Restoring Point Reyes Seashore—A Resource for the Undecided

"In order to save and preserve, for purposes of public recreation, benefit, and inspiration, a portion of the diminishing seashore of the United States that remains undeveloped, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to take appropriate action in the public interest toward the establishment of the national seashore."

16 U.S. Code § 459c - Point Reyes National Seashore; purposes; authorization for establishment,
PUBLIC LAW 87-657, September 13, 1962

Rare native Tule Elk and relicts of California’s once-vast coastal prairie can still be found at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Much has changed in the nearly 40 years since the Point Reyes National Seashore General Management Plan was adopted— the effects of climate change;  a growing list of endangered and threatened species; record numbers of visitors to the national parks; a $12 billion backlog of unfunded maintenance throughout the National Park System.

Some things haven’t changed: For going on sixty years 28,000 acres of the Point Reyes National Seashore and the adjacent Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) continue to be leased for cattle grazing.

As a result of a federal lawsuit in 2016, the Park Service must update its 1980 General Management Plan for grazing these parks. For the first time, the impacts of thousands of cattle on the Seashore and GGNRA will be considered in light of current realities.

But Representative Jared Huffman just introduced H.R.6687 directing the Secretary of the Interior to make the dairies and ranches on at the Seashore permanent, short circuiting the public planning process. National parks belongs to all Americans.  Backroom politics shouldn't determine how our national parks are managed.  Your comments to the forthcoming General Management Plan Amendment (GMPA) and letters to Congress could decide the fate of these parks for generations to come.

RRI is a grassroots initiative. We have no lobbyist, no lawyer, no profit motive, and no political agenda beyond restoring and preserving our parks so that future generations may know their natural heritage.  Our goal is to inform rather than inflame. We’ve collected documents from many sources and posted them in one place.  Our website provides government studies, independent research, the historical record, facts and myths about livestock grazing at Point Reyes Seashore and GGNRA, and a range of articles about the impacts of ranching in the parks, and the potential for restoration.

Spreading cow manure on park pastures.

Overgrazed pasture at Point Reyes Seashore.

Pond near the Seashore’s Estero Trailhead

In today's political climate, ranchers and their supporters see the chance to rewrite the Point Reyes Seashore enabling legislation. Huffman’s bill, HR 6687, ignores the concerns of park advocates as to whether highly subsidized private businesses like these belong in our national park.  It disregards the environmental impacts of commercial beef and dairy operations on the Seashore's land, water, wildlife, and park visitors. Your letters to Representative Jared Huffman and Senator Dianne Feinstein are needed now to counter the influence of the cattle interests and their lobbyist.

The GMP Amendment, now underway as a result of a federal lawsuit, will update the management for more than 28,000 acres currently leased for ranching by the National Park Service at Point Reyes National Seashore, which includes  approximately 10,000 acres in the GGNRA. The public has an important role to play by commenting on the draft plan. To receive notifications from NPS about the forthcoming draft management plan and  how to comment, sign up here.

Notice of Public Hearing to Renew Conditional Waiver of Waste Discharge Requirements for Grazing Operations in the Tomales Bay Watershed  Cattle manure from the Seashore is the single largest source of water pollution to Tomales Bay.  Ranches in the park have long been exempt from pollution standards.  Please send your comments by October 15.