| Page 623 | National Parks Traveler

There was no sunset date. The oyster farm's agreement was renewable, just like the agreements the ranches have. It happened to have a longer term than the ranches because the former owner negotiated that when he made the original deal. When the oyster farm's Reservation of Use and Occupancy expired, it was expected to be renewed by way of issuance of a Special Use Permit.

Apr 23rd - 16:44pm | Sarah Rolph

That is correct.

Apr 23rd - 16:44pm | Sarah Rolph

There is no reason to believe Drakes Estero will become any more wild or biologically diverse in any meaningful sense of the word. I doubt you could find evidence that would even suggest that.

Apr 23rd - 15:52pm | ecbuck

Wouldn't you wonder why that area was classified as a potential wilderness area in the legislation?

Apr 23rd - 15:21pm | Buxton

I'm not saying the courts ruled on the sponsors intent. I am saying their intentions were not clear in the legislation. Wouldn't you wonder why that area was classified as a potential wilderness area in the legislation?

Apr 23rd - 13:03pm | ecbuck

Yes but the courts did not agree.Once again Buxton - the courts didn't rule on their intent. The court ruled on the legality of the action. The fact they found it legal doesn't reflect in any way on the intent nor does it necessarily make it the right thing to do.

Apr 23rd - 11:55am | Buxton

ec,Yes but the courts did not agree. Not saying it wasn't their intent but seems unequivocally clear they didnt make their exact desires known in the bill 40 years down the road.

Apr 23rd - 09:57am | ecbuck

the documents contained within or cited clearly show that the oyster farm was to be removed if the wilderness designation was to be made official.

Apr 23rd - 09:05am | Kurt Repanshek

EC, over the years the Traveler has written dozens of stories on the Drakes Estero situation, and the documents contained within or cited clearly show that the oyster farm was to be removed if the wilderness designation was to be made official.An overview of much of the back and forth can be found in this story from September 2011:

Apr 23rd - 08:39am | ecbuck

No "woulds" or "coulds," but rather "shalls" and "potential"And nothing that says or implies that the oyster farm was to be removed. Buxton, you need to stop relying on hearsay.

Apr 23rd - 08:08am | Kurt Repanshek

All the language regarding Point Reyes wilderness areas can be found at this page:http://www.nps.gov/pore/learn/management/lawsandpolicies.htmNo "woulds" or "coulds," but rather "shalls" and "potential"

Apr 23rd - 06:42am | beachdumb

On May 3, 2012, Stewart filed his

Apr 23rd - 05:53am | Buxton

Sorry I can't find the bill's legislation to read it and quote directly but one commenter in a different article did mention that the wording concerning the oyster farm was "may" not "would" be renewed which if true does not convey to me that the oyster farm was intended to be renewed.

Apr 22nd - 22:34pm | Lee Dalton

?????? Oysters = Elk ???????????I reckon we can take that as another admission that you can't back up another of your fabrications with facts.Really, what this all goes back to is the old buggaboo that plagues so many parks with conflicting portions of their management mandates. When Congress tries to keep everyone happy, there ain't nobody happy.

Apr 22nd - 22:14pm | ecbuck

ec, why not share the language you claim supports your interpretation of all this?I already did.

Apr 22nd - 20:06pm | Lee Dalton

ec, why not share the language you claim supports your interpretation of all this?

Apr 22nd - 17:51pm | ecbuck

Because the bill's language is much more clear that the area was suppose to become Wilderness area with no oyster farm.I ask again Buxton - can you share that language with us?

Apr 22nd - 14:05pm | Buxton

AMOYs are most definItely part of CHNS unque fauna.

Apr 22nd - 12:10pm | beachdumb

Or maybe the Feds should take a lesson from the State since they manage and have more experience with these populations then the Feds do. So you agree that the AMOYS are not unique to the Seashore.

Apr 22nd - 10:41am | Buxton

Beachdumb,

Apr 22nd - 08:12am | beachdumb

unique to CHNS nesting birdsUnique? These birds are found all over VA and NC coastal regions.

Apr 22nd - 08:10am | ecbuck

Because the bill's language is much more clear that the area was suppose to become Wilderness area with no oyster farm.Show me the language that said the oyster farm had to leave so that the area could become Wilderness.

Apr 22nd - 06:14am | Buxton

Ecbuck,

Apr 22nd - 06:05am | Buxton

It is a symbolic fence intended to keep people from disturbing unique to CHNS nesting birds, as specficed in that Park's EL.

Apr 21st - 20:15pm | beachdumb

At Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina the

Apr 21st - 16:00pm | beachdumb

Nothing should have been a surprise to the former tenants at Drakes Bay.If everyone knew this was going to happen then why did the expend so much effort to smear and deceive everyone? Why would they risk thier credibility?

Apr 21st - 16:00pm | ecbuck

Yes, the lease was over but there was no reason it couldn't be renewed. As explicitly stated by the bills sponsors, it was not their intent to kick the Oyster business out - ever.

Capitol Reef National Park Receives Gold Tier Dark Sky Designation

Apr 23rd - 16:42pm | ecbuck

when he asks why on earth should any park have to "resist infrastructure development?"Because different people have different ways to enjoy the parks. Some of you may want the parks swept clean of human artifacts but the vast majority of those that use and support the parks would not.

