Plan Process

The Park has developed a Cultural Landscape Report that establishes a preservation philosophy and a framework to guide treatment to enhance resource condition and visitor experience, and support interpretive programming. It will guide implementation of our General Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, 2006, allowing the Park to achieve the desired condition of natural and cultural resources, circa 1862. It also provides for the long-term stewardship of the Park for current visitors and future generations by improving cultural resource protection, and providing a cohesive, unified visitor experience.

As part of this effort, the NPS has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for an evaluation of alternatives for the Cultural Landscape Report. The plan will look at a variety of treatment options to achieve the goals of the General Management Plan and to help fulfill the purpose of the park's creation.


* 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
Step 10. Prepare and Issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (If warranted) *