Where sprinkler protection exists and is functional, maintain it without interruption while operations are being performed. 

If operations are performed close to automatic sprinkler heads, shield the individual heads temporarily with guards.

MM-HIST-14

Historic 

Preservation 

Treatment 

Procedures

Contractor shall undertake the following historic preservation treatment procedures:

• Retain as much existing material as possible; repair and consolidate rather than replace.

• Use additional material or structure to reinforce, strengthen, prop, tie, and support existing material or structure.

• Use reversible processes wherever possible.

• Use traditional replacement materials and techniques if possible. New work shall be distinguishable from old work and 

original materials and techniques.

• Record the existing condition before commencing with repair work; document with preconstruction photos, sketches and 

field notes. Record repair work during construction with periodic construction photos and daily inspection reporting. 

Photo documentation is specified in Division 01 Section "Photo Documentation For Historic Preservation Projects".

• Prohibit smoking by personnel performing work on or near historic structures.

• Notify Contracting Officer of visible changes in the integrity of material or components whether due to environmental 

causes including biological attack, UV degradation, freezing, or thawing; or due to structural defects including cracks, 

movement, or distortion.

- Do not proceed with the work in question until directed by Contracting Officer.

• Where Work requires existing features to be removed, cleaned, and reinstalled, perform these operations without damage 

to the material itself, to adjacent materials, or to the substrate.

• Identify new or replacement materials and features with inconspicuous, permanent marks to distinguish them from 

original materials. Record the legend of identification marks and the locations of these marks on Record Drawings.

• When cleaning, match samples of existing materials that have been cleaned and identified for acceptable cleaning levels. 

Avoid over-cleaning to prevent damage to existing materials during cleaning. Only the gentlest methods available should 

be attempted. Initiate cleaning using hand cleaning methods before introducing power cleaning methods and equipment. 

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-28 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

HISTORIC STRUCTURES (cont.)

MM-HIST-15

Plan-Specific 

Programmatic 

Agreement 

Following agreement on the assessment of adverse effect to historic properties, the NPS and relevant consulting parties have 

engaged in consultation to develop measures to minimize or mitigate adverse effects pursuant to 36 CFR Part 800.6. Where 

appropriate, the results of that consultation have been documented in the plan-specific Programmatic Agreement (see 

Appendix I). This agreement may include treatments established by the ACHP under 36 CFR Part 800.14(d) and may also 

defer to or build upon the 2008 Nationwide PA that streamlines the Section 106 process for actions not affecting or not 

adversely affecting historic properties. This agreement also diagrams the NHPA review process for actions requiring phased 

identification and/or phased assessment of adverse effects. Additional minimization and mitigation measures will be 

developed through this tiered compliance process. 

ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES

MM-AR-1 

Archeological 

Resources

Train all members of the restoration/construction teams in proper handling of inadvertent discovery of archaeological 

resources. Training would involve information regarding the types of archeological materials that are likely present in the 

specific project area, how to identify archeological materials, and the procedures for contacting the appropriate parties in the 

event that archeological materials are encountered during restoration/construction activities.

All restoration/construction personnel would be required to participate in the training, and written guidelines would be 

prepared and distributed to aid in identification of archeological materials and to inform workers of the procedures to follow 

in case of a discovery or potential discovery. If buried archeological resources such as flaked stone or groundstone, historic 

debris, building foundations, midden soils or human bone are inadvertently discovered during ground-disturbing activities, 

work shall stop in that area and within a 100-foot radius of the find until a qualified archeologist can assess the significance 

of the find.

Inadvertent discoveries would be treated in accordance with 36 CFR 800.13 (Protection of Historic Properties: Post-review 

discoveries). The archeological resource would be assessed for its eligibility for listing on the National Register in consultation 

with the SHPO and representatives of traditionally associated American Indian tribes and groups (if it is an American Indian 

archeological site), and a determination of the project effects on the site would be made. If the site would be adversely 

affected, a treatment plan would also be prepared as needed during the assessment of the site’s significance. Assessment of 

inadvertent discoveries may require archeological excavations and/or archival research to determine resource significance. 

Treatment plans would fully evaluate avoidance, project redesign, and data recovery alternatives before outlining actions 

proposed to resolve adverse effects.

If human skeletal remains are encountered, protocols under federal and state law would apply. All work shall stop in the 

vicinity of the discovery, and the find would be secured and protected in place. The appropriate county coroner (Mariposa or 

Merced) and Park Archeologist would both be immediately notified. If a analyses determine that the remains are American 

Indian, and that no further coroner investigation of the cause of death is required, the coroner would then be required to 

contact the NAHC (pursuant to Section 7050.5[c] of the California Health and Safety Code) and the County Coordinator of 

Indian Affairs. The remains would also be treated in accordance with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation 

Regulations at 43 CFR 10.4 (Inadvertent discoveries).

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
Mitigation Measures

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS C-29

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES (cont.)

MM-AR-2 

Ground 

Disturbance and 

Testing

Management actions involving moderate to severe ground disturbance (trail reroutes; formalization of social trails; 

excavations for subsurface utilities; development of campgrounds; removal of abandoned infrastructure and/or facilities, 

construction of buildings, structures, parking lots, and roads; topographic recontouring; decompaction and plant salvage; 

and actions that may focus visitor use at areas with sensitive surface resources) within or adjacent to the boundaries of 

known archeological sites shall be preceeded by intensive surface survey and/or controlled subsurface testing, as determined 

appropriate given past studies and findings.

Initial limited testing shall be conducted in the area(s) proposed for ground disturbance, to first determine if the presence of 

site components can be verified. If so, the methods of achieving the proposed action may be modified and/or relocated, if 

possible. If effects could not be avoided, archeological treatment measures would be site-specific and contingent on previous 

studies’ results and the level of work proposed.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 

MM-AR-3 

Ground 

Disturbance and 

Monitoring

A Government provided Archeological Monitor, and as necessary, Native American Monitor, will observe all grounddisturbing site work, including construction of temporary facilities at all culturally sensitive areas, from a safe location 

mutually agreed on by Contractor, Contracting Officer and Monitors. As new ground is broken, Monitors will examine 

excavated materials, using construction layout centerline and perimeter staking as a reference point to record locations of 

findings.

Monitoring may also be included as part of a treatment plan for individual resources following initial testing as per MM-AR-2 

Prior to construction, mark with flagging all sensitive cultural resources to be protected within the project area identified per 

the requirements of the plans and specifications. Proper placement of flagging shall be verified by the Contracting Officer. 

Upon verification, erect necessary fencing to identify and protect cultural resources from disturbance.

Do not begin ground-penetrating work such as excavation, trenching, drilling, or stump and root removal in culturally 

sensitive areas without the presence of Archeological Monitor, and if required, Native American Monitor.

The archeological monitor shall record and be authorized to collect soil samples and artifactual/ecofactual material as 

warranted for analysis. If the monitor determines that any portion of the proposed action could have an adverse effect on 

the site, alternative methods of accomplishing the action shall be discussed with the restoration personnel. Restoration 

activities within site boundaries shall be conducted using manual tools rather than mechanized equipment whenever 

possible, and no stock animals or wheeled vehicles used for transport of workers and tools shall be allowed within 10 meters 

of the known site boundary.

If Archeological Monitor or Native American Monitor discovers resources, immediate relocation of the work to a nonsensitive area may be required to allow Monitors to take soil samples and record resources. While Monitors are documenting 

resources in sensitive areas, Contractor shall relocate work to non-sensitive areas.

If an Archeological Monitor requires access to a construction area the contractor shall furnish safe access, free from 

recognized hazards, to enable the monitor to complete his/her duties. This will commonly involve trench access when soil 

sampling is deemed necessary by the Archeologist. 

If resources are discovered while Monitors are absent, stop work immediately and report the discovery to the Contracting 

Officer. 

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
APPENDIX C 

MITIGATION MEASURES

C-30 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Topic Mitigation Measure Responsibility

ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES (cont.)

MM-AR-3 

Ground 

Disturbance and 

Monitoring

(cont.)

Stop Work: Cease all activities in the area of discovery and protect the resources discovered. In the event the discovery 

represents human remains or any objects subject to the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), 

the NPS will follow procedures outlined in NAGPRA regulations. This will require a stoppage of work in the area of work for 

a minimum of 30 calendar days. In the event of an inadvertent discovery of Cultural Resources, be prepared to stop work 

and continue in other areas.

The Contractor shall plan, schedule, and execute the work to prevent stoppages at one area from stopping all work at the 

construction site.

MM-AR-4 

Daily work 

schedule 

A Daily Work Schedule is required for all work occurring within archeologically sensitive areas. Include all work that is to 

occur within the area and key the schedule to the drawings to include the following:

1. Starting and ending dates of ground-disturbing construction.

2. Locations of temporary facilities, such as barriers, field offices, staging areas, sanitary facilities, borrow pits, and haul and 

access roads.

3. Types of construction, such as clearing, topsoil stripping, structure or trench excavation, landscaping, and post 

construction clean-up.

4. Methods and equipment used for each type of construction.

5. Plan for relocating work in the event of temporary work stoppages at each archeologically sensitive area

6. A permit is required for any archeological investigations (e.g. excavation, shovel testing, coring, pedestrian survey, 

underwater archeology, rock art documentation, or other types of reconnaissance including the archaeological monitoring 

of construction) carried out on parklands by non-NPS personnel, unless carried out under a contract or a cooperative 

agreement specifically written for archeological investigations. Permits are issued under the Archaeological Resources 

Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA). The NPS does not issue a permit for archeological investigations carried out by NPS 

archeologists, or to archeologists working on NPS archeological projects under a contract or cooperative agreement.

7. Applicants should submit a Permit Application (DI Form 1926 (Rev Sept 2004) OMB No. 1024-0037, approved through 

1/31/2008 – the Permit Application form is available in pdf format) to the manager of the park in which they propose to 

work; or to the regional director, with a copy to the park manager.

Yosemite 

National Park; 

Contractor 
Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

APPENDIX D

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction............................................................................................................................................ D-3

Floodplains and Floodplain Extent........................................................................................................... D-3

General Characteristics of Flooding in the Area .................................................................................. D-4

Segment 1: Merced River above Nevada Fall ........................................................................................... D-4

Segment 2: Yosemite Valley.................................................................................................................... D-5

Segments 3 and 4: Merced River Gorge and El Portal.............................................................................. D-6

Segments 5, 6, 7, and 8: South Fork Merced River.................................................................................. D-7

Final Preferred Alternative .................................................................................................................... D-8

Existing Structures Proposed in the Floodplain......................................................................................... D-8

Proposed Actions.................................................................................................................................... D-9

Rationale for Continued Use of the Floodplain ................................................................................. D-11

Existing and Proposed Development that would Remain or be Located in the Floodplain in the Preferred 

Alternative............................................................................................................................................ D-11

Description of Site-Specific Flood Risk................................................................................................ D-14

Merced River above Nevada Fall............................................................................................................ D-14

Yosemite Valley .................................................................................................................................... D-14

Merced River Gorge and El Portal.......................................................................................................... D-18

South Fork Merced River....................................................................................................................... D-19

Design or Modifications to Minimize Harm to Floodplain Values or Risks to Life and Property.. D-20

General Mitigation................................................................................................................................ D-20

Site-Specific Mitigation – No Subsequent Statement of Findings Necessary ........................................... D-21

Site-Specific Mitigation – Subsequent Statement of Findings Necessary................................................. D-22

Conclusion............................................................................................................................................. D-22

References............................................................................................................................................. D-24
Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

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Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-1

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

Merced Wild and Scenic River 

Final Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement

Yosemite National Park, California

Recommended:

 

Superintendent, Yosemite National Park Date

Certification of Technical Adequacy and Servicewide Consistency:

 

Chief, Water Resources Division Date

Approved:

Director, Pacific West Region Date
D-2 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

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Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-3

APPENDIX D

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

This Floodplain Statement of Findings is included in this document for public review to meet the 

obligations of Executive Order 11988: Floodplain Management, Director’s Order #77-2: Floodplain 

Management (2003), and the NPS Procedural Manual 77-2: Floodplain Management (update 2004). 

INTRODUCTION

The National Park Service (NPS) has prepared the Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive 

Management Plan Environmental Impact Statement (Final Merced River Plan /EIS) to provide direction and 

propose specific actions to protect and enhance ecological and natural resource values of the Merced Wild 

and Scenic River, support opportunities for visitors to experience and develop direct connections to the 

Merced River, institute a visitor-use management program, and provide clear direction on land uses and 

associated developments in the river corridor. It is based on the broad goals of the 1980 General 

Management Plan for Yosemite National Park. 

The purpose of this Floodplain Statement of Findings is to review the Final Merced River Plan/EIS in 

sufficient detail to:

• Provide an accurate and complete description of the flood hazard assumed by implementation of 

the proposed action (without mitigation)

• Provide an analysis of the comparative flood risk among alternatives

• Describe the effects on floodplain values associated with the proposed action

• Provide a thorough description and evaluation of mitigation measures developed to achieve 

compliance with Executive Order 11988:Floodplain Management, Director's Order 77-2, and 

Procedural Manual 77-2: Floodplain Management 

Floodplains and Floodplain Extent

Flood hazard areas regulated by the NPS include the 100-year floodplain (1% annual chance of inundation), 

the 500-year floodplain (0.2% chance of annual inundation, and the Extreme Floodplain (largest magnitude 

flood possible at a site). According to the NPS Director’s Order 77-2 (“Floodplain Management”), for any 

proposed action that is found to be in the applicable regulatory floodplain, the NPS must prepare a 

floodplain assessment, known as a Statement of Findings, in accordance with NPS Procedural Manual 77-2: 

Floodplain Management.

The best available data were used to determine the extent of existing floodplain boundaries and water 

surface characteristics of the Merced River, as documented in the FEIS. Floodplains have not been defined 
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-4 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

within the Merced River above Nevada Fall (including Little Yosemite Valley), nor within the Merced 

Gorge. 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FLOODING IN THE AREA

Flooding along the Merced River can be generally categorized as one of two general types: (1) spring floods 

include flooding that occurs as a result of spring and summer snowmelt and associated runoff; (2) Winter 

floods or rain on snow events include those that occur during the late fall and winter (September through 

April), primarily as a result of intense rainfall or rainfall on snow. From 1916 through 1989, 124 of 140 

recorded high flows on the Merced River in Yosemite Valley were spring floods that occurred in response 

to spring or early summer snowmelt conditions (NPS 1991). Only about 10% of total floods in the park are 

winter floods or rain on snow events. However, these events are responsible for the highest floods recorded, 

especially where warm heavy rains fall on snow in higher elevations. Frazil ice, while less common, is 

another cause of flooding within the park. Frazil ice occurs within waterfalls, and is generated by ice crystals 

at the base of a waterfall when air temperature drops to below freezing. Frazil ice can be many feet thick, 

which can cause localized impoundments and other flooding.

At the beginning of the wet season, the ground is extremely dry, and about 3 to 5 inches of precipitation is 

required to satisfy the retention storage capacity of the soil before any significant runoff occurs. Later in the 

season, when the ground may be very wet and there may be a moderate snow cover at the higher elevations, 

heavy rainfall over the basin can cause large flood runoff. An intense storm with a high freezing level may 

also result in flood runoff from almost the entire basin, with as much as 2 inches of snowmelt augmenting 

the rainfall, based on historic measurements. Most of the runoff from the Merced River basin occurs from 

November through July (Madej et al. 1994). 

Well-functioning floodplains can potentially provide an array of natural resource values within the Park, 

including habitat for vegetation and wildlife, periodic disturbance to habitats within floodplains (which can 

support ecological value and spatial diversity in habitat), dissipation of flood energy by allowing flood 

waters to spread across a floodplain area, benefits to waterway hydrologic processes including fluvial 

transport mechanisms and river geomorphic processes, and groundwater recharge in areas where soils are 

sufficiently pervious. Key floodplains in the study area include the broad floodplains of Yosemite Valley, 

Little Yosemite Valley, El Portal, and Wawona.

The discussion of flooding along the Merced River is divided among the following segments:

Segment 1: Merced River above Nevada Fall

The Merced River’s floodplains in remote areas above Nevada Fall have not been defined. Steep topography 

limits the floodplain in the upper canyon areas. High-elevation tributaries (e.g., Merced Peak Fork and 

Triple Peak Fork) are sparsely vegetated with scattered patches of alpine riparian scrub and alpine willow 

thickets. Within Little Yosemite Valley, the floodplain likely encompasses most of the valley floor; however, 

the 100-year floodplain has not been mapped. Here, the river meanders across its floodplain, creating 

oxbow lakes and meander cutoffs. As the river descends and the gradient becomes gentler, lodgepole pines, 

aspens (Populus tremuloides), willows (Salix spp.), and alders (Alnus spp.) become more prevalent. Willows 

often colonize where point bars form (at the margins of, or within, the river channel). Riparian species often 

intergrade with coniferous forest at or near the river’s upper banks (NPS 1997a; Sawyer et al. 2009).
General Characteristics of Flooding in the Area

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-5

Although 100-year floodplains have not been mapped in this area, it is assumed that the Merced Lake High 

Sierra Camp is located within the existing floodplain.

Segment 2: Yosemite Valley

Yosemite Valley has a well-developed, relatively wide floodplain that is confined by steep valley walls. The 

Merced River in Yosemite Valley has a relatively mild slope, with an average of 0.1%. In the middle reach of 

the river in Yosemite Valley, downstream of Clark’s Bridge to the El Capitan moraine, the river flows 

through a shallow channel approximately 100 to 300 feet wide. 

Riparian areas in Yosemite Valley are characterized by broadleaf deciduous trees, such as white alder (Alnus 

rhombifolia), black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa), big-leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), white fir, and 

willow species. Riparian areas within Yosemite Valley are rich in species diversity and structure. Riparian 

vegetation is regularly disturbed by the deposition and removal of soil and the force of floodwaters. Plants 

in this zone colonize newly formed river-edge deposits readily. The distribution of riparian communities 

varies with soil saturation and frequency of disturbance. For example, big-leaf maple riparian forests grow 

on moist gravelly soils in protected spots on alluvial soils bordering streams, whereas sandbar willow 

woodlands occur on point and mid-channel bars that are washed over annually by spring floods (NPS 

1994). In Yosemite Valley, the character of the floodplain varies in different locations due to local hydraulic 

controls. From Clark’s Bridge to Housekeeping Camp in the east Valley, the river floods areas outside the main 

channel with shallow swift flows that cut across meander bends. Near Yosemite Lodge and downstream to the 

El Capitan moraine, flood waters back up against the dense vegetation and tend to be deep, low velocity, and 

low energy. From the El Capitan moraine downstream, the river channel is steeper and confined in the narrow 

river canyon, the floodplain is narrow, and flow velocities are high.

In 1879, large boulders were blasted to deepen and widen the river gap through the El Capitan moraine, 

which lowered the base level of the Merced River by 4 to 5 feet (Milestone 1978). As a result, the extent and 

frequency of flooding in the upstream meadows was reduced, possibly leading to drier conditions and the 

loss of historic wetlands. 

Regular flooding and subsequent deposition of alluvial sediments have been instrumental in the formation 

of Yosemite Valley. Flooding continues to support a variety of natural processes in Yosemite Valley, such as 

deposition of flood-borne sediment; channel avulsion (i.e., abandonment of an old river channel and the 

creation of a new one); and the development of complex channel patterns and valuable riparian and 

wetland habitat. The largest document events occurred in 1937, 1950, 1955, and 1997, with peak discharges 

measured in the range of 22,000 to 25,000 cubic feet per second at Pohono Bridge. These floods were the 

result of rain-on-snow events. Several large undocumented events also occurred during the 1860s and 

1870s. 

The January 1997 flood was the largest recorded flood within the park with a peak discharge of 10,000 cubic 

feet per second at Happy Isles and 25,000 cubic feet per second at Pohono Bridge (Eagan 1998). The flood 

inundated roads, picnic areas, park offices, and lodging units. It caused extensive damage to NPS facilities, 

including roads, bridges, buildings, and Yosemite Valley’s electric, water, and sewer systems. The flood also 

altered natural features and caused downed trees, movement of landslide talus into streams, channel erosion, 

and substantial changes in channel morphology (NPS 1997b). This flood was estimated to have a recurrence 

interval of 90 years (NPS 1997b), or about a 1.1% chance of occurring in any given year.
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-6 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

The deposition and removal of soil and the force of flood waters in Segment 2 regularly disturb riparian 

vegetation. The park has historically cleared large wood from the Merced River to improve flow (to reduce 

flooding hazard), prevent bank erosion that might compromise park infrastructure, for visitor safety, to 

remove hazards to commercial rafting, and for aesthetic reasons. Since 1993, it has been park policy to allow 

large wood in the Merced River to remain, sometimes with some manipulation in its placement, unless it 

causes a serious safety concern or threatens infrastructure. 

Facilities located within the 100-year floodplain within this segment include (generally moving from east to 

west) portions of the Upper Pines Campground area including a recreational vehicle dump station, a portion 

of Lower Pines Campground including four restrooms, most of North Pines Campground including four 

restrooms and a lift station, a portion of Backpackers Campground, and most of the Curry Stables and the 49 

associated employee housing units and community kitchen. Additionally, most of the Housekeeping Camp 

area including lodging units, showerhouses and restrooms, grocery store, and other structures, the Lower 

River Amphitheatre, the proposed Upper and Lower River Campgrounds, and the Yosemite Village Day-use 

Parking Area are located in the 100-year floodplain. The Lower Tecoya Dormitories A, B, C, D, E, F and the 

Laundry Building, in addition to two Concessioner apartment buildings and associated garages and sheds, 

eight single-family residences, the Concessioner General Office, the Concessioner Garage, the Volunteer Fire 

Station, Lost and Found, security buildings are all in the 100-year floodplain. In the vicinity of the Yosemite 

Lodge area, structures within the 100-year floodplain include Superintendent’s House (Residence 1) and 

Garage, theYosemite Creek sewage lift station, groundwater wells near Yosemite Creek, and four lodging 

buildings at the Yosemite Lodge in addition to three housing buildings near Yosemite Lodge (Thousands 

Cabins). In West Yosemite Valley, the Swinging Bridge Picnic Area, the Sentinel Beach Picnic Area, the Yellow 

Pine Administrative Campground, the Cathedral Beach Picnic Area, and the gaging station near Pohono Bridge

are in the 100-year floodplain. 

Over the past two decades, the National Park Service has implemented numerous efforts to restore the 

underlying natural processes that sustain Yosemite Valley riparian habitats. These efforts include, invasive 

plant eradication, fencing off sensitive areas, and increasing inundation levels through restoration of natural 

drainage patterns. A more detailed description of past and present restoration projects is included in the 

Merced River and Riparian Vegetation Assessment (Cardno ENTRIX 2011) and the Assessment of Meadows in 

the Merced River Corridor (Ballenger et al. 2011). These efforts have been successful in improving the overall 

condition of riparian areas throughout Yosemite Valley. However, these reports also identify a number of 

persisting stressors on the Valley’s riparian ecosystems, such as roads, parking areas, structures,

campgrounds, and informal trails.

Segments 3 and 4: Merced River Gorge and El Portal 

From the location of the former Cascades Diversion Dam downstream to the Foresta Bridge and the 

western boundary of the El Portal Administrative Site, the river channel is steep and confined to a narrow 

river gorge. In this area, the floodplain is narrow and flow velocities are very high. The Merced River Gorge 

is a unique display of lower elevation habitat. It is lined with a narrow band of riparian vegetation along the 

river, bordered by a dense mosaic of chaparral and foothill woodland communities (chaparral/oak 

woodland zone) on the steep canyon walls.

The Merced River channel in El Portal can shift during large floods, including movement of large boulders 

that define the channel. One hundred-year discharge of the Merced River in El Portal is estimated to be 
General Characteristics of Flooding in the Area

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-7

32,800 cubic feet per second (PBS&J 2011). Flooding has been an important aspect of the development of 

riparian communities along the Merced River and its tributaries that intersect drier adjacent vegetation 

types of El Portal. Within this area, El Portal Road and small levees alter the floodplain by restricting flow 

during flood events and forming a barrier to channel migration. Facilities located within the 100-year 

floodplain within this segment include the embankment/levee between El Portal Market and Gas Station

and the river, Odger’s Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, the AT&T building, a water valve station, NatureBridge 

office and employee housing building, the old Wastewater Treatment Plant, portions of Abbieville/Trailer 

Village employee housing area, and the administrative parking area between Foresta Road and the Merced 

River at the National Park Service’s Warehouse and Administrative Complex. As with certain points within 

Yosemite Valley, this infrastructure has impacted floodplain habitats.

In the El Portal area, riparian sites occur along tributaries of the Merced River, on flat topographical shaded 

terraces above the river, in backwater channels, and in areas where runoff from upland sites collects in 

natural depressions. Native Oregon ash (Fraximus latifolia) trees occur in the wetter areas, as well as 

orchard components in some locations. Foothill pines and valley oaks tend to dominate the drier terraces 

adjacent to riparian sites. 

Segments 5, 6, 7, and 8: South Fork Merced River

The floodplain in Wawona along the South Fork is an elongated alluvial valley. In this area, the river 

meanders through a large floodplain meadow, and the channel can shift laterally during large floods. 

Upstream of the Big Creek confluence, the average annual flow was 174 cubic feet per second between 1958 

and 1968, as measured at the Wawona gaging station, with an estimated maximum flow of 15,000 cubic feet 

per second in December 1955. The 100-year discharge of the South Fork Merced River is estimated to be 

19,700 cubic feet per second (PBS&J 2011). 

In the portions where the gradient is gentlest, riparian vegetation (willows and alders) becomes more 

prevalent. Willows often colonize sandbars that are deposited at the margins of or within the river channel. 

In this area, the riparian corridor resembles the riparian corridor seen along the Merced River as it flows 

through Yosemite Valley. Also found in this area is Sierra sweet bay (Myrica hartwegii), a shrub endemic to 

the Sierra Nevada. In Yosemite National Park, Sierra sweet bay is found at the average high water line of the 

South Fork Merced River downstream from Wawona and along Big Creek (NPS 2012). The NPS (2002) 

considers Sierra sweet bay a sensitive species, and the California Native Plant Society (CNPS Rank 4.3) 

identifies the plant as being of limited distribution. 

