09/02/2012: "Opinions Wanted On Parks"

San Juan Island National Historical Park is beginning the process of developing a prairie stewardship plan . The first deadline for suggestions from the public is Tuesday, September 4, and there will be other comment periods over the next two years.

The two largest remaining prairie segments in the county are in the National Park, including two new trails created by the Park Service. They are the diagonal trail known as South Beach Trail which connects the redoubt area with Packers Rock at the west end of South Beach; and one just which follows the contour line around Young Hill near the English Camp Cemetery to Mitchell Hill.

The public input is the start of a two-year process that will define what steps the Park Service should take to restore these important prairie segments. Prairie restoration entails supporting some plant and animal species and discouraging or eradicating others.

A form is available on line at www.parkplanning.nps.gov/sajh. Comments can also be emailed to sajh_superintendent@nps.gov ; and course they can be mailed: San Juan Island National Historical Park, PO Box 429, Friday Harbor.