The new threat
Horrifically, despite decades of documentation showing the destruction to the park caused by ranchers (much of this documentation even coming from the park service) the park service staff have chosen to increase ranching in every possible way.
Did you know there was a wildlife friendly option? Read about it here.
Here's an overview of the destruction the park is proposing
The park service is proposing to extend ranchers leases to another 20 years, and re-designate 28,700 acres in Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area as a “Ranchland zone.”
Native tule elk will be in the crosshairs if the National Park Service approves their “Preferred Alternative” (Alternative B) of culling free-roaming elk in the Drake’s Beach and Limantour herds. Tule elk would be hazed on foot by park staff out of cattle pastures, and shot if they persist.
But also at risk in the park’s preferred plan are an incredibly high diversity of native species, including coho salmon, steelhead trout, California freshwater shrimp, tricolored blackbird, Myrtles silverspot butterfly, California red-legged frog, Western snowy plover, and numerous rare plant species.
The park would allow expanded sheep and goat herds onto 9,000 acres of the proposed Pasture subzone.
Beef cattle would be allowed to graze year-round in the same numbers, and dairies would be allowed a slight increase, in the park's Preferred Alternative.
We oppose the proposed Ranch Core subzone on 180 acres, where row crops could be grown, new buildings constructed, and onsite farm processing plants built. In addition, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, horse boarding, yurts, lodging, ranch stays, and other commercial activities would be allowed to occur on park land, apparently for the profit of the 24 ranchers. These are not concessions, as is usual in National park units.
Did you know there was a wildlife friendly option? Read about it here.
Here's an overview of the destruction the park is proposing
The park service is proposing to extend ranchers leases to another 20 years, and re-designate 28,700 acres in Point Reyes National Seashore and Golden Gate National Recreation Area as a “Ranchland zone.”
Native tule elk will be in the crosshairs if the National Park Service approves their “Preferred Alternative” (Alternative B) of culling free-roaming elk in the Drake’s Beach and Limantour herds. Tule elk would be hazed on foot by park staff out of cattle pastures, and shot if they persist.
But also at risk in the park’s preferred plan are an incredibly high diversity of native species, including coho salmon, steelhead trout, California freshwater shrimp, tricolored blackbird, Myrtles silverspot butterfly, California red-legged frog, Western snowy plover, and numerous rare plant species.
The park would allow expanded sheep and goat herds onto 9,000 acres of the proposed Pasture subzone.
Beef cattle would be allowed to graze year-round in the same numbers, and dairies would be allowed a slight increase, in the park's Preferred Alternative.
We oppose the proposed Ranch Core subzone on 180 acres, where row crops could be grown, new buildings constructed, and onsite farm processing plants built. In addition, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, horse boarding, yurts, lodging, ranch stays, and other commercial activities would be allowed to occur on park land, apparently for the profit of the 24 ranchers. These are not concessions, as is usual in National park units.
