Yosemite Daily Report for Tuesday Jan 17

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Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Tuesday, January 17, 2012

WEATHER

Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 41. 
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. 
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. 
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 49.

El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 57. 
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. 
Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 59. 
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 67. 

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 50. 
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 17.
Wednesday: Increasing clouds, with a high near 54. 
Thursday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 56. 

National Weather Service Special Weather Statement
Unsettled weather on the horizon: a series of Pacific weather disturbances will be pushing into the West coast beginning tonight and continuing through the weekend. Each of these systems will gradually push scattered light rain and higher elevation snow farther south, reaching central California Thursday.

One of the stronger systems to move into central California is due Friday afternoon and evening. This system should spread rain and mountain snow as far south as Kern county. Partial clearing is possible sometime during the day Saturday or Saturday evening, with another wet system arriving Sunday.

Central California will be on the warmer side of the upper level jet stream. This will keep snow levels relatively high for this time of year, ranging from 8000 to 9000 feet. Cooler air will arrive sometime Sunday as the upper level jet stream sags farther South, and snow level could lower to 4500 to 5000 feet.

While it is still a little early to be exact, in the southern Sierra Nevada, 1 to 3 inches of rain is possible, especially in the foothills. For higher elevations above 7000 to 8000 feet, 1 to 3 feet of snow is possible (Ed. note: !!!!!!!!!!).

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HAPPENING TODAY

Village Store Closed
The Village Store will be closed for remodeling beginning Tuesday, January 17th and will reopen on Thursday, February 16th @ Noon.
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El Portal Travel Series
The EPTS continues - join us tonight for yet another enlightening presentation! Tuesday, Jan. 17th – 7:00pm, El Portal Community Hall - Wendy Harrell “Rock Art of the Southwest.” Wendy has explored some of the most beautiful country in 6 Western states searching for Rock Art. Join us tonight to see amazing petroglyphs and pictographs from the mountains & canyons of the West. (P. Amstutz - 1/17)

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PARK AND PARTNER NEWS

New Website for NatureBridge
Our name change became official with the launch of the new NatureBridge website on January 13. Check it out and let us know what you think! www.naturebridge.org You can send feedback to mcarr@naturebridge.org. (M. Carr - 1/17)
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Yosemite National Park Postmaster Bill Carroll Retires
After a 42 year career with the United States Postal Service, Yosemite National Park Postmaster Bill Carroll has retired. Carroll has served as the Postmaster in Yosemite since 1991 and has previously worked for the Postal Service in Sacramento , Woodland Hills, Topanga Canyon, and Jackson, California.

"Thank you for the wonderful memories and the 20 years of support", Carroll stated as he was closing out his duties in Yosemite Valley.

John Reynolds, life long resident and currently the El Portal Postmaster, has been named the Acting Yosemite National Park Postmaster until a permanent replacement for Carroll has been named. Sandy Aguilera will assume the duties of Acting El Portal Postmaster.

"I will miss serving the Yosemite community on a day to day basis", Carroll reflected on his years in the park. Bill and his wife Mary will continue to reside in the area. (S. Gediman - 1/13)

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Yosemite National Park Announces Extension of Interim Permit Program for the Half Dome Cables - news release
Program Extended for the 2012 Hiking Season
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Yosemite National Park will require Day Use Permits seven days per week for climbing the Half Dome cables during the summer 2012 season. This is an extension of the interim permit system that was implemented beginning in 2010. Permits will be required seven days per week to ascend the Half Dome cables. This is part of an interim program designed to address crowding and safety issues on the cables.

Hiking to the top of Half Dome is one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite National Park. The iconic granite monolith, at 8,842 feet above sea level, attracts people from all over the world who attempt to climb to the summit. Most visitors ascend Half Dome via the cables, which are typically in place from mid-May through mid-October. Most visitors begin and end their hike at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley. This is an approximately 14-mile round-trip journey.

Applications for permits are available from March 1 through March 31. The park will allocate permits through a preseason lottery, a two-day in advance lottery, and as part of the Wilderness Permit process. Details regarding the lotteries and the wilderness process can be found at the park’s website at www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hdpermits.htm. The lottery will be conducted through www.recreation.gov.

The park is expecting to release the Half Dome Trail Stewardship Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) later this winter. This document will address use on the trail and the cables and provide alternatives on a permanent management plan for the Half Dome cables. The park strongly encourages public comment on the plan during the formal comment period.

