Plan Process

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks contain more than 260 known caves formed within marble rock at a wide range of elevations across the parks. It has been 11 years since the last revision of the CMP (1997) and during that time more than 75 new caves have been found in the park. The caves contain subterranean streams and are aquifers providing for down stream flows. Park caves are home to many rare cave-adapted species, some of which occur nowhere else in the world. The use of caves by the public, NPS staff, and researchers may be affecting the cave resources the park is charged to protect.

* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Review of existing plan and decision that update is necessary
Step 2. Conduct public scoping
Step 3. Determine issues and start to develop alternatives
Step 4. Refine alternatives
Step 5. Assess impacts and prepare environmental assessment
Step 6. Select the preferred alternative and complete environmental assessment *
Step 7. Public review of environmental assessment
Step 8. Analyze public comments
Step 9. Select final alternative and prepare final plan and decision document
Step 10. Review and approval by NPS Pacific Northwest Regional Director
Step 11. Notify public of final decision
Step 12. Implement plan

The purpose of a cave management plan is to provide direction for the parks' cave management team in working with the visiting public and researchers. This direction supports the protection and conservation of all park cave and karst resources as directed by federal law and National Park Service (NPS) policy. Comments concerning the scope, contents, and breadth of this plan will be used to help identify significant issues for the management of caves within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

The Cave Management Plan and environmental assessment will be developed over the next year, and is expected to be released for public review and comment in summer 2010.