Apr 23rd - 16:19pm | Jim Burnett

Magaera - we can be thankful there's quite a bit of wide open spaces between Vegas and Capitol Reef!I heard a comment years ago that Las Vegas does serve one useful purpose in the big scheme of things: it provides a place where you can see in one location the worst examples of good taste and almost activity known to man :-)

Apr 23rd - 15:43pm | Megaera

I find it vastly amusing that Capitol Reef is just a few hours down the road from one of the most light-polluted places on the planet (Las Vegas). But I agree wholeheartedly with Lee when he asks why on earth should any park have to "resist infrastructure development?"

Apr 23rd - 08:20am | Lee Dalton

This has received big play in Utah news media. I was very surprised to learn that Utah actually has many other dark sky designated sites including one just a few miles from me in a Weber County park near Eden.

NPS: National Park System Is An Economic Engine, And Valuable Carbon Dioxide Sink

Apr 23rd - 15:45pm | Michael Kellett

There are extensive public lands that merit consideration for designation as carbon preserves under National Park Service protection. Today, they are releasing massive amounts of carbon due to industrial logging and other resource extraction. It is highly unlikely that these carbon forests will be protected anytime soon under their current development-oriented land agencies.

Apr 23rd - 14:24pm | Scott Merritt

Dr. Runte - Your rant or argument or whatever it is seems incredibly contrived. The report simply points out (and promotes) some data about the NPs being carbon sinks. Why should Sec Jewell have to "concede" anything about other lands? While I agree and understand that other lands can act as carbon sinks as well, I see nothing in this article that denies that or merits your response.

Apr 23rd - 12:10pm | Alfred Runte

Lee, I have not yet read the book. I note that she has 23 books. I take 10 years to write one of mine. I looked in her table of contents, index, and bibliography for the topics and books that have always mattered to me. Not finding most of them I am left to wonder. What is so revolutionary about her thoughts? She is a popularizer. Fine. I get it.

Apr 23rd - 08:08am | Lee Dalton

I don't disagree with you on what you wrote here, Alfred, but I'm not sure sometimes just what you're getting at in some of your posts. This time, you were clear and it's just the same as what I've been pushing. Our parks are not the only places that need to be preserved -- it's the entire ball of water, rock, and air upon which we all live.

Apr 23rd - 07:28am | beachdumb

In a prepared statement, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said the economic data underscore that, “Our national parks often serve as economic engines for local communities

Apr 23rd - 02:06am | Alfred Runte

Lee, I am all for "starting" somewhere, so long as the somewhere makes biological sense. Where is it written that I have to give up my public lands to "save" planet earth from disaster? Ms. Ackerman is a stray following the herd on that issue.

Apr 22nd - 23:01pm | Rick B.

The dollarizing distresses me. I've mentioned before that I feel the National Parks are one of those places where the nation decides the intangibles are self valued. A scenic overlook should inspire a 'wow', rather than looking around for the box to drop a quarter into or quibbling over the price of the turn-out's parking lot.

Apr 22nd - 21:30pm | rmackie

i agree Megaera and Dr. Runte, the secretary should have started with the ecological value of parks and public lands and the importance of thinking about that in our daily lives. Thanks for posting Traveler.

Apr 22nd - 20:03pm | Lee Dalton

But mega, in America if it's not tied to money, it just doesn't merit any attention at all.

Apr 22nd - 20:01pm | Lee Dalton

But Dr. Runte, doesn't there have to be a starting place? And aren't parks a good one -- hopefully of many?Shouldn't the U.S. be a leader in this and not be dragged, kicking and screaming, into efforts to become the best Earth stewards we can be?

Apr 22nd - 20:00pm | Megaera

Earth Day. The most important thing about the national parks they can think of for Earth Day is that they're an economic engine. This is so wrong on so many levels I can't even begin to list them all.

Apr 22nd - 13:57pm | Alfred Runte

I would feel a whole lot better about this "carbon dioxide sink" business if Interior Secretary Jewell, et al., conceded that this applies to ALL open land, including the public lands surrounding the national parks currently targeted for massive, renewable energy projects. So, how about it, Secretary Jewell?

Studies Show Magma Chamber Deep Below Yellowstone National Park Would Fill Grand Canyon 11 Times

Apr 23rd - 15:39pm | Megaera

Well, that's encouraging from this geyser gazer's point of view!

Major Concession Upgrade Planned For Virgin Islands National Park

Apr 23rd - 11:28am | ed1234

Long overdue

National Park Service Maintenance Backlog Approaching $11.5 Billion

Apr 22nd - 08:05am | ecbuck

Don't tell me - trickle-down is a compassionate and effective theory too, eh?Worked very well thirty years ago. What has your socialism gotten you since?

Apr 22nd - 00:02am | Rick B.

Wow, and you tea guys think we progressives drink kool-aid. Don't tell me - trickle-down is a compassionate and effective theory too, eh?

Apr 21st - 23:18pm | ecbuck

. Neo-liberalism simply does not workIt worked thirty years ago. It has been rejected since and that is why we are where we are.

Apr 21st - 21:42pm | rmackie

Interesting post loyalconserve. In my own opinion, the NPS maintenance backlog is just part of the nations failing infrastructure, it is a huge problem. This is not the site to get into the economic policies that most major political figures have bought into the last 40 years, but I agree, change is needed. Neo-liberalism simply does not work.

Apr 21st - 20:37pm | loyalconserve

NPT thank you for not just printing the AP article that so many other outlets did and state that the "National Parks suffer from $$ maintenance backlog and a visitor base that is elderly and mostly white". Divisive, racist, insulting, discriminatory.

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