National Park Service Seeks Public Input on Proposed Invasive Species Management Plan at Joshua Tree National Park

Date: March 3, 2015
Contact: Miriam Lara-Vamstad, 760-367-5568
Contact: Karin Messaros, 760-367-5512

Public input is being sought regarding the National Park Service's proposed Invasive Species Management Plan at Joshua Tree National Park, California. The National Park Service is proposing to develop and implement a plan to address invasive species populations in the park.

Invasive non-native plants are defined as plant species that have been introduced to an ecosystem as a direct or indirect result of human activity. Joshua Tree National Park, like other public lands, is under threat of invasion by nonnative plants. 

The goal of invasive plant management is to maintain native plant communities by preventing and removing invasive plants using an integrated approach that maximizes the effectiveness of the action while minimizing undesirable impacts. The National Park Service envisions an adaptive plan as new herbicides or other treatment techniques become available or new invasive plants encroach upon or enter the park.

An environmental assessment will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act to provide a decision-making framework that: 1) analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives to meet project objectives, 2) evaluates issues and impacts to park resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts. This is the public's opportunity to comment formally on the project—now during this initial project scoping and again following release of the environmental assessment.

How to Comment on Proposed Invasive Species Management Plan at Joshua Tree National Park

The public is invited to provide input on the proposed Invasive Species Management Plan at Joshua Tree National Park. Comments received during this scoping period will be used to help define the issues and concerns to be addressed in the environmental assessment. Comments will be accepted through March 31, 2015. Comments can be submitted online by visiting https://parkplanning.nps.gov, the website for the National Park Service's Planning Environment and Public Comment system. Comments also may be sent to the following address:

Superintendent

Joshua Tree National Park

74485 National Park Drive

Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-3597

Commenters should be aware that their entire comments, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While commenters can ask that their personal identifying information be withheld from public review, the National Park Service cannot guarantee this will be possible.

If you have questions about the project please contact Miriam Lara-Vamstad, Restoration Biologist, at 760- 367-5568, or by email at [e-mail].

If you have questions about the environmental assessment and planning process, please contact Karin Messaros, Compliance Officer, at 760-367-5512 or by e-mail at [e-mail].

- www.nps.gov -