Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for the Restoration of Wind-tidal Flats Damaged by Off-road Driving

The National Park Service (NPS) will be preparing an environmental assessment (EA) which will analyze the effects of restoring an area of wind-tidal flats damaged by off-road vehicles. The project would restore the surface hydrology and promote the return of algal mat within the damaged area.
A fundamental policy of the National Park Service is to preserve park resources to the extent that the resources will be left unimpaired for future generations. Tire tracks left behind by vehicles alter the physical, biological, and aesthetic components of these valuable wetlands, and may take years to decades to recover naturally.
The deep ruts and ridges of the tracks interrupt the natural surface hydrology of the wind-tidal flat. This primary wetland area is characterized by long dry periods of exposure until inundation by lagoon waters driven by strong northerly winds. Flooding of the area is relatively brief, with water loss due to either a shift in wind direction or evaporation. Alterations to the topography result in changes to depth and duration of flooding. Wind-tidal flats are a very limited and specialized environment existing within a few centimeters of sea level, leaving them vulnerable to potential loss as a result of climate change or sea level change.
Wind-tidal flats serve as an important winter and migration foraging habitat for shorebirds, including the federally threatened Piping plover and Red knot. Wind-tidal flats such as those at Yarborough Pass are able to support large blue-green algal mats, creating an ideal environment for a thriving benthic community. Shorebirds feed on the polychaetes, crustaceans, and insect larvae found within the algal mats.

An Environmental Assessment will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to provide the decision-making framework that (1) analyzes reasonable alternatives to meet project objectives, and (2) evaluates issues and impacts to park resources and values.

The National Park Service encourages public participation throughout the NEPA process during which the public has two opportunities to formally comment on the project; once during initial project scoping and again following release of the Environmental Assessment. We are currently in the scoping phase of this project, and invite you to submit your written comments online at the NPS Planning, Environment, and Public Comment website.

If you are not able to submit comments electronically through this website, then you may also submit written comments to me at the address on the letterhead. Please provide all comments by March 20, 2015. These comments will be considered during preparation of the Environmental Assessment. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you have any questions, or require additional information, please contact Mr. James Lindsay at (361) 949-8173 ext. 223, or email James_Lindsay@nps.gov.

Document Content:

WTF Scoping Letter PUBLIC Signed 20150217.pdf   (105.7 KB, PDF file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.