Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Yosemite Daily Report for August 9


Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Tuesday, August 9, 2011

WEATHER


Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 86. 
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 54. 
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 88.

El Portal 
Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. 
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 57. 
Wednesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. 
Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 103. 

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 90. 
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 46. 
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. 
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 92. 

Tuolumne Meadows
Today: Sunny, with a high near 72. 
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. 
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. 
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 74. 

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HAPPENING TODAY

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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PARK AND PARK PARTNER NEWS

Vernal Falls SAR/Mist Trail Closure
Search dog teams will be working along the Mist Trail and Merced River corridor each Thursday morning for the next several weeks. In an attempt to minimize human scent in the area and to allow the teams to work uninterrupted, the Mist Trail will be closed from Happy Isles to the top of Vernal Falls while the teams are working. The anticipated hours of closure are from 7:00am until 12:00pm. Hikers will still be able to access the John Muir Trail during the closure. Dispatch will notified when search missions are completed and the trail is reopened. (J. Kovacs - 8/9)
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38th Annual Yosemite Big Time Gathering
The local community and general public are invited to attend the 38th annual Yosemite Big Time Gathering being held this year August 13th & !4th, 2011. This event takes place in the Village of Ahwahnee located behind the Yosemite Museum and Visitor Center. The songs and dances of Native Californian dance groups will be presented both days. Local vendors and others will display/sell their arts and crafts in the gov't employee parking area across from the Village. For this event, vehicles must be moved from the gov't parking area by 5:30pm Friday, August 12, 2011. This is a good opportunity to enjoy, learn, and support the heritage of Native Californian Peoples. (P. Johnson, 8/9)
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Yosemite National Park Announces Availability of the Curry Village Rockfall Hazard Zone Structures Environmental Assessment for Public Review - news release
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Yosemite National Park announces the release of the Curry Village Rockfall Hazard Zone Structures Environmental Assessment (EA). The EA will be available for public review and comment from August 8, 2011 through September 9, 2011. The EA addresses the future disposition of 72 structures that were previously closed by the Yosemite National Park following rockfall events in 2008.  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/CurryRockfall. The public is also invited to discuss the project with park staff on August 31, 2011, at the park’s monthly Open House at the East Valley Auditorium behind the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center from 1:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Rustic hard-sided cabins, with and without bath and built in the 1920’s, make up the majority of the structures in the closed area. Six other structures include the Foster Curry Cabin (Tresidder Residence), associated visitor support structures (e.g., restrooms, shower house), and two non-historic structures.

The EA evaluates the No Action Alternative (keeping the rockfall zone closed to use; no action to treat historic structures) and four action alternatives. The action alternatives include Alternative 1 – Remove All Structures, Alternative 2 – Retain the Majority of Historic Structures, Alternative 3 – Retain Most Historically Significant Structures and Representatives of Architectural Types, and Alternative 4 – Retain Structures with Structural and Historic Integrity.   

The National Park Service has identified Alternative 1 - Remove All Structures - as the Preferred Alternative as it would maximize safety for park visitors and employees and eliminate the need for administrative access to the closed area. This alternative would entail documentation of the historic structures, salvage of historic materials for reuse, removal of all structures remaining in the rockfall zone, installation of interpretative materials, and allowing the area to return to its natural state.

The preferred method for submitting comments is through PEPC at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/CurryRockfall. Printed and CD copies of the plan will be available at the Open House on August 31 or can be requested (available in limited quantity) by emailing Yose_Planning@nps.gov. Comments may also be submitted via postal service and postmarked by September 9, 2011 to: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, Attn: Curry Village Rockfall Hazard Zone Structures Project, PO Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389. (K. Cobb - 8/9)
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Yosemite Leadership Student Symposium
Please be sure to join us for the Yosemite Leadership Program Student Symposium on Thursday, August 11, 2011 from 9:00 to 4:00PM in the Garden Terrace located at Yosemite Lodge. This event highlights the professional applied projects and experiences of the Yosemite Leadership Program summer interns. Interns live and work in the park for 12 weeks, they work along side professionals who operate, manage or develop programming for Yosemite National Park. Students work with park partners including DNC, the Yosemite Conservancy as well as in a variety of divisions including Resource Management and Science, Fire Management, Protection, Interpretation and Education... and much more! Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity to see the legacy these youth are giving to Yosemite. Not only did Yosemite touch their lives but they have done extraordinary work to connect with visitors, restore habitat, care for the wilderness, teach students, and create lasting work products that can assist the park for years to come. Please join us and show your support for Youth In Yosemite! Please call Shauna Potocky at (209) 375-9505 or email Shauna_Potocky@nps.gov for additional information. See you there! (S. Potocky - 8/9)
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The Bear Facts: July 31 - August 6
Weekly Total

