Superintendent Suzanne Lewis announced today that the park is soliciting public comments on the issues and alternatives to be considered in the planning process for the various activities and functions at the Stephens Creek administrative area, located in the northern portion of the park north of Gardiner, Montana. National Park Service administrative functions at Stephens Creek currently include: Park-wide horse operations, native plant nursery, bison capture facility, excess equipment and trailer storage, winter vehicle storage, ranger shooting range, log building construction site, and a park housing unit.

A number of issues have been identified and will be addressed in the Stephens Creek management plan. These include:

Sprawl - The Stephens Creek administrative area has no defined boundaries and has grown in size in recent years. Excess vehicles, trailers, heavy equipment and the winter storage have accumulated in this area. Construction of the bison capture facility in 1997 has also increased the size of this area. The recent addition of a log building construction yard has added to the sprawl.

Visual impacts - The Stephens Creek area is visible from U.S. Highway 89 north of Yellowstone National Park. Trailers and other stored equipment are visually obtrusive on the landscape.

Pronghorn Habitat - Stephens Creek is located within the Boundary Lands Area (BLA) of Yellowstone National Park. The BLA was purchased in the early 1930s as winter range for park wildlife and is considered important winter habitat for an isolated pronghorn population. The quantity and quality of this winter range is considered critical for the long-term success of this population. The Stephens Creek area must be carefully managed to confine the development's growth and maintain winter wildlife habitat.

Horse Operations - Two small buildings currently function as a barn forthe park-wide horse operation's tack and equipment. This facility isinadequate. Originally, most of the tack and equipment was stored in thehistoric cavalry stables in Mammoth. However, that building is currently being rehabilitated, and will be used for other park administrative uses, and therefore no longer be available for storage. Tack has been moved into three temporary metal storage units at Stephens Creek. Because the horse operation is year-round, there is a need for indoor shoeing and stock handling areas. Funding is being sought to construct a new barn to replace the two small buildings that currently serve the park horse operation and the three temporary metal storage units.

Exotic Plant Species - Non-native vegetation is widespread within the Boundary Lands Area, including Stephens Creek. While some non-native plants cannot be entirely eliminated, reducing the risk of spreading non-native plant species into other areas of Yellowstone National Park is important.

Shooting Range - A shooting range for law enforcement personnel is located at Stephens Creek. Safety, lead abatement, and visual impacts need to be considered.

Cultural Resources - There are several historic buildings that are cultural resources within the Stephens Creek area. A cultural landscape assessment is also being prepared.