California State Parks has completed a Big Basin Preliminary General Plan/Draft EIR, which is now available for public review and comment. The plan is based on the Preferred Alternative developed through this public planning process, and represents a concept for preserving the prime natural and cultural features, while maintaining traditional park activities, programs, and recreation opportunities. Newsletter - June 2012 provides a summary of key plan proposals and information on the CEQA 45-day public review process.

The Preliminary General Plan/Draft EIR is being circulated for public review and comment for a period of 45 days, beginning June 18, 2012. Your views and comments on this project are welcomed and must be in writing. Comments may be submitted by mail, fax, or email. All comments should be submitted with a contact name and mailing address for the public record and postmarked no later than August 1, 2012. Please send comments to the following address:

California State Parks
Planning Division
Big Basin Redwoods SP Planning Team
P.O. Box 942896
Sacramento, CA 94296-0001
Email: generalplan [at] parks.ca.gov
Fax: (916) 653-4458

This project will be considered before the State Park and Recreation Commission in a public hearing to be held at a local venue after the public comments are received; the department provides responses to public comments; and a Final EIR has been prepared. Notice of the hearing will be posted on http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21486 and mailed to all agencies, organizations and individuals that have expressed their interest in receiving hearing notices.

PLANNING BACKGROUND

Regional Planning Approach

The Big Basin Redwoods State Park General Plan is being developed as part of a regional planning effort, along with the recently completed general plans for Butano State Park and Año Nuevo State Park. These parks share many natural and cultural characteristics, and have similar visitor demographics. Each one also has its own outstanding features and visitor opportunities. This planning process recognizes the potential for regional collaboration between these and other nearby public lands in resource protection, recreation, interpretation, and park management.

Three public workshops were held during the early planning stages. Participants learned about the planning process, reviewed the resource data, and provided input on issues, concerns, and recommendations for the park’s future. Using this input, the planning team has been developing alternative concepts and preliminary plan guidelines for public review.

Notices and Newsletters were sent out to announce meetings and report on planning progress:

June 2012 Newsletter – Notice of CEQA Public Review
Mar. 2011 Public Meeting Notice and Newsletter
Feb. 2010 Newsletter
Aug. 2003 Newsletter
Sept. 2002 Special Anniversary Update Newsletter
Dec. 2001 Newsletter
Sept. 2001 Newsletter

The General Plan also serves as a Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In fulfillment of CEQA guidelines, California State Parks filed the Big Basin Redwoods SP Notice of Preparation and the Notice of Availability for the General Plan/EIR.

For more information, see:

Big Basin Redwoods State Park: General Plan in Progress
http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21486

Direct link to Preliminary General Plan/Draft EIR:
http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/21299/files/bb_prelimgp_deir%20may_2012.pdf

Big Basin Redwoods State Park
http://www.bigbasin.org/