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Point Reyes Releases Controversial Draft Plan To Manage Elk And Expand Ranching

Angela Johnston
Point Reyes spokeperson Melanie Gunn and ecologist Dave Press look for tule elk near Drakes Beach.

Last month, we aired a story about the future of ranching in Point Reyes National Seashore. The Park Service finally released its draft plan.  And the public has until September 23rd to comment. 

It’s kind of this middle ground - protecting both the ranches and the wildlife. All the ranches will get 20 year leases, and park rangers will manage one of the park's three tule elk herds, making sure the herd doesn’t get above a certain number.

We heard from ranchers who had been working the land for generations, from environmentalists who think ranching would hurt the landscape and the wild elk that roam free, and we heard from the parks service, whose job it was to come up with a plan addressing the future of all of these different aspects. Now, we break down what the changes mean.

Click the audio player above to listen to the full story.

Correction for audio version: The comment period lasts until September 23rd, not September 28th.

Crosscurrents