For almost a decade, Friends of Yosemite Valley and Mariposans for Environmentally Responsible Growth have defended the public's interests [in Yosemite National Park] against repeated assaults by the National Park Service. The courts have confirmed and reaffirmed the correctness of their position. With the decision handed down by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on March 27, 2008 there can be no lingering doubt who was right and who was wrong.
The ramifications of this case are enormous. The Court in effect ruled that the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 has teeth and that the English language meaning of the words of this act cannot be ignored. The law cannot be ignored by the National Park Service in relation to the Merced River. The law cannot be ignored by other land management agencies in relation to other designated Wild and Scenic rivers.
Amongst other things the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act requires that the river corridor must be adequately protected, that the outstandingly remarkable values must be preserved, that a Comprehensive Management Plan be written and adhered to and that the kinds and amounts of public use that can be sustained without adversely impacting the resource be established, monitored and enforced.
For more information visit www.yosemitevalley.org
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TOC for Forest & River News, Spring 2008