You can also book your hotel stay, rental car and flight there!
Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Wawona Wednesday, February 08, 2012
WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 71.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Today: Sunny, with a high near 56.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 64.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
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PARK AND PARTNER NEWS
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update - 2/7
Weather: (2/2 - 2/7)
High temp: 48°F (2/3)
Low temp: -2°F (2/5)
New Snow: 0 inches
Total settled snow depth: 18 inches as of February
Skiing Conditions and Weather: Ski conditions haven’t changed much as of the last report except for maybe there are now more wind affected areas above tree-line. North aspects still hold some soft stuff. And there is still ample snow for touring. In spite of such a perpetual dry spell the skiing is pretty darn good!
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions: For the latest avalanche advisory for this area go to www.esavalanche.org for the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center and click on advisory. The ESAC site is updated several times a week and more often during weather events. The high density new snow, which fell at the beginning of the storm on January 19th, essentially fell on bare ground making for a good base layer. No avalanche activity has been observed since the last storm cycle.
Wildlife: A couple of Ravens have been spending time here in Tuolumne Meadows. Insectivore birds like the Red-breasted Nuthatch & Brown Creeper are pecking away on the Lodge pole Pines. Haven’t seen the coyote lately but there’s evidence that they’re still out and about.
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions: For the latest avalanche advisory for this area go to www.esavalanche.org for the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center and click on advisory. The ESAC site is updated several times a week and more often during weather events. The high density new snow, which fell at the beginning of the storm on January 19th, essentially fell on bare ground making for a good base layer. No avalanche activity has been observed since the last storm cycle.
Wildlife: A couple of Ravens have been spending time here in Tuolumne Meadows. Insectivore birds like the Red-breasted Nuthatch & Brown Creeper are pecking away on the Lodge pole Pines. Haven’t seen the coyote lately but there’s evidence that they’re still out and about.
Questions: Power and phones are probably out for the season. Contact the Wilderness Office at 209/372-0740 with any questions or concerns. Come prepared; don’t let the sunshine fool ya. -- Laura & Rob Pilewski, the Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers. For regular updates, bookmark our blog on the park's website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tmconditions.htm. (M. Ortiz - 2/8)
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Yosemite Forum Tuesday
Please join us for the Yosemite Forum on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 from noon to 1pm in the Yosemite Valley Auditorium. The presentation will be "Simulation of Rockfall Trajectories Using Process-based Models" by Sandra Melzner, Geological Survey of Austria. Sandra Melzner is a geologist with the Department of Engineering Geology at the Geographical Survey of Austria, and works in the field of rockfall and landslide hazard assessment. (M. Thornley - 2/8)
Please join us for the Yosemite Forum on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 from noon to 1pm in the Yosemite Valley Auditorium. The presentation will be "Simulation of Rockfall Trajectories Using Process-based Models" by Sandra Melzner, Geological Survey of Austria. Sandra Melzner is a geologist with the Department of Engineering Geology at the Geographical Survey of Austria, and works in the field of rockfall and landslide hazard assessment. (M. Thornley - 2/8)
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Badger Pass Daily Snow Report - 2/8
Base Depth: 12” – 25”
Temperature: High 48, Low 29
Runs Groomed: Bruin, Eagle, Rabbit, Turtle
Lifts Open: Turtle, Bruin, Eagle, Badger
Runs open: All, except Beaver
XC trail snow conditions: Good coverage from Badger Pass to Glacier Point. However, there are some small, bare spots with asphalt showing. (E. Fraley - 2/8)
Base Depth: 12” – 25”
Temperature: High 48, Low 29
Runs Groomed: Bruin, Eagle, Rabbit, Turtle
Lifts Open: Turtle, Bruin, Eagle, Badger
Runs open: All, except Beaver
XC trail snow conditions: Good coverage from Badger Pass to Glacier Point. However, there are some small, bare spots with asphalt showing. (E. Fraley - 2/8)
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Snow Survey Results
Park Rangers recently completed the February 1 snow surveys. The water content in the Merced drainage is 29% of average while the Tuolumne drainage is 32% of average. (M. Fincher - 2/7)
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EMPLOYEE NEWS
Restored Leave Request Packages: Due March 1Park Rangers recently completed the February 1 snow surveys. The water content in the Merced drainage is 29% of average while the Tuolumne drainage is 32% of average. (M. Fincher - 2/7)
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EMPLOYEE NEWS
It's time to submit your 2011 leave year restored leave packages. In order to meet HROC's deadline, below, please forward me your complete request package not later than COB Thurs, March 1. Each of you requesting restored annual leave for the 2011 leave year must submit a package containing all of the following:
- Name
- Social Security Number
- Organization Code
- Number of hours to be restored
- A copy of your FPPS/Quicktime printout showing your use or loose leave balance as of the end of PP 1201 (December 31, 2011) - your timekeeper can help you with this. (Important: Region won't approve any requests that exceed that balance .)
- A written request for leave restoration, signed by the employee and supervisor stating the reason why leave was cancelled and could not be rescheduled by the end of the leave year.
- The signed and approved original leave slips dated prior to Nov 18.
