Video Transcript

Video Transcript for Mt. Wanda Comprehensive Management Plan

Hi everyone. My name is Trevor Rice and I’m an Outdoor Recreation Planner with the National Park Service.

I’m standing here in front of the Strentzel-Muir house at John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, California and I’ve got some very exciting news.

We’ve just launched our 30-day Public Scoping Comment Period for the Mt.

Wanda Comprehensive Site Management Plan. For those who might not already be familiar with the site, Mt. Wanda is a 370-acre portion of the historic Alhambra Valley Ranch, where John Muir lived.

As you can see here it's open space dominate d by grass and oak woodland with trails usedby hikers bikers and horseback riders.In 2016, a private reservation expired for a small portion in the southwest corner of the park called Strentzel Meadow.

We've also been recently working with our partners at the John Muir Land Trust to add a 44-acre parcel on the southern edge of Mt. Wanda called West Hills Farm to the park.

The plan will identify visitor opportunities and functions, facility needs and resource management concerns. Will also address connectivity to other areas of the park and the broader community.

In 2018, the park released 3 preliminary concepts for public feedback, which described initial ideas for Mt. Wanda.

Due to unanticipated staffing changes the project was temporarily put on hold through in 2018 and 2019. But in 2020, the National Park Service reengaged the planning effort and after reviewing and analyzing the public comments from 2018 began to gather additional data and refine our proposed action.

On March 16th 2022, we released our scoping newsletter for public review, which also marksth e start of the public NEPA process for the plan.

The scoping newsletter includes an introduction from the Superintendent, a brief overview of the planning area. The purpose goals and objectives of the plan. A description of previous public outreach. The desired conditions that the NPS will strive to achieve through implementation of the plan. It also includes a detailed description and map of the proposed action. And finally, an explanation of how you can be involved.

The proposed action includes specific ideas for visitor services, trail improvements and resource protection measures. It also includes recommendations for our partners at the city, the county and Caltrans to improve connectivity between Mt.Wanda, other areas of the park and the broader community.

Your involvement in the planning process is critical for the completion of a successful plan. During scoping we're looking for feedback on what you like or do not like about the proposed action.What additional opportunities or challenges we should consider and any other general comments you might have.

You can find the scoping newsletter and submit comments at: (link in video description) or by using a QR code that you see on your screen.

We also hope you might be able to join us for one of 2 informational hikeswe have planned but access to the area and capacity for the hikes is limited. The hikes be moderately strenuous; we expect them to be about 3 and a half miles in lengthwith approximately 600 feet of elevation gain. The terrain is variable, often steep and uneven, and primarily consisting of unmaintained or abandoned fire roads.

Please visit: (link in video description) For more information and to sign up.

Thanks so much for your interest in John Muir National Historic Site and for helping us plan for the future of Mt. Wanda.