The Santa Barbara Independent story provides a great overview of this issue. It does not, however, include the newest development announced today: Seven leading conservation and recreational organizations have taken legal action supporting the Park Service’s appeal to uphold the Comprehensive Management Plan for preserving and protecting the Merced River area in Yosemite, a plan on hold since a District Court ruling in 2006. The group of supporters filed a “Friends of the Court” brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals (9th Circuit) in San Francisco, pointing out flaws in a November 2006 District Court ruling that halted several important habitat restoration, trail repair, traffic relief, and campground expansion projects. These projects will protect both the natural habitat and visitor access while significantly shrinking the overall human footprint in the Merced River corridor, which includes Yosemite Valley. The full press release can be found here: http://www.npca.org/media_center/press_releases/2007/page.jsp?itemID=30485132