This is an exciting time in the life of a new national trail as many choices need to be made to shape its future. The National Park Service enlists broad involvement in a comprehensive planning process to determine how the trail’s resources can be managed and how visitors can experience the trail.
Comprehensive Management Plan
The National Park Service is currently developing the comprehensive management plan and environmental assessment (CMP/EA) for the trail. The comprehensive management plan is required by the National Trails System Act. The environmental assessment is required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The CMP/EA
- Establishes how the trail will be developed and managed over 10-15 years
- Assesses potential impacts on natural and cultural resources
- Identifies the trail’s significant places and stories and how to protect resources critical to the trail
- Crafts meaningful visitor experiences on land and water
- Defines management objectives and alternatives to meet those objectives
- Recommends a preferred alternative for managing the trail.
Preparing the comprehensive management plan and environmental assessment is complex. Throughout the planning process, the National Park Service consults with other federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, American Indian groups, businesses, various other entities and trail partners, and the general public in order to develop the most thorough and inclusive management framework. The NPS expects to have the final CMP/EA in 2010.
Trail Advisory Council
The advisory council for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior in 2008, consists of representatives of federal and state agencies and Bay-related organizations. The council consults with the Secretary on matters relating to the trail and assists the National Park Service in developing the comprehensive management plan and environmental assessment. For information on the Trail Advisory Council, see Frequently Asked Questions.
Public Involvement
Wide public participation is essential to the trail planning process. Input from the public helps guide the National Park Service in finding the best methods to manage, interpret, and access the trail. Through workshops, consultations, and the public comment process, the National Park Service asks the public to help shape the framework for long-term management and use of the trail.
Trail planners go to communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay region to hear what people envision for the trail. Comments from a series of public open houses in the fall of 2008 helped to shape the current phase of the planning process: developing alternative ways to manage the trail.
In October 2009, the National Park Service is hosting a series of eight workshops to present alternative concepts for managing the trail. Based on comments heard through these public workshops and stakeholder review, the National Park Service will develop a “preferred management alternative” for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
This preferred alternative will be the basis for the draft comprehensive management plan and environmental assessment. The public will again have the opportunity to provide ideas and suggestions during a minimum 30-day review of the draft plan. The CMP/EA will then be revised for approval by NPS officials. The approved plan will guide decisions about the trail for the next 10-15 years.
To be sure you have a voice in the trail planning process:
The primary place for public comment and official information throughout the planning process is the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website. This site provides access to current plans, environmental impact analyses, and related documents. You can submit comments for documents available for public review at the PEPC website.
Trail Planning Timeline
Fall 2009: Public workshops to present preliminary alternatives
Winter 2010: Distribute CMP/EA for public comment
Spring 2010: CMP/EA approved by NPS Regional Director
Interpretive Plan
As part of the trail planning process the National Park Service has prepared an interpretive plan for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The interpretive plan provides a vision for interpretive, educational, and recreational opportunities related to the trail, and defines short- and long-term goals for making meaningful connections between visitors and Chesapeake Bay resources.
A product of collaboration with Chesapeake Bay Gateways, agencies, tribes, community organizations, and others, the interpretive plan is a guiding document with reference information that trail partners can use to develop visitor experiences along the trail.
Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment
The current planning process builds upon early planning documents. The Feasibility Study and Environmental Assessment for the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, published in July 2006, was an essential part of the trail designation process. The document, prepared by the National Park Service and open to public comment prior to publication, is still the foundation for trail planning. You can read the document by selecting the files below.