Facilities located within the 100-year floodplain within this segment include portions of the Pioneer 

Yosemite History Center, the Wawona Covered Bridge, South Fork Wawona Picnic Area, a portion of the 

Wawona Campground, the Yosemite Transportation Company office, utility buildings, the Ranger Station, 

and a bakery building. As with certain points within Yosemite Valley, this infrastructure has impacted 

floodplain habitats. In addition, trampling of riparian vegetation and associated erosion also occurs in this 

area, resulting from use in the vicinity of the Wawona Store and Gas Station area and the Wawona 

Campground.
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-8 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

FINAL PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE 

The Final Merced River Plan/ EIS includes an evaluation of six alternatives including five action alternatives, 

each of which would implement a series of management actions within the Merced Wild and Scenic River 

corridor. Each action alternative addresses issues relevant to protection and enhancement of river values, 

user capacity management, and land use and facilities. Alternative 5: Enhanced Visitor Experience and 

Essential Riverbank Restoration has been identified as the Preferred Alternative. This alternative is 

characterized by restoring riparian areas within 100 feet of the ordinary high water mark. To improve 

geologic and hydrologic conditions, Alternative 5 includes the potential removal of Sugar Pine Bridge and 

reestablishing channel complexity in East Yosemite Valley. Alternative 5 includes restoration of 189 acres 

within the river corridor, including removing existing campsites within 100-feet of the ordinary highwater 

mark, Housekeeping Camp lodging units within the ordinary high water mark, informal trails in meadows 

and wetland areas, and roadside parking adjacent to meadows. In terms of recreation, limited private 

boating would be allowed by permit on river stretches within all segments. Under Alternative 5, peak daily 

visitation within Yosemite Valley would be slightly reduced (20,100) as compared to peak visitation at 

present (20,900). Additional temporary and overflow parking areas would be located in Abbieville/Trailer 

Village in El Portal to alleviate traffic congestion on busy peak summer days. 

Existing Structures Proposed in the Floodplain

The NPS Director's Order 77-2 and Procedural Manual 77-2 consider the evaluation of actions that may be 

grouped into the following three categories: 

• Class I Actions – include administrative, residential, warehouse and maintenance buildings, and 

nonexempted (overnight) parking lots

• Class II Actions – those that would create “an added disastrous dimension to the flood event.” Class 

II actions include schools, clinics, emergency services, fuel storage facilities, large sewage treatment 

plants, and structures such as museums that store irreplaceable records and artifacts.

• Class III Actions – Class I or Class II Actions that are located in high hazard areas such as those 

subject to flash flooding.

The regulatory floodplain for Class I actions is the 100-year floodplain. The following existing structures 

proposed in the study area’s regulatory floodplain constitute Class I Actions: 

• Housekeeping Camp; Backpackers, Upper River, Lower River, Lower Pines, and North Pines 

campgrounds; portions of Ahwahnee Row and Tecoya housing area, the Concessioner General 

Office and Garage, select Yosemite Lodge buildings, and associated infrastructure. 

The following existing structures located in the study area’s regulatory floodplain constitute Class II 

Actions:

• Odger’s Fuel Storage Facility (main tanks are outside of the 500-year floodplain, other facilities with 

less than 40,000 gallon per day capacity are located within the 500-year floodplain), El Portal Gas 

Station, and the El Portal Wastewater Treatment Plant (500-year floodplain). 

There are no Class III actions in the study area. 
Final Preferred Alternative

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-9

Proposed Actions

Under the final Preferred Alternative, the following actions would be located within floodplains and would 

either have a net beneficial impact on floodplains, or would not affect floodplain function. Therefore, the

following actions are not discussed further within this document: 

• Removal of conifer seedlings and saplings from meadows

• Reinstitution of low intensity/high frequency fire as an ecological process

• Installation of logjams and large wood management

• Placement of large wood (including large trees with root wads) between Ahwahnee and Stoneman 

bridges which would increase roughness in the river as well as channel complexity

• Establishing a riparian buffer that includes a restriction on new development or redevelopment of 

existing facilities within 150 feet of the ordinary high water mark 

• Meadow restoration at Ahwahnee, El Capitan, Leidig, Cooks, Slaughterhouse, Bridalveil, and 

Stoneman meadows

Under the final Preferred Alternative, the following facilities would be removed from the floodplain. 

Removal of these existing structures from the floodplain represents a net beneficial impact. Therefore, 

removal of these facilities is not discussed further within this document: 

• NPS Volunteer Office

• Concessioner General Office and Concessioner Garage

• 34 units from within the ordinary high water mark at Housekeeping Camp

• Abandoned infrastructure such as remnant pavement associated with the former Upper and Lower 

River Campgrounds

• Campsites within 100 feet of the ordinary high water mark at Backpacker’s Camp, Lower Pines, and 

North Pines Campgrounds

• Possible removal of Sugar Pine Bridge and the associated road berm; alternatively, additional 

placement of large wood and logjams would be deployed. Determination of removal versus other 

mitigation would be made by a separate study of river hydrology in the vicinity of Sugar Pine 

Bridge.

• Imported rock/concrete/asphalt/soil at Greenemeyer sandpit

• Superintendent’s House (Residence 1) and Garage

• Housing units at the Yosemite Lodge

• Odger’s Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. This facility is presently in use and provides important storage 

and distribution capacity for fuel within the area. The existing tanks are located outside of the 

floodplain, while remaining facilities are located within the 500-year floodplain. The facility would 

be removed from the floodplain.

• Old Wastewater Treatment Plant in El Portal

Under the final Preferred Alternative, the following facilities would remain or could be placed in the 

floodplain. Rationale for leaving these facilities within the floodplain, associated risk, and proposed 

mitigation or management strategies for these facilities are discussed subsequently: 
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-10 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

• Merced River above Nevada Fall: 

− Merced Lake High Sierra Camp 

• Yosemite Valley:

− Ahwahnee Row Houses

− Tecoya Dorms and other Concessioner Housing in the vicinity of Indian Creek 

(apartments and single-family residences) 

− Yosemite Lodge area facilities including overnight units and associated parking, laundry 

building, lost and found, the security building, and the Concessioner Valley Fire House, 

Yosemite Creek Sewage Lift Station, groundwater wells near Yosemite Creek, four lodging 

buildings at Yosemite Lodge, in addition to three housing buildings near Yosemite Lodge 

(Thousand Cabins), and the Yosemite Chapel

− Housekeeping Camp, with 232 units, shower houses, restrooms, grocery store, and laundry 

facilities; Yosemite Valley Campgrounds including North Pines, Backpackers, portions of 

Lower Pines, Upper Pines, and Yellow Pines Administrative Campgrounds, plus new 

camping facilities (30 walk-in and 2 group camp sites) at Upper and Lower River 

Campgrounds and near Upper Pines Campground

− Concessioner Stable 

− Yosemite Village Day-Use Parking Area and Rerouting of Northside Drive to south of the 

Yosemite Village Day-Use Parking Area

− Lower River Amphitheater

− West Valley picnic areas

− Gaging Station near Pohono Bridge

• Merced River Gorge and El Portal: 

− Facilities near Old El Portal including the AT&T Building, NatureBridge office and 

employee housing, and a water valve station

− El Portal Market building 

− El Portal Gas Station

− Administrative parking area between Foresta Road and the Merced River at the National 

Park Service’s Warehouse and Administrative Complex

− Embankment/levee between El Portal Market and Gas Station and the river

− Portions of Abbieville/Trailer Village employee housing area

• South Fork Merced River: 

− Yosemite transportation Company office

− Historic facilities including the Wawona Covered Bridge and portions of the Pioneer 

Yosemite History Center

− Utility buildings

− Ranger Station

− Bakery building

− Portions of the Wawona Campground and the South Fork Wawona Picnic Area
Rationale for Continued Use of the Floodplain

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-11

RATIONALE FOR CONTINUED USE OF THE FLOODPLAIN 

To the extent practicable and appropriate, the Preferred Alternative includes the removal of existing 

facilities to outside of the 100-year floodplain, and does not propose to place new facilities in the floodplain 

that would interfere with floodplain function or that would cause or exacerbate flood related hazards. 

However, NPS was not able to develop a feasible alternative that involved removal of all existing facilities 

from the 100-year floodplain. Key constraints that prevent the removal of additional facilities from the 

100-year floodplain center on a lack of available land area that is not located in a floodplain or rockfall 

hazard zone. The following provides additional information and details regarding existing development that 

would remain in the floodplain with implementation of the final Preferred Alternative.

Existing and Proposed Development that would Remain or be Located in the 

Floodplain in the Preferred Alternative

Merced River above Nevada Fall

High Sierra Camp Reduction to 11 Units. Removal of existing facilities would result in a net benefit to 

floodplains, and beneficial effects are not discussed further. Remaining facilities (11 units) are presumed to 

be located within the 100-year floodplain based on their proximity to the river, although floodplains have 

not been delineated. The remaining facilities would not be removed because they provide a unique 

experience to visitors within the area. 

Yosemite Valley

Ahwahnee Row Houses. These houses would not be removed because they are important contributing 

elements to the Yosemite Valley cultural landscape, are contributors to the Yosemite Village Historic 

District, and their removal or demolition would result in an adverse effect on this historic resource. 

Therefore, these facilities would not be removed. 

Tecoya Dorms and Other Concessioner Housing in the Vicinity of Indian Creek (apartments and 

single-family residences). The Tecoya dorms are a part of the National Register listed Yosemite Valley

Historic District, and their removal or demolition, as well as that of concessioner housing, would result in 

an adverse effect to this historic resource. Therefore, these facilities would not be removed. 

Yosemite Lodge Area Facilities including overnight units, parking, laundry building, lost and found, 

security building, Yosemite Creek Sewage Lift Station, groundwater wells near Yosemite Creek, four 

lodging buildings at Yosemite Lodge, three housing buildings near Yosemite Lodge (Thousand 

Cabins), and Yosemite Chapel. These buildings facilities within the Yosemite Lodge complex and the day 

use parking lot are located within the 100-year floodplain. These would not be removed under the Preferred 

Alternative. Existing facilities that are located within the floodplain are adjacent to areas that are above or 

outside of the floodplain, including most of the Yosemite Lodge complex. These facilities are important 

contributing elements to the Yosemite Valley cultural landscape, provide unique experience and access for 

visitors, provide lodging and/or critical facilities services to the area, and therefore would not be removed. 

Housekeeping Camp (232 units, shower houses, restrooms, grocery store, laundry facilities). These 

units and facilities are available seasonally, and the area is closed for overnight use in the winter, when most 

high-flow winter flooding events have occurred. In the Preferred Alternative all but 34 units at 
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-12 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

Housekeeping Camp would remain in the floodplain along with other existing structures located on site, for 

a total of 232 units remaining. These facilities have a unique function within Yosemite Valley and provide a 

unique experience to visitors – opportunity for a rustic camping experience with “developed camping 

shelters” that eliminate the need to purchase a large amount of camping equipment. Also, these facilities 

would be closed during periods of high flood risk, and there would be sufficient time to evacuate visitors in 

the unlikely event that evacuation would be necessary. Therefore, these facilities would not be removed.

Yosemite Valley Campgrounds (North Pines, Backpackers, portions of Lower Pines, Upper Pines, and 

Yellow Pines Administrative Campground, plus new camping facilities (30 walk-in and 2 group camp 

sites) at Upper and Lower River Campgrounds and near Upper Pines Campground). To preserve the 

floodplain values in areas close to the river while still preserving the unique visitor experiences afforded by 

these campgrounds, existing units within these campgrounds that are located within 100 feet of the high 

water mark would be removed. However, other existing campsites that are located within the larger 

floodplain area would not be removed, and new walk-in camping opportunities would be provided at 

Upper River Campground and near Upper Pines Campground. These campgrounds are/would be closed 

during the winter, when most high flow winter or rain-on-snow flooding events have historically occurred. 

There would be sufficient time to evacuate visitors in the unlikely event that evacuation would be necessary. 

These facilities provide or would provide unique visitor experiences and would be closed during periods of 

high risk. Therefore, they would not be removed. 

Curry Stable. The concessioner stable supports commercial day rides along pack stock trails in the area, 

and also offer High Sierra Camp rides. Thus the Concessioner stable supports unique visitor experience 

including horseback access to the High Sierra Camp, as well as other portions of the park. During a potential 

flood event, the facility could be closed or readily evacuated in order to avoid potential hazards.

Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area and Rerouting of Northside Drive. These facilities would 

continue to serve as the primary day-use parking area for Yosemite Valley and serves to access Yosemite 

Village, and Northside Drive would be rerouted to provide improved service to the area. Design measures 

for these facilities would be implemented to minimize potential effects on floodplains. Maintaining the 

parking lot and rerouting Northside Drive would preserve unique visitor experiences afforded by parking 

access and enhanced vehicle access to the area. Therefore, these facilities would not be removed. 

Lower River Amphitheater. The Lower River Amphitheater supports unique visitor experience within the 

Yosemite Valley, ranging from children’s theater opportunities to weekly religious services. The 

amphitheater includes bench seating and a limited stage area. Maintaining the facility would preserve these 

and other unique visitor experiences associated with the facility, and the facility could be evacuated quickly 

in the event of a potential flood event. Therefore, the amphitheater would not be removed.

West Valley Picnic Areas. Picnic areas in Yosemite Valley, including the western valley, including the 

Swinging Beach Picnic Area the Sentinel Beach Picnic Area, and the Cathedral Beach Picnic Area support 

visitor access to these areas, affording scenic views and encounter with these unique natural areas. These 

picnic areas present minimal obstruction to flood flows, and would either be closed during seasonal 

flooding periods, or could be easily evacuated in the event of a flood event. Therefore, these facilities would 

not be removed.

Guaging Station near Pohono Bridge. The existing gaging station supports measurement and monitoring 

of river levels in this area. Due to the nature of the facility, which collects data on river stage, the facility 
Rationale for Continued Use of the Floodplain

must be located within the floodplain in order to collect the needed data. Therefore, this facility would not 

be removed.

Merced River Gorge and El Portal 

Facilities near Old El Portal (AT&T Building, NatureBridge office and employee housing, water valve 

station). These facilities are presently in use. NatureBridge is an official park partner, and helps the NPS to 

achieve its mission, while AT&T provides communications support services. Additionally, the NatureBridge 

facility is on the list of classified structures and is an important cultural resource. The existing water valve 

station is critical to the function of existing infrastructure within the area. As an unmanned station, the 

facility does not represent a substantial risk to humans. The indicated buildings would continue to be 

utilized by employees, but could be easily and rapidly evacuated in the event of a potential flood. Therefore, 

these facilities would not be removed from the floodplain.

El Portal Market Building. This facility is presently in use and provide key services within the El Portal 

area. The facility would continue to be used by employees and visitors. However, because it is located in 

close proximity to the edge of the 100-year floodplain, it could be evacuated easily in the event of a potential 

flood. This facility would not be removed from the floodplain. 

El Portal Gas Station. This facility is presently in use and provides important refueling capacity within the 

area, and support visitor use within the park and area. The facility would not be removed from the 

floodplain.

Administrative Parking Area (between Foresta Road and the Merced River at the National Park 

Service’s Warehouse and Administrative Complex). This existing parking structure provides parking 

facilities in support of adjacent buildings and services, and is currently in use by the National Park Service. 

In the event of a potential flood, this area could be evacuated easily and rapidly. The facility would not be 

removed from the floodplain.

Temporary El Portal Special Park Uses Trailers. These facilities are considered temporary until uses can 

be redesignated to other areas or facilities. In the interim, the trailers remain in use and in support of Park 

services. In the event of a potential flood, the facilities could be easily evacuated. These facilities would not 

be removed from the floodplain.

Embankment/Levee between El Portal Market and Gas Station and the Merced River. This existing 

embankment provides partial control of high water flows in this area. While the facility does not effectively 

protect against 100-year flooding, it does provide some degree of protection during lesser potential flood 

events. The facility is unmanned. This facility provides critical support to adjacent infrastructure, and would 

not be removed.

Portions of the Abbieville/Trailer Village Employee Housing Area. The Abbieville/Trailer Village 

housing area is currently in use in support of staff. As noted, only portions of the area are located within the 

floodplain, and the margin of the floodplain is located in close proximity to these areas. Therefore, affected 

areas could be easily evacuated in the event of a potential flood. These facilities would not be removed.

South Fork Merced River

Yosemite Transportation Company Office. This facility is currently in use and supports operations and 

management of transportation services and transportation infrastructure within the Park. The facility is 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-13
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-14 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

located in close proximity to the margin of the floodplain, and could be easily evacuated in the event of a 

potential flood. Therefore, the facility would not be removed from the floodplain.

Historic Facilities (Wawona Covered Bridge, portions of the Pioneer Yosemite History Center). These 

facilities would not be removed because they are important contributing elements to the Yosemite Valley 

cultural landscape. Their removal or demolition would result in an adverse effect on historic resources. 

Therefore, these facilities would not be removed.

Utility Buildings. The existing utility buildings are critical to the function of existing infrastructure within 

the area. Unmanned, potential flooding of the facilities does not represent a substantial risk to humans. 

Therefore, the facility would not be removed from the floodplain.

Ranger Station and Bakery Building. These facilities are currently in use and provide useful or required 

services within the area. They are located in relatively close proximity to the margin of the floodplain, and 

could be easily evacuated in the event of a potential flood. Therefore, these facilities would not be removed 

from the floodplain. 

Wawona Campground and the South Fork Wawona Picnic Area. Portions of these areas are located 

within the floodplain. These facilities result in only minor to minimal interference with potential flood 

flows, are currently in use, could be easily evacuated or closed in the event of a potential flood, and afford 

unique camping and picnicking experiences in the Wawona area. These facilities would not be removed 

from the floodplain.

DESCRIPTION OF SITE-SPECIFIC FLOOD RISK

Merced River above Nevada Fall

Floods of consequence along the Merced River above Nevada Fall, including Little Yosemite Valley and the 

upper canyon, always occur with some warning, although flood conditions may occur more immediately 

than in the Yosemite Valley downstream. Risks to humans can typically be mitigated by warning and 

evacuation. 

High Sierra Camp Reduction to 11 Units. Remaining units would presumably be subject to periodic 

inundation during 100-year flood events. During a major flood event, these units could become inundated 

with floodwaters. This could interfere with human access and use of the facilities, and could cause 

potentially hazardous conditions for humans related to potential risk of inundation. With respect to natural 

resource values, continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would result in continued minor 

disruptions to flood flows and floodplain hydrology during flood events. With respect to investment values, 

continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would result in periodic inundation of the camp 

facilities during intermittent flood events. Flooding of sufficient depth could damage existing facilities and 

result in minor and intermittent additional maintenance requirements to repair flood damage. 

Yosemite Valley

In Yosemite Valley, the character of flooding varies in different locations because of local hydraulic 

controls. From Clark’s Bridge to Housekeeping Camp in the east Valley, the Merced River floods areas 

outside the main river channel with shallow, swift flows that cut across meander bends. Near Yosemite
Description of Site-Specific Flood Risk

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-15

Lodge and downstream to the El Capitan moraine, flood waters back up against the moraine and dense 

vegetation. Flood waters in this area are of low velocity and significant depths. At Housekeeping Camp, 

velocities are relatively higher with lower depths. 

The historic discharge in the river, measured at the Pohono Bridge gaging station, has ranged from a high of 

about 25,000 cubic feet per second to a low of less than 10 cubic feet per second. The mean daily discharge 

rate is about 600 cubic feet per second. The following discussion provides information about potential risks 

of continued floodplain use for each of the facilities that would remain within the floodplain.

Ahwahnee Row Houses. Flooding within Yosemite Valley including in the area of the Ahwahnee Row 

Houses requires a prolonged period of intense rain for at least 24 hours to create flood conditions. During a 

major flood event, the Ahwahnee Row Houses could become inundated with floodwaters. This could 

interfere with human access and use of the facilities, and could cause potentially hazardous conditions for 

humans related to potential risk of inundation. With respect to natural resource values, continued presence 

of the facilities within the floodplain would result in continued minor disruptions to flood flows and 

floodplain hydrology during flood events. With respect to investment values, continued presence of the 

facilities within the floodplain would result in periodic inundation of the row houses during intermittent 

flood events. Flooding of sufficient depth could damage existing facilities and result in minor and 

intermittent additional maintenance requirements to repair flood damage. 

Tecoya Dorms and Other/Concessioner Housing in the Vicinity of Indian Creek (apartments and 

single-family residences). As discussed previously, flooding within Yosemite Valley including in this area 

requires a prolonged period of intense rain for at least 24 hours to create flood conditions. During a major 

flood event, these facilities could become inundated with floodwaters. This could interfere with human 

access and use of the facilities, and could cause potentially hazardous conditions for humans related to 

potential risk of inundation. With respect to natural resource values, continued presence of the facilities 

within the floodplain would result in continued minor disruptions to flood flows and floodplain hydrology 

during flood events. With respect to investment values, continued presence of the facilities within the 

floodplain would result in periodic inundation of the housing during intermittent flood events. Flooding of 

sufficient depth could damage existing facilities and result in minor and intermittent additional maintenance 

requirements to repair flood damage.

Yosemite Lodge Area Facilities including overnight units, parking, laundry building, lost and found, 

security building, Yosemite Creek Sewage Lift Station, groundwater wells near Yosemite Creek, four 

lodging buildings at Yosemite Lodge, three housing buildings near Yosemite Lodge (Thousand 

Cabins), and Yosemite Chapel. As discussed previously, flooding within Yosemite Valley including in the 

area of Yosemite Lodge requires a prolonged period of intense rain for at least 24 hours to create flood 

conditions. Also, these existing facilities that are located within the floodplain are located close to the edge 

of the 100-year floodplain. Therefore, water depth during a 100-year flood event is expected to be relatively 

shallow. Inundation could interfere with human access and use of the facilities, and could cause potentially 

hazardous conditions for humans related to potential risk of inundation. However, given the nature of 

flooding in the Yosemite Valley, which has a relatively slow onset with sufficient time for warning and 

evacuation, it is anticipated that evacuation of these facilities could be completed easily. With respect to 

natural resource values, continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would result in continued 

minor disruptions to flood flows and floodplain hydrology during flood events. With respect to investment 

values, continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would result in periodic inundation of the 
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-16 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

facilities during intermittent flood events. Flooding of sufficient depth could damage existing facilities and 

result in minor and intermittent additional maintenance requirements to repair flood damage.

Housekeeping Camp (232 units, shower houses, restrooms, grocery store, laundry facilities). Facilities 

at housekeeping camp are available seasonally, and are closed for overnight use during the winter, the 

period when most major precipitation based flooding events occur. When flooding within Yosemite Valley 

does occur, it requires a prolonged period of intense rain for at least 24 hours to create flood conditions, 

which provides sufficient time for evacuation. During a major flood event, these facilities could become 

inundated with floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human access and use of the facilities, and 

could cause potentially hazardous conditions for humans related to potential risk of inundation. However, 

risk of interference with human activities is limited due to winter period closure of Housekeeping Camp. 

With respect to natural resource values, continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would 

result in continued minor disruptions to flood flows and floodplain hydrology during flood events. With 

respect to investment values, continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would result in 

periodic inundation of the grounds during intermittent flood events. Flooding of sufficient depth or velocity 

could damage existing facilities and result in minor and intermittent additional maintenance requirements 

to repair flood damage.

Yosemite Valley Campgrounds (North Pines, Backpackers, portions of Lower Pines, Upper Pines, and 

Yellow Pine Administrative Campground, plus new camping facilities (30 walk-in and 2 group camp 

sites) at Upper and Lower River Campgrounds and near Upper Pines Campground). Facilities at other 

campgrounds that are or would be located within the floodplain are closed for overnight use during the 

winter, the period when most major precipitation based flooding events occur. When flooding within 

Yosemite Valley does occur, it requires a prolonged period of intense rain for at least 24 hours to create 

flood conditions, which provides sufficient time for evacuation. During a major flood event, these facilities 

could become inundated with floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human access and use of the 

facilities, and could cause potentially hazardous conditions for humans due to potential risk of inundation. 

However, risk of interference with human activities is limited due to winter period closure of the 

campgrounds. With respect to natural resource values, continued presence of the facilities within the 

floodplain would result in continued minor disruptions to flood flows and floodplain hydrology during 

flood events. With respect to investment values, continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain 

would result in periodic inundation of the campgrounds during intermittent flood events. Flooding of 

sufficient depth or velocity could damage existing facilities and result in minor and intermittent additional 

maintenance requirements to repair flood damage. 

Curry Stable. Flooding events are most likely to occur within this area during the winter, wherein flooding 

requires a prolonged period of intense rain for at least 24 hours to create flood conditions. This provides 

sufficient time for evacuation of the area. During a major flood event, these facilities could become 

inundated with floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human access and use of the facilities, and 

could cause potentially hazardous conditions for humans due to potential risk of inundation. Additionally, 

potential flood events would require evacuation of any animals located at the facilities, if present. It is 

anticipated that sufficient time would be available in order to enable evacuation of humans and animals in 

the event of a potential flood. With respect to natural resource values, the existing stables would interfere 

somewhat with flood flows, but would not be anticipated to result in a substantial backup of water or 

constriction of the floodway, such that major deleterious effects would be generated during a flood event. 
Description of Site-Specific Flood Risk

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-17

During a flood event, the facilities could sustain damage, depending upon the depth of flooding, thereby 

requiring additional maintenance and upkeep following a flood event.

Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area and Rerouting of Northside Drive. Flooding events are most 

likely to occur within this area during the winter, wherein flooding requires a prolonged period of intense 

rain for at least 24 hours to create flood conditions. This provides sufficient time for evacuation of the area.

During a major flood event, these facilities could become inundated with floodwaters. Inundation could 

interfere with human access and use of the facilities, and could cause potentially hazardous conditions for 

humans due to potential risk of inundation. With respect to natural resource values, the parking lot and 

roadway would be reconstructed so as to minimize interference with floodplains, and would not include the 

construction of any major buildings or other facilities that would interfere with flood flows. Additionally, 

the parking area would be designed to handle periodic inundation, thereby minimizing erosion and other 

potential damage to parking facilities that could otherwise occur as a result of flooding. 

Lower River Amphitheater, Upper River Campground, and Lower River Campground. Flooding 

events are most likely to occur within this area during the winter, wherein flooding requires a prolonged 

period of intense rain for at least 24 hours to create flood conditions. While visitors and staff would utilize 

this facility, use would be transitory, due to the nature of the facility. This, combined with a relatively 

extended period of warning for flooding in the area provides sufficient time for evacuation of the area. 

During a major flood event, these facilities could become inundated with floodwaters. Inundation could 

interfere with human access and use of the facilities, and could cause potentially hazardous conditions for 

humans due to potential risk of inundation. However, such risks would be avoided by evacuation. With 

respect to natural resource values, the existing facilities would interfere only minimally with flood flows, 

and would not result in a major construction or interference. During a flood event, the facilities could 

sustain minimal damage, depending upon the depth of flooding, thereby requiring additional maintenance 

and upkeep following a flood event.

