access was not such a good thing. In 1970, motor vehicles were prohibited from the eastern third of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove. Instead, these areas were provided with public transportation: i.e., propane-powered trams and shuttle buses. Despite such reforms though, the problems associated with overcrowding at the park have persisted.
Even though many of the early conservationists might have thought that they had preserved the nation's parks forever, in reality they had only just initiated the process. Yosemite remains a prime example of a national park under siege. The park happens to be at the center of an entire ecosystem threatened by urban sprawl. Over than 30 million Californian's live within a day's drive of its boundaries. Moreover, during the last several decades, visitation has increased sharply. In the past ten years alone, annual visits have risen by more than 37 percent. In 1991, the total number of visitors amounted to roughly 3.5 million persons. Indeed, degradation of the Yosemite Valley's environment has prac
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