Please submit complete packages only. Incomplete packages will be returned. Any questions? Give a holler. (Hint: Email is a really good way to get a hold of me.) (T. Hawkins - 2/8)
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Temporary Warehouse Closure Thursday
The warehouse will be closed for routine shopping on Thursday, 2/9/12, from 11:30 to 1:00 pm. If you have an emergency, please knock on the door. (K. Kolbeck - 2/8)
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New Planning Division Employee
Charlie Repath will be working for the Planning Division for the next two months. If you wish to contact Charlie you may phone him at his El Portal office at 379-1405. If you are unable to reach him, you may phone Doyle Harrison at 379-1110 to leave a message. (D. Harrison - 2/8)
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Employee Email Unavailable This Weekend
The Reston data center, including all of the Notes mail servers (which includes Yosemite's Email), will be shut down this weekend, starting 4am PST on Saturday, February 11th, through 4pm PST on Sunday, February 12th. The reason for the shutdown is to perform routine preventive maintenance & testing. Everything should be back up & ready for action by Monday, February 13th. (R. Watson - 2/7)
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If You Have Purchase Authority
Short notice training opportunity/some space still available at the Regional Office in San Francisco on Micro-Purchase Procedures. If you make purchases for your work unit on a regular basis you can benefit from this training. The course is designed for students who are authorized to make open-market purchases of $3,000 or less ($2,500 or less for services and $2,000 or less for construction). It provides “A-to-Z” coverage of what individuals who have been granted micro-purchase authority need to know in order to make purchases in accordance with current law and regulations. This training course is ideal for students in technical or program fields who are authorized to make purchases under these thresholds. (L. Schafer - 2/7)
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Upcoming Servicewide Radon Testing for NPS Residential Units - Update
The quality of indoor air in NPS owned housing units will be tested to determine the average annual radon level. The NPS commitment under this plan includes radon testing at approximately 3,500 existing housing units across the Service.
The placement of a radon testing kits within NPS residential units should not be interpreted as a cause for alarm. Testing will enable screening for problem areas or locations and serve as the basis for follow up actions, including additional testing and mitigation measures if necessary. If radon is discovered and remediation is necessary, radon remediation techniques are available and highly effective.
The radon test kits for Yosemite NPS housing are expected to arrive in the park by February 10. You will be notified by park staff when your test kit will actually be installed.
Park staff will be responsible for placement of the test kits, as well as collection and delivery to designated laboratory facilities following the three day sampling period. The Housing Office will relay any questions or concerns regarding radon that are raised by residents to the regional office.
With your cooperation and participation, we can ensure a safer and healthier environment for our families living in NPS housing.
For additional information regarding Radon, click on the EPA Citizen Guide to Radon link: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html or visit the Housing SharePoint site @ http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/admn/housing/default.aspx. (C. Baker - 2/7)
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Fire Management to Resume Debris Pile Burning in El Portal and Foresta
Yosemite fire management may resume hand pile burning in El Portal and Foresta with help from the forecasted rain. Localized flames and smoke will be visible but impacts should be negligible and short lived. In an ongoing effort, park, state and private fire crews have created forest debris hand piles in and around the communities of Foresta and El Portal. These piles are being made to reduce biomass and create a 'defensible space' fuel break around Yosemite's vulnerable Wildland Urban Interface communities. Additionally, thinning, piling and burning can restore fire dependant ecosystems and set the stage for the progressive management of future natural or prescribed fires. Please contact Kelly Singer @ 372-0413 or Taro Pusina @ 375-9576 with any questions. (T. Pusina - 1/20)
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Village Store Closed
The Village Store will be closed for remodeling beginning Tuesday, January 17th and will reopen on Thursday, February 16th @ Noon. (1/18)
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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
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Fire Management to Resume Debris Pile Burning in El Portal and Foresta
Yosemite fire management may resume hand pile burning in El Portal and Foresta with help from the forecasted rain. Localized flames and smoke will be visible but impacts should be negligible and short lived. In an ongoing effort, park, state and private fire crews have created forest debris hand piles in and around the communities of Foresta and El Portal. These piles are being made to reduce biomass and create a 'defensible space' fuel break around Yosemite's vulnerable Wildland Urban Interface communities. Additionally, thinning, piling and burning can restore fire dependant ecosystems and set the stage for the progressive management of future natural or prescribed fires. Please contact Kelly Singer @ 372-0413 or Taro Pusina @ 375-9576 with any questions. (T. Pusina - 1/20)
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Village Store Closed
The Village Store will be closed for remodeling beginning Tuesday, January 17th and will reopen on Thursday, February 16th @ Noon. (1/18)
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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
Tom Tobin will be the Acting Contacting Officer from 2/6 thru 2/21. Jody Auerbach is out to the office and will return on 2/22. Jody will periodically be checking her email. Tom can be reached at 379-1040.
Madelyn Ruffner (379-1226) is on a 120-day detail as Acting Environmental Planning and Compliance Program Manager. Madelyn may be found at her regular desk location in the EPC Trailer. Elexis Mayer (379-1377) has temporarily moved to the Planning Trailer to continue her work on the Merced River Plan. For further assistance, you may also contact Jessica Zeek (379-1002), Administrative Support Assistant for Environmental Planning and Compliance.
Jack Hoeflich will be acting Valley District Ranger until further notice.
Andy Fristensky will be Acting Deputy Chief of Interpretive Operations until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0599. Jack Hoeflich will be acting Valley District Ranger until further notice.
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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