Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Monday, December 19, 2011
WEATHER
Monday, December 19, 2011
WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 44.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 44.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.
Snow? No. No snow.
El Portal
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
El Portal
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62.
Wawona
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 26.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 26.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53.
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PARK AND PARTNER NEWS
PARK AND PARTNER NEWS
Traffic Counter Installation
There will be minor work in roadway locations throughout the park associated with installing traffic counters. Locations and dates (weather permitting) are as follows: Monday 12/19 east of Crane Flat; west of the 120 Tunnels; El Cap Cross Over at Southside Drive; and Arch Rock; Tuesday 12/20 South Entrance. Please use caution when workers are present. For more info: Bret Meldrum 379-1216. (B. Meldrum - 12/19)
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There will be minor work in roadway locations throughout the park associated with installing traffic counters. Locations and dates (weather permitting) are as follows: Monday 12/19 east of Crane Flat; west of the 120 Tunnels; El Cap Cross Over at Southside Drive; and Arch Rock; Tuesday 12/20 South Entrance. Please use caution when workers are present. For more info: Bret Meldrum 379-1216. (B. Meldrum - 12/19)
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Yosemite Conservancy Mourns Two Giants
Jon B. Lovelace Feb 6, 1927 - Nov 16, 2011 / Sibyl Ann Otter Aug 19, 1935 - Dec 12, 2011
With a very sad heart, we share the recent passing of two of our friends and former board members, Jon Lovelace and Ann Otter. These gracious souls were deeply involved in preserving the environment, promoting health and science, and advancing the arts and education through generous philanthropy and activity on many boards. They both loved Yosemite beyond words and hiked the backcountry regularly. While you may not know their names, you have experienced their generosity. A fundraising legend, Ann, with her husband Dick Otter, was a founding member of The Yosemite Fund and most passionate about the Museum, all the while giving widely to Conservancy projects and programs. A wise and modest businessman, Jon chaired the Capital Group Companies and, with his wife Lillian Lovelace, built the capacity of the Fund and its successor, Yosemite Conservancy. He was most excited by trail repair – particularly over Red Peak Pass - the reintroduction of peregrine falcons and big horn sheep, and the new helicopter rappel tower. Both individuals served on our Project Review committee to help direct donor funds into the park. The Conservancy and the public will be forever in their debt. We will miss them. (M. Tollefson - 12/19)
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NatureBridge and NPS featured in Education Week Jon B. Lovelace Feb 6, 1927 - Nov 16, 2011 / Sibyl Ann Otter Aug 19, 1935 - Dec 12, 2011
With a very sad heart, we share the recent passing of two of our friends and former board members, Jon Lovelace and Ann Otter. These gracious souls were deeply involved in preserving the environment, promoting health and science, and advancing the arts and education through generous philanthropy and activity on many boards. They both loved Yosemite beyond words and hiked the backcountry regularly. While you may not know their names, you have experienced their generosity. A fundraising legend, Ann, with her husband Dick Otter, was a founding member of The Yosemite Fund and most passionate about the Museum, all the while giving widely to Conservancy projects and programs. A wise and modest businessman, Jon chaired the Capital Group Companies and, with his wife Lillian Lovelace, built the capacity of the Fund and its successor, Yosemite Conservancy. He was most excited by trail repair – particularly over Red Peak Pass - the reintroduction of peregrine falcons and big horn sheep, and the new helicopter rappel tower. Both individuals served on our Project Review committee to help direct donor funds into the park. The Conservancy and the public will be forever in their debt. We will miss them. (M. Tollefson - 12/19)
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Respected education news website, Education Week, featured an article about the success of the NPS partnership with NatureBridge to promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. The article delves into the NPS commitment to expand educational programs to reach a quarter of America’s schoolchildren as part of the “Call to Action” initiative to honor the NPS Centennial in 2016. NatureBridge and other partners are a key component of the strategies NPS will use to meet that lofty goal. The article also provides an interesting profile of broader NatureBridge goals and initiatives, which are at the core of what we're doing in Yosemite. Visit the Education Week website to read more about STEM education and a very cute description of 6th graders in a field science program at NatureBridge’s Golden Gate campus: http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/12/14/14parks.h31.html?tkn=SUVFcLLei7rZx7qVxmbk7tSCu77x8wjMEa81&cmp=clp-edweek. (M. Carr - 12/19)
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Yosemite National Park Rangers Staffing in Gateway Community Visitor Centers - news release
Park Providing Additional Staffing During Holiday Season
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
Yosemite National Park announces that Park Rangers will be staffing visitor centers in the gateway communities of Mariposa, Oakhurst, and Groveland from Saturday, December 17, 2011 through Monday, January 2, 2012. Park Rangers will be helping to staff the Mariposa Visitor Center, the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau in Oakhurst, and the Yosemite Chamber of Commerce in Groveland. The hours of each of the visitor centers varies.