Yosemite National Park will provide more detailed information regarding the Day Use Permit lotteries and other pertinent information about the Half Dome Trail soon. (K. Cobb - 1/13)
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Bishop Creek Proposed Prescribed Fire
Lower Avalanche Creek – Unit E – Winter 2012

Yosemite fire managers are planning a prescribed fire in the Lower Avalanche Creek (Unit E), of the larger Bishop Creek prescribed fire complex. The unit is currently within fire prescription due to a drier than average winter. The project is dependent upon a weather disturbance, with measurable rain, occurring at the end of the burn project. The primary objective of the prescribed fire is to buffer the communities of Yosemite West, El Portal, and the Glacier Point Historical District from unwanted wildfire, by reducing an over accumulation of forest fuels. Approximately half of this unit is within the 1990 Steamboat Fire footprint.
This burn unit is bounded to the east the northeast by the 2009 Grouse Fire and the Glacier Point Road, and to the west by the Wawona Road. Fire Mangers have framed the perimeter of this burn unit with last summer’s 1,068 acre Avalanche Fire, other prescribed fires and forest mechanical thinning projects along the Wawona Road. The project is at the 5500 to 6200’ elevation, on a west aspect.
Smoke, which can affect health, is always a factor in the decision making process to conduct any prescribed burn. An approved smoke management plan will be in place with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (APCD). In addition the Tuolumne, San Joaquin and Great Basin APCDs will be advised of this project.
More details will be made available when a more exact date is determined.
Additional Information:
-Yosemite Prescribed Fire and Fuels: Taro_Pusina@nps.gov: (209) 372-9576
-Yosemite Fire Management Website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/current_fire.htm
-Air Quality: http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/aqmonitoring.htm
-Twitter: http://twitter.com/YosemiteFire
-Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yosemite-Wildland-Fire/124632964255395 (G. Wuchner - 1/13)
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Tioga Corridor
Since Yosemite National Park has been keeping records on the opening and closing of Tioga Road in 1933, this is the longest the road has ever stayed open. Park Rangers have already responded to multiple ice-related medicals on Tenaya Lake and one search and rescue operation in the Tuolumne area. Visitors and park employees are urged to exercise extreme caution while recreating in the park at the higher elevations, especially while on Tenaya Lake, as ice can be very dangerous.

You can view photographs of visitation on Tenaya Lake last weekend at:
http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/prot/Pictures/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2Fprot%2FPictures%2F2012%20Tenaya%20Lake%20photos&View={4ACC8E19-722C-4355-9CBB-6DF0FDAA0F4A} (J. Shields - 1/13)
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Please Welcome Peter Lindstrom
Peter will EOD on March 25th as the new Data Manager in the IT branch, filling the vacancy left by Paul Gallez's retirement. He comes with 10 years of NPS GIS and data management experience, having worked at Grant Teton, Carlsbad Caverns, and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. His wife Becky has a background in public education, science, and program management, and will be investigating job opportunities in the area. Welcome aboard Peter! (R. Watson - 1/13)

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EMPLOYEE NEWS

Attention Supervisors - Monthly Charge Card Review Reminder
If any of your staff had charges on their government charge card (purchase or travel) in December 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 - 1/13)
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Annual/Refresher Fire Extinguisher Training
Training will be conducted at the Valley Library/Girls Club on January 27th at 1130 hours. Weather permitting, participants will have the opportunity to do hands on use with a live Fire Extinguisher. Contact Fire Prevention at 375-9541 if you have questions or would like to schedule your Fire Extinguisher training. (J. Alviso - 1/13)

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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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UPDATE - Foresta Road Closure thru 2/29/12 - Slide Repair Between Rancheria and Old El Portal
The current road closure along Foresta Road will continue thru the end of February 2012. Due to the unseasonably dry weather crews made good progress on the upper (cut) slope stabilization and it is nearly complete, however the steep slopes required much of the work to occur with hand labor, so they were not able to make as much progress as planned. The remaining work includes the final seeding and mulching along the upper slope, then installation of a retaining wall along the lower (fill) slope, and then the final curb and pavement repairs. (M. Pieper - 1/6)

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ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Sue Clark (379-1115) will be Acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance from Tuesday, January 17 to Friday, January 20.
Julie Byerly will be acting Deputy Chief Ranger from January 2 for the next several weeks.
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.

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

DNC Announces Special Local Discount for Chefs' Holidays
Going strong since 1985, Yosemite's world-class Chefs' Holidays include a Meet the Chefs reception (featuring some of America's most talented chefs from up-and-coming restaurants), three culinary demonstrations and tastings, and a behind-the-scenes tour of The Ahwahnee's newly renovated kitchen. The event then concludes with a five-course gala dinner prepared by the headliner chef, complete with wine pairings. This year, the 27th Annual Chefs' Holidays features two sessions starring select male and female competitors from Bravo TV's Top Chefs.
DNC is pleased to announce a special discounted Chefs' Holidays offer for local residents at $99. The local rate of $99 is available for sessions 4, 6 and 7 and does not include lodging or taxes. Please note that the local discount is available for residents who live within 50 miles of Yosemite Valley. Limited number of spaces available.
For more information on Chefs' Holidays at The Ahwahnee or to make reservations, call 801-559-4884 or visit online at YosemitePark.com/Chefs. Make sure to reference LOCALCHEFS promotion code to receive the special local offer. (L. Cesaro - 1/13)