By Ruth Brown
The National Park Service is under pressure to help protect and restore the Merced River in Yosemite National Park. The catch: those who love it most will be able to use it less. The Park Service wants to remove horse, bicycle, and raft rental facilities, as well as swimming pools… …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Newser – Home
A draft plan to limit crowding in Yosemite National Park to protect a river that runs through it would limit the number of daily visitors to roughly current levels.
The long-awaited preferred options for the Merced River Plan were posted Tuesday on the park’s website.
Under the plan, the number of daily visitors would be capped at 19,900. Mule rentals and commercial rafting would be banned.
Visitors would still be allowed to use their own rafts on the Merced River but would be directed to specific areas for access to keep steep banks from being trampled and eroded.
The popular wintertime Curry Village Ice Rink would be eliminated.
Park officials are under a court order to come up with a plan to protect the river.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News