Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Monday, August 8, 2011
WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 55.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
El Portal
Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 58.
Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.
Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 103.
Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 47.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Tuolumne Meadows
Today: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 36.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Monday, August 8, 2011
WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 55.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
El Portal
Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 58.
Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.
Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 103.
Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 89.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 47.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Tuolumne Meadows
Today: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 36.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
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HAPPENING TODAY
HAPPENING TODAY
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
There will be a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing for employees at the SAR training room in the valley on Monday August 8, 2011 at 1:00pm for employees and volunteers who were involved in the July 31, 2011 Half Dome fatality. (M. Stark - 8/5)
There will be a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing for employees at the SAR training room in the valley on Monday August 8, 2011 at 1:00pm for employees and volunteers who were involved in the July 31, 2011 Half Dome fatality. (M. Stark - 8/5)
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PARK AND PARK PARTNER NEWS
Yosemite Fire Update #9
Avalanche Fire: The lightning caused Fire is at 145 acres, with 60% of the fire perimeter active. Firefighters report the fire is most active to the north and south, with creeping and smoldering fire behavior. Fifty-seven firefighters and management staff are assigned to this fire. Smoke from this fire is visible from many locations in and out of the park. The most predominate views of the fire are: the Big Oak Flat Road from Big Meadow to Half Dome overlooks; and the Wawona Road past the Rostrum to Chinquapin. The air quality is being monitored from many locations throughout the park including: Yosemite West, El Portal, the Valley and Foresta. Yosemite Fire Mangers are working closely with Mariposa Air Pollution Control District. Visitors going out to Glacier Point will see observe active fire approximately one mile north of Chinquapin, at the Wawona Road junction. All drivers please use caution and adhere to all posted 25 miles/hour speed limit signs along the Glacier Point Road, as firefighters and fire equipment are working along the shoulders. Ground level smoke may at times be over the roadway, particularly at night and early morning. Please do not stop to observe the fire. Fire Information Officers are located at Chinquapin and other locations for information. (G. Wuchner - 8/8)
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13th Annual Yosemite Valley Apple Picking
All visitors, employees, and residents are invited to pick apples to help keep bears wild! DNC will again provide their famous Bear Scat Muffins free to hardworking volunteers. Wednesday, August 10th, 2011 at Curry Village Apple Orchard from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. and Lamon's (Valley Stables) Apple Orchard from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. These ripe apples attract bears to developed areas and alter their natural diets. By removing the apples, bears will return to natural food sources found throughout the park and not become exposed to humans and their food. Parking will not be allowed in the Curry Village Orchard Lot from Wednesday, August 10th from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please check with your supervisor before attending. Even an hour of your time will be greatly appreciated. Apples not taken home by employees and visitors will be donated to Fouch Farms in Mariposa. (C. Lee-Roney - 8/8)
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Yosemite National Park Announces Availability of the Tioga Road Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment for Public Review - news release
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
Yosemite National Park announces the release of The Tioga Road Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment (EA). The Tioga Road is the popular east-west road crossing the northern portion of Yosemite National Park. The road is open seasonally, typically from May through October.
The EA is now available for public review and the park is accepting comments from August 8, 2011 through September 8, 2011. The EA addresses the rehabilitation of approximately 41 miles of the Tioga Road. The project addresses aging and deteriorated pavement and drainage features, as well as existing public safety concerns and natural resource impacts.
The following goals guided development of alternatives for the proposed Tioga Road rehabilitation:
- Improve the safety of visitors and employees traveling on Tioga Road.
- Maintain the character of the road corridor, including significant cultural landscape characteristics such as the curvilinear alignment, grade, and road features including culverts, retaining walls, and turnouts.
- Restore drainage features to control erosion and to protect natural and cultural resources.
- Increase accessibility for park visitors and reduce confusion regarding designated roadside turnouts.
- Manage roadside parking and traffic flow through improved turnouts.
- Reduce rockfall potential along Tioga Road by scaling rock at select locations.
- Manage and improve the Tuolumne Grove parking area.
- Improve the safety of visitors and employees traveling on Tioga Road.
- Maintain the character of the road corridor, including significant cultural landscape characteristics such as the curvilinear alignment, grade, and road features including culverts, retaining walls, and turnouts.
- Restore drainage features to control erosion and to protect natural and cultural resources.