The park has provided Rangers working in the gateway community visitor centers for the past several years. The Rangers help provide up-to-date information about the park, assist in trip planning, and sell park passes. In the visitor centers, park visitors can purchase the 2012 Annual Yosemite National Park Pass, the Interagency Annual Pass, the Lifetime Senior Pass, and the Access Pass. Additionally, visitors can purchase a single visit pass to the park that is good for any time during the 2012 calendar year.
“We are very happy to be able to provide Park Rangers to assist in staffing the gateway community visitor centers. We have received a lot of positive feedback about Rangers who have staffed these centers during the summer months. The holidays are a great time to visit Yosemite National Park,” said Don Neubacher, Yosemite National Park Superintendent.
For more information about Yosemite National Park and available passes, please visit www.nps.gov/yose . For information on each visitor center hours, please visit their website. (K. Cobb - 12/16)
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Utility work at the Tecoya Dormitories The last phase of utility work at the Tecoya Dormitories is now underway with the replacement of the sewer lines serving the Northern units. ASI is installing the majority of the new lines using a drilling method instead of open trenching. Areas that cannot be drilled due to soil conditions will have to be trenched. This area is very congested and difficult for the contractor to work in. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. There will be no work during the holiday period from December 24th through January 2nd. (G. Rothell - 12/14)
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Foresta Road Closure - Slide Repair Between Rancheria and Old El Portal
Starting Monday, November 14th the Foresta Road will be closed between Rancheria and Old El Portal as crews complete a slide repair from a spring 2011 slide. The Foresta Road will be closed at 7:00 AM on November 14th and remain closed for approximately 2-3 months, while crews complete the stabilization work. The crews are planning to work 6-days per week, Monday thru Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Due to the safety concerns, it will require a hard closure, meaning that throughout the duration of the project, there will be no access for pedestrians, bicycles, passenger vehicles, trucks, etc... Access will be limited to construction crews and emergency vehicles only. Trucks will also be using middle road to access CA St. Rte. 140, so please be cautious as you are traveling thru this area of Hwy. 140. Also, crews will be bringing in equipment and materials starting Thursday, November 10th, with intermittent single lane traffic control along Foresta Road. (M. Pieper - 11/10)
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ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Ron Gaunt will be acting Branch Chief of Construction and acting Branch Chief of Design for Project Management, beginning Friday, December 16, 2011, through Thursday, December 22, 2011. Ron may be reached at 379-1027 or you may leave a message with Ashley Wilde at 379-1221.
Mike Yochim will be the Acting Division Chief for the Planning Division Dec. 19th though the 22nd. You may phone Mike in his El Portal office at 379-1441. Mae Frantz will be the Acting Division Chief Friday, December 23rd. Mae may be reached in her El Portal office at 379-1218. If either are unavailable you may leave a message with Doyle Harrison at 379-1110.
Jim Roche will be the Acting Chief of Physical Science and Landscape Ecology from Monday, December 19 through Friday, December 30. Jim can be reached at 379-1446 (office) or 742-3452 (cell).
David Stone will be out of the Park from Friday, December 9 through Wednesday, December 21. He will have limited cell reception, but may be reached, with urgent issues, by 209-372-8458.
Julie Byerly will be acting Deputy Chief Ranger from Saturday 12/3 through Sunday 12/18, she can be reached at 372-0243.
Andy Fristensky will be Acting Deputy Chief of Interpretive Operations until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0599.
Jeffrey Trust will be Acting Yosemite Valley Field Interpretation Supervisor until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0307.
Greg Torres will be Acting Trails Supervisor 11/30 through 1/3. He can reached at 742 8811.
Ron Watson will be the Acting Supervisory Information Technology Specialist until further notice. He may 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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