Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Thursday, August 11, 2011
WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 81. West southwest wind between 3 and 11 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 51. West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming east.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 84. Southwest wind between 5 and 9 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 83. East wind 6 to 9 mph becoming west southwest.
El Portal
Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Northeast wind at 10 mph becoming west southwest.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 59. West wind 6 to 8 mph becoming east northeast.
Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. East southeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming west southwest.
Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 100. East northeast wind around 8 mph becoming southwest.
Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest between 7 and 10 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 46. West wind 5 to 8 mph becoming northeast.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 90. West southwest wind between 3 and 8 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 89. East northeast wind 6 to 8 mph becoming southwest.
Tuolumne Meadows
Today: Sunny, with a high near 71. West southwest wind between 6 and 13 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 35. West wind between 8 and 11 mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 72. West southwest wind between 3 and 7 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 70. South southwest wind between 3 and 9 mph.
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HAPPENING TODAY
Vernal Falls SAR/Mist Trail Closure
The Mist Trail will temporarily be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
every Thursday in order to carry out search and recovery efforts. The closure will occur at the Mist Trail Trailhead at Happy Isles to the viewing platform at the top of Vernal Fall. Visitors wishing to hike in the area may take the horse trail, located behind the water tank at Happy Isles, to the John Muir Trail. Search and recovery efforts have been ongoing along the Mist Trail and in the Merced River, below Vernal Fall, since July 19 when three individuals were swept over the waterfall. The body of one individual has been recovered. Recovery efforts continue for the two other individuals. (K. Cobb - 8/11) _____________________________________________________________
Yosemite Leadership Student Symposium
Please be sure to join us for the Yosemite Leadership Program Student Symposium today, 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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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:
8/9)
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PARK AND PARK PARTNER NEWS
VILLAGE STORE PARKING LOT CLOSED TO VEHICLES EVENINGS, STARTING AUGUST 14th at 10:00 PM NPS will be re-paving the Village Store Parking Area during the evenings
(10:00 PM to 8:00 AM), Sunday thru Saturday, (August 14th thru September 2nd). Please refrain from parking your vehicle in at the Village Store Lot during nights while this project in ongoing. If you have a vehicle parked
there long term, please relocate it before the project begins. Please
note, the project extends from the Village Store to the DNC General Offices. Although parking will be available during the day, conditions will include dirt and gravel surfaces with temporary traffic control staff and devices to guide visitors and employees. A small section of Village Drive north of the parking area, will also be repaired at nights with single-lane traffic control. If you have any questions, please contact Michael Pieper (209) 379-1263. (M. Pieper - 8/11) _____________________________________________________________
Yosemite National Park Announces the White Wolf Lodge and Duplex Cabins Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment Open for Public Comment - NEWS RELEASE Yosemite National Park announces the opening of public scoping for the White Wolf Lodge and Duplex Cabins Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment (EA). The scoping period will begin August 15, 2011 through September 4, 2011. Comments will be used to assist the park in assessing feasible project alternatives that meet the purpose and need of the plan, including a no action alternative, and analyzing the environmental effects of each alternative.
The White Wolf Lodge and Duplex Cabins are aging structures and need rehabilitation. The cabins and lodge are experiencing site drainage problems. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical systems also need to be updated.
Primary rehabilitation work on the cabins and the lodge will include:
· Stabilization of structures and attachment of buildings to new
foundations
· Minimize water flow under structures and moisture migration from
below floor levels
· Material repair to exterior sheathing materials
· Repair and conditioning of existing windows and doors
· Reroofing all buildings and new chimney cricket/flashing at Main
Lodge
· Replacement of interior floor and ceiling finishes
· Relocation and construction of compatible enclosure for refrigerated
food storage units
· Minimize alterations to existing building footprint and adjoining
site
· Screening of non-contributing utility features on site
· Waterproofing of foundation walls and vapor barrier at grade under
buildings
A public Open House will take place on August 31, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to
4:00 p.m. in the Valley Visitor Center Auditorium in behind the Valley Visitor Center. Park Admission fees will be waived for those attending the Open House.