- Increase accessibility for park visitors and reduce confusion regarding designated roadside turnouts.
- Manage roadside parking and traffic flow through improved turnouts.
- Reduce rockfall potential along Tioga Road by scaling rock at select locations.
- Manage and improve the Tuolumne Grove parking area.
A digital copy of the EA is available on the National Park Service’s Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) website at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/tiogaroad. The preferred method for submitting comments is through the PEPC website above. Comments may also be submitted via mail to: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, Attn: The Tioga Road Rehabilitation Plan, PO Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389.
The park will hold a site visit for August 23, 2011 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to discuss the planning effort. Visitor wishing to attend the site visit should meet at the large turnout west of White Wolf along the Tioga Road (Highway 120). This is an opportunity for visitors to learn more about the Tioga Road Rehabilitation Project. Visitors are urged to ask questions and provide comment regarding the planning effort. Visitors should plan to wear comfortable shoes, sunscreen, and appropriate clothing, and bring water and lunch.
The public is invited to discuss the plan with park staff on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at the park’s Open House at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium in Yosemite Valley from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Printed and CD copies of the plan will be available at the Open House. (K. Cobb - 8/8)
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Body of Missing Man Recovered in Yosemite National Park - news release
Hormiz David was One of Three Hikers Witnessed Plunging Over Vernal Fall on July 19, 2011
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
Hormiz David was One of Three Hikers Witnessed Plunging Over Vernal Fall on July 19, 2011
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
Yosemite National Park has recovered the body of Hormiz David, a 22 year old male from Modesto, CA. David was found in the Merced River, approximately 240 feet from the base of Vernal Fall by Yosemite Rangers and Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel at approximately 1:00 p.m. yesterday, August 5, 2011. Recovery operations took approximately four and one half hours to complete and required technical rigging and swift water trained personnel.
David has been missing since July 19, 2011, when he, Ninos Yacoub, 27 year old male, of Turlock, CA, and Ramina Badal, 21 year old female, of Manteca, CA , were witnessed being swept over the 317 foot waterfall. The area where the three were swept away is signed as a dangerous area, and the group had crossed a metal guardrail placed there to keep visitors away from the fast moving water. River water levels in Yosemite continue to remain higher and colder than usual for this time of the year. Visitors are urged to exercise extreme caution when in and around waterway in the park.
Yosemite National Park Rangers and SAR personnel are continuing recovery efforts in the Merced River, below Vernal Fall, for any signs of Yacoub and Badal. The Mist Trail, leading to the top of Vernal Fall, will intermittently and temporarily be closed until recovery operations of Yacoub and Badal are completed. The trail remains closed until approximately noon today, August 6, 2011.
The search area included in the recovery effort is one of the most rugged areas of the Merced River. Yosemite Park Rangers and SAR personnel continue to exercise caution while searching along the slippery rocks and while near the high, fast moving water of the Merced River. (K. Cobb - 8/8)
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Yosemite National Park Continues Work on Pavement Preservation Project
El Portal Road - The El Portal Road surface treatment started August 6th between the Big Oak Flat Intersection and Parkline (Yosemite View Lodge), expect up to 15-minute delays. This work is scheduled to occur Monday thru Sunday nights 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM over the next few weeks. There will a large number of trucks for this surface treatment, so please be cautious and aware when going thru the construction zone. (M. Pieper - 8/5)
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El Portal Road - The El Portal Road surface treatment started August 6th between the Big Oak Flat Intersection and Parkline (Yosemite View Lodge), expect up to 15-minute delays. This work is scheduled to occur Monday thru Sunday nights 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM over the next few weeks. There will a large number of trucks for this surface treatment, so please be cautious and aware when going thru the construction zone. (M. Pieper - 8/5)
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Yosemite Forum – Tuesday, August 9
Valley Visitor Center Auditorium 12pm – 1pm; "Use of Stable Isotope Analysis to Investigate Black Bear Diets and to Evaluate Human-Bear Management Program." Dr. Jack Hopkins, Montana State University: This presentation will cover how the diets of Yosemite black bears have changed over the past century in response to different human-bear management strategies. Specifically, it will demonstrate how stable isotope analysis on bear tissues can be used to detect bears that consume human-derived food sources. This analysis gives an approximate diet of all bears in Yosemite and the results can be used to evaluate human-bear management strategies. (D. Smith - 8/5)
