The “other” great river flowing through Yosemite is the Tuolumne. It flows down the meadow by the same name, past the Glen Aulin High Sierra camp, and into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. From there it slowly winds westward in an impressive canyon. If you are more than a casual visitor, you appreciate all that the Tuolumne has to offer. Like the Merced it is subject to the provisions of the Wild and Scenic River Act. Being significantly under NPS control, the park is tasked with maintaining it for generations. To that end, the park has developed the 2008 Tuolumne Planning Workbook. It is now available for public (your) review and comment through September 15. All comments will be considered in the preparation of the Draft Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Tuolumne River Plan/EIS), scheduled for release in summer 2009. I have my 32 page booklet in front of me and it outlines 5 alternatives to management of both the river as a whole and the meadows. Each alternative attempts to balance visitor, cultural and natural resources impacts.
Copies are available at the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, the grill, the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center, and at Parsons Lodge. Or email your request to Yose_Planning@nps.gov, leave a phone message with your contact information at 209-379-1365, fax a request to 209-379-1294, or send your contact info by mail to Superintendent, attn: Tuolumne Workbook, PO Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389. They even pay for the postage! An online version can be viewed on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/2008wrkbk.htm.
*Carpe Diem Experience– Rick Deutsch–www.HikeHalfDome.com*