Point Reyes National Seashore's
General Management Plan Amendment (GMPA)
The Point Reyes National Seashore (Seashore) was established in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy signed the Enabling Act. The Seashore supports a rich diversity of habitats including marine waters, sandy beaches, wetlands, coastal scrub and riparian corridors, grasslands, and fir and pine forests ecosystems. These habitats support more than 1,500 species of plants and animals, 50 of which are listed as state or federal government as endangered, threatened, or special status. The Seashore is located along the Pacific Flyway where more than 54% of all North American birds have been recorded, making it exceptional habitat for migrating and nesting species.
The Seashore comprises almost 72,000 acres, of which 33,000 acres are designated as wilderness, and 18,000 acres are currently leased to beef and dairy ranching operations. In addition, 10,000 acres south of the Seashore are part of the northern district of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area that is managed by the Seashore.
The Seashore is an irreplaceable treasure, right here in Marin County. It requires careful management strategies that are based on the best available science, transparency, and engagement with the public to ensure park resources are left both unimpaired and improved to benefit future generations.
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EAC’S ADVOCACY
Read EAC’s One-Pager
We have remained steadfast in careful consideration of our actions, always keeping our eye on our ultimate goal of protecting the Seashore, a national treasure in Marin County’s backyard. When the Seashore began the public process to update the GMPA, we dug in, and applied the best available science, conducted regulatory and policy reviews, and engaged in political advocacy to protect the park in the complicated planning landscape.
We do not support the Seashore's preferred alternative.
To ensure the long-term protection of the Seashore’s irreplaceable natural resources, we worked within the public process and engaged with different stakeholder groups who shared the same goal: a GMPA that protects, restores, and preserves park resources. We have serious concerns in several areas, some include: implementation ability; accountability; impacts to natural resources (including habitats, species, and water quality); the allowance of diversified operations; and the culling of the tule elk.
LETTERS TO COASTAL COMMISSION
Letters to National Park Service
what is the general management plan amendment (GMPA)?
In spring 2014, the National Park Service (NPS) initiated the Ranch Comprehensive Management Plan (RCMP) for the approximately 28,000 acres of active beef and dairy ranching on NPS lands in Point Reyes and the north district of Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The RCMP was in response to a decision made by Secretary Ken Salazar in 2012 requesting the Seashore to pursue long-term ranching and dairy leases.
The RCMP planning process was interrupted in 2016 by litigation asserting that NPS should complete an update to the Seashore’s General Management Plan (GMP) to address where ranching and dairying operations could continue, rather than how they should continue. The court approved a multi-party Settlement Agreement on July 14, 2017. Per the Settlement Agreement, the NPS agreed that in lieu of the RCMP, they would prepare a GMP Amendment (GMPA) and Environmental Impact Study (EIS) addressing the management of the lands currently leased for ranching in Point Reyes and the north district of Golden Gate.
NPS initiated the GMPA in the fall of 2017, accepting public comment on a wide variety of resource management issues. A compilation of the more than 3,000 public comments was released in the spring of 2018. October 2018, NPS released the Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a General Management Plan Amendment that officially started the NEPA process for the GMPA. In April 2019, NPS released 1,350 public comments. Comment areas include topics that impact the Seashore including (but not limited to): continued ranching, diversification, Tule Elk management, ranching and grazing practices, water quality, silage production, species of special concern, socioeconomics, visitor use and experience, vegetation impacts, natural resource protection, wildlife, and cultural resources.
EAC’S GMPA TIMELINE
Since 1971, EAC has addressed the important environmental issues facing our community and our public lands. We have worked on community development and public access to parks and coastal areas, supported pathways for ecologically appropriate agriculture practices, supported full designation of wilderness areas, promoted affordable housing development, protected wildlife, supported strong coastal protections, provided environmental education, and protected Tomales Bay and West Marin’s watersheds.
EAC supports the 2012 determination by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to designate Drakes Estero as Wilderness and the directive for the Seashore to pursue issuing long-term leases to the ranches and dairies within the Seashore.
The GMPA public process is the appropriate method to obtain public input and feedback to determine where and how ranches and dairies may operate in an environmentally responsible manner within in the Seashore.
To do this, the GMPA must advance the protection, restoration, and preservation of park resources using ranch leases that ensure that multi-generational, environmentally sustainable ranching is complementary to the natural resources and visitor experiences within the park.
Read our Comment Letters:
EAC remains committed to our guiding principles to to ensure the protection and preservation of natural resources, restore degraded habitats and park resources, and to allow maximum public access to parklands.