West Valley Picnic Areas. Similar to other areas of the Yosemite Valley, flooding events are most likely to 

occur within this area during the winter, wherein flooding requires a prolonged period of intense rain for at 

least 24 hours to create flood conditions. Picnic areas are used for short periods by Park visitors. Therefore, 

along with a relatively extended period of warning for flooding in the area, it is anticipated that sufficient 

time for evacuation of the area would be available in the event of a potential flood. During a major flood 

event, these facilities could become inundated with floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human 

access and use of the facilities, and could cause potentially hazardous conditions for humans due to 

potential risk of inundation. However, risks to humans would be avoided by evacuation. With respect to 

natural resource values, the existing facilities would interfere somewhat with flood flows, but would not be 

anticipated to result in a substantial backup of water or constriction of the floodway, such that major 

deleterious effects would be generated during a flood event. During a flood event, the facilities could sustain 

minimal to minor damage, depending upon the depth of flooding, thereby requiring additional maintenance 

and upkeep following a flood event.

Guaging Station near Pohono Bridge. Flooding in this area would occur in a manner that is similar to the 

other facilities noted above – primarily during winter flood events. The gaging station is small in extent and 

does not present a major interference with natural flood flows. Additionally, the facility is unmanned and 

would not require evacuation. During a flood event, it is anticipated that the facility would sustain only 

minimal potential damage as a result of flooding. 
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-18 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

Merced River Gorge and El Portal

The El Portal area is located in an extremely high energy, bedrock-controlled reach with little high 

floodplain suitable for development. Due to high flood velocities, infrastructure and developments must be 

located above flood levels or be massively armored. Evacuation of flood-prone areas should be mandatory 

during flood events of any appreciable size.

Facilities near Old El Portal (AT&T Building, NatureBridge office and employee housing, water valve 

station), as well as the El Portal Market Building and the El Portal Gas Station. These facilities are 

subject to year-round use, and are located near the margin of the floodplain. Therefore, flood water depths 

within these areas are expected to be minor to moderate, with areas suitable for evacuation located within a 

few hundred feet or less. During a major flood event, these facilities could become inundated with 

floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human access and use of the facilities, and could cause 

potentially hazardous conditions for humans due to potential risk of inundation. However, it is anticipated 

that sufficient warning would be available to enable evacuation. With respect to natural resource values, 

continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would result in continued minor disruptions to 

flood flows and floodplain hydrology during major flood events. With respect to investment values, 

continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would result in periodic inundation of the facilities 

during intermittent flood events. Flooding of sufficient depth or velocity could damage existing facilities, 

while floating debris could result in damage to structures and facilities. Flood flows in this area are generally 

anticipated to be faster-moving than within the Yosemite Valley, which could exacerbate potential for 

damage to buildings and facilities, while floating debris could result in damage to structures and facilities. 

Damage would require maintenance and repair once flood flows recede. 

Administrative Parking Area (between Foresta Road and the Merced River at the National Park 

Service’s Warehouse and Administrative Complex). The parking area is subject to year-round use, and is 

located near the margin of the floodplain. Similar to other facilities in this area, suitable evacuation areas are 

located within a few hundred feet of the facility. During a major flood event, the parking lot could become 

inundated with floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human access and use of the area, and could 

cause potentially hazardous conditions for humans due to potential risk of inundation. However, it is 

anticipated that sufficient warning would be available to enable evacuation. With respect to natural resource 

values, continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would minimally interfere with flood flows 

and floodplain hydrology during major flood events. With respect to investment values, continued presence 

of the facilities within the floodplain could result in periodic inundation of the lot during intermittent flood 

events. However, only minimal damage is anticipated to result from such events. 

Embankment/Levee between El Portal Market and Gas Station and the Merced River. This 

unoccupied facility is subject to inundation during major flood events. Hazardous conditions for humans 

are not anticipated as a result of flooding of the embankment. In the event of a major flood event with fast 

moving waters, the facility could sustain minor to moderate damage due to erosive forces. With respect to 

natural resource values, the embankment would continue to interfere with natural flood flows along the 

river, resulting in a continued deleterious effect on floodplain processes. With respect to investment values, 

the facility could sustain damage during a flood event, which would require maintenance and repair 

following the event. However, the facility also provides partial protection to nearby buildings, including the 

gas station and store, and its presence is likely to reduce potential damage to those buildings, especially 

during flood events that are smaller than 100-year events. 
Description of Site-Specific Flood Risk

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-19

Abbieville/Trailer Village Employee Housing Area. Portions of this area are subject to flooding during a 

100-year event, as noted previously. These facilities are located near the margin of the floodplain. Similar to 

other facilities in this area, suitable evacuation areas are located within a few hundred feet of the facilities, 

and it is anticipated that the facilities would be evacuated in advance of an anticipated flood. During a major 

flood event, housing areas as well as limited areas of parking and RV campsites could become inundated 

with floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human access and use of the area, and could cause 

potentially hazardous conditions for humans due to potential risk of inundation. However, it is anticipated 

that sufficient warning would be available to enable evacuation. Additionally, if flood waters are sufficiently 

high and fast moving, the facilities could potentially sustain flood damage. With respect to natural resource 

values, continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would interfere with flood flows and 

floodplain hydrology during major flood events, but would not cause major disruptions or constrictions of 

natural flood flows. Parking areas would not interfere with flood flows. With respect to investment values, 

continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain could result in periodic inundation and damage to 

the housing areas during flood events, This could result in need for minor to extensive repairs following 

each flood event.

South Fork Merced River

Floods of consequence in Wawona along the South Fork always occur with some warning. It takes a 

prolonged period of intense rain for at least 24 hours to create flood conditions. Risks to humans can 

typically be mitigated by warning and evacuation. 

Historic Facilities (Wawona Covered Bridge, portions of the Pioneer Yosemite History Center). These

facilities are subject to year-round use. Like other facilities at Wawona, these historic facilities are located 

within several hundred feet of the margin of the floodplain. Areas suitable for evacuation are located in 

adjacent areas, just outside of the floodplain. During a major flood event, these facilities could become 

inundated or partially inundated with floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human access and use of 

the facilities, and could cause potentially hazardous conditions for humans due to potential risk of 

inundation. However, the facilities would be evacuated in the event of a potential or anticipated flood, 

thereby avoiding effects on humans. With respect to natural resource values, continued presence of the 

facilities within the floodplain would result in continued minor to moderate disruptions to flood flows and 

floodplain hydrology during major flood events. With respect to investment values, continued presence of 

the facilities within the floodplain would result in periodic inundation of the facilities during intermittent 

flood events. Flooding of sufficient depth or velocity could damage existing facilities, while floating debris 

could result in damage to structures and facilities, requiring additional repair and maintenance.

Yosemite Transportation Company Office. The Transportation Company Office is subject to year-round 

use. The facility is located within several hundred feet of the margin of the floodplain. Areas suitable for 

evacuation are located in Wawona, just outside of the floodplain. During a major flood event, these facilities 

could become inundated with floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human access and use of the

facilities, and could cause potentially hazardous conditions for humans due to potential risk of inundation. 

With respect to natural resource values, continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would 

result in continued minor disruptions to flood flows and floodplain hydrology during major flood events. 

With respect to investment values, continued presence of the facilities within the floodplain would result in 

periodic inundation of the facilities during intermittent flood events. Flooding of sufficient depth or velocity 
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-20 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

could damage existing facilities, while floating debris could result in damage to structures and facilities, 

requiring additional repair and maintenance. 

Utility Buildings. These facilities could become inundated during a major flood event. Direct consequences 

to humans would be minimal, because the facilities are unmanned, and would not require evacuation. With 

respect to natural resource values, continued presence of the buildings within the floodplain would result in 

continued minor disruptions to flood flows and floodplain hydrology during major flood events. With 

respect to investment values, continued presence of the utility buildings within the floodplain would result 

in periodic inundation of the facilities during intermittent flood events. Flooding of sufficient depth or 

velocity could damage existing facilities, while floating debris could result in damage to structures and 

facilities, requiring additional repair and maintenance. 

Ranger Station and Bakery Building. The ranger station and bakery building are subject to year-round 

use, and are located within several hundred feet of the margin of the floodplain. Areas suitable for 

evacuation are located in adjacent parts of Wawona, just outside of the floodplain. During a major flood 

event, these facilities could become inundated with floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human 

access and use of the facilities, and could cause potentially hazardous conditions for humans due to 

potential risk of inundation. However, the facilities would be evacuated in the event of a potential or 

anticipated flood, thereby avoiding such risks. With respect to natural resource values, continued presence 

of the buildings within the floodplain would result in continued minor disruptions to flood flows and 

floodplain hydrology during major flood events. With respect to investment values, continued presence of 

the facilities within the floodplain would result in periodic inundation of the facilities during intermittent 

flood events. Flooding of sufficient depth or velocity could damage existing facilities, while floating debris 

could result in damage to structures and facilities, requiring additional repair and maintenance. 

Wawona Campground and the South Fork Wawona Picnic Area. Like other facilities noted for Wawona 

that would remain in the floodplain, the campground and picnic area are located in close proximity to the 

floodplain margin. Therefore, suitable evacuation areas are located within several hundred feet of these 

facilities. During a major flood event, the campground and picnic area could become inundated with 

floodwaters. Inundation could interfere with human access and use of the facilities, and could cause 

potentially hazardous conditions for humans due to potential risk of inundation. However, the facilities 

would be evacuated in the event of a potential or anticipated flood, thereby avoiding such risks. With 

respect to natural resource values, the existing campgrounds and picnic areas are expected to cause only 

very minimal interference with flood flows and floodplain hydrology, and would not substantially interfere 

with or redirect flood flows. With respect to investment values, continued presence of the campground and 

picnic area within the floodplain would result in periodic inundation of the facilities during intermittent 

flood events. Flooding of sufficient depth or velocity could cause minor damage existing facilities, requiring 

additional repair and maintenance. 

DESIGN OR MODIFICATIONS TO MINIMIZE HARM TO FLOODPLAIN 

VALUES OR RISKS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY

General Mitigation

The design of all new structures or substantial improvements to existing structures would incorporate 

requirements and methods for minimizing flood damage, as contained in the National Flood Insurance 
Design or Modifications to Minimize Harm to Floodplain 

Values or Risks to Life and Property

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-21

Program “Floodplain Management Criteria for Flood-Prone Areas” (CFR 44, 60.3) and in accordance with 

any local, county, or state requirements for flood-prone areas. Furthermore, park staff would maintain an 

active flood evacuation plan. The plan details responsibilities of individual park employees for advanced 

preparedness measures; removing or securing park property; records and utility systems; monitoring 

communication; and conducting rescue and salvage operations. New roadways and traffic circles would be 

designed so as to minimize interference with floodplains by avoiding areas within floodplains, to the extent 

practicable, and by adhering to NPS, local, county, and state requirements for the construction of roadways 

within floodplains. Thus, impacts on the site’s resources would be minimized and avoided. The proposed 

floodplain related facilities upgrades that would occur under the Preferred Alternative (discussed above) 

would also support reduced flood risk and reduced potential for inundation of facilities during flood events, 

as compared to the No Action Alternative. 

Site-Specific Mitigation – No Subsequent Statement of Findings Necessary

Merced River above Nevada Fall: High Sierra Camp Reduction to 11 Units.

• Plans would be made for timely and safe evacuation of people the remaining units in times of rising 

water. These areas would be evacuated prior to major storm events that could potentially produce 

flooding, based on ongoing monitoring within the Park. Therefore, risks to humans would be 

mitigated by monitoring of storm or potential storm conditions, warning, and evacuation as 

warranted. 

• In order to minimize potential damage to facilities located within the floodplain, prior to an 

anticipated flood event, removable facilities that could be damaged by flooding would be removed 

and stored outside of the floodplain. 

• No mitigation is available to offset the potential minor effects of these facilities on floodplain 

hydrology during flooding events; however, associated effects would be minor.

Yosemite Valley: Ahwahnee Row Houses, Tecoya Dorms, Yosemite Lodge and parking, Housekeeping 

Camp Lodging Units, and Other Campgrounds (North Pines, Backpackers, Lower Pines, Yellow Pine

Administrative Campground, Lower River Campground, and Upper River Campground), Yosemite Chapel, 

and theYosemite Village Day-use Parking Area

• Plans would be made for timely and safe evacuation of people from the Ahwahnee Row houses, 

Tecoya Dorm/Ahwahnee Row Housing, Yosemite Lodge, Housekeeping Camp, affected 

campgrounds, and other affected facilities in times of rising water. These areas would be evacuated 

prior to or during the early phases of major storm events that could potentially produce flooding, 

based on ongoing monitoring within the Park. Therefore, risks to humans would be mitigated by 

monitoring of storm or potential storm conditions, warning, and evacuation as warranted. Given 

that flooding within Yosemite Valley occurs with at least 24 hours of warning, these facilities could 

be easily evacuated in the event of an anticipated flood.

• In order to minimize potential damage to facilities located within the floodplain, prior to an 

anticipated flood event, removable facilities that could be damaged by flooding would be removed 

and stored outside of the floodplain. 

• No mitigation is available to offset the potential minor effects of these facilities on floodplain 

hydrology during flooding events; however, associated effects would be minor.

Merced River Gorge and El Portal Watershed: Water valve station, El Portal Market building, Nature Bridge

buildings, El Portal gas station. 
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-22 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

• Plans would be made for timely and safe evacuation of people from the El Portal Market building 

the Nature Bridge buildings, the fuel storage facility, and gas station. The pump station is 

unmanned, and therefore evacuation of the pump station would not be required. These areas 

would be evacuated prior to or during the early phases of major storm events that could potentially 

produce flooding within the area, based on ongoing monitoring within the Park. Therefore, risks to 

humans would be mitigated by monitoring of storm or potential storm conditions, warning, and 

evacuation as warranted. Evacuation would be facilitated by the very close proximity of roadways 

and other facilities that are located outside of the floodplain. Thus, these facilities could be easily 

evacuated in the event of an anticipated flood.

• In order to minimize potential damage to facilities located within the floodplain, prior to an 

anticipated flood event, any removable facilities that could be damaged by flooding would be 

removed and stored outside of the floodplain. Minor and localized armoring may also be installed 

so as to minimize potential damage from debris and floodwaters. Residual flood damage would 

require intermittent minor repairs to the affected facilities. 

• No mitigation is available to offset the potential minor effects of these facilities on floodplain 

hydrology during flooding events; however, associated effects would be minor

South Fork Merced River: Yosemite Transportation Company office, two cabins, historic jail, utility 

buildings, Ranger Station, RV/Parking, and a bakery building

• Plans would be made for timely and safe evacuation of people from these facilities in times of rising 

water. These areas would be evacuated prior to or during the early phases of major storm events 

that could potentially produce flooding, based on ongoing monitoring within the Park. Therefore, 

risks to humans would be mitigated by monitoring of storm or potential storm conditions, warning, 

and evacuation as warranted. Given that flooding within the vicinity of Wawona occurs with at 

least 24 hours of warning, and that areas suitable for evacuation are located in the adjacent areas of 

Wawona, these facilities could be easily evacuated in the event of an anticipated flood.

• In order to minimize potential damage to facilities located within the floodplain, prior to an 

anticipated flood event, any removable facilities that could be damaged by flooding would be 

removed and stored outside of the floodplain. Minor and localized armoring may be also installed 

so as to minimize potential damage from debris and floodwaters. Residual flood damage would 

require intermittent minor repairs to the affected facilities. 

• No mitigation is available to offset the potential minor effects of these facilities on floodplain 

hydrology during flooding events; however, associated effects would be minor.

Site-Specific Mitigation – Subsequent Statement of Findings Necessary

None Warranted

CONCLUSION

The Preferred Alternative would substantially reduce potentially hazardous conditions associated with 

flooding by removing existing campground sites within 100-feet of the ordinary high water mark. Facilities 

that would be removed from highly flood-prone areas include lodging units at Housekeeping Camp, 

abandoned infrastructure at Upper and Lower River Campgrounds, and removal of campsites at 

Backpackers Camp, Lower Pines, and North Pines Campground. The Preferred Alternative would also 

prohibit new development within 150 feet of the ordinary high water mark of the Merced River. The 

Preferred Alternative would also involve removal of housing units at the Yosemite Lodge which are 

currently located within the floodplain. Removal of these facilities from the vicinity of the ordinary high 
Conclusion

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS D-23

water mark and/or the floodplain would reduce existing effects of these facilities on floodplain hydrology, 

and would support increased safety and reduced flood related hazards for park employees and visitors.

The Preferred Alternative would also include removal and mitigation of existing obstructions along the 

river, possibly including Odger’s Bulk Fuel Storage Facility, and the Old Wastewater Treatment Plant in El 

Portal. Sugar Pine Bridge would be removed contingent on the results of a separate hydrologic study, which 

would evaluate the extent to which the bridge affects river flows under existing conditions. If the bridge is 

determined to exceed a certain threshold, it would be removed. Otherwise, large wood (including large 

trees with root wads) would be deployed upstream and in the vicinity of the bridge, in order to offset the 

hydrologic effects of the existing bridge. If the bridge is removed, channel complexity would be 

substantially improved in Yosemite Valley and thereby lessen existing floodplain effects of other existing 

bridges. These changes would also support minimization of existing floodplain and flooding effects along 

the Merced River. If the bridge is not removed, iinstallation of logs and logjams along the Merced River 

could result in minor increases in flooding in select localized areas; however, such effects are anticipated to 

be minimal and locally beneficial. 

The National Park Service has determined that the following structures must remain within the regulatory 

floodplain (no practicable alternatives to this action): Merced River above Nevada Fall: High Sierra Camp; 

Yosemite Valley: Ahwahnee Row and Tecoya Dorms, Yosemite Lodge facilities and parking areas that are 

located within the floodplain, Yosemite Chapel, Housekeeping Camp, and campgrounds including North 

Pines, Backpackers, Lower Pines Yellow Pine Administrative Campground, Lower River Campground, 

Upper River Campground, Yosemite Chapel, and Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area; Merced River 

Gorge and El Portal Watershed: water valve station, El Portal Market building, and Nature Bridge buildings; 

South Fork Merced River: Yosemite Transportation Company office, two cabins, historic jail, utility 

buildings, Ranger Station, RV/parking, and a bakery building. These facilities are not within areas subject to 

frequent flooding, and with the early warning system and evacuation plan in use, the risk to human safety 

would be minimized.

The National Park Service concludes that the Preferred Alternative would reduce the impacts of potentially 

hazardous conditions associated with flooding in the study area. Implementation of the proposed actions 

along with compliance with regulations and policies to prevent impacts to floodplain values and loss of 

property or human life would be strictly adhered to during and after the construction. Individual permits 

with other federal and cooperating state and local agencies would be obtained prior to construction 

activities. No long-term adverse impacts would occur from the proposed actions. Therefore, the National 

Park Service finds the Preferred Alternative to be acceptable under Executive Order 11988 for the 

protection of floodplains.
APPENDIX D 

FLOODPLAIN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS

D-24 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

REFERENCES

Ballenger, L., K. Wilkin, L. Acree, J. Baccei, T. Whittaker, and E. Babich

2011 2010 Assessment of Meadows in the Merced River Corridor, Yosemite National Park. 

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

Cardno ENTRIX

2011 Merced River and Riparian Vegetation Assessment. Prepared by Cardno ENTRIX for 

Yosemite National Park, National Park Service.

Eagan, S. M. 

1998 Modeling Floods in Yosemite Valley, California Using Hydrologic Engineering Center’s 

River Analysis System. Master’s Thesis, University of California, Davis. 

Sawyer, J.O., T. Keeler-Wolf, and J.M. Evans

2009 A Manual of California Vegetation. 2nd Edition.

Madej, M. A., W. Weaver, and D. Hagans 

1994 Analysis of Bank Erosion on the Merced River, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, 

California, USA. Environmental Management 18(2): 235-250. 

Milestone, James F. 

1978 The Influence of Modern Man on the Stream System of Yosemite Valley. MA Thesis, 

San Francisco State University. 

National Park Service

1991 “Analysis of bank erosion on the Merced River, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park.” 

Unpublished National Park Service report. National Park Service files, Yosemite National 

Park, CA.

1994 The Plant Communities of Yosemite Valley – A Map and Descriptive Key. Technical Report 

NPS/WRUC/NRTR 94-01 by Lisa Acree. Davis, CA: CNPSU/NPS.

1997a Vegetation Management Plan, Yosemite National Park, June. 

1997b EFRO Report, Yosemite National Park, Highwater 97, April.

2002 “Sensitive Plants of Yosemite National Park.” Available online at 

http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/upload/veg_sensitive-sm.pdf.

2003 Director’s Order #77-2: Floodplain Management. September 8, 2003.

2004 NPS Procedural Manual 77-2: Floodplain Management. February 5, 2004.

2012 Merced Wild and Scenic River Values Draft Baseline Conditions Report. National Park 

Service files, Yosemite National Park, CA.

PBS&J 

2011 Floodplain Modeling Report Floodplain Mapping of the Merced River in Wawona and El 

Portal Yosemite National Park, California
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATON

ACTIONS WITHIN THE MERCED RIVER 

WILD AND SCENIC RIVER CORRIDOR

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction............................................................................................................................................. E-1

The Need for Ecological Restoration........................................................................................................ E-2

Overarching Goal .................................................................................................................................... E-3

Ecological Restoration Goals .................................................................................................................. E-3

Ecological Restoration Actions Common to Alternatives 2-6 .............................................................. E-4

Actions Across All River Segments........................................................................................................... E-5

Actions by Segment................................................................................................................................ E-6

Additional Ecological Restoration Actions for Each Action Alternative ........................................... E-18

Alternative 2......................................................................................................................................... E-20

Alternative 3......................................................................................................................................... E-24

Alternative 4......................................................................................................................................... E-26

Alternative 5......................................................................................................................................... E-29

Alternative 6......................................................................................................................................... E-31

Best Management Practices: Tools and Techniques ........................................................................... E-33

Mitigations........................................................................................................................................... E-33

Restoration Work in Wilderness............................................................................................................ E-33

Fencing................................................................................................................................................. E-33

Asphalt Removal................................................................................................................................... E-34

Fill Removal & Recontouring ................................................................................................................. E-34

Soil Decompaction................................................................................................................................ E-34

Riprap Removal..................................................................................................................................... E-35

Bioengineering Techniques................................................................................................................... E-35

Revegetation Methods.......................................................................................................................... E-36

Large Wood Incorporation.................................................................................................................... E-36

Opportunistic Large Woody Debris Addition through Hazard Tree Mitigation........................................ E-37

Constructed Log Jams........................................................................................................................... E-37

Boardwalks........................................................................................................................................... E-37

References.............................................................................................................................................. E-38

Maps....................................................................................................................................................... E-39

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Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-1 

APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS WITHIN THE MERCED RIVER 

WILD AND SCENIC RIVER CORRIDOR 

INTRODUCTION

This appendix presents ecological restoration actions in greater detail than described in Chapter 8: 

Alternatives. It provides a description of sites recommended for ecological restoration. The following 

restoration actions protect and enhance the biological, hydrologic/geologic and cultural Outstandingly 

Remarkable Values (ORVs) as well as free-flowing condition and water quality, collectively referred to as 

River Values in the Merced River Plan. The Scenic ORVs are addressed in a separate appendix on scenic 

vista management actions (Appendix H). A detailed map series showing the locations and types of 

restoration actions proposed are provided as part of this appendix. Chapter 5 of the Merced River Plan 

describes these River Values and provides background information pertaining to the justification for the 

work described in this appendix. 

The Biological ORV actions cover meadow and riparian habitat. These habitats are sites of exceptional 

ecological importance and occupy the ecotone between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems (Mitsch and 

Gosselink 2007). These habitats are integral to a healthy riverine ecosystem and are connected to the river 

through the active floodplain. When the floodplain becomes inundated during spring snow melt, soils 

become saturated, nutrients are redistributed and wetland and riparian plants adapted to this dynamic 

environment thrive. The wide range of hydrologic conditions in this zone leads to diverse plant 

communities that provide food and shelter for wildlife along the river. Although riparian and meadow 

ecosystems occupy relatively little land area in Yosemite National Park, they comprise the most biologically 

diverse areas and are priorities for ecological restoration (Hall 1997). While highly productive and diverse, 

riparian and aquatic systems (including meadows) are the most impacted areas in the Sierra Nevada (SNEP 

1996) and declining spatial extent and condition of riparian and wet meadow ecosystems is occurring 

throughout California at an alarming rate (SNEP 1996). 

The Hydrologic/Geologic ORV actions describe ways of protecting and enhancing the meandering alluvial 

river system. Due to systematic removal of large wood from the channel, loss of riparian vegetation and 

subsequent bank erosion caused by visitor use, portions of the Merced River channel lack complexity and 

have become wider and shallower than would naturally occur in an alluvial system. This alters the 

connectivity of the river to the floodplain, sediment transport dynamics and the meadows and riparian 

communities that occupy these areas. The actions in this plan call for the restoration of the integral large 

wood component of the alluvial system, and for comprehensive riverbank restoration. 

The free-flowing condition actions describe the removal of impoundments, diversions, riprap or other 

modifications of the waterway, as well as the associated revegetation work. Impoundments, diversions, or 

rip rap may not always be removed, because they are necessary to retain important infrastructure. In such 

instances, this appendix outlines a strategy for improving the river channel complexity. 

The water quality actions describe ways to reduce the amount of sediment and chemicals potentially reaching 

the river. While water quality is considered excellent in Yosemite‘s portion of the Merced River, protective 

measures would only enhance the Park‘s ability to maintain this high standard of quality. Protective measures 
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-2 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

may include reducing the amount of sediment that enters the river from erosion stemming from formal and 

informal trails and campsites, and removing parking in close proximity to the river. 

The Cultural ORV actions include actions to protect and enhance both cultural and ethnographic resources. 

While seemingly natural to most, the landscape of Yosemite Valley is shaped by both natural and cultural 

processes. Many of the meadow and riparian species comprising the ethnographic resources are important in 

the history and ongoing cultural traditions of traditionally associated American Indian tribes and groups. 

While natural hydrologic processes have shaped the meadow complexes of the Merced River, cultural 

processes including American Indian burning to promote hunting and gathering have shaped the plant 

communities. Vista clearing to maintain views of Yosemite‘s iconic scenery of Yosemite Valley have 

contributed to the landscape as well. The International Primer on Ecological Restoration (SER 2004) 

acknowledges the conundrum that can take place on a landscape where natural and cultural processes have 

shaped the landscape, stating that – “...cultural landscapes or ecosystems have developed under the joint 

influence of natural processes and human-imposed organization.” These systems are interconnected and 

interrelated. Therefore, a suite of interconnected actions that address both ecological and cultural landscape 

processes are presented in this appendix.

