Photo of a stretch of the Missouri River in North Dakota.

Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail » Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement » Document List

Dear Visitors and Partners,

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail announces the start of a long range, comprehensive planning effort and invites your participation. The National Park Service (NPS) has begun developing a Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) for the Trail that will guide future administration and management of the Trail for the next 15-20 years. This process provides a chance to look at long range goals and issues, and develop a vision for future opportunities and desired conditions along the Trail. This plan will help to guide us in how we preserve, interpret, and use the Trail's resources while working within the framework of law and policy. As part of the CMP process, the NPS is inviting all interested parties to provide insight on the how the NPS will operate as the administrator of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Building on past successes, it is important to note that a critical aspect of this process will be the involvement of the public who have ideas and insights on how the NPS can best work with all interested groups, agencies, tribes and individuals. The partnership component of this Trail is essential to the operation and day-to-day management of Trail resources. It is my hope that through active public engagement we will not only create a plan that helps the NPS achieve its full potential, but also one that engages new partners to help guide us as the plan is implemented in the coming years. With your help, the planning process for the CMP will explore what range of resource conditions and visitor experiences should be achieved and maintained over time.

The initial comment period for this study has started, and will extend through October 30, 2010. We encourage you to review our CMP newsletter #1 and provide your comments directly on this planning website. To submit a comment, first open the CMP newsletter #1 by clicking on "Open For Public Comment" on the lefthand side of this screen, then click on "Comment on document." We hope you'll take the time to let us know your thoughts and ideas.

In addition, we will hold public meetings this summer, as we visit at least one location in each state along the Trail. A listing of meeting locations and times can be found under "Meeting Notices" on the lefthand side of this screen or in our CMP newsletter #1, which can be accessed under "Document List" and "Open For Public Comment." Please join us to share your ideas and comments if you can.

Other formal opportunities to provide comments will occur during the alternatives review phase of the process and following the publication of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Planning process steps and timeframes are outlined in the newsletter. Please keep in mind that we welcome your input at any time during the planning process. You may also request to be added to our mailing or e-mail list to receive updates.

My staff and I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you this summer out on the Trail or at one of our public meetings.


Contact Information

Mark Weekley, Superintendent
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
601 Riverfront Drive
Omaha, Nebraska 68102
telephone 402–661–1804, or
402-661-1814