Environmental plans and policy processes often play out over months or even years of meetings and public input. Here are examples of current important processes that will directly affect the Northern Yosemite region.
Rim Fire Reforestation
Stanislaus Forest officials originally proposed planting dense tree plantations and using high levels of herbicides across 21,000 acres of the Rim Fire. That reforestation plan received strong opposition from CSERC and other conservation groups. In an effort to find middle ground, CSERC helped craft a proposal by the Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions collaborative group for the Forest to apply four different planting strategies — two would apply lower “tree plantation” stocking and far less herbicide use.
The Stanislaus Forest recently announced a tentative date of April 22nd for the release of the draft Rim Reforestation EIS and the revised plan to replant conifer seedlings in the burn area. In a separate Rim Fire reforestation project that used no herbicides, CSERC staff and volunteers recently helped plant 1,300 seedlings in an area totally lacking any young trees. As shown at right, scattered snags still stand as stark reminders of the forest that was incinerated in the area that was planted. The Tuolumne River Trust has spearheaded the coordination of tree planting in this no-herbicide area and has effectively rallied many volunteers.
Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) Management Plan
In a process where strident advocates for extreme snowmobile use have dominated public meetings and open house sessions, the Stanislaus Forest held two recent workshops to invite input. At the first session, the meeting ended up being mostly a gripe session for snowmobilers who don’t want any restrictions on where they can ride. After complaints from the environmental and quiet recreation community, the Forest staff stopped describing the one-sided sessions as “collaboration” and instead focused on using the second meeting to describe five alternative plans being considered. The Forest’s proposed action still includes the agency’s intent to open up three roadless areas to snowmobile use. CSERC and various other organizations oppose any motorized use being allowed in wild, roadless areas.
Fish Passage Past Dams On The Tuolumne River
CSERC is participating in two collaborative processes affecting salmon and steelhead, river flows, recreation, water temperature, and other issues affecting the Tuolumne River. To bolster salmon survival, one option being assessed is “fish passage” – transporting spawning salmon around Don Pedro Reservoir to reach historic spawning sites now blocked by two dams. This and other key issues are part of intensive, ongoing debates with utility districts that manage dams on the river.
