Yosemite Daily Report for Dec 22

Here's the latest information on what's going on in Yosemite, straight from the National Park. To start planning your Yosemite vacation, visit www.YosemiteThisYear.com.

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Thursday, December 22, 2011

WEATHER

Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 42.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 26.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 47.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 52.
Still no snow.

El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 59.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 30.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 64.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 67.

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 50.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 21.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 57.

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PARK AND PARTNER NEWS

2012 Group Volunteer Projects sought - You have the work, we have the workers!
Does your NPS program have work you need to get done, if only you had a group of people to tackle it for a few hours one or two days? Let us help you by providing a volunteer group!  Boy Scouts, families, school groups, church groups, and conservation clubs ranging in size from 5 to 50, and ages of 5 to 90 want to help Yosemite. Last year over 200 groups donated their time to the park, removing invasive plants, building picnic tables, cleaning out fire rings, shoveling snow, painting, doing Leave No Trace education, providing interpretive programming, doing wilderness restoration and trail work, and more. What can they do for you in 2012?

The Volunteer Office is compiling the 2012 Group Volunteer Project Catalog and is seeking projects. Check out the 2011 catalog to see what types of projects we've done before, and the requirements for groups ( http://www.nps.gov/yose/supportyourpark/volunteer.htm ).  Then fill out the  Group Project Description Form , found on SharePoint (Interpretation >Volunteers>Forms). Forms are due (email preferred) to the volunteer Office by January 9 COB  (to allow time to reserve campsites before the January 15 sale date).  The catalog will be posted on January 20. Additional projects may be added later, but campsites may not be available. Contact the volunteer office at 379-1850 or yose_volunteers@nps.gov with questions. (H. Boothe - 12/22)
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Christmas Bird Count Summary

42 participants counted and identified 2,584 birds of 70 species across 6 zones in Yosemite. Highlights included 2 Bald Eagles - 1 observed flying in the Merced River Canyon (below the Rostrum) and 1 at Mirror Lake; Northern Saw-whet Owl in East Yosemite Valley; 125 White-throated Swifts in the Merced River Canyon; Williamson's Sapsucker on the way down from the Tioga Road; 5 Pileated Woodpeckers in the west end of Yosemite Valley alone; Northern Goshawk in West Yosemite Valley; California Thrasher (Foresta Road above El Portal) and 2 Savannah Sparrows (adjacent to the Community Hall) in El Portal; and 3 Lincoln's Sparrows in Foresta. Oh, and don't forget the 103 Varied Thrushes! This is only the 3rd Yosemite Christmas Bird Count to have Bald Eagle on the list (the other years were 1952 and 1989). We saw some species that were missed last year, such as Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, and Cedar Waxwing. However, this year, we didn't see any Mourning Doves or Chestnut-backed Chickadees.

Thanks to all the participants of the 112th Christmas Bird Count on December 18 in Yosemite. We had 8 teams scouring the count circle for birds, including one team exploring meadows along the Glacier Point Road and another team hiking down from the Tamarack Flat Road (from Tioga Rd) down to the Big Oak Flat Road above Foresta, and another team covering the John Muir and Mist Trails up to Nevada Fall. Thanks to each and every one of you who participated and who contributed to another successful bird count! If you weren't able to participate this year, there's always next year (Sunday, December 16, 2012), and there will always be more birds to see and count. This count has been going strong since 1932, for a total of 72 years! (S. Stock via D. Neubacher - 12/21)
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Status Update - UC Merced/NPS - Wawona Sierra Nevada Research Institute Project.

In late October it was stated in the Daily Report that UC Merced had awarded the Wawona Classroom remodel project (AKA The Wawona Informatics Project) to General Contractor JHK Construction of Modesto, CA. They were originally scheduled to commence work on Nov. 1, 2011 but due to unforeseen delays did not start work until December 8, 2011. Completion of the project is now anticipated to be on or about May 7, 2012.

As previously stated the project will rehabilitate the historic Wawona Ranger Station Garage to improve its use as a research and training facility for the Sierra Nevada Research Institute. The $343,600 partnership project is being funded by a National Science Foundation Academic Research Infrastructure grant and is being managed by the University's Facilities Manager for the Sierra Nevada Research Institute with support from Resources Management & Science. Exterior work on the building includes in-kind replacement of the existing wood shake roof with new fire retardant cedar shakes and replacement of the non-historic door with doors reconstructed to match the original doors. Interior work includes the removal of non-historic materials and installation of new wall, floor and ceiling finishes, insulation, a fire suppression sprinkler system and alarm, upgraded electrical and data wiring and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems. All work is being done in accordance with the Secretary of the Interiors Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Consultation with the park History, Architecture, and Landscape (HAL) Branch has been ongoing and will continue throughout the duration of the project to ensure compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Consultation regarding archeological requirements has also been ongoing throughout the planning process and monitoring is underway for the project to ensure that it will avoid impacts to archeological resources, and to provide for all archeological resource treatment necessary for compliance with the NHPA and the Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA). Investigations meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Archaeology, are being conducted in accordance with park Archeological Research Design and have been designed to avoid adverse effects to significant archeological deposits by collecting data relevant to the important research questions identified by the park. American Indian consultation has also been conducted for the project. If anyone has questions please contact RMS-HAL Branch Chief Dave Humphrey (209.379.1029). (D. Humphrey - 12/21)

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Utility work at the Tecoya Dormitories
The contractor has completed the installation of the sewer mains and is now completing the new manholes.  No work will occur during the Christmas week.  When the contractor returns on January 3rd, 2012 the individual buildings will be connected to the new sewer which will require short term shutdowns of the water/sewer utilities to each building.  Work is expected to be completed by mid January. (G. Rothell - 12/22)
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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

Shawn Zumbrunnen will be Acting BCU Supervisor from December 22, 2011 to January 8, 2012.  Shawn can be contacted at 379-1250.

Dave Humphrey will be Acting Division Chief for Resources Management and Science Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 21-22, you can reach him at 379-1029.
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.
Todd Newburger (209-379-1434) will be Acting Branch Chief for Visitor Use and Social Science from Wednesday, December 21st through Friday, December 23rd.

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.
Peggy Moore (379-2177) will be acting Branch Chief for Vegetation and Ecological Restoration December 20-30, 2011.

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).
Ann Roberts (379-1383) will be Acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance from Tuesday, December 27 to Thursday, December 29, 2011.

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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COMMUNITY NEWS
YOSEMITE COMMUNITY CHURCH
Yosemite Chapel
December 24th Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 4:00 P.M.
December 25th Christmas  Day Service
9:15 A.M.
Come celebrate Christmas in the historic Yosemite Chapel! Questions please call 209-372-4831
www.YosemiteValleyChapel.org (12/22)
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No Sal's December 29th
YEA apologizes for anyone who goes hungry or thirsty that night and promises to be back on January 12th with the 2012 YEA Board. If you see one of the following people, please take a moment to congratulate and thank them for their service to the community. Seth Mayer-President, Laura Ouborg-Vice President, Dan Boughter-Secretary, George Jaramillo-Treasurer, Sean Anderson-Assistant Treasurer, Joe Toska and Melissa Goldberg-Board Members at Large. Happy Holidaze to all. (M. Dale - 12/21)