News Release

Public Input Sought on Comprehensive Site Management Plan for Mt. Wanda

John Muir National Historic Site seeks to expand visitor experiences with alternatives proposed in this Environmental Assessment

Date: May 12, 2023
Contact: Armand Johnson, 510-334-3167

MARTINEZ, Calif. — The National Park Service (NPS) is pleased to start the 30-day public review and comment period for the Mt. Wanda unit at John Muir National Historic Site’s Comprehensive Site Management Plan (CSMP)/Environmental Assessment (EA).  The 370-acre planning area is an important part of the ranch where John Muir lived. Prior to Muir's time, the site was owned by Ygnacio Martinez as part of the Mexican era Rancho El Pinole, and earlier was home to the Karkin Ohlone Indians. At Mt. Wanda, visitors can walk in John Muir's footsteps as they explore, research, and appreciate the wildness of this inspirational landscape.

This plan would further expand opportunities at Mt. Wanda as it identifies new visitor experiences, addresses facility needs, provides long-term resource management strategies, and recommends improvements for the connectivity of Mt. Wanda to other areas of the park and the broader community.

NPS previously released a set of Preliminary Alternatives in 2018 and a Proposed Action in 2022 for public review, and the community provided valuable input and feedback during both periods. Public involvement remains critical to the creation of this plan and is needed continue to help shape the long-term management of Mt. Wanda. Public comments should be submitted using the plan website at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/MtWandaCSMP from May 12 through June 11, 2023.

The CSMP/EA identifies a NPS preferred alternative and analyzes the environmental impact of the plan alternatives. While the preferred alternative remains based on concepts explored in the 2018 Preliminary Alternatives and is similar to the 2022 Proposed Action, Superintendent K. Lynn Berry notes, “I am excited for folks to see how the NPS preferred alternative integrates public feedback from scoping while addressing the goals and needs of the park today.” 

Besides reviewing the CSMP/EA and providing public comments at the plan website, the public can learn more about the plan by signing up at go.nps.gov/MtWandaPlanning to join an informational hike.

www.nps.gov 

About John Muir National Historic Site. Created in 1964, John Muir NHS preserves the home, landscapes, and gravesite of conservationist and national park advocate John Muir. Muir spent his entire life exploring, studying, and writing about his experiences in the American wilderness, most notably the Sierra Nevada mountains. His writing set the stage for a conservation movement that would spur protection of nature nationwide and ultimately earn Muir the title “Father of the National Parks”.  

The John Muir NHS, located at 4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez, CA 94553, is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission to the site is free of charge. For more information, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/jomu or call [phone].

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 424 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.