Actions to protect archeological sites are also addressed as important tangible resources reflecting 

thousands of years of cultural connections to the Merced River landscape. Archeological resources are 

non-renewable, and once they are gone, they are lost forever. While they cannot be restored, they can often 

be protected and their condition stabilized through certain management actions, such as removing informal 

and formal trails, campsites, rock rings and graffiti from within the site boundary. Through these means, the 

interconnected landscape of cultural and natural resources can continue to form touchstones for placebased human history. 

The Need for Ecological Restoration

The actions described in this plan are, at times, difficult to tease apart with regard to which river value they 

protect and enhance. For example, removal of riprap and subsequent revegetation would benefit freeflowing condition, water quality, biological, hydrologic/geologic and cultural river values. As described 

above, both natural and cultural resources are integral to the ecosystem processes that now exist on the 

landscape. 

Ecological restoration is the process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been damaged or 

destroyed, as an intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem with respect to 

its health, integrity and sustainability (SER 2004). The overarching goal of ecological restoration is not to 

return to a particular point in time but rather to restore ecosystem processes, structure, and composition 

(Falk et al. 2006). 

Ecological restoration actions involve restoring hydrological processes and the reintroduction of fire back 

into the ecosystem, where possible (Madej et al. 1991, Cooper and Wolf 2008). In the river corridor, 

particularly in Yosemite Valley, the need for ecological restoration is apparent due to impacts to meadow 

function (fragmentation, trampling, and conifer encroachment), decreased meadow size, reduction in the 

health of California black oak communities, and loss of riparian habitat due to disruptions in both 

hydrological processes and cultural processes such as the cessation of burning by American Indians. These 

natural and cultural processes have been hindered by water diversions (such as ditches), channelization 

(bridges and riprap), road and bridge building, roadside parking, removal of large wood from the river 
Overarching Goal

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-3 

channel, trampling of riverbanks and meadows, introduction of invasive plants and limited opportunities to 

reintroduce fire on the landscape. These actions have led to changes in hydrologic regime, channelization, 

river widening, decreased vegetation structural complexity and diversity, a reduction in the extent of 

meadows, and reduction in habitat quality. 

Both passive and active ecological restoration actions to restore these natural and cultural processes are 

identified in the appendix. Passive restoration actions include fencing and signing sensitive areas. They are 

intended to halt human impacts and allow natural processes to repair damage. Active restoration actions 

include brush layering, revegetation, prescribed burning, removal of abandoned infrastructure, strategic 

placement of large wood, road removal, and removal of formal and informal trails in sensitive areas. These 

actions are intended to stabilize riverbanks, accelerate ecosystem recovery and promote diversity of meadow 

and riparian habitats, the health of ethnographic resources, and reduction in conifer encroachment in 

meadows.

OVERARCHING GOAL

Promote the ability of the Merced River to shape the landscape by reducing impediments (as defined by the Wild 

and Scenic Rivers Act) to free flow, improving geologic/hydrologic processes, restoring floodplains and meadows, 

and protecting water quality.

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION GOALS

Ecological restoration addresses the National Park Service mission to allow natural processes to prevail, as 

well as protecting scenery and historic resources (NPS Management Policies 2006); it also addresses the 

goals of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by enhancing river free-flow, water quality and physical and 

ecological outstandingly remarkable values. Ecological restoration actions in riparian, riverine, and meadow 

habitats enhance the open, scenic quality which provides a sense of place for reflection and inspiration. 

In addition to the overarching goal noted above, the following are specific restoration goals of the Merced 

River Plan: 

• Restore hydrologic function and connectivity with the floodplain including meadow and wetland 

habitats. 

• Restore overbank flooding frequency by narrowing widened river channel 

• Repair eroded riverbanks, restore riparian plant communities and prevent further human-caused, 

erosion-induced widening. 

• Improve hydrologic conditions at bridges during peak flow periods 

• Increase channel complexity by increasing the amount of large wood in the river channel 

• Restore and protect the ecological processes that support riparian and meadow communities 

including naturally high-groundwater levels and sheet flow. 

• Remove impediments to natural hydrology including ditches, berms, and abandoned roadbeds in 

order to protect and maintain native plant communities. 

• Restore and maintain the function, structure, diversity and productivity of native riparian and 

meadow plant communities to protect species diversity, ethnobotanical resources and wildlife 

habitat. 
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-4 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

• Protect and enhance the scenic ORV

• Mitigate impacts to archeological resources

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS COMMON TO ALTERNATIVES 2-6 

Multiple actions would be implemented under all alternatives to restore, protect and enhance 

hydrological/geological processes, free-flowing condition, water quality, and biological river values. 

Riparian Buffer – A 150-foot riparian buffer, measured from the ordinary high water mark, would be 

established for all new or redevelopment, corridorwide. This riparian buffer will filter runoff, reduce the 

magnitude and velocity of overland flow, trap sediment, and attenuate compounds such as nitrogen and 

phosphorous and pathogens. It will help to stabilize riverbanks through provision of root cohesion on 

banks and floodplains, reduce erosion, and allow surface water to infiltrate the soil. The riparian buffer 

vegetation will provide a source of large wood to the river and adjacent floodplain, which will dissipate river 

flow energy and regulate channel form. In terms of habitat, the riparian buffer will enhance important 

habitat for wildlife by allowing establishment of new vegetation and persistence of a complex habitat 

structure. The buffer will also protect aquatic ecosystems by providing organic nutrients, by supplying 

woody debris that will improve habitat complexity, and by moderating water temperatures by vegetative 

shading of the river. This riparian buffer will protect and enhance river values, and function as a setback for 

all future development in the corridor.

Rip rap removal and large wood management – Throughout the corridor, eroded riverbanks would be 

repaired through restoration and vulnerable riverbanks and riparian vegetation would be protected from 

trampling. Visitors would be directed to use resilient riverbanks such as low-angle sandbar beaches. The 

majority of riprap in Yosemite Valley would be removed to enhance free-flowing condition, natural 

hydrologic processes and to improve riparian habitat. The large wood management policy would be 

enforced and large wood would be left in the channel or incorporated into riverbanks as part of restoration 

to increase channel complexity and improve aquatic habitat. Please refer to Yosemite Directive # 31: Large 

Wood Management in the Merced Wild and Scenic River, for additional detail.

Fire and Invasive Plant Management – Prescribed burning, conifer seedling removal and invasive plant 

removal are on-going activities occurring in the corridor that have already been analyzed in other planning 

documents. Prescribed burning for resource benefits would follow the Fire Management Plan. Prioritization 

of units to be burned would be developed using an interdisciplinary approach that addresses not only 

ecological restoration, but also ethnographic resource restoration or protection. Invasive plant removal 

would follow the guidelines of the Invasive Plant Management Plan. 

Meadows and Riverbanks – In all alternatives, ditches in meadows would be filled, six miles of informal 

trails in meadows and riparian areas would be removed, and abandoned underground infrastructure would 

be removed. Roadside parking along meadows and associated fill material would be removed to restore 

meadow area and protect meadows from informal trailing. All action alternatives (Alternatives 2-6) return 

ecological and cultural processes—hydrology and fire—to restore meadows and oak woodlands from 

currently conifer-dominated portions of the landscape. To improve riverbank condition, river channel 

restoration would occur in the reach between Clark’s and Sentinel bridges, including placement of 

constructed log jams (CLJs), closure of sensitive riverbanks, and brush layering. The portion of Lower Pines 

campground that was damaged by the 1997 flood and subsequently removed would be restored to a mosaic 

of riparian, meadow and oak communities which would enhance riparian and floodplain habitat. To protect 
Ecological Restoration Actions Common to Alternatives 2-6 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-5 

water quality and improve riparian habitat, the pack stock trail between the stables and Happy Isles road 

bridge would be removed and the riparian zone and restored to natural conditions. In all alternatives, 

campsites within 100 feet of the ordinary high water mark would be removed to protect and enhance 

riverbanks and the riparian zone. 

Best management practices and mitigations would be common to all action alternatives and a described in 

Appendix C.Cultural resources such as archeological sites are non-renewable therefore impacts can result 

in irretrievable loss. For this reason, most actions to protect and enhance archeological resources in the 

action alternatives of this plan do not have a range across the alternatives. 

Actions Across All River Segments

Riparian Buffer (RES-AS-005) – Protect the riparian zone from new development within 150 feet of the 

ordinary high water mark. Relocate or remove all campsites at least 100 feet away from the ordinary high 

water mark. The riparian buffer will protect water quality, hydrological processes, aquatic ecosystems, and 

riparian vegetation.

Abandoned Infrastructure (RES-AS-001) – In situations where abandoned underground infrastructure 

alters hydrology, develop case-by-case treatment strategies that ameliorate the ongoing impacts to 

hydrologic processes. This infrastructure includes remnants of abandoned sewer treatment facilities, sewer 

and water lines, and manholes. Treatment would be designed to avoid impacts to sensitive resources 

(including archeological sites) and may include removal, collapsing in place, plugging, or other measures. 

See map series at the end of this Ecological Restoration Actions Appendix, for known locations. Where 

infrastructure would be removed or relocated and restored to natural conditions, soils would be 

decompacted and recontoured, and the area revegetated with appropriate native plants. 

Informal Trails (RES-AS-002) – Six miles of informal trailing through meadows would be removed and 

restored to natural conditions. Fencing and signage would direct visitors to less sensitive areas that can 

accommodate some use without compromising meadow health. Define and delineate accepted trails with 

closure signs, fencing, and/or other natural barriers such as rocks and logs. Remove informal trails by 

decompacting soils and filling ruts with native soils. Revegetate areas of denuded vegetation with appropriate 

native plants. 

Conifer Encroachment (RES-AS-003) – Manually or mechanically remove conifer seedlings and saplings 

from meadows and under oaks within the river corridor with loppers, handsaws, or mowers. 

Restore eroded riverbanks (RES-AS-004) – Revegetate areas devoid of vegetation with appropriate native 

plants. Protect re-vegetated areas using closure signs, fencing, and/or other natural barriers such as rocks 

and logs as deterrents. Stabilize eroded riverbanks using bio-engineering techniques such as brush layering 

of willow cuttings. 

Vulnerable riverbanks (RES-AS-006) – Direct visitor use along the river to stable and resilient access 

points such as sandy beaches and low-angle slopes through delineated trails, signs, campground maps and 

brochures; establish fencing and signage to protect sensitive areas. Areas susceptible to erosion—steep 

riverbanks, and high use areas exhibiting vegetation and soil loss from compaction—would be closed and 

restored using bioengineering and revegetation techniques. 

Bridges and associated revetments (RES-AS-008) – Install constructed log jams, and utilize bioengineered 

stabilization on riprap to improve hydrologic function, reduce bank erosion, and improve riverine habitat.
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

Strategically placed log jams diffuse and direct high velocity flows, a property that makes them a valuable 

tool to mitigate altered flow regimes around bridges. Log jams, unlike traditional rock revetment 

reintroduces habitat complexity within the channel by creating additional bars and scour holes, and by 

providing cover for aquatic organisms When used in conjunction with a wood retention policy and 

riverbank revegetation, log jams form part of a comprehensive restoration and mitigation strategy designed 

to improve the hydrologic function of the Merced River.

Revetments (RES-AS-009) – Remove riprap where possible to restore natural river processes. Replace 

riprap with native riparian vegetation, using bioengineering techniques if riverbank stabilization is still 

necessary for infrastructure protection. 

Large wood (RES-AS-010) – Manage large wood according to a management policy, Yosemite Directive # 31: 

Large Wood Management in the Merced Wild and Scenic River, leaving large wood that does not compromise 

visitor safety or infrastructure. Incorporate large wood into riverbanks to provide structure for highly eroded 

riverbanks and increase habitat quality. In developed areas where standing hazard trees must be removed for 

safety, rather than cutting and removing these trees, fall them into the river. Add constructed log jams in 

severely widened river reaches. 

Trails through sensitive habitat (NO CODE) – Re-route trails out of sensitive habitats or install 

boardwalks through wetlands. New trail routes should avoid wetlands and special status habitat. 

Actions by Segment

Segment 1

Special status plants: trail impacts (RES-1-004) – Relocate sections of trail through wetlands in Echo 

Valley and mineral spring outflow between Merced Lake and Washburn Lake to less sensitive areas. 

Re-surface the wet sections of the Mist trail to avoid trail widening. Prevent trail creep along the John Muir 

Trail using fencing and boardwalks. Hand tools will be used by trail and restoration crews during the late 

summer and fall and work will occur for up to eight weeks. 

Triple Peak Fork: braided trail through meadows (RES-1-005) – Reroute the trail to upland area where 

possible Hand tools will be used by trail and restoration crews during the late summer and fall and work will 

occur for up to eight weeks. 

Merced Lake Shore Meadow: informal trails (RES-1-003) – Remove informal trails, decompact soils, fill 

ruts with native soils, and revegetate denuded areas with native plants Hand tools will be used by trail and 

restoration crews during the late summer and fall and work will occur for up to eight weeks.

Segment 2

Ditching in Meadows (RES-2-001) – Fill 2,155' of ditches not serving current operational needs using 

adjacent berm material or pond and plug techniques. (see map series at the end of this Ecological Restoration 

Actions Appendix for precise locations). A mini excavator, skid steer, dozer, dump truck, and loader would 

be used when water table is low, in the fall season. Work would last up to 8 weeks.

Road improvements over meadows (RES-2-017) – Mitigate effects of roads on meadow hydrology with 

culverts or other engineered solutions that allow unimpeded groundwater flow. Use wide box culverts or 

E-6 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Ecological Restoration Actions Common to Alternatives 2-6 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-7 

other design components such as rolling dips, permeable subgrade, etc. to improve surface water flow. 

Examples include Southside Drive through Sentinel Meadow and Northside Drive through Cook‘s and 

El Capitan Meadows. Work would occur any time after peak flow when the area is not flooded. Heavy 

equipment including a skid steer, excavator, loader, and dump truck and would take an estimated 6 weeks. 

Informal trails (RES-2-012): Remove and restore six miles of informal trailing through meadows to natural 

conditions (Figure 1; Restoration Map Series). Use fencing and signage to direct traffic to less sensitive areas 

that can accommodate some use without compromising meadow health. Define and delineate accepted 

trails with closure signs, fencing, and/or other natural barriers such as rocks and logs. Remove informal 

trails by decompacting soils and filling ruts with native soils. Revegetate areas of denuded vegetation with 

appropriate native plants. Work would occur for up to 6 weeks in the summer and fall.

Figure 1: The park has successfully removed networks of informal trailing in meadows. In this example 

before (left) and after (right) restoration of Stoneman Meadow, high visitor use was mitigated by 

adding fencing to direct people to a new boardwalk, which allowed access to the meadow without 

the associated impacts.

Valley Meadows: Conifer Encroachment, loss of meadow extent (RES-2-002) – Improve condition of 

plant communities at specific locations in Yosemite Valley (targeted 67 potential acres) by restoring the 

mosaic of meadow, riparian deciduous vegetation, black oak, and open mixed conifer forest. Management 

actions may include re-vegetation, prescribed fire, mechanical removal of conifers, and re-design of 

infrastructure. These actions will enhance scenic vistas and maintain the cultural landscape, as well as 

enhance the condition of the Merced River ecosystem by sustaining the diverse mosaic of interconnected 

plant communities.

Revetments (RES-AS-007) – There are currently 15,589 feet of riprap along the bed and banks of the 

Merced River. Some riprap is needed to stabilize banks around critical infrastructure and would be retained. 

The riprap needed to stabilize infrastructure varies by alternative and what infrastructure is being retained. 

Under all action alternatives (2-6,) 3,400 feet of riprap would be removed and revegetated with riparian 

species where needed. An additional 2,300 feet would be removed but replaced with bioengineered 

riverbank stabilization (see Restoration Map Series for precise locations). In Alternative 2, an additional

964 feet would be removed. In Alternatives 3 and 4, an additional 435 feet would be removed. In Alternative 

5 and 6, an additional 348 feet would be removed and replaced with bioengineering. Riprap removal and 

associated restoration would occur in late summer or fall during low flow. Heavy equipment including a 

skid steer, excavator, loader, and dump truck and would take an estimated 16 weeks.
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-8 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Leidig Meadow: Bike Path (RES-2-015) – Replace a 1,000 foot section of paved trail that passes through 

the ordinary high water mark. Heavy equipment (excavator, skid steer, loader, dump truck) would remove 

asphalt path, fill material, and any plant salvage needed. Work would be done in late summer or fall for 

approximately six weeks. 

Valley Loop Trail: delineation and river access (RES-2-029) – Reconstruct trail and designate river 

access, such as at Housekeeping Camp, Sentinel Beach, Cathedral Beach, Swinging Bridge, in the southwest 

area of the former River's Campground, and South of Slaughterhouse Meadow. Re-establish the Valley 

Loop Trail at Curry Village where it ends. Work would occur in summer or fall. Heavy equipment including 

a skid steer, excavator, loader, and dump truck and would take an estimated 4 weeks.

Roadbridge at Happy Isles: free flowing condition (RES-2-058) – Place large wood in the channel and 

riverbank to lessen the scouring from the bridge. Use brush layering and place a constructed log jam. Heavy 

equipment including a skid steer, excavator, loader, and dump truck. Work would be done in late summer 

or fall for approximately six weeks. 

Sentinel Bridge: free flowing condition (RES-2-059) – Place large wood in the channel and riverbank to 

lessen the scouring from the bridge. Use brush layering and place a constructed log jam. Work would be 

done in late summer or fall for approximately six weeks. Heavy equipment including a skid steer, excavator, 

loader, and dump truck would be used during late summer and fall. 

Swinging Bridge: free flowing condition (RES-2-060) – Place large wood in the channel and riverbank to 

lessen the scouring from the bridge. Use brush layering and place a constructed log jam. Work would occur 

in late summer and fall and last 3 weeks. Heavy equipment including a skid steer, excavator, loader, and 

dump truck would be used during late summer and fall. 

Superintendent's Bridge, footbidge, and associated revetments (RES-2-160) – Install constructed log 

jams, and utilize bio-constructed stabilization on riprap to improve hydrologic function. Work would be 

done in late summer or fall for approximately six weeks. Heavy equipment including a skid steer, excavator, 

loader, and dump truck would be used during late summer and fall. 

Clark's Bridge: free flowing condition (RES-2-

054) – Place large wood to lessen the scouring 

from the bridge. Use brush layering of willows to 

stabilize banks and place a constructed log jam in 

the area. Heavy equipment including a skid steer, 

excavator, loader, and dump truck would be used 

and would take an estimated 6 weeks during the 

late summer or fall. 

Pack stock trail from concessioner stables to 

Happy Isles (RES-2-143) – Remove 3,800 feet of 

pack stock trail proximate to the riverbank. 

Remove residual asphalt and other fill material 

with an excavator and skid steer, decompact 

hardened surfaces, recontour surfaces and plant 

riparian vegetation where needed (Figure 2). 

Work would occur any time after peak flow when 

the area is not flooded. Heavy equipment 

Figure 2: Stock trail in Happy Isles reach passes through 

riparian habitat. Its hardened surface affects natural 

hydrologic processes by preventing sediment transport and 

capture.
Ecological Restoration Actions Common to Alternatives 2-6 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-9 

including a skid steer, excavator, loader, and dump truck and would take an estimated 6 weeks, and 

revegetation would require an additional two weeks.

River channel at Lower and North Pines campgrounds – Repair eroded riverbanks at Lower and North 

Pines campgrounds with bioengineering techniques such as brush layering (Figure 3). Allow vegetation to 

accrete sediment to rebuild the banks. The erosion at North Pines campground is farther advanced and 

continuous. In such cases, plant willows further out into the river channel than currently established 

vegetation using a hydro drill. This project would be implemented in the fall during low flow conditions 

with duration of up to six weeks. Excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used during late 

summer and fall.

Figure 3: Divot caused by river access at Lower Pines Campground where the riverbank is highly 

vulnerable to erosion at (left). Active restoration by brush layering will stabilize the riverbank, capture 

sediment to rebuild the bank over time and improve riparian habitat.

Lower Pine Loop within the bed and banks (ONA-2-007) – Remove Lower Pine Loop between sites 60 

and 62, because it is within the bed and banks of the river. Work would occur any time after peak flow and 

when the area is not flooded. Revegetation would occur in late summer or fall and take 2 weeks. Heavy 

equipment including a skid steer, excavator, loader, and dump truck would be used during late summer and 

fall. 

River reach between Clark’s and Sentinel Bridges: highly impacted riverbanks (RES-2-062) – To 

address river widening and low channel complexity, build eight constructed log jams (CLJs) in the channel 

between Clark‘s and Sentinel Bridges. Locations of CLJs are shown in the map series for this appendix. Logs 

would be gathered locally including naturally fallen or salvaged hazard trees when available. Coniferous 

trees with exposed roots along the bank in proximity to the log jam may be pushed over into the river to be 

incorporated in the constructed log jam. These trees with the root ball still attached at the bank would help 

to anchor the log jam to the bank. Burying ends of logs into the bank would also be used to anchor the log 

jam. Localized riverbank erosion would be repaired through brush layering and revegetation of the bank.

Heavy equipment such as excavator, dozer, loader, and skid steer would be used to place and secure large 

wood. Work would occur in the fall during low flow and last for up to twelve weeks. Heavy equipment 

would access the riverbank from nearby roads, paved bike paths, and former campgrounds with already 

compacted soils and would not pass through wetlands. 

Swinging Bridge River Access (RES-2-155) – Remove river access upstream, river-right of Swinging 

Bridge. Add fencing along bike trail to connect to bridge and revegetate 2,000 square feet of denuded area 
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-10 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

with riparian species and native grasses. Direct visitor use to a large sandbar directly downstream of the 

bridge (Figure 4). Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. 

Work would take place in late summer or fall for 4 weeks.

Figure 4: Current river access point at Swinging Bridge (left) leads to denuded riverbank. River access would 

instead be directed to the adjacent sandbar (right), which is naturally resilient to visitor use and provides a nice 

beach for visitor enjoyment.

Sentinel Beach Picnic Area (RES-2-031) – Redesign the picnic area to better manage visitor use, and 

designate the area as a formal river access point, fence off sensitive areas, re-direct use to more resilient 

areas and reestablish riparian vegetation. Crews would work for four weeks in late summer and fall. 

Indian Creek drainage (RES-2-007) – Create a buffer zone for the creek by pulling parking and residential 

yard use back 50 feet. Restore native riparian vegetation and protect with restoration fencing. Heavy 

equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would take place 

in late summer or fall for 4 weeks.

El Capitan Meadow (RES-2-009) – Reroute climber use trails on north side of road from meadow habitat 

to an appropriate upland route (a few meters to the east). Remove informal trails through meadow and oak 

woodland. Protect re-vegetated areas with fencing or other natural barriers and sign the area to reduce 

trampling of sensitive meadow vegetation. As opportunities arise through maintenance or restoration 

projects, improve hydrologic flow and meadow connectivity by extending the permeable road base across 

the entire segment of Northside Drive through El Capitan Meadow and add additional box culverts with 

bottom elevations equal to the meadow surface elevation. Remove encroaching conifer saplings (< 10 inches 

diameter at breast height) using loppers, handsaws, or mowers. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid 

steer, loader, and dump truck would be used to remove ditches and recontour natural topography. Work 

would take place in late summer or fall for 10 weeks. Other restoration treatments at El Capitan Meadow 

vary depending on alternative.

Sentinel Beach Picnic Area to El Capitan Moraine: Channel complexity (RES-2-061) – To enhance 

channel complexity in the river reach upstream of the El Capitan moraine to the Sentinel picnic area, 

localized restoration would include willow planting, brush layering, uninhibited accumulation and strategic 

placement of large wood. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would 

be used. Work would take place in late summer or fall for 4 weeks.
Ecological Restoration Actions Common to Alternatives 2-6 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-11

Stoneman Meadow (RES-2-153) – Slightly expand fenced area to protect wetlands on north end of 

meadow near Lower Pines Campground. Remove invasive non-native species and encroaching conifers. 

Remove ditch, fill with native soils, and revegetate. A mini excavator, skid steer, dump truck, and loader 

would be used when water table is low, in the fall, for eight weeks. 

Bridalveil Meadow: stream headcutting and absence of willows (RES-2-010) – Address headcuts in 

stream on west edge of meadow by planting willow cuttings in the impacted area, along riverbank, and 

adjacent meadow. Reestablish the riparian shrub layer. Manually remove encroaching conifer saplings with 

loppers, hand saws, or mowers. Restoration would require four weeks crew time, with planting occurring in 

fall when willow are heading into dormancy or prior to bud swell in the springtime. 

Cook’s Meadow roadbed: abandoned infrastructure (RES-2-011) – Remove fill of a former road bed 

north of Northside Drive between the Ranger Club and the three-way stop. Revegetate with native meadow 

species. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used.

Cook’s Meadow: Informal shoulder parking 

(RES-2-012) – Roadside parking along meadow 

(along both Northside Drive and Sentinel Drive) 

would be removed and the area restored to 

meadow conditions (Figure 5). Remove 

approximately 1,800 cubic feet of fill and 

revegetate with native seed and transplanted native 

plants. Heavy equipment including excavator, 

dozer, skid steer, loader, dozer, and dump truck 

would be used. Work would take six weeks in the 

late summer or fall. 

Leidig Meadow: Informal trailing (RES-2-013) – 

Remove informal trails that incise or fragment 

meadow habitat. Decompact soils and revegetate 

trampled areas with seed collected from local native 

meadow plants. Work would occur in late summer 

or fall over a period of six weeks and a skid steer 

may be used along with hand tools. 

Rocky Point Sewage Plant: abandoned infrastructure (RES-2-014) – Remove abandoned infrastructure 

occupying 9.5-acres at Eagle Creek Meadow. Remove remains of the abandoned Rocky Point Sewage Plant 

including a two-unit reinforced concrete Imhoff settling tank (55 feet x 78 feet) and remaining asphalt left 

from the demolition of the concrete sludge drying bed, and circular reinforced chlorinating structure. Any 

remaining utility pipes would be removed. Re-establish natural landscape contours, including the 

distribution of ephemeral stream channels. Backfill with native soil and/or rehabilitate disturbed soils and 

plant with native plant species. This is a phased project with demolition and removal of abandoned 

infrastructure taking 12 weeks, fill removal, contouring and planting four weeks. Heavy equipment would 

be used including excavator, loader, dozer, dump truck, and skid steer. Project would be implemented after 

peak flooding, in summer or fall. 

