The National Park Service is proposing to let a tule elk herd roam free in the Tomales Point area of Point Reyes National Seashore and stop supplementing water that helped the herd endure drought.
The park service is in the midst of a 31-day public comment period on its management plan, and potential alternatives, to preserve and maintain the area’s wilderness character.
The elk are currently fenced into a 2,900-acre reserve and managed as a confined herd, with supplemental water operated as needed.
The park service proposal would remove the elk fence and temporary water systems, improve facilities at the historic Pierce Ranch, and alter visitor use management that currently permits overnight camping and day use of beaches.
The NPS will hold a virtual public meeting at 5 p.m. this Thursday, Sept. 7. Those interested in attending may register online.
Public comments on the proposal are being accepted through Sept. 25 and can be submitted online through the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment website.
A final decision on the Tomales Point Area Plan is expected next summer.