Group not surprised by Yellowstone gate decision. AP. Idaho Statesman.
But I am. Cody businesspeople almost always get their way with the Park, and despite the astronomic cost of keeping the East Entrance at Sylvan Pass open for a handful of snowmobilers, I thought the Park would be ordered to cave. So this is good news if you think the Park’s limited funds should be used for its more important functions.
It has been hard to keep track of the many Yellowstone snowmobile plans, but a new, final plan comes out today, and it involves closing Sylvan Pass.
Final plan: Close Sylvan in winter. By Whitney Royster. Casper Star-Tribune environmental reporter.
Update. The new final plan reduces the total number of snowmobiles into the Park to 540 per day from the previous high allowance of 720, but in recent years the number of snowmobiles hasn’t come close to even the new lower limit.
To my view some good news is the discontinuance of the Continental Divide Snowmobile Trail between Moran Junction and Flagg Ranch.
Story in New West. Final Winter Plan Reduces Snowmobiles in Yellowstone Park. By Lucia Stewart.
Print Friendly
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University with specialties in natural resource politics, public opinion, interest groups, political parties, voting and elections. Aside from academic publications, he is author or co-author of three hiking/backpacking guides, and he is past President of the Western Watersheds Project.
“Most of all, however, I think it’s a violation of several of the Park Service’s core management principles. Why did the National Park Service collect input only to disregard it? It appears the decision was already made before input was taken.”
sounds to me like that is basically what the other services do,,ie, comments on delisting and such,, they have the meetings, allow the talk, then do what they want anyway,, sounds like turnabout is fair play for a change,
Don’t count this chicken before it hatches. The “decision” is not a done deal yet and Wyoming is still Wyoming.