John Muir National Historic Site: Orchard Management Plan and Integrated Pest Management Plan, John Muir National Historic Site, National Park Service

Donahue, John

The 1983 Natural and Cultural Resources Management Planning Overview established the need to draft an Orchard Management Plan. The latter document is the planning statement for management of the orchards on John Muir National Historic Site property. This plan is the result of extensive research conducted both on and off site including consultation with numerous experts in a variety of horticultural and agricultural fields. It has also encompassed the compilation and distillation of large amounts of literature. All procedures outlined herein, will adhere strictly to National Park Service regulations and standards. Strict attention will be paid to limitations set regarding the use of pesticides and fungicides. Procedures outlined will include: general cultural practices, particular requirements of each species, a daily calendar of events, integrated pest management planning, and an adherence to historical accuracy whenever possible. Our orchards are an important part of the interpretive program as well as being a natural and cultural resource. The Orchard Management Plan (OMP), will provide a guide for the gardener and the superintendent to work cooperatively together. It will help the administrator understand the day to day operation being implemented by the gardener. The OMP will also provide a framework within which the superintendent can design projects, set goals and evaluate the performance of the incumbent gardener. Another function of the OMP will be to provide a detailed program and calendar of events for a new employee to draw from during any period of transition. This will assist the new employee in entering directly into the proper work patterns for the site. It will prevent the unnecessary repetition of the same research. It can also serve as a guide for the person who fills the void during periods of lapse in the gardener position. Since the OMP deals with biological systems, it cannot be a completely rigid statement of procedure. A certain amount of flexibility must be programmed for change, new developments, and unexpected situations. Each gardener will add to the growth and maintenance of the site in an individual way. Since the study of biological controls for insect and disease problems is a new area, some programs offered here are experimental. The effective-ness will have to be judged over a long term period of time. Some of these methods may be eliminated, while others may be increased and more may be added as information becomes available. Dealing with biological systems and developing beneficial ecosystems is a long term project. Monitoring and reporting on a the effectiveness of these programs will be an important facet of the gardener’s workload. The gardener and laborer positions, as well as new equipment and devices recommended herein will be central to the successful implementation of this program.

John Muir National Historic Site: Orchard Management Plan and Integrated Pest Management Plan, John Muir National Historic Site, National Park Service

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