Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Monday, August 22, 2011
WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 85.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 57.
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
El Portal
Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 59.
Tuesday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 104.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 104.
Wawona
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 47.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93.
Tuolumne Meadows
Today: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72.
Wednesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
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PARK AND PARK PARTNER NEWS
Public Site Visit Along the Tioga Road - Discuss the Tioga Road Rehabilitation Plan (EA) with Project Managers
A public site visit is scheduled for Tuesday, August 23, 2011 from 10:30 – 11:30am. Meet at the large turnout west of the White Wolf turnoff. This turnout is 13.5 miles east of Crane Flat along the Tioga Road. This site visit is an opportunity for interested parties to learn more about this planning effort. Bring questions and comments and ask park staff about specific components of the plan which is currently out for public review. Wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring water, lunch and/or snacks, and wear appropriate clothing and sun protection for warm weather. (M. Ortiz - 8/22)
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Glacier Point Well Testing
Beginning 8/22/11 and continuing through 8/26/11. Contractors will be onsite at the Glacier Point Well to perform well testing and will have a small crane onsite. (J. Day - 8/22)
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Bear Facts
Weekly Total
| | # Incidents | Damage |
| Parking Lots | 3 | $730 |
| Other Areas | 2 | $40 |
| Backcountry | 2 | $305 |
| | # Incidents | Damage |
| Parking Lots | 12 | $8,530 |
| Campgrounds | 29 | $2,053 |
| Other Areas | 29 | $2,232 |
| Backcountry | 8 | $663 |
| Total | 78 | $13,478 |
| | # Incidents |
| Glacier Point | 1 |
| Backcountry | 2 |
| Camp 4 Parking Lot | 1 |
| Camp 6 Parking Lot | 1 |
| Valley Maintenance Lot | 1 |
| | 1998 | 2011 | % Change | 2010 | 2011 | % Change |
| Incidents | 1,117 | 78 | -93.0% | 370 | 78 | -78.9% |
| Damage | $492,107 | $13,478 | -97.3% | $85,573 | $13,478 | -84.3% |
12 bears have been reported hit by vehicles so far in 2011. Please obey speed limits and pay attention while driving! In 2010, 28 bears were hit by vehicles.
Please store your food properly at all times! Bears remain active all over Yosemite National Park. In the past couple of weeks there have been many reports of bears in the Tuolumne Meadows campground, and there have also been numerous incidents in backcountry areas. In Yosemite Valley incidents have remained spread out throughout the Valley. There are numerous bears going through all of the campgrounds and lodging facilities. This week two vehicles were broken into by bears in the Valley. If you see a bear during your visit, please report it to the Save-a-bear hotline at 209-372-0322. (R. Leahy - 8/22)
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Viewing Parties for Founder's Day Town Hall Meeting
NPS Director John Jarvis will be holding a live Town Hall Meeting on Founders' Day, Thursday, August 25th, from 12:00-1:00, to launch the National Park Service's five-year action plan to help prepare for the centennial in 2016. Viewing parties for the town hall meeting will be held in the Yosemite Valley Theater and the El Portal Large Breakroom starting at 11:45. Cake will be served to celebrate the Park Service's 95th birthday!
The action plan will be available for review on Monday, Aug. 22nd on InsideNPS: http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=1&prg=3&id=10287. Because every employee plays an important role in our future, Director Jarvis and a panel of NPS employees will host this meeting to discuss the plan and what it means for our work over the coming years. Neil Mulholland, president & chief executive officer of the National Park Foundation, will join the discussion.
The town hall will be broadcast (through the TEL system and online streaming video) from Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site. The panel will take live questions from those watching in the theater and across the country. After August 25, a video will be available for those who were unable to attend the live broadcast.
There are several ways to prepare for the town hall meeting:
- Read the action plan which will be available on Monday August 22
- Participate in the town meeting on August 25
- Submit questions for the panel (details to follow on how to do this)
- Think about how you can accomplish one or more action items
- Visit the website for information updates
Come celebrate the 95th birthday of the NPS while learning about the action plan that will guide our work over the coming years. All employees are encouraged to participate. (K. Kosick - 8/19)
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EMPLOYEE NEWS
Wendy Malone's Arrowhead
Wendy Malone's Arrowhead is currently at Mitzi Thornley's desk in Resources Management in El Portal where it will stay through Wednesday, August 24th. On Thursday and Friday it will be at Special Park Uses. (M. Nielson - 8/22)
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
UPDATE: Yosemite National Park Continues Work on Pavement Preservation Project
El Portal Road - The El Portal Road centerline rumble strip grinding will occur today and tomorrow (August 18th and 19th) during the day 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM between the Big Oak Flat Intersection and Parkline (Yosemite View Lodge), expect up to 15-minute delays. Due to traffic impacts near the Arch Rock Kiosk, grinding in this area will start at midnight (12:00 AM) on Friday, August 19th, (approximately 1-mile area east and west of the kiosk). Striping is tentatively scheduled to occur at nights next week, from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
Hodgdon Area, Crane Flat Campground, Foresta Road, Old El Portal Area, and Rancheria - Crews are now placing pavement markings (striping) in the Hodgdon Area and will continue to complete each area working from north to south, so they plan to complete Hodgdon, today or tomorrow and then move to the Crane Flat Campground, etc. working down to the El Portal Area. FYI: There was an equipment breakdown yesterday--August 17th, so no striping occurred yesterday. Signs will be posted in each area as to when they will be working in your area.
El Portal Administrative Parking Complex - Crews are scheduled to begin restriping this area on Saturday and Sunday, August 20th and 21st (If they don't get done this weekend they will also be working next weekend, August 27th and 28th. There may be day and night work, so please move your vehicles onto the concrete or gravel areas before you leave tomorrow, so they can restripe these parking areas. Signs and message boards are posted in your area. Also, on the message board it refers "Park off the pavement" - they are referring to the new asphalt pavement surface - you can park on the concrete and any gravel areas. (M. Pieper - 8/18)
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Village Store Parking Lot Closed to Vehicles Evenings
NPS will be re-paving the Village Store Parking Area during the evenings (10:00pm to 8:00am), 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)
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ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Mike Wichmann will be Acting Division Chief of Project Management beginning Monday, August 22 through Wednesday, August 24. Mike may be reached at 379-1139 or you may leave a message with Sarah Henderson at 379-1202.
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
Learn Baby Sign Language
Join Yosemite's Deaf Services Program Coordinator, Jessica Cole, for an introduction to basic signs that you can do to communicate with the young children in your life. Babies as young as 6 months can use signs to communicate, and studies have shown that using sign language with your baby improves her vocabulary and cognitive development. Everyone is welcome!! Tuesday, August 23, 6-7pm at the El Portal Child Care Center - $5 to $20 suggested donation. For more information, call 379-2690. (J. Cole - 8/22)
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