Royal Arches Meadow: abandoned infrastructure (RES-2-016) – Remove abandoned tiles, pipes and 

abandoned road. Decompact soils, remove conifers and revegetate with riparian species. Heavy equipment 

Figure 5: Roadside parking along Cook’s meadow 

encroaches on meadow. Vegetation is crushed, soils 

compacted and net area of meadows reduced. All 

alternatives eliminate informal parking along meadows.
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-12 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, dozer, and dump truck would be used. Work would last eight 

weeks in the late summer and fall. 

Sentinel Meadow: Trampling (RES-2-018) – Add a 150 foot section to the existing boardwalk in order to 

accommodate visitors and reduce meadow trampling. Substantial trampling is evident along river’s edge at 

north section of the boardwalk. Work would be accomplished in six weeks using a skid steer. 

Western portion of former Lower Pines 

Campground loop: abandoned infrastructure 

(RES-2-019) – Restore 20 acres of the former Lower 

Pines campground to natural conditions. Remove any 

remaining asphalt (Figure 6) and decompact soils of 

former roadbed and campsite footprint using an 

excavator and loader. Treat invasive plants (velvet 

grass). Manually thin conifer saplings and trees to 

allow for a mosaic of deciduous riparian species 

including alder and cottonwood. Remove tree 

stumps with an excavator and tub grinder. Restore 

channel topography using the 1919 USGS maps as a 

guide. This work would occur over 12 weeks during 

summer months using heavy equipment including: 

excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, dozer, and dump 

truck.

Devil’s Elbow: riverbank erosion (RES-2-020) – Relocate parking from Devil’s elbow to the east of the 

current parking lot, and delineate a trail to access the large sandbar to the east of the “elbow,” river right. 

Remove informal trails and restore to meadow conditions through soil decompaction and revegetation. 

Designate river access with appropriate signage. This work would occur up to 12 weeks during summer 

months using heavy equipment including: excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, dozer, and dump truck.

Eagle creek drainage: channelization (RES-2-025) – Remove berm and parking lot abutting Eagle Creek. 

Add culverts to allow more dispersed water delivery to the Eagle Creek Meadow. Revegetate with native 

upland species. Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, dozer, and dump truck 

would be used. Work would last eight weeks in the late summer and fall. 

El Capitan Bridge: River access (RES-2-026) – Redirect visitors accessing the river near El Capitan Bridge 

to sandbars. Fence and revegetate eroded areas. This would occur in the summer and/or fall seasons and 

take two weeks for crew and equipment such as the skid steer. 

Swinging Bridge: Riparian impacts (RES-2-027) – Delineate picnic area by fencing and revegetating the 

river terrace along the riparian zone approximately 50 feet from the ordinary high watermark to reduce soil 

erosion. Fence off sensitive areas and reestablish riparian vegetation. Revegetate denuded area with riparian 

species and native grasses. Remove riprap and use bioengineering techniques to rebuild riverbank. Re-direct 

visitors to access the large sandbar on the north and downstream side of Swinging Bridge and designate the 

area as the river access point. Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, dozer, and 

dump truck would be used. Work would last eight weeks in the late summer and fall. 

Valley Swinging Bridge river access (RES-2-155) – Remove river access upstream, river-right of Swinging 

Bridge. Add fencing along bike trail to connect to bridge and revegetate 2,000 square feet of denuded area 

Figure 6: Asphalt remains in former Lower Pines 

Campground floodplain.
Ecological Restoration Actions Common to Alternatives 2-6 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-13

with riparian species and native grasses. Direct visitor use to a large sandbar directly downstream of the 

bridge (Figure 4). A skid steer would be used and fencing constructed in two weeks time and could occur 

anytime of the year. Revegetation would occur in fall for a period of two weeks.

Valley Campgrounds: River Access (RES-2-028) – Direct visitors staying in Lower and North Pines 

Campgrounds to resilient sandy beaches through signage and campground maps and brochures. There are 

four sandy beaches in the vicinity of the campgrounds (Figure 7). Fence off vulnerable steep slope and 

provide signs directing visitors to current access. This would occur in the summer or fall and require four 

weeks of crew time with the use of a skid steer.

Figure 7: Use of the riverbank at the current river access in Lower Pines Campground has caused vegetation 

trampling and heavy erosion of this highly susceptible riverbank (left). Use will instead be directed to resilient 

sandbars such as these, located a short walk downstream (middle and right).

Yosemite Lodge: former lodge cabin area and NPS Volunteer Officeabandoned infrastructure 

(RES-2-030) – Restore 4.5 acres of riparian ecosystem at the site of the former Yosemite Lodge units and 

cabins, and former NPS Volunteer Office located in the western portion of the Yosemite Lodge complex 

(those that were damaged by the 1997 flood and subsequently removed). Remove fill, decompact soils and 

plant riparian plant species. Restoration of this area would be completed at low river flow and would 

require eight weeks of crew time. Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, dozer, 

and dump truck would be used. 

Sentinel Beach Picnic Area: Riparian impacts (RES-2-031) – Redesign the picnic area to better manage 

visitor use and designate the area as a formal river access point, fence off sensitive areas, redirect use to more 

resilient areas and re-establish riparian vegetation. Restoration of this area would be completed at low river 

flow during summer and fall and would require eight weeks of crew time. Heavy equipment including 

excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, dozer, and dump truck would be used. 

Bridalveil Sewer Plant (RES-2-050) – Remove or demolish buried structures including a 200 foot long and 

5 foot deep concrete chlorine contact chamber, aeration tanks, sludge digesters, and drying beds. Backfill 

with native soil and revegetate with native plants. Remove pipe leading to Black Springs. This work would 

take place in late summer and fall and would include the use of heavy equipment such as excavator, dozer, 

skid steer, dump truck, and loader. This work would take place for two seasons for up to eight weeks each 

year. 

Footings at the former Happy Isles footbridge (beyond gage): free flowing condition (RES-2-056) – 

Remove former Happy Isles footbridge footings and former river gage base (steel re-enforced concrete and 

wet and dry wall masonry).Revegetate denuded areas and improve way-finding between Happy Isles and the 

Mist Trail from the shuttle stop. Break concrete and masonry into movable pieces using an excavator-mounted 
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-14 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

jackhammer. Move material offsite with front-end loaders and dump trucks. Recontour and decompact soils 

and plant appropriate riparian vegetation in all denuded areas. Work would be performed by a contractor at 

low flow, in the fall, and would take four weeks. 

Pohono Bridge: Infrastructure within the bed and banks (RES-2-057) – Move the gauging station north 

of the river outside of the bed and banks of the river. Revegetate denuded areas. Work would occur for one 

week in the fall and include the use of heavy equipment such as an excavator, dump truck, loader, and skid 

steer.

Clarks Bridge to El Capitan Bridge: Large Woody Debris management (RES-2-063) –Manage large 

wood according to the management plan, Yosemite Directive # 31: Large Wood Management in the Merced 

Wild and Scenic River. Trees that fall into the river will be retained in the river. Large wood may be 

minimally manipulated to protect critical infrastructure, to ensure visitor safety, and to prevent unnatural 

accumulation of wood near bridges. 

Upper Pines: recreational vehicle dump station (RES-2-144) – Relocate the recreational vehicle dump 

station from its site proximate to the river to a site within Curry Village that is being re-developed as parking

(see Map Series 1). Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, dozer, and dump truck 

would be used. 

Cathedral Beach: picnic area (RES-2-145) – Designate area as a formal river access point, fence off 

sensitive areas, and direct use to most resilient areas. Remove parking in the riparian zone, decompact soils, 

plant appropriate native vegetation and delineate river access. Remove infrastructure (toilets, parking and 

picnic tables) in the 10-year floodplain, decompact soils, and revegetate. Work can occur any time after peak 

flow in the upland areas and during low flow of late summer or fall where the water table remains high. Four 

weeks of crew and equipment time would be needed. Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid 

steer, loader, dozer, and dump truck would be used.

Yosemite Lodge: Beach Access Closure (RES-2-149) – Direct visitors to the sandbar at Swinging Bridge. 

Fence the riparian area at Yosemite Lodge. Fence construction directing use from the Yosemite Lodge to 

Swinging Bridge would take one week with the use of a skid steer. 

Ahwahnee Meadow: Former golf course and tennis court (RES-2-151) – Restore the impacted portion 

of Ahwahnee Meadow to natural meadow conditions, while allowing special functions, such as weddings, to 

continue on the lawn. Remove the tennis courts from the California black oak woodland. Restore 

topography by removing abandoned irrigation lines and fill, filling in ditches, and revegetating with native 

meadow vegetation. Reconnect currently disjunct portions of Ahwahnee Meadow by removing conifers to 

return approximately 5.65 acres to meadow habitat. Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid 

steer, loader, dozer, and dump truck would be used.

Impacts to traditionally used plant populations (RES-2-045) – The ecological restoration actions 

associated with this planning effort implemented in concert with the existing invasive plant management 

program will address impacts to some traditionally used plant populations in some locations. Conifers that 

are overtopping black oaks would also be considered for removal.

Pohono Bridge to Big Oak Flat Road Junction: River Access (RES-2-065) – Pave and formalize 

5 roadside pull-outs for river access between Pohono Bridge and the intersection of the Big Oak Flat Road. 

Install curbing along pull-outs and along El Portal Road to prevent further encroachment towards the river 

and associated resource damage. Completely remove one pullout that is not protective of resources. In the 
Ecological Restoration Actions Common to Alternatives 2-6 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-15

areas that require ecological restoration following parking and river access formalization, decompact soil 

and revegetate with riparian species including willow. Install drainage improvements and head walls at 11 

locations. Excavator and skid steer may be used over a period of eight weeks during low water in the fall. 

CA-MRP-0046/47/74 (RES-2-032) – Reroute stock trail and formal trail off sensitive area, remove graffiti 

from rock art boulder. 

CA-MRP-0052/H (RES-2-033) – Delineate or reroute bridle path away from site. 

CA-MRP-0055/H (RES-2-034) – Remove informal trails and parking pullout. Increase law enforcement 

and archeology monitoring to protect rock shelter/rock art. 

CA-MRP-0057 (RES-2-036) – Remove graffiti in rock shelter and remove informal trails. Increase law 

enforcement and monitoring of rock shelter. 

CA-MRP-0062 (RES-2-037) – Remove the logs, graffiti, and informal trails and ecologically restore to 

natural conditions. Relocate the parking area away from the site. 

CA-MRP-0076 (RES-2-038) – Remove informal trails, restore to natural condition, and prohibit climbing. 

CA-MRP-0080 (RES-2-039) – Remove campsite 208 and bear box; reroute bathroom foot traffic away 

from milling feature and fence off.

CA-MRP-0082/H (RES-2-040) – Remove climbing bolts from rockshelter boulder and prohibit climbing. 

Increase interpretation, education, and outreach efforts for climbers. 

CA-MRP-0158/309 (RES-2-041) – Remove informal trails, restore to natural condition, and prohibit 

climbing on rock art boulder. Increase interpretation, education, and outreach effort for climbers. 

CA-MRP-0190/191 (RES-2-042) – Delineate trail/bike path to limit shoulder access within site. 

CA-MRP-0240/303/H (RES-2-043) – Fence off/close access to milling feature next to trail. 

CA-MRP-0902/H (RES-2-152) – Remove informal trails and restore to natural condition.

Segment 3

Cascades picnic area: abandoned infrastructure (RES-3-001) – Remove abandoned infrastructure 

including cement block, surface concrete and asphalt and imported rock with skid steer and dump truck. 

Work would take three weeks in late summer or fall. 

Segment 4

Old El Portal: Soil compaction around Valley oaks from parking (RES-4-002) – Restore the floodplain 

community in Old El Portal through implementation of mitigation measures related to invasive species 

removal. Decompact soils, plant appropriate native understory plant species, and treat invasive plants. 

Remove non-native fill and decompact soils (after development removal); plant appropriate native 

understory plant species; treat invasive plants. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and 

dump truck would be used. Work would occur in the late summer or fall and take approximately one 

month. 

El Portal: river confined by rip-rap and road (RES-4-006) – Develop best management practices for 

revetment construction and repair throughout this river segment. Vertical walls should be used wherever 
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-16 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

possible. Provide CalTrans with best management practices recommendations when repair/replacement is 

necessary in Segment 4. 

El Portal NPS Maintenance and administrative complex roadside parking (RES-4-007) – Restore the 

informal roadside parking to natural conditions, which is southeast of the dirt parking area, between 

Foresta Road and the Merced River. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump 

truck would be used. Work would occur in the late summer or fall and take approximately one month.

Abbieville and Trailer Village -Restore 150 foot riparian buffer (RES-4-008) – Remove asphalt and 

imported fill to restore 9.3 acres in the 150-foot riparian buffer; recontour and plant native riparian species 

and oaks. Designate appropriate river access points and formalize trail(s) to the river from the parking and 

camping areas. Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be 

used. Work would occur during low flow in the summer or fall and take approximately two months. 

Greenmeyer sandpit: flood and riparian plant impacts from fill material (RES-4-005) – Restore 

hydrologic function to 1.8 acres of floodplain and re-establish riparian habitat (Figure 8). Excavate 

4,000 cubic feet of angular imported rock, concrete, asphalt and soil which is capping the site to return a 

floodplain elevation of a 20-50 year flood. Restore upland areas to natural topography, utilizing some of the 

fill soils which would reduce the amount need to move off-site. Recontour topographic features. 

Reestablish native vegetation through propagation and planting of local native plants, including Sambuccus 

mexicanus (blue elderberry). Retain road for utilities and to allow for river access. Heavy equipment 

including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. This is a twelve week project to be 

performed at low river flow conditions during summer and fall.

Figure 8: Greenmeyer Sandpit current conditions (left) and target braided channel and riparian habitat conditions 

(middle and right).

CA-MRP-0250/H (RES-4-003) – Remove informal trails and non-essential roads. 

CA-MRP-0251/H (RES-4-004) – Remove informal trails. 

CA-MRP-0181/H (RES-4-049) – In recognition of the high cultural significance of CA-MRP-0181/H for 

traditionally associated American Indians, the site will be protected from any further development. A plan 

of action for addressing the abandoned infrastructure on the site will be developed in consultation with 

traditionally associated American Indian tribes and groups. Any solution(s) developed will also include a 

recommended approach for deterring visitor use within the site.
Ecological Restoration Actions Common to Alternatives 2-6 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-17

Segment 5

CA-MRP-0218 (RES-5-001) – Remove informal trails and charcoal rings. 

Segment 6

Wawona Water Conservation Plan (RES-6-001) – Retain current water collection and distribution 

system, including impoundment; however implement a water conservation plan which requires a minimumflow for the South Fork, especially critical during late summer/early fall months. 

Wawona: arch district impacts (RES-MS-001) – Increase monitoring frequency for affected sites, Increase 

management protection designed to counteract or minimize impacts, crafted to individual site 

specifications. At the district-wide level, amend National Register of Historic Places nomination to reflect 

district changes and impacts. 

Segment 7

South Fork side channels: Abandoned infrastructure (RES-7-005) – Remove abandoned metal pipes that 

dewater the terrace using skid steer, excavator, dump truck and loader for one week. 

Wawona Campground: septic system (RES-7-006) – Develop a waste water collection system. Build a 

pump station above the Wawona Campground to connect the facility to the existing waste water treatment 

plant. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work 

would occur during low flow in the summer or fall and take approximately one month. 

Wawona dump station: proximity to river (RES-7-007) – Relocate the dump site to the Wawona 

Campground away from the river. Design and construct RV dump station on a new sewer line near the 

campground entrance, at least 150 feet away from the river's ordinary high water mark. After the existing 

dump station is removed, revegetate the area with native plants. Heavy equipment including excavator, 

dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during low flow in the summer 

or fall and take approximately three weeks. 

South Fork Wawona picnic area: river access and water quality (RES-7-008) – Delineate picnic area and 

a path to the river to encourage visitors to use more resilient areas. One week crew time at low flow would 

be needed. 

Wawona picnic area: river access and water quality (RES-7-009) – Harden the three steep river access 

points using rockwork or staircase construction to prevent further erosion. If needed, place fencing to 

direct visitors to these hardened access points. Add path to river that encourages visitors to walk in the more 

resilient areas. Work would be performed for two weeks after peak water flow with an excavator and skid 

steer. 

Wawona Maintenance yard: Riparian Impacts (FAC-7-001) – Remove staged materials, abandoned 

utilities, vehicles, buildings and parking areas from within the 150-foot riparian buffer and restore a native 

ecosystem. Work would be performed for two weeks after peak water flow with an excavator and skid steer.

CA-MRP-0374 (RES-7-001) – Remove informal trail, delineates access road, and reduce hazard fuels. 

CA-MRP-0008/H (RES-7-002) - Remove informal trails. Relocate camp sites out of archeological site. 

Also, relocate the campground to the Wawona Stables.
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

CA-MRP-0171172/254/516/H (RES-7-012) – Remove informal trails and shoulder and off-road parking.

CA-MRP-0168/0329/H (RES-7-003) – Remove 7 campsites from Wawona Campground that cause 

potential impacts to the archeological site. 

Wawona: arch district impacts (RES-MS-001) – Increase monitoring frequency for affected sites, Increase 

management protection designed to counteract or minimize impacts, crafted to individual site 

specifications. At the district-wide level, amend National Register of Historic Places nomination to reflect 

district changes and impacts. 

ADDITIONAL ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS FOR EACH ACTION

ALTERNATIVE

There is a varying degree in the amount of ecological restoration actions that can be accomplished in each 

alternative, primarily as a result of choices about user capacity and development. Some alternatives can have 

a functioning Yosemite Valley transportation circulation system with the removal of infrastructure such as 

roads and bridges due to substantially lower use levels. For example, in Alternative 6, all roads and bridges 

would need to be retained and localized concerns to the hydrological / geological ORV resulting from these 

infrastructure components would be addressed through engineered solutions such as installing culverts 

under roads and placing constructed log jams adjacent to bridges to ameliorate scour pool formation.

Conversely, Stoneman Bridge, Sugar Pine and Ahwahnee Bridges would be removed in Alternatives 2 and 3

in order to enhance the alluvial river system in this reach of the river, given a much lower user capacity level 

than today. Removal of road segments through meadows and bridges that are existing components of the 

transportation and circulation system is reasonable to consider under such reduced use levels as all traffic to 

and from Yosemite Village and Curry Village could be accommodated on the converted two-way Southside 

Drive. This would allow 2.7 acres of additional wet meadow restoration as compared to Alternative 6 in this 

particular location. 

Table E-1 provides an overview of the number of acres restored in each alternative. 

TABLE E-1: TOTAL AREA (ACRES) OF ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION PROPOSED ACROSS THE RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES

Ecological 

Restoration Actions

Common to 

Alternatives 2 - 6 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4 Alternative 5 Alternative 6 

Meadow, Riparian 

and Floodplain 176 342 308 225 189 176 

The location of the proposed Upper and Lower Rivers Campgrounds has a range of restoration options 

within the action alternatives. Alternatives 2 and 3 would provide for the greatest degree of ecological 

restoration, fully restoring the area to a mosaic of riparian, floodplain, meadow and oak woodland habitat. 

In these alternatives, the road bisecting the area and Ahwahnee Meadow is removed, allowing for maximum 

potential for the river to reshape the landscape, unimpeded. Natural topography, including side channels, 

would be restored to natural conditions. In Alternatives 4, 5, and 6, the road would remain and camping and 

day use added. The riparian buffer that bounds the campground would be restored to natural conditions in 

Alternatives 2-6. 

E-18 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Additional Ecological Restoration Actions for Each Action Alternative

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-19

The greatest need for river channel restoration occurs in the vicinity of the East valley Campgrounds and 

Housekeeping Camp where the greatest channel widening has occurred. Because riverbanks along the 

proposed Upper Rivers Campground are not resilient river access points, they need protection from 

trampling. The lower number of visitors in Alternatives 2 and 3 and lack of road access and camping would 

protect of these riverbanks. In Alternatives 4, 5, and 6, riverbanks would be closed, fenced and signed to 

prevent vegetation damage and riverbank erosion. River use would be directed south of Northside Drive, to 

the large sandbar beach at Lower Rivers. In Alternatives 5 and 6, river access would also be available across 

from the Ahwahnee Bridge, which would remain in place under these alternatives. 

Current parking at Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area and the Curry Orchard Parking Area are reevaluated in the Merced River Plan. There are two options within the Alternatives for restoration at the 

Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area. In Alternatives 4, 5 and 6, the footprint of the current parking lot 

would be pulled back from the river at least 150 feet from the ordinary high water mark, allowing for 

riparian restoration and protection from future development. In Alternatives 2 and 3, all parking and roads 

would be moved out of the 10-year floodplain, which would allow for riparian restoration as well as 

restoration of the active floodplain and allow future potential for the river to reshape the land. These 

alternatives ecologically restore a larger portion of this dynamic floodplain area. Storm run-off mitigations 

would be used in all alternatives to protect water quality. Actions at the Curry Orchard Parking Area range 

from major ecological restoration to minimal change. In Alternatives 5 and 6, the area would remain 

designated parking and limited restoration would occur. In Alternative 3 and 4, most of the parking lot 

would remain while the northern portion would be restored to natural conditions. In Alternative 2, the 

parking footprint at this location remains similar to existing conditions, but areas to the north and east are 

restored when road segments are removed. In all alternatives, the historic apple trees would be removed to 

mitigate human-bear encounters and these areas would be revegetated with native species.

There is a range of options within the alternatives for restoring riparian and floodplain habitat at 

Housekeeping Camp. In Alternatives 5 and 6, 34 structures that are within the modeled ordinary high water 

mark are removed and riparian habitat restored. Under Alternative 4, 166 structures within the ordinary 

high water mark or in areas of frequent inundation removed, resulting in a larger area for restoration. A 

much larger riparian zone would be restored and channel complexity restored in the active floodplain. Day 

use in this area increases in this alternative and visitors would be directed to the sandbar beaches. 

Alternatives 2 and 3 provide for the greatest restoration opportunity with the removal of all lodging units. 

Riparian habitat and the 10-year floodplain would be restored allowing the greatest level of unimpeded river 

processes. Alternative 2 and 3 retain a restroom and a small parking lot in the highest elevations to provide 

for day use picnicking. In all alternatives, current access on the steep, eroding slope on the eastern side 

would be closed and restored and all river access directed to the sandbar on the western side or to the north 

side of Housekeeping Bridge. 

Campsites in close proximity to the river in Wawona and Yosemite Valley are also addressed in 

Alternatives 2-6. In Alternatives 5 and 6, sites within 100 feet of the river are removed and riparian habitat 

restored. In Alternatives 3 and 4, the setback is 150 feet. All sites in the 100-year floodplain are removed and 

restored to natural conditions in Alternative 2. This entails removal of all of North Pines and Yellow Pine

campground and full restoration of a dynamic floodplain. 

At the Yosemite Lodge complex, areas west of the Yosemite Lodge (where former lodging units were 

removed following damage from the 1997 flood) would be restored to natural condition. This action is 

common to Alternatives 2-6. Much of this area is frequently flooded and supports riparian vegetation. In 
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-20 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Alternative 3, 4 buildings in the floodplain are removed and the area restored to natural conditions. 

Alternative 2 removes all infrastructure in the 100-year floodplain and restores the greatest area of 

floodplain habitat. 

Alternative 2

This alternative was designed to restore much of the 100-year floodplain, and is able to do so with the 

removal of a substantial amount of infrastructure and a reduced user capacity level. Roads over meadows 

and bridges impacting the river’s free-flowing condition are removed and restored to natural conditions. 

This alternative includes restoration of more than 342 acres of riparian, meadows and upland habitat within 

the river corridor. It removes development including campsites, informal trails, and non-essential roads 

from sensitive areas. 

Segment 1

Merced Lake Ranger Station Meadow: grazing (RES-1-002) – Remove the meadow from grazing 

permanently. Require all administrative pack stock passing through the Merced Lake area to carry pellet 

feed.

Segment 2 

Ahwahnee Row and Tecoya Housing: 100-yr. floodplain (RES-2-007) – After removal of housing, 

decompact soils, recontour topography (using 1919 USGS maps as a guide) and plant native meadow 

vegetation. Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used 

for eight weeks in the late summer and fall.

Yosemite Lodge: buildings in the 100-year floodplain (RES-2-024) – Restore 28 acres of floodplain and 

riparian habitat after removal of all Yosemite Lodge buildings in the 100-year floodplain. Heavy equipment 

including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used for eight weeks in the late 

summer and fall. 

Ahwahnee Meadow: Northside Drive and bike path impact hydrology and meadow extent (RES-2-

004) – Remove the road from Camp 6 intersection to Southside Drive to restore 0.9 acre of wet meadow and 

improve meadow hydrology and 0.7 acres of California black oak habitat. Remove 12,500 cubic yards of 

asphalt and imported fill material and recontour to natural topography and restore natural hydrology. 

Revegetate meadow through propagation and seeding with native meadow species. Revegetate California 

black oak and floodplain understory with appropriate plants. Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, 

skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Revegetate with willows, cottonwoods and other riparian 

species. Crews would work 12 weeks during the fall for two years. 

El Capitan Meadow: bisected by road, informal trails, conifer encroachment (RES-2-009) – Remove all 

informal trails and areas of bare compacted soils and restore to native plan communities. Disperse and 

reduce roadside parking along the meadow through alternative pavement striping (approximately 30 spaces 

would be removed). Retain some roadside parking for SAR and other administrative traffic. Use restoration 

fencing and signing where necessary to further protect the meadow from trampling. Heavy equipment 

including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during low flow 

in the summer or fall and take approximately three months. 
Additional Ecological Restoration Actions for Each Action Alternative

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-21

Stoneman Meadow and Curry Orchard Parking Area: Road through meadow and parking lot (RES-2-

008) – Remove the road through Stoneman Meadow to restore 1.9 acres of wet meadow and improve 

hydrology to entire meadow. Remove 7,260 cubic yards of asphalt and imported fill material, recontour to 

natural topography and restore natural hydrology. Revegetate through propagation and seeding with native 

meadow species. Remove apple trees. Remove imported fill, decompact soils and recontour using the 1919 

USGS maps as a guide. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be 

used. Revegetate with willows, cottonwoods and other riparian species. Crews would work 12 weeks during 

the fall for two years. 

Housekeeping Camp: riparian restoration and river access (RES-2-023) – Remove all infrastructure and 

riprap at Housekeeping Camp and restore 16.8 acres of floodplain and riparian ecosystem to natural 

conditions. Convert area to day-use river access and picnicking. Focus river access to resilient locations. 