# Incidents
Damage
Parking Lots
0
0
Campgrounds
3
$165
Other Areas
1
$20
Backcountry
0
0
Total
4
$185

Weekly Incidents by Location
Location
# Incidents
Upper Pines
1
Tuolumne Campground
2
NPS Valley Housing
1

Yearly Total

# Incidents
Damage
Parking Lots
8
$7,300
Campgrounds
28
$2,003
Other Areas
26
$1,992
Backcountry
2
$40
Total
64
$11,335

Year to Date Comparisons

1998
2011
% Change
2010
2011
% Change
Incidents
890
64
-93%
303
64
-78%
Damage
$416,458
$11,335
-97%
$79,172
$11,335
-86%

Additionally there have been 17 bear incidents where a bear obtained trash that was left out or from trash cans or dumpsters that were not secure. Secure your food at all times! This week a bear obtained food from various campgrounds throughout Yosemite. If you are visiting, be aware that bears are extremely clever and opportunistic. Please keep these animals wild by diligently storing your food day and night in a bear locker or bear resistant canister.

This week a bear also attempted entry of a house in the Valley. When bears learn to associate houses and buildings with food it, often has disastrous results for residents and bears alike. Please close and secure all windows when you are not home! If you see a bear during your visit, please report it to the Save-a-bear hotline at 209-372-0322. (C. Lee-Roney - 8/9)
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Reminder: Himalayan Blackberry Removal This Week
Invasive plant crews will resume control (re-) treatments  in the El Portal Administrative areas: Rancheria, NPS maintenance complex, El Portal Trailer Village. Other NPS "operated" areas and the Mariposa school district grounds will be retreated beginning 4 August 2011. Old El Portal residences, high priority invasive plants will be mapped. Residents that would like more information are encouraged to contact Martin Hutten (209-379-2006),  the treatment crew cell phone 209-742-3825 (Josh or Heather), or you can visit our new website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/invasive-plants.htm (M. Hutten - 8/9)
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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

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.

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

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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EMPLOYEE NEWS 


Charge Card Cut-off Approaching
Cut-off for purchases with charge cards is 31 August 2011. Only emergency purchases will be allowed after this date. (This does not include travel.) Incident numbers or written approval (email ok) from Division Chiefs will be required and must be on file. Please plan for the remainder of the fiscal year and purchase now. (L. Schafer - 8/9)
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FY2011 Year End Closing/Cut-Off Dates
The below link to the calendar of "Key Budget Dates FY2011" contains various cut-off dates, i.e., charge card, warehouse purchasing and payments. http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/admn/budget/Shared%20Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx?InitialTabId=Ribbon%2EDocument&VisibilityContext=WSSTabPersistence If you have any questions please contact Dayna Jackson. (D. Jackson - 8/9)
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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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ACTING DESIGNATIONS


Andy Fristensky will be acting Branch Chief of Interpretive Field Operations through August 16th.
Greg Torres will be Acting Trails Supervisor July 28th - Aug. 15th. He may be reached at 742-8811.
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

Yosemite Child Care Center Teacher Opening
The Yosemite Valley Child Care Center is seeking an experienced preschool lead teacher. Responsibilities include planning and implementing child-focused curriculum in a supportive teaching environment. Candidates should possess energy, enthusiasm, and creativity! Early Childhood Education credential or equivalent ECE education preferred. All candidates subject to background record check. Bilingual/bicultural candidates are encouraged to apply. For further information please call (209) 372-4819 or email ynpchildcare@gmail.com. (J. Cooley Beavers - 8/9)
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For Rent
Small cottage; 2 bedroom, one bath; furnished. For single person or will consider a couple. Full kitchen, washer, dryer, back deck. $200 a week or $700/month + utilities. Near Bootjack. Call Shaina at (209) 966-2528 for info and application. (Y. Radanovich - 8/9)
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Sal's This Thursday
Please join Yosemite Employee Association this Thursday for another fun night at Sal's. DJ Little Black Boots will spin from 7-10 PM. Fall is soon approaching as is our annual bear visitations. Please keep our bears alive and our home & community safe by busing your tables. Drink responsibly and have a designated driver thus avoiding a stay at the John Muir hotel. Designated drivers get free soda. (M. Dale - 8/9)
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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) 

For more information on the area, visit out website at www.YosemiteThisYear.com 











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