Yellowstone National Park News

Yellowstone winter use plan outlined

Posted: Feb 22, 2013 5:09 PM by Ben Trotter

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK - Yellowstone National Park has a new winter use plan.

Officials say they listened to all sides and now offer incentives for protecting both the environment and business.

"People don't want to come visit a place in controversy, so if we can get through and pass that, get the plan in place, and we'll move forward and life will be good," snow coach/snowmobile contractor Randy Roberson said.

Roberson is one of the longtime contractors that will be directly affected by the plan, the fourth of four proposed alternatives that the park developed.

The plan would manage snow coaches and snowmobiles based on overall environmental impact, versus focusing on just numbers. They will allow traffic based on "transportation events."

Officials have found that one snow coach has a similar impact to a group of 7 to 10 snowmobiles.

It has also been determined that 110 events will be allowed per day with no more than 50 groups or events of snowmobiles let in.

Officials say one of the unique parts of the plan is the flexibility, allowing any combination of snow coaches and snowmobiles each day.

Click here to see the entire 600-page plan.