November 15, 2006
As we go to press: A federal court has halted several new construction and ground-disturbing projects affecting Yosemite National Park's Merced River. In July the same court ruled that the latest version of a plan for the river was invalid. These rulings come two years after the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the Park to prepare a "new or revised" plan for the Merced.
The ruling issued November 3, 2006, makes explicit that the National Park Service must follow the law and prepare a valid plan to protect the Merced River before proceeding with construction activities that would harm the river environment.
The recent order stops all projects as requested by the plaintiffs, which included Friends of Yosemite Valley. These halted projects involve routing a new roadway closer to the Merced, constructing upscale hotel units, developing new RV motor coach sites with hook-ups, paving, and other new construction that would usher in even more development while reducing family camping opportunities in Yosemite Valley.
Greg Adair, Director of Friends of Yosemite Valley, stated: "In addition to failing to protect the river, the park's invalid planning documents accommodate this growing threat of commercialism."
For more information contact Friends of Yosimite Valley at www.foyv.org
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TOC for Forest & River News, Fall 2006