Below is a news release from the National Parks Service.
Point Reyes National Seashore has released its final plan for the management of the Tomales Point area.
The plan calls for removal of a tule elk enclosure fence and all temporary water systems installed during the most recent drought. It also includes future opportunities to improve recreational uses and the visitor experience at historic Pierce Ranch, new approaches to preserve and maintain wilderness character in the Phillip Burton Wilderness, and methods to better protect natural and cultural resources.
Under the General Agreement for a government-to-government partnership, Point Reyes National Seashore consulted and collaborated with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria throughout this planning process. The park is incorporating the Tribe’s views and traditional ecological knowledge into the management of Tomales Point.
“We analyzed three alternatives and incorporated feedback from over 35,000 public comment letters gathered during three comment periods,” said Anne Altman, park superintendent. “The benefit of removing this enclosure is to allow elk to access additional habitat, increase the species’ population resilience during drought, and promote a more natural population cycle.”
The decision, which the National Environmental Policy Act calls a Finding of No Significant Impact, represents the final stage of an environmental assessment that began in 2023.
The selected alternative is consistent with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife’s management of tule elk outside of Point Reyes National Seashore.
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December 5, 2024 update: Ranchers filed a temporary restraining order to halt the removal of fencing. Find more details here.
(Photo credit: National Parks Service/Anela Kopshever)