In 1980, Yosemite’s General Management Plan was published.
In 1981, captive-born peregrine falcons successfully nested on El Capitan. Several years later, in 1986, bighorn sheep were reintroduced on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada near Yosemite.
In 1984, the California Wilderness Act designated 89% of Yosemite as wilderness. That same year, 681,150 acres of the park were officially added to the federal wilderness system.
In 1987, park visitation exceeded 3 million people for the first time.