The public scoping period for this EA will open on August 15, 2011 and will extend through September 4, 2011. Written comments should be postmarked no later than September 4, 2011. Comments can be submitted at public meetings, by mail, fax, email, or through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) commenting system. Comments may be submitted by the following means:
Mail: Superintendent
Attn: White Wolf Lodge Duplex Cabins Rehabilitation
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Phone: 209/379-1365; Fax: 209/379-1294
E-mail: Yose_Planning@nps.gov
Web: PEPC (Planning, Environment, and Public Comment). Access the site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/yose (K. Cobb - 8/11)
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Yosemite Fires - Update #10
Avalanche Fire: (37 39.794 x 119 42.238; 6,400’el. Mariposa Co.) This lightning caused fire was found on the afternoon of July 31, 2011. The
fire is at 404 acres. The fire could potentially grow to 5,800 acres.
Firefighters are igniting fuels (firing) along spur ridges to bring a backing fire towards Glacier Point Road. The operation will increase the acres and amount of visible smoke. Firefighters remain on scene through nighttime hours to insure holding the fire to the east of Glacier Point Road. As the fire moves closer to the roadways, the presence of firefighters, fire equipment and smoke will increase. Drivers are urged to adhere to posted 25mph speed limits, possible single lane closures and traffic officer instructions.
Combined with previous fires, roadside mechanical thinning, vegetation debris pile burning, and prescribed fires, this fire will provide a defensible fire buffer to the community of Yosemite West, Badger Pass Ski Resort, Glacier Point and other park infrastructures. Although numerous fires have occurred in the area, the most recent being the 2009, 3,500 ac.
Grouse Fire, this area has no recorded fire history. Extensive logging did occur in the early 1900’s. Given the time of the year, seasonal severity, fuels, weather and topography, this fire will meet the objectives with minimal risk to other values, including firefighter and public safety, federal and public property, air quality, and Wilderness values and character.
The fire is within the park’s Wilderness boundary and will be managed for multiple objectives. The fire is creeping and smoldering through duff and other surface fuels. Another rationale for this fire is to restore landscape resiliency in a portion of the park that has not burned in recent history. Lightning fires have shaped the forest landscape for thousands of years. The fire will rid the forest of an overabundance of dead and down surface fuels and smaller diameter shade tolerant trees. Wildland fires create open spaces (mosaics) within dense forest, allowing sunlight to penetrate the forest floor. The fire will enhance wildlife habitat and the ability of animals to move through the forest.
Smoke is visible from many locations along the Wawona and Big Oak Flat Roads, from the community of El Portal, and locations outside of the park.
Fire managers are working closely with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District concerning potential air quality impacts. Yosemite’s Division of Resources and Sciences crews have installed air quality monitoring equipment within the communities of Yosemite West, El Portal and Yosemite Valley. Several fire management action points have been identified where the fire could be held when air dispersion is poor, and then can be accelerated when the atmosphere has more capacity. Actions may be used by firefighters to minimize and reduce smoke impacts, such as helicopter water drops to cool portions of the fire.
For additional Information: Fire Information and Education:
Gary_Wuchner@nps.gov; (209) 375-9574 or (209) 372-0480. Yosemite Fire Management Website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/current_fire.htm. (G.
Wuchner - 8/10)
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Volunteer Opportunity in El Capitan Meadow Researchers from the Utah State University and Yosemite National Park are seeking assistance with a visitor travel information study in El Capitan Meadow. Brief training and supplies will be provided. Assistance from individuals aged 14 and older is requested for the following sessions:
- August 13, 9am-2pm
- August 14, 2pm-7pm
Interested individuals may volunteer for one or both sessions. Please Call Karina Puikkonen at 801-618-6045. (T. Newburger - 8/10)
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EMPLOYEE NEWS
REMINDER! 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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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Project: Rehabilitate El Portal Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) Sludge Drying Beds Road Closure -The road around the south and east end of the El Portal Complex maintenance shops and between covered parking, Project Mgmt.
