The final Record of Decision (ROD) on livestock operations management at Point Reyes National Seashore was released this week. Unfortunately, and as feared, it not only maintains the ongoing degradation of this national park unit by privately owned domestic livestock, but it expands the opportunities for a handful of ranchers to do even more damage to the public’s landscape with additional lands opened for grazing, as well as the planting of row crops.

There’s plenty to do and see in Yosemite National Park. Do you have your list all ready for the trip? Maybe this National Parks Traveler checklist for Yosemite will help with your plans.

Highly combustible forests and rugged terrain in both Sequoia and Lassen Volcanic national parks in California gave firefighters on the ground little option but to watch as flames jumped across the two parks. While Lassen Volcanic has been closed to the public since early August, parts of Sequoia closed this week as a complex of fires was galloping across the landscape and forcing area evacuations.

Biscayne National Park in Florida is just the latest unit in the National Park System to propose an increase in camping fees to help pay for maintenance and other needs not being met by Congress.