This work would be phased over the course of two seasons and would occur between midsummer and early 

winter, depending on weather and soil moisture. All work within the bed and banks of the river would be 

done at low river flow conditions. Phase 1(year 1) would take 14 weeks and would concentrate on the 

removal of all infrastructure including lateral utilities, concrete structures, revetment and, when hauling is 

complete, removal of imported fill material. Native sand and gravel fill may be retained on site. Phase 2 

(year 2), would include additional grading and contouring, decompaction of soils, fence construction and 

planting and would take six weeks. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump 

truck would be used.

Upper and Lower Rivers Campground: abandoned infrastructure (RES-2-021) – Restore topography of 

35.6 acres of impacted floodplain to support a mosaic of riparian, meadow and California black oak 

woodland at the former Rivers campgrounds site. Remove any remaining asphalt, decompact soils of former 

roads and campsites and re-establish seasonal channels and natural topography that have been graded flat. 

Develop a planting plan for restoring native plant communities and restoring soils to support them. 

Mechanically remove ponderosa pine and incense cedar saplings and mature trees that are infringing on 

California black oaks and growing on soils that once supported meadow communities. Revegetate with 

native meadow grasses, sedges, and shrubs. Plant native riparian species, such as willow, alder and 

cottonwood along riverbanks. Remove Lower River amphitheater structure and associated fill material. 

Restore natural topography to original contours and revegetate with wetland plants. Fence the revegetated 

areas for up to 3 years to prevent trampling of young plants and seedlings. This work would be phased over 

two years. Excavation of former channels and roads would generate asphalt, rock and other material not 

suited to the ecology of the site and would moved off-site. The excavation, grading and hauling would last 

ten to twelve weeks. Fencing and planting would be done in an additional three weeks. Heavy equipment 

including excavator, skid steer, loader, dozer, and dump truck would be used. Most if not all of this work 

would be completed in the late summer and fall. 

Valley Campgrounds: campsites near the river (RES-2-022) – Remove all campsites and infrastructure at 

all sites within the 100-year floodplain and restore 25.1 acres of floodplain and riparian habitat. This 

includes all sites at North Pines and Yellow Pines campgrounds, 19 sites at Backpacker’s Campground, 

32 sites at Lower Pines and 22 sites at Upper Pines. Remove asphalt, base rock, fill material; decompact soils, 

recontour and revegetate. Erect new fencing or adjust existing fencing to protect the riparian zone. Restore 

topography with natural drainages. Restore a mosaic of riparian, meadow, and oak habitat. Revegetate with 

native species. Repair eroded riverbanks with brush layering and willow planting. Remove conifer saplings. 

Twenty-two weeks crew and equipment time would be needed for implementation over a three year period. 
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-22 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Work within the bed and banks of the river would occur at low river flow while work on the terrace would 

occur in the summer or fall. Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump 

truck would be used. 

Revetment: free flowing condition (RES-2-051) – In addition to the revetment removed in the Common to 

All Action Alternative, remove 964 linear feet of riprap adjacent to Sugar Pine, Ahwahnee and Stoneman 

Bridges. Excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Revegetate with willows, cottonwoods 

and other riparian species. Crews would work 12 weeks over two years during low flow in fall.

Stoneman Bridge: free flowing condition (RES-2-053) – Remove Stoneman Bridge, asphalt, and other 

imported material. Salvage native river gravel from the berm and place in cut-off channel. Salvage other 

native soils for use in restoration. Revegetate with riparian species. Implementation would take 10 weeks 

with all work except asphalt removal occurring at river low flow conditions. Excavator, skid steer, dozer, 

and dump truck would be used. 

Sugar Pine Bridge and Ahwahnee Bridge and Road Berm: free flowing condition (RES-2-052) – 

Remove Sugar Pine and Ahwahnee Bridges and the causeway between Sugar Pine and Ahwahnee Bridges 

and associated berm. Remove asphalt and other imported material. Salvage native river gravel from the 

berm and place in cut-off channel. Salvage other native soils for use in restoration. After bridge removal, 

allow channel to reconfigure on its own. Revegetate with riparian species. Implementation would take 

15 weeks with all work except asphalt removal occurring at river low flow conditions. Reroute the multiple 

use trail to the north bank of the river. Excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. 

Concessioner stables to Happy Isles: pack stock trail (RES-2-143) – Remove trail and restore to natural 

conditions (see actions common to all). 

Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area: Water Quality, proximity to the River, and fill material 

within the 5-to 10-year floodplain. (RES-2146) – Restore 10.8 acres of riparian and floodplain habitats at 

Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area up to the 10-year floodplain: remove unnatural fill identified in soil

studies. Remove construction-generated boulders remaining from use as staging area. Plant riparian and 

wetland species appropriate to the habitat after fill removal. Allow seasonal flooding to re-work remaining 

topography. Revegetate eroded riverbanks and increase signage to avoid continued impacts (Figure 9). 

Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, dozer, loader, and dump truck would be used.

Figure 9: Healthy herbaceous riparian vegetation growing on the riverbank (left) contrasts with trampled and 

eroded riverbank adjacent the Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Lot.
Additional Ecological Restoration Actions for Each Action Alternative

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-23

Valley Meadows: Valley Loop Trail impacts through meadows (RES-2-005) – Reroute trail through 

Slaughterhouse Meadow out of wetlands to an upland area. Move the 780 feet of the trail through Bridalveil 

Meadow to the toe of the fill slope of Southside Drive. Decompact, recontour and revegetate the abandoned 

sections of trail with native meadow species. Because trail reroute would be located in the upland, work may 

occur at any time of year and would take three weeks crew time. Removal of existing trail and replanting of 

meadow would take three weeks in the fall. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, dozer, 

and dump truck would be used. 

Ahwahnee Meadow oxbows: trail impacts (RES-2-003) – Reroute the trail so it does not pass through 

wetlands; consolidate use with trail to Housekeeping Footbridge where possible. Remove asphalt and fill 

material from abandoned section of trail and revegetate with native wetland plants. Heavy equipment 

including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during low flow 

in the summer or fall and take approximately one month. 

Former Yosemite Lodge cabins (Pine and Oak) area (RES-2-154) – Restore 10.9 acres of riparian 

ecosystem at the site of the former Yosemite Lodge units and cabins (area commonly known as the Oak and 

Pine cabins, which were removed after being damaged by the 1997 flood). Remove riprap from Yosemite 

Creek and plant willows along stream bank. Remove informal trails throughout the eastern end of the lodge 

near Yosemite Creek and formalize one trail through the area. Delineate one service road to the well house 

and parking. Remove excess service roads. Remove fill, decompact soils and plant riparian plant species. 

Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used.

Segment 4

Old El Portal: parking and development in valley Valley oaks (RES-4-002) – Restore the rare floodplain 

community of valley Valley oaks in Old El Portal through implementation of mitigation measures related to 

invasive species removal, overwatering, tree pruning, and prohibiting grading and parking in the dripline 

(see Appendix C). Also, create a valley oak recruitment area of 2.25 acres in Old El Portal in the vicinity of 

the current Odger's bulk fuel storage area, including adjacent parking lots. Decompact soils, plant 

appropriate native understory plant species, and treat invasive plants. Prohibit new building construction 

within the oak recruitment area. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck 

would be used. Work would occur in the late summer or fall and take approximately one month.

Segment 7

Wawona golf course (RES-7-004) – Remove the golf course and restore 42 acres of meadow ecosystem. 

Recontour to natural topography. Remove any imported fill material. Remove non-native plants and restore 

native meadow plant communities through propagation, seeding, and planting. Remove channelization of 

creek and restore natural hydrology. Continue to use the area as a spray field. This would occur with large 

heavy equipment over a three year period working three months per year. Heavy equipment including 

excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. 

Wawona Campground: campground activity near river (ONA-7-001) – Remove 32 campsites in 

Wawona Campground that are in the 100-year floodplain or in culturally sensitive areas to restore 8.2 acres 

of riparian and floodplain ecosystem. Decompact soils and plant with riparian vegetation. Heavy equipment 

including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during low flow 

in the summer or fall and take approximately one month. 
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-24 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Wawona Stock Camp (RES-7-011): Two stock use campground sites relocated from sensitive resource 

area to Wawona Stables. The sites will then be recontoured, soil decompacted and revegetated. Heavy 

equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur 

during low flow in the summer or fall and take approximately one month.

Alternative 3 

This alternative provides for significant restoration within 150 feet of the river. This alternative targets

restoration strategically throughout the corridor, removing infrastructure such as campsites, roads, bridges, 

informal and formal trails from sensitive areas. It restores targeted areas such as the 10-year floodplain near 

Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area, the former Upper and Lower Rivers Campgrounds, the 100-year 

floodplain at Housekeeping Camp, and the Wawona Golf Course. In total, it restores 308 acres to natural 

conditions within the river corridor.

Segment 1

Merced Lake Ranger Station Meadow: grazing (RES-1-002) – Establish a preliminary grazing capacity for 

the Merced Lake East Meadow of a maximum of 58 pack stock nights annually depending on meadow 

condition. Exclude packstock from seasonally inundated portions of the meadow. Meadow grazing opening 

dates may vary annually. Use levels may be adapted to ensure the meadow condition meets the Management 

Standard for Bare Soil Indicator.

Segment 2

Yosemite Lodge: buildings in the 100-year floodplain (RES-2-024) – Remove 4 buildings in the 100-year 

floodplain and restore floodplain and riparian habitat. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, 

loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during the summer or fall and take 

approximately one month. 

Ahwahnee Meadow: Northside Drive and bike path impact hydrology and meadow extent (RES-2-

004) – Same as Alternative 2.

El Capitan Meadow: bisected by road, informal trails, conifer encroachment (RES-2-009) – Remove all 

informal trails from the meadow that incise, promote habitat fragmentation, or are located in sensitive and 

frequently inundated areas, and restore to natural condition. Use restoration fencing and signing to 

designate appropriate meadow access points. Revegetate with native meadow species. Boardwalks would 

not be used as an action within this alternative. Remove ditches and restore natural hydrology. Heavy 

equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur 

during the summer or fall and take approximately one month. 

Stoneman Meadow and Curry Orchard Parking Area: Road through meadow and parking lot (RES-2-

008) – Remove the road through Stoneman Meadow as in Alternative 2. Remove some asphalt from the 

Curry Orchard Parking Area and revegetate with native plants. Remove apple trees to mitigate human-bear 

encounters. Remove imported fill, decompact soils and recontour where road and parking is removed. 

Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would 

occur during the summer or fall and take approximately two months.
Additional Ecological Restoration Actions for Each Action Alternative

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-25

Housekeeping Camp: riparian restoration and river access (RES-2-023) – Remove all lodging 

infrastructure and riprap at Housekeeping Camp and restore 16.8 acres of floodplain and riparian 

ecosystem to natural conditions. Convert area to day-use river access (raft put-in) and picnicking, while 

focusing river access to the sandbar across from Housekeeping Bridge. Heavy equipment including 

excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during low flow in the 

summer or fall and take approximately two months. 

Upper and Lower Rivers Campground: abandoned infrastructure (RES-2-021) – Same as Alternative 2. 

Valley Campgrounds: campsites near the river (RES-2-022) – Remove sites at Backpacker’s Camp, 

Lower Pines and North Pines Campgrounds that are within 150’ of the ordinary high water mark to restore 

12 acres of riparian habitat (Figure 9). Remove asphalt, base rock, fill material; decompact soils, recontour 

and revegetate. Erect new fencing or adjust existing fencing to protect the riparian zone. Harden river 

access point at North Pines campground by using pinned logs back filled with native gravel. Fence sensitive 

areas and brush layer with willows to repair eroded riverbank and revegetate denuded areas. Heavy 

equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur 

during low flow in the summer or fall and take approximately one month.

Rip rap Removal: free flowing condition (RES-2-051) – In addition to actions common to all, an 

additional 435 linear feet of riprap would be removed and the river banks revegetated. Heavy equipment 

including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during low flow 

in the fall and take approximately four months. 

Stoneman Bridge: hydrological/geological processes ORV (RES-2-053) – Same as Alternative 2.

Sugar Pine Bridge and Ahwahnee Bridge and Road Berm: hydrological/geological processes ORV

(RES-2-052) – Same as Alternative 2.

River reach between Clark’s and Sentinel Bridges: highly impacted riverbanks (RES-2-062) – Same as 

Alternative 2.

Concessioner stables to Happy Isles: pack stock trail (RES-2-143) – In addition to the actions described 

in common to all, re-route stock trail north along the road where it meets up with the Valley Loop Trail

(stables are retained in this Alternative). Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump 

truck would be used. Work would occur during the summer or fall and take approximately one month. 

Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area: Water Quality, proximity to the River, and fill material 

within the 5-to 10-year floodplain (RES-2-146) – Same as Alternative 2.

Valley Meadows: Valley Loop Trail impacts through meadows (RES-2-005) – Same as Alternative 2.

Ahwahnee Meadow oxbows: trail impacts (RES-2-003) – Same as Alternative 2. 

Former Yosemite Lodge cabins (Pine and Oak) area (RES-2-154) – Restore 10.9 acres of riparian 

ecosystem at the site of the former Yosemite Lodge units and cabins (area commonly known as the Oak and 

Pine cabins, which were removed after being damaged by the 1997 flood). Remove riprap from Yosemite 

Creek and plant willows along stream bank. Remove informal trails throughout the eastern end of the lodge 

near Yosemite Creek and formalize one trail through the area. Delineate one service road to the well house 

and parking. Remove excess service roads. Remove fill, decompact soils and plant riparian plant species. 

Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used.
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-26 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Segment 4

Old El Portal: parking and development in valley oaks (RES-4-002) – Restore the rare floodplain 

community of valley oaks in Old El Portal through implementation of mitigation measures related to 

invasive species removal, overwatering, tree pruning, and prohibiting grading and parking in the dripline 

(see Appendix C). Also, create a valley oak recruitment area of 2.25 acres in Old El Portal in the vicinity of 

the current Odger's bulk fuel storage area, including adjacent parking lots. Decompact soils, plant 

appropriate native understory plant species, and treat invasive plants. Prohibit new building construction 

within the oak recruitment area. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck 

would be used. Work would occur in the late summer or fall and take approximately one month.

Segment 7

Site-Specific Programmatic Wawona golf course: operating in old meadow habitat (RES-7-004) – 

Same as Alternative 2. 

Wawona Campground: campground activity near river (ONA-7-001) – Retains 69 sites and one group 

site. Remove 27 sites that are either within 150 feet of the river or in culturally sensitive areas. Heavy 

equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur 

during low flow in the summer or fall and take approximately one month.

Wawona Stock Camp (RES-7-011) – Two stock use campground sites relocated from sensitive resource 

area to Wawona Stables. The sites will then be recontoured, soil decompacted and revegetated. Heavy 

equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur 

during low flow in the summer or fall and take approximately one month.

Alternative 4

In this alternative, restoration efforts are targeted at the riparian buffer and select road and bridge removal, 

with a total of 225 acres restored. Removal of campsites and riparian restoration within 150 feet of the bed 

and banks would occur. Two bridges—Ahwahnee and Sugar Pine—would be removed and the road 

through Stoneman meadow would be re-routed out of the meadow and the meadow extent restored. 

Campsites, informal trails and non-essential roads would be removed from culturally sensitive areas. 

Segment 1

Merced Lake Ranger Station Meadow: grazing (RES-1-002) – Remove the Merced Lake East Meadow 

from grazing permanently. Require all administrative pack stock passing through the Merced Lake area to 

carry pellet feed.

Segment 2

Ahwahnee Meadow: Northside Drive and bike path impact hydrology and meadow extent (RES-2-

004) –Mitigate effects of the road and bike trail through the meadow with culverts or other engineered 

solutions that allow passage of underground water. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, 

loader, and dump truck would be used. 
Additional Ecological Restoration Actions for Each Action Alternative

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-27

El Capitan Meadow: bisected by road, informal trails, conifer encroachment (RES-2-009) – Remove all 

informal trails from the meadow that incise, promote habitat fragmentation, or are located in sensitive and 

frequently inundated areas, and restore to natural condition. Use restoration fencing along northern 

perimeter of meadow and designate appropriate access points using boardwalks and viewing platforms. 

Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used over a period of up 

to eight weeks for two years. Work would take place during summer or fall. Fencing can occur any time of 

the year. 

Stoneman Meadow and Orchard parking lot: Road through meadow and parking lot (RES-2-008) – 

Remove the road through Stoneman Meadow as in Alternatives 2 and 3. Remove part of Curry Orchard 

parking lot to restore 3.4 acres of meadow. Remove imported fill, decompact soils and recontour using the 

1919 USGS maps as a guide. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck 

would be used. Work would occur during the summer or fall and take approximately three months. 

Housekeeping Camp: riparian restoration and river access (RES-2-023) – Remove 166 units to restore 

12.2 acres of riparian zone. Provide for day use arriving via shuttle with trails to access to the large sandbars 

on the western edge of Housekeeping Camp and across Housekeeping Bridge. Restore natural topography 

and channels through the removal of fill material. Revegetate with native riparian and wetland species. 

Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used over a period of up 

to eight weeks for two years. Work would take place during low water in the fall. 

Upper and Lower Rivers Campground: abandoned infrastructure (RES-2-021) – Restore and protect 

19.7 acres of the riparian zone at the former Rivers campgrounds site to a mosaic of riparian, meadow, and 

California black oak habitat. Fence and close the riparian zone at Upper Rivers to protect the riverbank from 

trampling. Mechanically remove ponderosa pine and incense cedar saplings and mature trees less than 18 inch 

dbh (diameter at breast height) within the restoration area that are infringing on California black oaks and 

growing on soils that once supported meadow communities. Revegetate with native meadow grasses, sedges, 

and shrubs. Plant native riparian species such as willow, alder, and cottonwood along the riverbank. Direct 

river access to the sandbar at Lower Rivers or to the beach across the Ahwahnee Bridge. Use signage for way

finding and for interpretation of river-related natural processes. Remove any remaining abandoned asphalt, 

decompact soils of former roads and campsites from the restoration area. Restore natural contours and reestablish drainage channels that have been filled. Place large box culverts or other design components such as 

rolling dips, permeable sub grade, etc to improve surface water flow across roads and trails. Heavy equipment 

including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used over a period of up to two 

months for two years in the fall. 

Valley Campgrounds: Remove campsites near the river (RES-2-022) – Same as Alternative 3. 

Revetment: free flowing condition (RES-2-051) – Same as Alternative 3. 

Stoneman Bridge: free flowing condition (RES-2-053) – Mitigate effects of bridge through engineered 

solutions. Place large wood to lessen the scouring from bridge. Use brush layering and place a constructed 

log jam. Add culverts along Northside Drive to improve drainage. Heavy equipment including excavator, 

skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during low flow in the summer or fall 

and take approximately one month.

Sugar Pine Bridge and Ahwahnee Bridge and Road Berm: free flowing condition (RES-2-052) – 

Remove Sugar Pine and Ahwahnee Bridges as in Alternative 2. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid 

steer, loader, and dump truck would be used and work would last for up to four weeks. 
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-28 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Concessioner stables to Happy Isles: pack stock trail (RES-2-143) – Same as Alternative 2. 

Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area: Water Quality, proximity to the River, and fill material 

within the 5-to 10-year floodplain (RES-2-146) – Restore 6.1 acres in the 150 foot riparian buffer adjacent 

to Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area: remove unnatural fill as identified in soil studies. Plant native 

riparian species in unvegetated areas after fill removal. Allow seasonal flooding to re-work remaining 

topography. Revegetate eroded riverbanks, fence the riparian buffer and increase signage to avoid 

continued impacts (Figure 7). Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck 

would be used over a period of up to eight weeks for two years and take place during low water in the fall. 

Valley Meadows: Valley Loop Trail impacts through meadows (RES-2-005) – Same as Alternative 2.

Ahwahnee Meadow oxbows: trail impacts (RES-2-003) – In the sections of trail (350 feet) that pass 

through oxbows, remove the asphalt and fill and replace with a boardwalk. Heavy equipment including 

excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during low flow in the 

summer or fall and take approximately one month.

Former Yosemite Lodge cabins (Pine and Oak) area (RES-2-154) – Restore 10.9 acres of riparian 

ecosystem at the site of the former Yosemite Lodge units and cabins (area commonly known as the Oak and 

Pine cabins, which were removed after being damaged by the 1997 flood). Remove riprap from Yosemite 

Creek and plant willows along stream bank. Remove informal trails throughout the eastern end of the lodge 

near Yosemite Creek and formalize one trail through the area. Delineate one service road to the well house 

and parking. Remove excess service roads. Remove fill, decompact soils and plant riparian plant species. 

Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used.

Segment 4

Old El Portal: parking and development in valley oaks (RES-4-002) – Restore the rare floodplain 

community of valley oaks in Old El Portal through implementation of mitigation measures related to 

invasive species removal, overwatering, tree pruning, and prohibiting grading and parking in the dripline 

(see Appendix C). Also, create a valley oak recruitment area of 1acre in Old El Portal in the vicinity of the 

current Odger's bulk fuel storage area, including adjacent parking lots. Decompact soils, plant appropriate 

native understory plant species, and treat invasive plants. Prohibit new building construction within the oak 

recruitment area. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. 

Work would occur in the late summer or fall and take approximately one month.

Segment 7

Wawona Campground: campground activity near river (ONA-7-001) – Same as Alternative 3. 

Wawona Stock Camp (RES-7-011) – Relocate two stock use campground sites from sensitive resource 

area to Wawona Stables. The sites will then be recontoured and the soil decompacted and revegetated. 

Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would 

occur during the summer or fall and take approximately one month.
Additional Ecological Restoration Actions for Each Action Alternative

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-29

Alternative 5

This alternative would restore riparian habitat along the Merced River 100 feet from the ordinary high water 

mark. To enhance hydrological /geological processes it would increase channel complexity in the vicinity of 

many bridges through addition of constructed log jams and other bioengineering techniques. It would 

restore 189 acres to natural conditions within the river corridor. It would remove campsites within 100 feet 

of the bed and banks of the river and remove informal trails and non-essential roads from sensitive areas. 

This alternative calls for the study of road removal through Stoneman Meadow, and will further study of the 

hydrologic impacts of Sugar Pine Bridge. 

Segment 1

Merced Lake Ranger Station Meadow: grazing (RES-1-002) – Same as Alternative 3.

Segment 2

Ahwahnee Meadow: Northside Drive and bike path impact hydrology and meadow extent (RES-2-

004) – Same as Alternative 4.

El Capitan Meadow: bisected by road, informal trails, conifer encroachment (RES-2-009) – Remove all 

informal trails from the meadow that incise, promote habitat fragmentation, or are located in sensitive and 

frequently inundated areas, and restore to natural condition. Use restoration fencing along northern perimeter 

of meadow and designate appropriate access points using boardwalks and viewing platforms. Selectively 

remove mature conifers that block views of El Capitan from the roadside. Equipment including skid steer 

would be used over a period of up to six weeks for two years. Fencing could occur any time of the year. 

Stoneman Meadow and Orchard parking lot: Road through meadow and parking lot (RES-2-008) – 

Study potential for road removal through Stoneman Meadow. Remove roadside parking along Stoneman 

Meadows and restore to meadow conditions. Remove 1,350 cubic feet of fill, revegetate with native seed 

and/or transplanted native plants. Remove apple 

trees in Curry Orchard parking lot. For roadside 

parking removal, equipment work, hauling, and 

revegetation would take 10 weeks with work 

performed in the late summer or fall. Heavy 

equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, 

and dump truck would be used. 

Housekeeping Camp: riparian restoration and 

river access (RES-2-023) – Remove 34 units from 

within the ordinary high water mark to restore 1

acre of riparian habitat (Figure 10). After removal of 

structures, adjust fence location to provide greater 

distance away from the bed and banks. Revegetate 

with riparian plant species. The work would be 

performed in the fall after the camp is closed for the 

season. Heavy equipment including excavator, 

dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump truck may be 

used over a period of up to eight weeks. 

Figure 10: Radiating effects from campsites lead to 

denuded riparian zones, as seen at this campsite at North 

Pines Campground. In all alternatives, campsites would 

be moved back at least 100' from the bed and banks of 

the river to provide a buffer in which a diversity of 

riparian vegetation can thrive.
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-30 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Upper and Lower Rivers Campground: abandoned infrastructure (RES-2-021) – Same as Alternative 4. 

Valley Campgrounds: campsites near the river (RES-2-022) – Remove sites at Backpacker‘s Camp, Lower 

Pines and North Pines Campgrounds that are within 100 feet of the ordinary high water to restore 6.5 acres of 

riparian habitat. Remove asphalt, base rock, fill material; decompact soils, recontour and revegetate. Erect new 

fencing or adjust existing fencing to protect the riparian zone. Harden river access point at North Pines 

campground. Construct a hardened surface using pinned logs back filled with native gravel. Fence sensitive 

areas and brush layer to repair eroded riverbank (Figure 10). Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, 

loader, and dump truck would be used over a period of up to eight weeks for two years. 

Revetment: free flowing condition (RES-2-051) – An additional 348 feet of riprap south of the berm 

between Sugar Pine and Ahwahnee bridges would be removed and replaced with brush layering. Heavy 

equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used over a period of up to 

eight weeks in the fall during low flow.

Stoneman Bridge: free flowing condition (RES-2-053) – Same as Alternative 4. 

Sugar Pine Bridge and Ahwahnee Bridge and Road Berm: free flowing condition (RES-2-052) – In 

Alternative 5, Sugar Pine Bridge remains in place for the near term. Additional study will be conducted by a 

third party to determine the extent of the hydrologic impacts of this historic bridge. Prior to the study, the 

NPS will develop criteria for bridge removal that establishes quantitative conditions related to altered flow 

velocity (speed and direction) attributed to the bridge, both upstream and downstream and/or the costs 

associated with constructing, maintaining, and monitoring mitigation installations over a 20-year period 

versus the cost of bridge removal. The determination of whether to remove or retain the bridge will be made 

within 3 years of the Record of Decision.

If the study determines the criteria for bridge removal have been met, remove the Sugar Pine Bridge and 

berm. At the Ahwahnee Bridge, heading south toward the Lower Pines campground, connect a trail and 

small bridge going over the cut-off channel. Additionally, re-route the multiple use trail to the north bank of 

the river. Manually cut pieces of the bridge into smaller sections. Remove bridges with heavy equipment 

(crane lifts sections or chunks). Pontoon rafts below the bridge would catch debris. All work from the banks 

would use the reach from an excavator to remove chunks of bridge. Footings would be removed with 

excavators from the bank. The removal would occur during low flow in late summer or early fall. No work 

would occur after Oct. 31 due to the potential for high water events occurring. Heavy equipment including 

excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during low flow in the 

summer or fall and take approximately three months.

