NPS - National Park Service

10/24/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/24/2024 16:19

Lava Beds National Monument Seeks Public Engagement in Planning for Petroglyph Point

Date:
October 24, 2024

TULELAKE, Calif. - The National Park Service is opening a public comment period to discuss future ideas as part of a planning effort for the Petroglyph Point area of Lava Beds National Monument. The public comment period will be open from October 24, 2024, through November 24, 2024.
Petroglyph Point, considered one of the most sacred sites to the Modoc people, is a 267-acre detached unit of the park and is one of the largest panels of Native American rock art in the United States. 
The purpose of the Petroglyph Point site management plan is to improve the protection of the fundamental resources and values at Petroglyph Point from natural and human threats and determine appropriate site access for visitors. The preliminary concepts seek to address a range of issues and opportunities associated with Petroglyph Point that include:  

  • Enhancing protection of cultural and natural resources.  
  • Exploring options to reduce conflicting uses and user groups.  
  • Identifying co-stewardship goals and shared priorities.  
  • Addressing the lack of acceptable orientation, information, interpretation, and access.  
  • Updating the management direction of the general management plan (GMP) (2011). 
  • Developing adaptive strategies with new data as new data is becomes available.
A virtual public meeting will be held Nov. 8 at 3p.m. PST and a link may be found on the project's webpage https://parkplanning.nps.gov/PEPO_Site_Plan. The park will host two public meetings in person on Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 6 pm at Merrill City Hall at 301 2nd St, Merrill, OR 97633 and Saturday, November 9, 2024, at 1 pm at Klamath County Museum, back meeting room at 1451 Main St, Klamath Falls, OR 97601. The purpose of these meetings is to share information about the plan and the planning process, and how to provide comments using the park planning page. Additional information about the virtual public meeting and a link to access the event can be found on the park planning page: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/PEPO_Site_Plan.   The public is invited to submit comments on the project website. Written comments may be submitted by visiting  https://parkplanning.nps.gov/PEPO_Site_Plan. On the web page, select "Open for Comment" on the left menu bar and then select "Newsletter."  Written comments may also be submitted by mail to:  Lava Beds National Monument  Attn: Christopher Mengel, Superintendent  PO Box 1240  Tulelake, CA 96134  Written comments on the plan must be submitted online or postmarked Nov. 24, 2024, to be considered. There will be additional opportunities for public input in the future. The National Park Service encourages public participation throughout the different stages of the planning process.   After public comments are received, park staff may adjust components of preliminary concepts, as necessary, before developing the draft plan and environmental assessment.   If you have questions about the project or would like more information about Lava Beds National Monument, please call the park's Visitor Center at (530) 667-8113.