Plan Process

The National Park Service (NPS) has begun the design of preparing a white-tailed deer management plan for Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Friendship Hill National Historic Site and Flight 93 National Memorial, all in western Pennsylvania. The dramatic increase in white-tailed deer densities over the past century have led to substantial ecological changes and degradation in both the natural and cultural landscapes of western Pennsylvania parks.

A deer management plan will support the protection, recovery and restoration of native vegetation within the cultural and natural landscapes by managing deer overbrowsing inside the parks. Deer are part of the natural ecosystem. NPS wants to maintain a manageable deer density that also allows forests to regenerate.


* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Define purpose and need/develop preliminary alternatives
Step 2. Conduct external scoping *
Step 3. Refine alternatives
Step 4. Identify environmental impacts and select preferred alternative
Step 5. Prepare draft plan/environmental document
Step 6. Public review of draft plan/environmental document
Step 7. Analysis of public comment
Step 8. Prepare final plan/decision document
Step 9. Release final plan/decision document to the public