If the study determines the criteria for bridge removal has not been met, retain the bridge and apply 

engineering solutions as described below in Alternative 6.

Concessioner stables to Happy Isles: pack stock trail (RES-2-143) – Same as Alternative 3. 

Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area: Water Quality, proximity to the River, and fill material 

within the 5-to 10-year floodplain (RES-2-146) – Same as Alternative 4. 

Valley Meadows: Valley Loop Trail impacts through meadows (RES-2-005) – Construct boardwalks 

through sensitive wet meadow habitat in Slaughterhouse Meadow. Move 780 feet of the trail that runs 

through Bridalveil Meadow to the toe of the fill slope of Southside Drive. Heavy equipment including 

excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used over a period of up to eight weeks for 

two years. 
Additional Ecological Restoration Actions for Each Action Alternative

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-31

Ahwahnee Meadow oxbows: trail impacts (RES-2-003) – Same as Alternative 4. 

Former Yosemite Lodge cabins (Pine and Oak) area (RES-2-154) – Restore 10.9 acres of riparian 

ecosystem at the site of the former Yosemite Lodge units and cabins (area commonly known as the Oak and 

Pine cabins, which were removed after being damaged by the 1997 flood). Remove riprap from Yosemite 

Creek and plant willows along stream bank. Remove informal trails throughout the eastern end of the lodge 

near Yosemite Creek and formalize one trail through the area. Delineate one service road to the well house 

and parking. Remove excess service roads. Remove fill, decompact soils and plant riparian plant species. 

Heavy equipment including excavator, dozer, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would be used.

Segment 4

Old El Portal: parking and development in valley oaks (RES-4-002) – Restore the rare floodplain 

community of valley oaks in Old El Portal through implementation of mitigation measures related to 

invasive species removal, overwatering, tree pruning, and prohibiting grading and parking in the dripline 

(see Appendix C). Also, create a valley oak recruitment area of 1acre in Old El Portal in the vicinity of the 

current Odger's bulk fuel storage area, including adjacent parking lots. Decompact soils, plant appropriate 

native understory plant species, and treat invasive plants. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, 

loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur in the late summer or fall and take 

approximately one month.

Segment 7

Wawona Campground: campground activity near river (ONA-7-001) – Retains 83 sites and one group 

site. Remove 13 sites that are either within 100 feet of the river or in culturally sensitive areas.

Wawona Stock Camp (RES-7-011) – Two stock use campground sites relocated from sensitive resource 

area to another more appropriate location near the Wawona Maintenance Yard. The sites will then be recontoured, soil decompacted and area re-vegetated. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, 

loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur during low flow in the summer or fall and take 

approximately one month.

Alternative 6

As with Alternative 5, Alternative 6 is characterized by having limited restoration within 100 feet of the river

and removing campsites, informal trails, and non-essential roads from sensitive areas. It addresses freeflowing condition by removing approximately one mile of revetment and increasing channel complexity 

around the bridges using engineering solutions. The number of acres of riparian and meadow restoration is 

at least 176 acres, with efforts that target the most sensitive areas. 

Segment 1

Merced Lake Ranger Station Meadow: grazing (RES-1-002) – Same as Alternative 3.
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

Segment 2

Ahwahnee Meadow: Northside Drive and bike path impact hydrology and meadow extent (RES-2-

004) – Same as Alternative 4. 

El Capitan Meadow: bisected by road, informal trails, conifer encroachment (RES-2-009) – Remove all 

informal trails from the meadow that incise, promote habitat fragmentation, or are located in sensitive and 

frequently inundated areas, and restore to natural condition. Use restoration fencing along northern perimeter 

of meadow and designate appropriate access points using boardwalks and viewing platforms. Selectively 

remove mature conifers that block views of El Capitan from the roadside. Equipment including skid steer 

would be used over a period of up to six weeks for two years. Fencing can occur any time of the year. 

Stoneman Meadow and Orchard parking lot: Road through meadow and parking lot (RES-2-008) – 

Mitigate effects of the road through the meadow with culverts or other engineered solutions that allow passage 

of underground water. Remove roadside parking along Stoneman Meadow and restore the area to meadow 

conditions. Remove 1,350 cubic feet of fill, revegetate with native seed and/or transplanted native plants. 

Remove apple trees in Curry Orchard parking lot. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, 

and dump truck would be used over a period of up to eight weeks for two years in late summer and fall. 

Housekeeping Camp: riparian restoration and river access (RES-2-023) – Same as Alternative 5. 

Upper and Lower Rivers Campground: abandoned infrastructure (RES-2-021) – Same as Alternative 4. 

Valley Campgrounds: campsites near the river (RES-2-022) – Same as Alternative 5. 

Revetment: free flowing condition (RES-2-051) – Same as Alternative 5.

Stoneman Bridge: free flowing condition (RES-2-053) – Same as Alternative 4. 

Sugar Pine Bridge and Ahwahnee Bridge and Road Berm: free flowing condition (RES-2-052) – 

Improve riverbank condition at Sugar Pine and Ahwahnee Bridges by increasing channel complexity through 

construction of constructed log jams, strategic placement of large wood, removal of rip rap, and 

bioengineering of the riverbank. Reduce the width of the cut-off channel upstream of Sugar Pine bridge 

through a combination of fill, constructed log jams, and bioengineered bank stabilization. If subsequent 

monitoring of riparian condition reveals insufficient improvement (i.e. CRAM rating remains below 0.71) 

within 10 years of the implementation of these actions, more aggressive management action may be initiated, 

including the possible removal of Sugar Pine Bridge. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, 

and dump truck would be used over a period of up to eight weeks for two years during the fall low flow.

Concessioner stables to Happy Isles: pack stock trail (RES-2-143) – Same as Alternative 3.

Yosemite Village Day-use Parking Area: Water Quality, proximity to the River, and fill material 

within the 5-to 10-year floodplain (RES-2146) – Same as Alternative 4. 

Valley Meadows: Valley Loop Trail impacts through meadows (RES-2-005) – Same as Alternative 5. 

Ahwahnee Meadow oxbows: trail impacts (RES-2-003) – Same as Alternative 4. 

Segment 4

Old El Portal: parking and development in valley oaks (RES-4-002) – Restore the rare floodplain 

community of valley oaks in Old El Portal through implementation of mitigation measures related to 

invasive species removal, overwatering, tree pruning, and prohibiting grading and parking in the dripline 

E-32 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Best Management Practices: Tools and Techniques

(see Appendix C). Also, create a valley oak recruitment area of 1 acre in Old El Portal in the vicinity of the 

current Odger’s bulk fuel storage area, including adjacent parking lots. Decompact soils, plant appropriate 

native understory plant species, and treat invasive plants. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, 

loader, and dump truck would be used. Work would occur in the late summer or fall and take 

approximately one month.

Segment 7

Wawona Campground: campground activity near river (ONA-7-001) – Same as Alternative 5. 

Wawona Stock Camp (RES-7-011) – Two stock use campground sites relocated from sensitive resource 

area to Wawona Stables. Heavy equipment including excavator, skid steer, loader, and dump truck would 

be used. Work would occur during low flow in the summer or fall and take approximately one month.

BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES

Mitigations

All ecological restoration work would follow the Mitigation Measures outlined in Appendix C. 

Restoration Work in Wilderness

For restoration needs in designated Wilderness, a minimum requirement analysis would be completed and 

the appropriate techniques selected. 

Fencing

Fencing has proven to be effective at rerouting 

pedestrian traffic to appropriate river access points 

and allowing colonization of denuded areas with 

riparian plant species which then stabilizes the river 

bank from further erosion (Figure 11). Yosemite has 

used different fencing styles—most often split rail 

zigzag and post and rail (Figure 12). Log and block 

fencing has also been introduced as a more 

sustainable option in areas where plowing and 

vehicles frequently cause damage to fencing 

(Figure 13). Fencing has also demonstrated its 

effectiveness in supporting restoration efforts in 

meadow environments. Fencing has been used to 

delineate appropriate trails and to close off sensitive 

sections of meadows in order to deter trampling of 

vegetation and the formation of informal trails.

Figure 11: Frequently flooded area at housekeeping 

camp.

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-33
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-34 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Figure 12: Before and after protective fencing placement and revegetation at 

Housekeeping camp.

Figure 13: Post and rail fencing (Left) and log and block fencing (right).

Asphalt Removal

Asphalt surface is broken using heavy equipment. Asphalt is then loaded into dump trucks using a loader 

and moved off site. Small asphalt pieces may be manually collected and removed. 

Fill Removal & Recontouring

The topography at some meadow, wetland, and floodplain sites has been made uniform through the import of 

fill material or by grading or flattening contours of the landform. To re-establish contours or increase 

topographic heterogeneity, an excavator or dozer may be used to excavate depressions, cut-off channels, and 

oxbows. On steep riverbanks, an excavator or dozer may push soils and material down the slope of the bank to 

create a gentler slope which increases revegetation success. Whenever possible, native fill is used from the 

restoration site. In meadows with drainage ditches and associated berms, the ditches would be contoured and 

leveled using fill material already present in associated berms. 

Soil Decompaction

Roads, parking, campsites and trails (formal or informal) may have highly compacted soils that are 

hydrophobic and prevent water from percolating into the soil and alter surface flow patterns. In the field, 
Best Management Practices: Tools and Techniques

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-35

park staff determines areas of heavy soil compaction and either break up the soils manually using shovels or 

rakes or with heavy equipment that can support ripping tines such as excavators, skid steer and dozers. 

Small pockets of fill may be blended into the soil as decompaction occurs with an excavator or dozer with 

winged rippers. Biologists regularly monitor informal trailing extent and distribution in meadows and apply 

condition ratings to all informal trails. These ratings reflect the degree to which specific trails have 

ecological impacts including: bare ground, vegetation condition, and soil compaction. This information 

would assist restoration workers in identifying areas requiring soil decompaction to promote plant 

recovery.

Riprap Removal

Several park restoration projects have involved the removal of riprap and restoration of healthy riparian 

vegetation (Figure 13). Riprap is removed using a track-mounted excavator. The operator picks up the 

boulders with the bucket of the excavator and either stockpiles the rocks on the terrace, or loads directly 

into a dump truck. After riprap is removed the bank may be recontoured to facilitate plant establishment.

Bioengineering Techniques

Bioengineering techniques commonly used for riverbank stabilization and restoration include willow 

hydrodrilling, brush layering, and wood incorporation (Figure 14). Willow wattles and anchoring logs may 

be used to accrete sediment. To propagate willow, cuttings are taken from established plants and placed 

deeply into the soil to promote regeneration and to prevent them from washing away during high water 

events. Rocky or compacted riverbanks are most effectively and efficiently planted using a hydraulic 

excavator. In fine sediment, a hydro-drill (a pump with a high-powered stream of water) can create deep 

holes into which cuttings are placed. Willows may also be bundled into wattles and partially buried and 

anchored along riverbanks. Large wood may also be use to provide structure when repairing highly eroded 

riverbanks or after riprap removal. One objective of bioengineering is to decrease flow velocities by 

increasing roughness so that river sediment is captured over time, slowly rebuilding the banks.

Figure 14: Before (left) and after (right) riverbank restoration through riprap removal and 

revegetation at the former Lower Rivers Campground. Riparian vegetation thrives on the riverbank.
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-36 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

Revegetation Methods

In the riparian zone, sedges, rushes and willow and cottonwood are desirable species for planting. 

Restoration staff collect pole cuttings (for vertical planting using the hydrodrill, Figure 15) from willows and 

cottonwoods along the Merced River using loppers; targeting straight branches 5-6’ long and approximately 

1” in diameter. Horizontal planting (such as that done with an excavator or backhoe) is another revegetation 

method, as well as the primary planting method for bioengineering. This method is utilized at sites with 

greater disturbance where riverbank integrity and existing root mass does not exist. Overall, willows have a 

high survival rate although some species do not establish as readily as others. 

Figure 15: Yosemite restoration staff have employed bioengineering techniques in past park projects 

including Brush layering with willows (left). Restoration workers insert live willow cuttings with the aid of 

a hydrodrill to revegetate this riverbank (right).

On riverbank terraces, species matching the surrounding native flora would be planted. Watering or 

irrigation is part of post-planting maintenance for 3 years as it increases plant survival, especially on higher 

and drier sites such as terraces. Vegetation along the riverbanks plays an important role in flow attenuation 

and sediment capture during flood events. Native riparian vegetation is also naturally recruited on exposed 

sediment. Nursery-grown plants would be propagated from local genetic stock. Plants would be salvaged 

prior to ground disturbance and replanted. 

In meadow environments, park biologists use a variety of techniques for ecological restoration. Imported fill 

material is removed from meadows using heavy equipment such as an excavator, loader, and dump truck. 

When removing informal trails, restoration workers would decompact soils, recontour the area to remove the 

linear feature and spread locally gathered native speed to promote plant establishment. Sometimes, vegetation 

plugs are salvaged using an excavator and skid steer and replanted in the disturbed areas. Mulching to promote 

revegetation and reduce erosion would be used as necessary. Bare areas would be revegetated with native 

plants grown from locally collected seed. Erosion control blankets and wattles are sometimes needed to 

control erosion until vegetation becomes established.

Large Wood Incorporation

To restore riverbanks that have receded due to unnatural bank erosion, large wood may be incorporated 

into riverbanks. Large logs are placed strategically to limit scour and promote accretion and may or may not 
Best Management Practices: Tools and Techniques

be anchored. For example, logs may be placed into a trench dug in the terrace to anchor it. Cabling could 

also be used to anchor wood to the shore.

These techniques are similar to what has been used in Yosemite Valley riverbank restoration projects in the 

past. For example, incorporation of large wood was successfully used in the 1995 Housekeeping Camp 

Restoration, along with riprap removal, brush layering and fencing.

Opportunistic Large Woody Debris Addition through Hazard Tree Mitigation

Potentially hazardous trees are sometimes felled along the river for safety reasons. To assist in the riverine 

habitat recovery, these hazard trees can be purposefully felled into the river. Trees are felled using both 

excavators and forestry loaders with winch. This retention of the root wad provides needed weight to help 

anchor the tree to the shore. Felled trees add biomass, slow water flow, create structural and microclimatic 

diversity, and provide shade for riparian organisms.

Constructed Log Jams

Constructed log jams (CLJs) increase channel complexity, capture sediment, mitigate channel widening and 

provide aquatic habitat. CLJs are constructed of 10-20 logs, often with their root wads intact, 12” or greater 

in diameter. The composite structure can be 30-150’ long and 10-30’ wide with a height of 8 feet. Thus, an 

CLJ may occupy an area of 33 500 square yards with volumes ranging from 90 – 1,300 cubic yards. The 

particular size of a given CLJ depends on the objective (deflecting flow away from a vulnerable riverbank to 

facilitating bar formation) and its location in the river. CLJs are constructed in the river channel and 

anchored by burying ends of logs in sediment. CLJs would be designed to look natural, without straight-cut 

edges and with root wads remaining. Planting of riparian vegetation on the CLJ further enhances the natural 

aesthetic (Figure 16).

Figure 16: Natural wood loading in the Merced River (left) and a constructed log jam (right, photo 

courtesy of A.P. Brooks).

Boardwalks 

Boardwalks have proven to be a low-impact way of providing access to wet, sensitive and highly visited 

areas that are susceptible to trampling (Figure 17). Boardwalks are often used in restoration as alternative to 

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS E-37
APPENDIX E

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION ACTIONS

E-38 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

complete closures of sensitive habitats. Boardwalks are an effective way to promote sheet flow, protect 

native vegetation, and reduce the potential vectors for the spread of non-native species, while allowing 

visitors to experience the flora and fauna of these unique environments. In Yosemite, boardwalks have been 

successful in allowing visitation of sensitive meadows and can provide access and throughways in locations 

where current trails are frequently inundated with water, cause severe damage to plants and soils, and 

fragment sensitive vegetation and wildlife communities.

Figure 17: Trails through frequently inundated wet meadows, such as in cook's meadow prerestoration (left), cause periperal vegetation trampling and soil compaction and make access 

difficult. A boardwalk installed in 2005 allows for visitor access into the meadow environment and 

protects the meadow soils and hydrology.

REFERENCES

Cooper, D. J. and E. C. Wolf

2008 Yosemite Valley: Hydrologic Regime, Soils, Pre-Settlement Vegetation, Disturbance, and 

Concepts for Restoration. Colorado State University. 

Falk, D. A., M. A. Palmer, and J. B. Zedler

2006 Foundations of Restoration Ecology. Island pr. 

Madej, M. A., W. E. Weaver, and D. K. Hagans

1991 Analysis of Bank Erosion on the Merced River, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, 

USA. Pages 235-250 Environmental Management. Pacific Watershed Associates, Arcata, 

California. 

Mitsch, W. and J. Gosselink

2007 Wetlands. 4th Edition. Wiley, New York.

SER International Science Policy Working Group

2004 The SER International Primer on Ecological Restoration. Society for Ecological 

Restoration International Tucson, Arizona.
Merced River

Merced Lake

Ranger Station

@"

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Lake Merced Lake

High Sierra Camp

Merced Lake

Backpackers

Camping Area

!9

!9

Merced Lake

East Meadow

0 0.1 Miles

ACTIONS COMMON TO ALL

MERCED LAKE HIGH SIERRA CAMP

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

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Ü Trailhead

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Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

Estimated Riparian Buffer

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

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Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

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Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

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KKK Roadside parking removal

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KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

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Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

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;"

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à

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Housekeeping

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Northside Drive

Curry 

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Upper Pines

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Clark's

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Tenaya

Bridge

Southside Drive

The Ahwahnee Backpackers

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Stoneman

Bridge

Happy Isles Bridge

Merced River

Royal Arches

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Meadow

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Stables

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Upper and Lower

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Huff

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Ahwahnee

Parking

Wilderness

Parking

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!i

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!i

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£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

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E Dump Station Removal

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Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

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KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

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Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

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Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

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Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

Tenaya Creek

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

ACTIONS COMMON TO ALL

CURRY VILLAGE AND CAMPGROUNDS

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
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River

hside

Drive

Merced River

Northside Drive

Ahwahnee Road

Southside Drive

Yosemite Creek

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Cook's Meadow

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Lost Arrow

Moran Point

Church Bowl

Picnic Area

Sentinel Bridge

Housekeeping

Bridge

Superintendent's

Bridge

Housekeeping Camp

Yosemite Village Day-Use 

Parking Area

Village Store Complex

ACTIONS COMMON TO ALL

YOSEMITE VILLAGE AND HOUSEKEEPING CAMP

Yosemite Village

Government 

Utility

Building

Sentinel Drive

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

Estimated Riparian Buffer

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

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KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
!F

Southside

Drive

Camp 4 

Campground

Yosemite

Lodge

Sentinel Meadow

Merced River

Leidig

Meadow

Leidig

Meadow

Cook's

Meadow

Northside

Drive

Residence 1

ACTIONS COMMON TO ALL

YOSEMITE LODGE AND CAMP 4

 ̄

¬«3

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan

Restoration Elements

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

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Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Estimated Riparian Buffer

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

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KK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KK Roadside parking removal

KK New Boardwalk

KK New Trail/Trail reroute

KK Trail removal

KK New Road

KK Road mitigation

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Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

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!5

!5 !5

!5

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!F

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;

El Capitan

Meadow

Sentinel

Beach

El Capitan 

Bridge

Cathedral

Beach

Swinging

Bridge

Camp 4 Campground

Southside Drive

North side Drive

Merced River

Leidig 

Meadow

Slaughterhouse

Meadow

Sentinel

Rock

Lower Brother

Split Pinnacle

Cathedral Rocks

ACTIONS COMMON TO ALL

WEST YOSEMITE VALLEY

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

Estimated Riparian Buffer

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

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KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.5 Miles

 ̄
Old El Portal

Abbieville

Trailer

Village

Rancheria

Flat

NPS Warehouse &

Administrative

Complex

Foresta Road

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST

National Park Boundary

Greenemeyer à

Sand Pit

Hi g h way 140

Hwy. 140 

Bridge

ACTIONS COMMON TO ALL

EL PORTAL

Merced River

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

Estimated Riparian Buffer

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

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KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

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Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

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Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.4 Miles

 ̄
!F

!F !F

!5

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ÆQ

Wawona

Maintenance

Area

Wawona Hotel

Wawona Golf

Course

Wawona Store 

Picnic Area

South Fork Picnic Area

Wawona

Campground

Big

Creek

Sout h Fork Merced River

Wawona

Stables

ACTIONS COMMON TO ALL

WAWONA

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

!5 Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

Estimated Riparian Buffer

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

 ̄

0 0.1 0.2 Miles
Merced River

Merced Lake

Ranger Station

@"

Merced

Lake

Merced Lake

High Sierra Camp

Merced Lake

Backpackers

Camping Area

!9

!9

Merced Lake

East Meadow

0 0.1 Miles

ALTERNATIVE 2

MERCED LAKE HIGH SIERRA CAMP

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking_Labels selection

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.1 Miles

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;"

;"

;"

;"

à

à

à

à

!F

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Housekeeping

Camp Footbridge

Northside Drive

Curry 

Village

Lower Pines

Campground

North Pines

Campground

Upper Pines

Campground

Clark's

Bridge

Tenaya

Bridge

Southside Drive

The Ahwahnee Backpackers

Campground

Stoneman

Bridge

Happy Isles Bridge

Merced River

Royal Arches

Meadow

Ahwahnee

Meadow

Stoneman

Meadow

!i

Concessioner

Stables

Tennis Court

Former Upper and Lower

River Campground Area

Huff

House

Boys Town

Ahwahnee

Parking

Wilderness

Parking

!i

!i

!i

!i

!i

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

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Ü Trailhead

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Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

Tenaya Creek

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

ALTERNATIVE 2

CURRY VILLAGE AND CAMPGROUNDS

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
d

River

hside

Drive

Merced River

Northside Drive

Ahwahnee Road

Southside Drive

Yosemite Creek

Bridge

Cook's Meadow

Ahwahnee

Meadow

Lost Arrow

Moran Point

Church Bowl

Picnic Area

Sentinel Bridge

Housekeeping

Bridge

Superintendent's

Bridge

Housekeeping Camp

Yosemite Village Day-Use 

Parking Area

Village Store Complex

ALTERNATIVE 2

YOSEMITE VILLAGE AND HOUSEKEEPING CAMP

Yosemite Village

Government 

Utility

Building

Sentinel Drive

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
!F

Southside

Drive

Camp 4 

Campground

Yosemite

Lodge

Sentinel Meadow

Merced River

Leidig

Meadow

Leidig

Meadow

Cook's

Meadow

Northside

Drive

Residence 1

ALTERNATIVE 2

YOSEMITE LODGE AND CAMP 4

 ̄

¬«3

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan

Restoration Elements

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KK Roadside parking removal

KK New Boardwalk

KK New Trail/Trail reroute

KK Trail removal

KK New Road

KK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate 0 500 Feet
!5

!5 !5

!5

!F

!F

!F

"

;

El Capitan

Meadow

Sentinel

Beach

El Capitan 

Bridge

Cathedral

Beach

Swinging

Bridge

Camp 4 Campground

Southside Drive

North side Drive

Merced River

Leidig 

Meadow

Slaughterhouse

Meadow

Sentinel

Rock

Lower Brother

Split Pinnacle

Cathedral Rocks

ALTERNATIVE 2

WEST YOSEMITE VALLEY

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.5 Miles

 ̄
Old El Portal

Abbieville

Trailer

Village

Rancheria

Flat

NPS Warehouse &

Administrative

Complex

Foresta Road

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST

National Park Boundary

Greenemeyer à

Sand Pit

Hi g h way 140

Hwy. 140 

Bridge

ALTERNATIVE 2

EL PORTAL

Merced River

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.4 Miles

 ̄
!F

!F !F

!5

!5

ÆQ

Wawona

Maintenance

Area

Wawona Hotel

Wawona Golf

Course

Wawona Store 

Picnic Area

South Fork Picnic Area

Wawona

Campground

Big

Creek

Sout h Fork Merced River

Wawona

Stables

ALTERNATIVE 2

WAWONA

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

!5 Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

 ̄

0 0.1 0.2 Miles
Merced River

Merced Lake

Ranger Station

@"

Merced

Lake

Merced Lake

High Sierra Camp

Merced Lake

Backpackers

Camping Area

!9

!9

Merced Lake

East Meadow

0 0.1 Miles

ALTERNATIVE 3

MERCED LAKE HIGH SIERRA CAMP

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking_Labels selection

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.1 Miles

 ̄
;"

;"

;"

;"

à

à

à

à

!F

!F

Housekeeping

Camp Footbridge

Northside Drive

Curry 

Village

Lower Pines

Campground

North Pines

Campground

Upper Pines

Campground

Clark's

Bridge

Tenaya

Bridge

Southside Drive

The Ahwahnee Backpackers

Campground

Stoneman

Bridge

Happy Isles Bridge

Merced River

Royal Arches

Meadow

Ahwahnee

Meadow

Stoneman

Meadow

!i

Concessioner

Stables

Tennis Court

Former Upper and Lower

River Campground Area

Huff

House

Boys Town

Ahwahnee

Parking

Wilderness

Parking

!i

!i

!i

!i

!i

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

Tenaya Creek

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

ALTERNATIVE 3

CURRY VILLAGE AND CAMPGROUNDS

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
d

River

hside

Drive

Merced River

Northside Drive

Ahwahnee Road

Southside Drive

Yosemite Creek

Bridge

Cook's Meadow

Ahwahnee

Meadow

Lost Arrow

Moran Point

Church Bowl

Picnic Area

Sentinel Bridge

Housekeeping

Bridge

Superintendent's

Bridge

Housekeeping Camp

Yosemite Village Day-Use 

Parking Area

Village Store Complex

ALTERNATIVE 3

YOSEMITE VILLAGE AND HOUSEKEEPING CAMP

Yosemite Village

Government 

Utility

Building

Sentinel Drive

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
!F

Southside

Drive

Camp 4 

Campground

Yosemite

Lodge

Sentinel Meadow

Merced River

Leidig

Meadow

Leidig

Meadow

Cook's

Meadow

Northside

Drive

Residence 1

ALTERNATIVE 3

YOSEMITE LODGE AND CAMP 4

 ̄

¬«3

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan

Restoration Elements

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KK Roadside parking removal

KK New Boardwalk

KK New Trail/Trail reroute

KK Trail removal

KK New Road

KK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate 0 500 Feet
!5

!5 !5

!5

!F

!F

!F

"

;