office, Road shops, and WWTP will be closed for the week of August 15 through August 19 due to the installation of a sewer bypass and temporary power. Please plan to avoid this route and do not attempt to go through the closure. (P. Pyle - 8/10)
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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ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Jim Bacon will be the Acting Division Chief for the Planning Division Thursday, August 11th. Jim may be reached at the Planning Division office in the Valley at 372-0472 or his Blackberry at 209-658-0850. If you wish to speak with someone in the Planning Division on Friday, August 12th, please leave a message with Doyle Harrison at 379-1110.
David Engelstad will be Acting Division Chief for Project Management from Wednesday, August 10, 2011, through Friday, August 12, 2011. David can be reached at 379-1277 or you may leave a message with Sarah Henderson at 379-1202.
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.
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
Sal's Tonight!
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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Bats, Climate, and Rivers: Updates from Sierra Nevada Network Inventory & Monitoring Four new resource briefs are available on Sierra Nevada Network (SIEN) Inventory & Monitoring projects. Resource briefs are 1-2 page summaries that provide information on the importance of the resource, how it is inventoried or monitored, what we have learned, and what the implications are for managers.
Bat Inventories
The following two briefs summarize the results of bat inventories conducted in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks between 2002-2006:
Bat Inventory in Kings Canyon National Park http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sien/Documents/Reports/briefs/KICABatsBrief_sien_20110728.pdf
Bat Inventory in Sequoia National Park
http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sien/Documents/Reports/briefs/SEQUBatsBrief_sien_20110728.pdf
Similar bat studies were done in Yosemite, funded by other sources. For more Yosemite-specific information on bats, you can visit this Yosemite Resources Management & Science web page:
Climate in the Sierra Nevada Network
Learn about Sierra Nevada climate characteristics and changes from the following brief:
A draft Sierra Nevada Network climate monitoring protocol was recently developed and submitted to peer review by SIEN staff Jennie Skancke, Alice Chung-MacCoubrey, and Les Chow.
Rivers Monitoring in the Sierra Nevada
Learn about trends in Sierra Nevada river and stream hydrology and plans for monitoring SIEN rivers:
Jennie Skancke, SIEN's Physical Scientist, is currently developing a network river monitoring protocol.
For more information on the SIEN Inventory & Monitoring Program, you can visit this website-- http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sien, or contact Program Manager Alice Chung-MacCoubrey at 559-565-3788. (L. Mutch -
8/11)
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NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGE! 6TH STREET CINEMA is located upstairs in the historic Old Masonic Lodge on 6th Street, in downtown Mariposa. Entrance is $7 per film for non-members; non-member students pay $5. Monthly membership is $12 allowing film entry for $3 each. More information is available on the
website: www.sixthstreetcinema.org
This week: August 12-13, (Friday - Saturday) 7:30 p.m.: UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES. A winner of the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival, this is a unique tale of a man embracing life's greatest mystery. Choosing to spend his final days surrounded by his loved ones in the countryside, Boonmee is visited by his dead wife (a ghost) and his lost son (an strange hairy beast with red glowing eyes) who come to guide him to his final resting place, a cave where his first soul began. With a wry sense of humor and a humanist spirit, Uncle Boonmee, one of the most critically acclaimed films of the year, is a magical tale of reincarnation, karma and nature. Written and directed by Apichatpong Weerasethakul. In Thai, with English subtitles. Running time: 113 minutes. Unrated. (Our previously scheduled film, CERTIFIED COPY, will be rescheduled at a later
date.)
Upcoming films (subject to change): JANE EYRE: Aug. 19-20 (
http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/focus_features/janeeyre/) ... BIUTIFUL:
Aug. 26-27 (http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/biutiful/). (T.
Arfsten - 8/11)
For more information on the area, visit www.YosemiteThisYear.com
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