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EMPLOYEE NEWS
YARTS Distribution
Denise Buskeness is ill today, 8/8/11, and will not be available to disburse YARTS vouchers. She will extend disbursal through Wednesday, 8/10/11, from 7:30am to 11:30am in the El Portal warehouse and from 12:30pm to 2:00pm and 2:30pm to 3:00pm in the Valley mail room. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. (K. Kolbeck - 8/8)
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Valley Visitor Center Auditorium 12pm – 1pm; "Use of Stable Isotope Analysis to Investigate Black Bear Diets and to Evaluate Human-Bear Management Program." Dr. Jack Hopkins, Montana State University: This presentation will cover how the diets of Yosemite black bears have changed over the past century in response to different human-bear management strategies. Specifically, it will demonstrate how stable isotope analysis on bear tissues can be used to detect bears that consume human-derived food sources. This analysis gives an approximate diet of all bears in Yosemite and the results can be used to evaluate human-bear management strategies. (D. Smith - 8/5)
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EMPLOYEE NEWS
YARTS Distribution
Denise Buskeness is ill today, 8/8/11, and will not be available to disburse YARTS vouchers. She will extend disbursal through Wednesday, 8/10/11, from 7:30am to 11:30am in the El Portal warehouse and from 12:30pm to 2:00pm and 2:30pm to 3:00pm in the Valley mail room. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. (K. Kolbeck - 8/8)
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Attention Supervisors
If any of your staff had charges on their government charge card (purchase or travel) in July please ensure review, by cardholder and yourself, of the statement and all supporting documents in a timely manner. Charge card applications, directions and a variety of other related information can be found on SharePoint at http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/admn/contract/default.aspx. (L. Schafer - 8/8)
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Windshield Repairs/Replacement
We have a couple of vehicles needing windshield replacements and repairs. If anyone else within the Park needs to have a government vehicle or personal
vehicle repaired please notify the Machine Shop at 379-1150 or call Sharon of Arrow Glass at 533-3700. Just a note, the vehicle needs to remain here for at least 24 hours before being driven. (W. Tilley - 8/5)
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Customer Service Satisfaction Survey
In an effort to gather information and feedback regarding the Division of Administrations' customer service performance, we have established a Customer Service Satisfaction Survey on SharePoint. We will also have hard copies of the survey located at key locations throughout the division. Our goal is to provide our customers with the best possible service. Your comments will enable us to see how we are doing overall and identify areas where we can improve. We ask that you answer a few simple questions on SharePoint or via hard copy regarding your experiences as you interact with the administrative staff. This is a continuous survey and your answers will provide valuable statistics regarding the performance of the staff and services we provide throughout the year. So please complete a customer service survey whenever you interact within one of the Division of Administrations' functional areas. The customer service survey can be reached by accessing the following link: http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/admn/Lists/Customer%20Service%20Survey/AllItems.aspx (D. St.Vincent - 8/5)
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ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Andy Fristensky will be acting Branch Chief of Interpretive Field Operations through August 16th.
Jennifer Hardin is Acting Branch Chief for Anthropology Programs during the week of August 8. She can be reached at 379-1232.
Jim Roche will be acting branch chief of Physical Sciences and Landscape Ecology through September 30th.
Dale St. Vincent has been selected as the acting Administrative Officer until the AO position is permanently filled.
Karen Kolbeck has been selected as the acting Supervisory General Supply Specialist. Karen can be reached at 379-1028.
Ron Watson has been selected as the acting, Supervisory IT Specialist until the position is permanently filled. Ron can be reached at 379-1074.
Brenna Lissoway (379-1283) is on a detail as the Park Archivist. If you have need to access the Archives, or have archive related questions, you can call 379-1282 or 379-1104.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Meeting of the (Unofficial) Yosemite Bar Association
All those interested in the law and Yosemite are invited to a very informal get-together at 9005 Oak Lane at 5:30 PM on Tuesday August 9, 2011, to meet and greet recent arrivals Federal Defender Brian Mullins, Stanford-Yosemite Fellowship students Adrian Lecesne and Danny Cassanora and, Stanford Law Professor/Wilderness Ranger Michele Dauber. (L. Yu - 8/8)
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