Yosemite National Park has announced a series of presentations regarding the Merced River’s Outstanding Remarkable Values (ORVs).

The park is currently developing a comprehensive management plan for the Merced Wild and Scenic River, in order to protect and enhance its Outstandingly Remarkable Values, water quality, and free-flowing condition. These unique, river-related values will be the foundation of the Merced Wild and Scenic Comprehensive Management Plan.

The public is invited to attend a presentation of the Draft 2010 ORV Report for the Merced Wild and Scenic River. Presentations will be followed by discussion sessions with project staff and subject matter experts.

Individuals wishing to attend presentation meetings are welcome to attend all or a portion of the meeting. Individuals attending the presentations will have an opportunity to: Learn about how the National Park Service (NPS) endeavors to identify the outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs) of the Merced River in collaboration with subject matter experts, Park staff, cooperating agencies, affiliated tribes, and the public; Ask questions to user capacity experts and natural and cultural resource experts to understand each ORV in greater depth; Share ideas regarding different categories of ORVs; and Discuss methods for assessing the condition of each ORV and how it can protect and enhance these values

The Draft 2010 ORV Report for the Merced Wild and Scenic River can be viewed at: http://www.nps.gov/yose/p arkmgmt/mrp.htm after June 14, 2010.

Presentations that will be held locally will take place on Wednesday, June 30 at the Oakhurst Community Center from 9 to 11 a.m. at 39800 Road 24B. Yosemite Valley will host a presentation on June 30 from 1 to 6 p.m. in the auditorium located behind the Valley Visitor Center, and one will be held in El Portal on Tuesday, July 13 at the El Portal Community Center from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 5567 Foresta Road.