The contentious National Park Service plan to protect the Merced River in Yosemite ran into another road block Wednesday when U.S. District Court Judge Anthony Ishii said a revision of an earlier plan wasn't enough to satisfy the demands of an appellate court. He said a new plan is called for.
The environmentalists who have been fighting the Park Service over the plan -- not surprisingly -- were "delighted" with the decision, according to The Bee's Mark Grossi in today's story. The Park Service was less than thrilled.
Yosemite is always contentious. The park is a treasure, and everyone wants a piece of it. That's fitting, because it belongs to everyone. But it's terribly hard to find a balance between the need to protect a sometimes fragile environment and the right of the American people -- and the people of the world, for that matter -- to enjoy this jewel in every possible fashion.
Who knows how this will turn out? The one certain thing is that, in any issue involving Yosemite, passions will run high. If nothing else, that's testimony to the power this natural wonder has over those who love it.
It has been moe than a quarter of a century since planning for the future began at Yosemite. It has been almost a decade since the floodwaters of the Merced River provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to charta course for the future. The Park Service responded with balanced plans that were produced through open and honest planing processes that were fully accesible to the public.
It is, to say the very least, an exercise in frustration to see an endless string of lawsuits challenging plans that must balance the hopes and wishes of millions of people.
I am a descendent of the original Indian people of Yosemite and I believe Yosemite National Park is using illegal practices to get work done in Yosemite.
They use a non-profit Indian groups who are member of other enrolled tribes to push through their plans. The park seems to be only interested in creating more money than the keeping Yosemite beautiful. That is my opinion.
Dear Mr. Minick, interesting comments by Jay Watson and the native american women. Thank you for your comments and the Fresno Bee coverage of National Park issues.