El Capitan

Meadow

Sentinel

Beach

El Capitan 

Bridge

Cathedral

Beach

Swinging

Bridge

Camp 4 Campground

Southside Drive

North side Drive

Merced River

Leidig 

Meadow

Slaughterhouse

Meadow

Sentinel

Rock

Lower Brother

Split Pinnacle

Cathedral Rocks

ALTERNATIVE 3

WEST YOSEMITE VALLEY

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.5 Miles

 ̄
Old El Portal

Abbieville

Trailer

Village

Rancheria

Flat

NPS Warehouse &

Administrative

Complex

Foresta Road

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST

National Park Boundary

Greenemeyer à

Sand Pit

Hi g h way 140

Hwy. 140 

Bridge

ALTERNATIVE 3

EL PORTAL

Merced River

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.4 Miles

 ̄
!F

!F !F

!5

!5

ÆQ

Wawona

Maintenance

Area

Wawona Hotel

Wawona Golf

Course

Wawona Store 

Picnic Area

South Fork Picnic Area

Wawona

Campground

Big

Creek

Sout h Fork Merced River

Wawona

Stables

ALTERNATIVE 3

WAWONA

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

!5 Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

 ̄

0 0.1 0.2 Miles
Merced River

Merced Lake

Ranger Station

@"

Merced

Lake

Merced Lake

High Sierra Camp

Merced Lake

Backpackers

Camping Area

!9

!9

Merced Lake

East Meadow

0 0.1 Miles

ALTERNATIVE 4

MERCED LAKE HIGH SIERRA CAMP

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking_Labels selection

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.1 Miles

 ̄
;"

;"

;"

;"

!F

!F

Housekeeping

Camp Footbridge

Northside Drive

Curry 

Village

Lower Pines

Campground

North Pines

Campground

Upper Pines

Campground

Clark's

Bridge

Tenaya

Bridge

Southside Drive

The Ahwahnee Backpackers

Campground

Stoneman

Bridge

Happy Isles Bridge

Merced River

Royal Arches

Meadow

Ahwahnee

Meadow

Stoneman

Meadow

!i

Concessioner

Stables

Tennis Court

Upper and Lower

River Campground Area

Huff

House

Boys Town

Ahwahnee

Parking

Wilderness

Parking

!i

!i

!i

!i

!i

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

Tenaya Creek

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

ALTERNATIVE 4

CURRY VILLAGE AND CAMPGROUNDS

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
d

River

hside

Drive

Merced River

Northside Drive

Ahwahnee Road

Southside Drive

Yosemite Creek

Bridge

Cook's Meadow

Ahwahnee

Meadow

Lost Arrow

Moran Point

Church Bowl

Picnic Area

Sentinel Bridge

Housekeeping

Bridge

Superintendent's

Bridge

Housekeeping Camp

Yosemite Village Day-Use 

Parking Area

Village Store Complex

ALTERNATIVE 4

YOSEMITE VILLAGE AND HOUSEKEEPING CAMP

Yosemite Village

Government 

Utility

Building

Sentinel Drive

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
!F

Southside

Drive

Camp 4 

Campground

Yosemite

Lodge

Sentinel Meadow

Merced River

Leidig

Meadow

Leidig

Meadow

Cook's

Meadow

Northside

Drive

Residence 1

ALTERNATIVE 4

YOSEMITE LODGE AND CAMP 4

 ̄

¬«3

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan

Restoration Elements

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KK Roadside parking removal

KK New Boardwalk

KK New Trail/Trail reroute

KK Trail removal

KK New Road

KK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate 0 500 Feet
!5

!5 !5

!5

!F

!F

!F

"

;

El Capitan

Meadow

Sentinel

Beach

El Capitan 

Bridge

Cathedral

Beach

Swinging

Bridge

Camp 4 Campground

Southside Drive

North side Drive

Merced River

Leidig 

Meadow

Slaughterhouse

Meadow

Sentinel

Rock

Lower Brother

Split Pinnacle

Cathedral Rocks

ALTERNATIVE 4

WEST YOSEMITE VALLEY

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.5 Miles

 ̄
Old El Portal

Abbieville

Trailer

Village

Rancheria

Flat

NPS Warehouse &

Administrative

Complex

Foresta Road

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST

National Park Boundary

Greenemeyer à

Sand Pit

Hi g h way 140

Hwy. 140 

Bridge

ALTERNATIVE 4

EL PORTAL

Merced River

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.4 Miles

 ̄
!F

!F !F

!5

!5

ÆQ

Wawona

Maintenance

Area

Wawona Hotel

Wawona Golf

Course

Wawona Store 

Picnic Area

South Fork Picnic Area

Wawona

Campground

Big

Creek

Sout h Fork Merced River

Wawona

Stables

ALTERNATIVE 4

WAWONA

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

!5 Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

 ̄

0 0.1 0.2 Miles
Merced River

Merced Lake

Ranger Station

@"

Merced

Lake

Merced Lake

High Sierra Camp

Merced Lake

Backpackers

Camping Area

!9

!9

Merced Lake

East Meadow

0 0.1 Miles

ALTERNATIVE 5

MERCED LAKE HIGH SIERRA CAMP

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking_Labels selection

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.1 Miles

 ̄
;"

;"

;"

;"

!F

!F

Housekeeping

Camp Footbridge

Northside Drive

Curry 

Village

Lower Pines

Campground

North Pines

Campground

Upper Pines

Campground

Clark's

Bridge

Tenaya

Bridge

Southside Drive

The Ahwahnee Backpackers

Campground

Stoneman

Bridge

Happy Isles Bridge

Merced River

Royal Arches

Meadow

Ahwahnee

Meadow

Stoneman

Meadow

!i

Concessioner

Stables

Tennis Court

Upper and Lower

River Campground Area

Huff

House

Boys Town

Awahnee 

Bridge

Sugar Pine

Bridge

Ahwahnee

Parking

Wilderness

Parking

!i

!i

!i

!i

!i

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

Tenaya Creek

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

ALTERNATIVE 5

CURRY VILLAGE AND CAMPGROUNDS

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
d

River

hside

Drive

Merced River

Northside Drive

Ahwahnee Road

Southside Drive

Yosemite Creek

Bridge

Cook's Meadow

Ahwahnee

Meadow

Lost Arrow

Moran Point

Church Bowl

Picnic Area

Sentinel Bridge

Housekeeping

Bridge

Superintendent's

Bridge

Housekeeping Camp

Yosemite Village Day-Use 

Parking Area

Village Store Complex

ALTERNATIVE 5

YOSEMITE VILLAGE AND HOUSEKEEPING CAMP

Yosemite Village

Government 

Utility

Building

Sentinel Drive

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
!F

Southside

Drive

Camp 4 

Campground

Yosemite

Lodge

Sentinel Meadow

Merced River

Leidig

Meadow

Leidig

Meadow

Cook's

Meadow

Northside

Drive

Residence 1

ALTERNATIVE 5

YOSEMITE LODGE AND CAMP 4

 ̄

¬«3

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan

Restoration Elements

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KK Roadside parking removal

KK New Boardwalk

KK New Trail/Trail reroute

KK Trail removal

KK New Road

KK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate 0 500 Feet
!5

!5 !5

!5

!F

!F

!F

"

;

El Capitan

Meadow

Sentinel

Beach

El Capitan 

Bridge

Cathedral

Beach

Swinging

Bridge

Camp 4 Campground

Southside Drive

North side Drive

Merced River

Leidig 

Meadow

Slaughterhouse

Meadow

Sentinel

Rock

Lower Brother

Split Pinnacle

Cathedral Rocks

ALTERNATIVE 5

WEST YOSEMITE VALLEY

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.5 Miles

 ̄
Old El Portal

Abbieville

Trailer

Village

Rancheria

Flat

NPS Warehouse &

Administrative

Complex

Foresta Road

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST

National Park Boundary

Greenemeyer à

Sand Pit

Hi g h way 140

Hwy. 140 

Bridge

ALTERNATIVE 5

EL PORTAL

Merced River

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.4 Miles

 ̄
!F

!F !F

!5

!5

ÆQ

Wawona

Maintenance

Area

Wawona Hotel

Wawona Golf

Course

Wawona Store 

Picnic Area

South Fork Picnic Area

Wawona

Campground

Big

Creek

Sout h Fork Merced River

Wawona

Stables

ALTERNATIVE 5

WAWONA

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

!5 Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

 ̄

0 0.1 0.2 Miles
Merced River

Merced Lake

Ranger Station

@"

Merced

Lake

Merced Lake

High Sierra Camp

Merced Lake

Backpackers

Camping Area

!9

!9

Merced Lake

East Meadow

0 0.1 Miles

ALTERNATIVE 6

MERCED LAKE HIGH SIERRA CAMP

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking_Labels selection

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.1 Miles

 ̄
;"

;"

;"

;"

!F

!F

Housekeeping

Camp Footbridge

Northside Drive

Curry 

Village

Lower Pines

Campground

North Pines

Campground

Upper Pines

Campground

Clark's

Bridge

Tenaya

Bridge

Southside Drive

The Ahwahnee Backpackers

Campground

Stoneman

Bridge

Happy Isles Bridge

Merced River

Royal Arches

Meadow

Ahwahnee

Meadow

Stoneman

Meadow

!i

Concessioner

Stables

Tennis Court

Upper and Lower

River Campground Area

Huff

House

Boys Town

Awahnee 

Bridge

Sugar Pine

Bridge

Ahwahnee

Parking

Wilderness

Parking

!i

!i

!i

!i

!i

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

Tenaya Creek

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

ALTERNATIVE 6

CURRY VILLAGE AND CAMPGROUNDS

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
d

River

hside

Drive

Merced River

Northside Drive

Ahwahnee Road

Southside Drive

Yosemite Creek

Bridge

Cook's Meadow

Ahwahnee

Meadow

Lost Arrow

Moran Point

Church Bowl

Picnic Area

Sentinel Bridge

Housekeeping

Bridge

Superintendent's

Bridge

Housekeeping Camp

Yosemite Village Day-Use 

Parking Area

Village Store Complex

ALTERNATIVE 6

YOSEMITE VILLAGE AND HOUSEKEEPING CAMP

Yosemite Village

Government 

Utility

Building

Sentinel Drive

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.25 Miles

 ̄
!F

Southside

Drive

Camp 4 

Campground

Yosemite

Lodge

Sentinel Meadow

Merced River

Leidig

Meadow

Leidig

Meadow

Cook's

Meadow

Northside

Drive

Residence 1

ALTERNATIVE 6

YOSEMITE LODGE AND CAMP 4

 ̄

¬«3

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan

Restoration Elements

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KK Roadside parking removal

KK New Boardwalk

KK New Trail/Trail reroute

KK Trail removal

KK New Road

KK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate 0 500 Feet
!5

!5 !5

!5

!F

!F

!F

"

;

El Capitan

Meadow

Sentinel

Beach

El Capitan 

Bridge

Cathedral

Beach

Swinging

Bridge

Camp 4 Campground

Southside Drive

North side Drive

Merced River

Leidig 

Meadow

Slaughterhouse

Meadow

Sentinel

Rock

Lower Brother

Split Pinnacle

Cathedral Rocks

ALTERNATIVE 6

WEST YOSEMITE VALLEY

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Buildings

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.5 Miles

 ̄
Old El Portal

Abbieville

Trailer

Village

Rancheria

Flat

NPS Warehouse &

Administrative

Complex

Foresta Road

SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST

STANISLAUS NATIONAL FOREST

National Park Boundary

Greenemeyer à

Sand Pit

Hi g h way 140

Hwy. 140 

Bridge

ALTERNATIVE 6

EL PORTAL

Merced River

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

; Campground

£ Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

0 0.4 Miles

 ̄
!F

!F !F

!5

!5

ÆQ

Wawona

Maintenance

Area

Wawona Hotel

Wawona Golf

Course

Wawona Store 

Picnic Area

South Fork Picnic Area

Wawona

Campground

Big

Creek

Sout h Fork Merced River

Wawona

Stables

ALTERNATIVE 6

WAWONA

Yosemite National Park

California

Merced River Plan Restoration Elements National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Legend

ÆQ Campgrounds

!5 Picnic Area

!i Parking

Ü Trailhead

Boating put in or take out

Designated River Access

à Road bridge

à Footbridge

Lakes/Streams

E Bridge Removal

E Dump Station Removal

E Infrastructure Removal

Constructed Log Jam/Bioengineer

Constructed Log Jam

New dump station

Black Oak Restoration

Floodplain and Riparian Restoration

Meadow Restoration

Potential Meadow and Upland Restoration

Riparian Restoration

Wilderness Restoration

Surfaced Areas

Building

Trails

â New fencing

É É É Repair headcut

Remove pipe

KKK Delineate and/or reduce parking footprint

KKK Roadside parking removal

KKK New Boardwalk

KKK New Trail/Trail reroute

KKK Trail removal

KKK New Road

KKK Road mitigation

Brush layer

Revegetate

Fill ditch

Fill removal

Road removal

Remove parking

Remove informal trail

Retain riprap

Keep riprap and plant

Remove riprap and brushlayer

Remove riprap and incorporate large wood

Remove riprap and revegetate

 ̄

0 0.1 0.2 Miles
Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS
Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan / FEIS

This page intentionally left blank. 
Acousti

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

APPENDIX F

ACOUSTICAL MEASUREMENT LOCATIONS

This appendix includes Table F-1 and Table F2, which provide detailed descriptions of the acoustical measurement locations and 

and sources, and Figure F-1, which illustrates the acoustical measurement locations listed in the tables.

TABLE F-1: SUMMARY OF NOISE MEASUREMENTS

# Date Time Location Level (dBA)

Background 

Description of Sound / 

1 9/11/99 8:30 First Merced River pedestrian bridge on John Muir Trail – 

base of Vernal Falls.

64.0 River sounds predominated. Also, visitor-r

somewhat. Vernal Falls was audible in the 

2 9/11/99 9:10

Valley adjacent to Vernal Falls.

On the “mist” trail that winds up to Little Yosemite 75.5 Waterfall noise predominated. Maximum 

were associated with people talking and y

3 9/11/99 9:50

falls.

Viewing area atop Vernal Falls, overlooking the river and 65.5

for most of the measured level. Visitor

The falls produced the background sound 

-re

with people talking and yelling.

for the remainder. Maximum noise levels 

4 9/11/99 10:47

bridge and falls

Viewing area atop Nevada Falls overlooking river, trail 

. 

60.5

for most of the measured level. Visitor

The falls produced the background sound 

-re

for the remainder.

5 9/11/99 12:00 Little Yosemite Valley campground area - approximately 

700 feet east from river. 

40.0

Measurements were taken in an area wit

Rushing water accounted for campgroun

6 9/11/99 3:00

Valley), on trail adjacent to river.

Bunnell Cascade area (3 miles east of Little Yosemite 53.5

occurred during measurement.

Rushing water over granite cascades pred

7 9/12/99 11:00

side.

Soda Springs, about 2 miles east of Merced Lake at river 56.0

occurred during measureme

Rushing water over granite cascades pred

nt.

8 9/12/99 11:30

Springs area. 

0.25 miles, off trail, away from river, north of Soda 41.5 Forest-related sounds predominated (bird

through trees). River sounds were also dis

9 9/12/99 16:15 One-half mile south of Washburn Lake on trail about 300 

feet to river.

34.5

forest sources (birds, insects, and wind th

Background sound level reflected distant 

10 9/12/99 16:30 On the shore at mid-portion of Washburn Lake. 30.5

measurement approximates the limit of de

No discernible sources of sound were obse
APPENDIX F 

ACOUSTICAL MEASUREMENT LOCATIONS

F-4 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Compre

TABLE F-1: SUMMARY OF NOISE MEASUREMENTS

# Date Time Location Level (dBA)

Background 

Description of Sound / 

11 9/12/99 15:30

on trail.

Merced River confluence area. About 100 feet off river 

1 mile southeast of Washburn Lake within the overall 35.5 Sources included distant river rapids wind 

12 9/12/99 13:30

feet from river.

bridge at mouth of Merced Peak Fork River. About 200 

About 2 miles southeast of Washburn Lake near twin 40.5 Canyon was narrow in this area, and the 

and high

Most sound was from river; other sources 

-altitude aircraft. Maximum noise 

was 43 dBA.

13 9/12/99 14:30

valley, abo

On trail, climbing out of the Merced Peak Fork River 

ut 2.5 miles from Washburn. Gaining elevation 

away from river.

38.5

level.

directly overhead, which was clearly notic

Maximum noise level of 55.5 dBA was ca

Rushing water sounds were noticeable bu

14 9/12/99 15:10

Merced Peak Fork and Triple Peak Fork. 

On trail almost to saddle on the divide between the 35.0

exposed bedrock seemed to amplify river 

Sources included distant rushing water an

15 9/18/99 8:40

Drive.

Yosemite Falls Trail, second footbridge north of Northside 45.5

location).

Northside Drive (approximately 150 feet s

No water in Yosemite Falls Creek, people 

16 9/18/99 9:00 Yosemite Falls Trail, end of maintained foot trail 

measurement).

(approximately 1,000 feet north of previous 

46.5

was associated with people t

were the predominant source of noise. M

There was no water in Yosemite Falls Cre

alking as the

17 9/18/99 9:30

to Merced River).

Devil’s Elbow (on south side of Northside Drive adjacent 44.0

this area. Very few people were around. M

River sounds were relatively low since the

associated with a bus on Northside Drive. 

18 9/18/99 9:50

Northside Drive.

El Capitan Meadow approximately 1,500 feet south of 38.5

the river. 

the sound came from wind through the t

The river was calm in this area, and no pe

19 9/18/99 10:30

and Big Oak Flat Road.

Along the river at the stone bridge between Arch Rock 

El Portal Road in the Gorge Segment of the Merced River. 52.0 Rushing water sounds accounted for majo

approximately 40 feet below the grade of 

distance (approximately 300 feet away) a

was audible from El Portal Road, but it wa

Measurements were taken in area with n

20 9/18/99 11:15

the dam).

along river area that is calm due to impoundment from 

Cascades Dam (approximately 500 feet east of dam 48.5

noise was attributable to their a

The river was calm in this area, people we

ctivities. M

dBA was due to a bus on Northside Drive

21 9/18/99 12:00 Swinging Bridge. 49.5

wading or skipping stones were the great

River was generally calm in this area. Visit
Acousti

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS 

TABLE F-1: SUMMARY OF NOISE MEASUREMENTS

# Date Time Location Level (dBA)

Background 

Description of Sound / 

22 9/18/99 12:30 Sentinel Bridge. 58.5 Substantial amount of visitor-related nois

generally slow (10

Vehicular traffic on bridge added to the le

-15 mph). Idling tour b

associated with tour buses that use the b

background noise level. Maximum noise l

23 9/18/99 14:40 Happy Isles. 59.0 Most of the noise was from people using 

24 9/18/99 19:45 Midway between the river and main access road to the 

Upper Pines Campground.

55.0

vehicles.

(and yelling), generators from recreationa

Noise was generally from the campgroun

25 9/19/99 6:00 Same location as #24. 32.0 No human-caused noise sources were dis

measurement was taken. 

26 9/19/99 10:30 In the middle of the old Wawona Bridge. 49.5

Store across the roadway (i.e., people talk

Most of the noise was associated with the 

associated with a truck crossing the repla

vehicular traffic noise). Maximum noise le

27 9/19/99 10:45

Wawona.

covered bridge near the Pioneer History Center in 

Along South Fork approximately 100 feet west of the 44.0

horses and stagecoach crossing the cover

Other sources of noise included people us

River sounds were noticeable with a few 

NOTE: See Figure F-1 for a map showing the locations of the noise measurement sites.
APPENDIX F 

ACOUSTICAL MEASUREMENT LOCATIONS

F-6 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Compre

TABLE F2: SUMMARY OF NOISE MEASUREMENTS

Site # Year Location – Habitat Type

Measured Media

Daytim

YOSE001 2005 White Wolf – Red fir forest 27

YOSE002 2005 Tuolumne Meadows – Meadow/lake open area below treeline 34

YOSE003 2005 Snow Flats – Subalpine/lodgepole 29

YOSE004 2005 Granite Lakes – Alpine tundra 27

YOSE005 2006 Lyell Winter Site – Meadow/lake open area below treeline 27

YOSE006* 2006 Yosemite Village – Developed concession area 51

YOSE007 2006 Hodgdon Meadow – Dense mixed conifer 28

YOSE008 2006 Sentinel Rock – Upper vertical canyon 31

YOSE009 2006 Ostrander Lake Trail – Dense lodgepole 28

YOSE011 2006 Olmstead Point – Vertical canyon/open lodgepole 34

NOTE: See Figure F-1 for a map showing the locations of the noise measurement sites. 

* Site YOSE006 is the only 2005-2006 acoustical monitoring site within the Merced River Wild and Scenic River Corridor, and therefore is the only such site depicted o

SOURCE: Yosemite National Park Acoustic Monitoring Report, 2005 & 2006.
Yosemite Village 

 YOSE006

F

July 2012 Final
APPENDIX F 

ACOUSTICAL MEASUREMENT LOCATIONS

F-8 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Compreh

This page intentionally left blank. 
Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

APPENDIX G

ON-ROAD VEHICLE CRITERIA POLLUTANT AND 

GHG EMISSION ESTIMATES
Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

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Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS G-1 

APPENDIX G

ON-ROAD VEHICLE CRITERIA POLLUTANT AND 

GHG EMISSION ESTIMATES

Scenario Year: 2020

All model years in the range 1976 to 2020 Highest (Most Conservative) EMFAC2007 (version 2.3) 

Passenger Vehicles 

(pounds/mile)

Delivery Trucks 

(pounds/mile) Emission Factors for On-Road Passenger Vehicles and Delivery Trucks

CO 0.00444247 CO 0.00799617 Projects in the SCAQMD

NOx 0.00040506 NOx 0.00831802 Derived from Peak Emissions Inventory (Winter, Annual, Summer)

ROG 0.00052463 ROG 0.00122382

SOx 0.00001073 SOx 0.00002733 Emissions (pounds per day) = N x TL x EF

PM10 0.00009550 PM10 0.00035054 where N = number of trips, TL = trip length (miles/day), and EF = emission factor (pounds per mile)

PM2.5 0.00006279 PM2.5 0.00027128 All the emission factors account for the emissions from start, running and idling exhaust. 

CO2 1.10456157 CO2 2.85148109 In addition, the ROG emission factors include diurnal, hot soak, running

CH4 0.00004495 CH4 0.00005330 and resting emissions, and the PM10 & PM2.5 emission factors include tire and brake wear.

Delivery truck Efs are an average for MDV and HDV and were used to estimate emissions for buses 

# Visitor Vehicles/day

Air Pollutant 

Emissions

Visitors – lbs/yr (during 

high and shoulder seasons 

(240 days))

Buses - lbs/yr (based on 

7 day/wk, 50 wk/yr ops)

tons per 

year

Minus 

Alt 1

ALTERNATIVE 1

18675.83 CO 433226.5723 4437.076634 219 0

NOx 39501.13542 4615.666883 22 0 

VMT/day 406330.1 ROG 51161.13987 679.0979535 26 0 

SOx 1046.08355 15.16690013 1 0 

Annual Bus #s 10565 PM10 9312.69502 194.5154942 5 0 

Annual Bus VMT 554900 PM2.5 6123.415904 150.5314838 3 0 

From GHG Inventory CO2 107715988.6 1582286.856 49576.86 MT

 CH4 4383.345218 29.57545526 2.001667 MT

49619 CO2E 0 

ALTERNATIVE 2

14314.17 CO 332048.2278 4926.842256 168 -51

NOx 30275.8022 5125.145341 18 -4

VMT/day 311433.3 ROG 39212.65895 754.0569545 20 -6 

SOx 801.7748937 16.84102634 0 -1 

Annual Bus #s 11265 PM10 7137.752102 215.9861628 4 -1 

Annual Bus VMT 616150 PM2.5 4693.316451 167.1471864 2 -1 

From GHG Inventory CO2 82559347.46 1756940.073 38245.22 MT

CH4 3359.632359 32.84000137 1.538799 MT

38278 CO2E -11341

ALTERNATIVE 3

13935.42 CO 323262.2978 4926.842256 164 -55

NOx 29474.71051 5125.145341 17 -5

VMT/day 303192.9 ROG 38175.0998 754.0569545 19 -7

SOx 780.5600896 16.84102634 0 -1 

Annual Bus #s 11265 PM10 6948.888603 215.9861628 4 -1 

Annual Bus VMT 616150 PM2.5 4569.132232 167.1471864 2 -1 

From GHG Inventory CO2 80374843.57 1756940.073 37254.34 MT

CH4 3270.737156 32.84000137 1.498477 MT

37286 CO2E -12333
APPENDIX G 

ON-ROAD VEHICLE CRITERIA POLLUTANT AND 

GHG EMISSION ESTIMATES

G-2 Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan / EIS

# Visitor Vehicles/day

Air Pollutant 

Emissions

Visitors – lbs/yr (during high 

and shoulder seasons (240 

days))

Buses - lbs/yr (based on 

7 day/wk, 50 wk/yr ops)

tons per 

year

Minus Alt 

1 

ALTERNATIVE 4

16089.17 CO 373223.2132 5668.487342 189 -30

NOx 34030.09333 5896.641293 20 -2 

VMT/day 350052 ROG 44075.14736 867.5662988 22 -4

SOx 901.1974077 19.37613174 0 -1

Annual Bus #s 12490 PM10 8022.854971 248.4988896 4 -1 

Annual Bus VMT 708900 PM2.5 5275.301899 192.3081076 3 0 

From GHG Inventory CO2 92796956.48 2021414.944 43008.88 MT

CH4 3776.236942 37.7834569 1.73001 MT

43045 CO2E -6574

ALTERNATIVE 5

17812.08 CO 413190.0125 8914.933752 211 -8 

NOx 37674.22333 9273.755646 23 1 

VMT/day 387537.5 ROG 48794.95713 1364.437391 25 -1 

SOx 997.7025944 30.4731969 1 0 

Annual Bus #s 20015 PM10 8881.986511 390.8187502 5 0 

Annual Bus VMT 1114900 PM2.5 5840.210309 302.4464792 3 0 

From GHG Inventory CO2 102734166.2 3179116.266 48041.45 MT

CH4 4180.617213 59.42273395 1.923249 MT

48082 CO2E -1537

ALTERNATIVE 6

18801.25 CO 436135.8847 9362.719464 223 4 

NOx 39766.40341 9739.564522 25 3 

VMT/day 409058.8 ROG 51504.71007 1432.971335 26 0 

SOx 1053.108474 32.00382657 1 0 

Annual Bus #s 20715 PM10 9375.233979 410.4490758 5 0 

Annual Bus VMT 1170900 PM2.5 6164.537411 317.6379787 3 0 

From GHG Inventory CO2 108439350.2 3338799.207 50701.71 MT

CH4 4412.781363 62.40746182 2.029911 MT

50744 CO2E 1125