Yosemite Photos, Video and News

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Friday, June 25, 2010

Weather

Yosemite Valley
Today: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon.
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Calm wind becoming west between 8 and
11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm.
Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph
becoming east.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 80. North wind at 10 mph becoming west.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Northwest wind 5 to 8
mph becoming east.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 88. East wind around 8 mph becoming west
southwest.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53.

El Portal
Today: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after noon.
Partly cloudy, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming southwest between 6
and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm.
Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph
becoming east northeast.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 95. East wind between 7 and 10 mph
becoming calm.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 59. West northwest wind around 7
mph becoming east northeast.
Sunday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. East northeast wind around 9
mph becoming west southwest.
Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 56.

Wawona
Today: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after
noon. Partly cloudy, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming west southwest
between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight: A 10 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9pm.
Partly cloudy, with a low around 46. West northwest wind 5 to 8 mph
becoming east.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming west between 5 and
8 mph.
Saturday Night: Clear, with a low around 52. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph
becoming east.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 94. East northeast wind around 7 mph
becoming west southwest.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 52.

Happening Today (see Community News below for other events happening today)

Construction Update:
Hwy. 140 Construction and Road Closure with Delays (July 11): Repairs will
be made to the road/guardrail between the two temporary bridges at the
Ferguson Rockslide along Hwy. 140 on 7/11/2010. Work will be done between
the hours 10:00pm and 6:00am. There will be traffic control conducted by
the California Highway Patrol - therefore, people will be able to get
through during those hours with a slight delay. (K. Reynolds - 6/25/10)
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**For all Yosemite road construction information and updates, visit the
park's website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/roadwork.htm (M.
Ortiz - 6/22/10)

Wawona Road Rehabilitation (June 1 - November 2010): Locations may vary
throughout the day, but these will be the primary locations scheduled.
*Today's locations of work: Today, there will be work in the 5 mile
section that begins about a mile north of the Wawona Campground with
installation of curb.
*Sunday night's locations of work: On Sunday night, there will be
work in the 6 mile section south of and 6 mile section north of the
Glacier Point Road intersection (Chinquapin).
*Monday's (6/28/10) locations of work: On Monday, there will be
placement of curb in the 6 mile section south of the Glacier Point
Road intersection (Chinquapin).

**Please use caution when driving along the Wawona Road - there are
numerous unpaved surfaces.

For daily traffic control updates, call the park information line at (209)
372-0200 (then press 1, and 1 again). (M. Ortiz - 6/22/10)
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Crane Flat Campground - Water Line Repairs
Candelaria Construction is working on an accelerated schedule to complete
work within the campground with plans to have it open by July 1st for those
people that have reservations. Leaking and deteriorating water lines were
in need of repair or complete replacement throughout various areas in the
campground. Throughout the summer, areas trenched for this project will
remain unpaved, with plans to pave after Labor Day 2010. (M. Ortiz -
6/24/10)
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Tioga Road Pavement Borings(June 7 - July 1, 2010) [Weather and conditions
permitting]
Beginning Monday, June 7 crews began pavement borings on the Tioga Road
between Crane Flat and Tuolumne Meadwos Campground with up to 15-minute
traffic delays, Monday through Friday with no weekend delays. This work is
being conducted in preparation for a future rehabilitation project. (M.
Ortiz - 6/23/10)
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Integrated Utility Master Plan [IUMP] (ongoing)
Mozingo (contractor) has a very small crew working in the park this week
doing clean up and punch list work related to the Ahwahnee lift station.
Because of high water levels other work related to the utility project is
on hold. (M. Ortiz - 6/23/10)
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Wawona Tunnel (ongoing)
Candelaria Construction is continuing work on the fire alarm systems and
fans in the Wawona Tunnel. (M. Ortiz - 6/23/10)
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Tecoya Housing (ongoing)
Allison Sierra will be doing some cleanup work in the Lower Tecoya area but
wont be doing any excavating for a couple weeks due to high water levels.
(M. Ortiz - 6/23/10)

Park and Partner News
Merced River Plan - Presentations, Workshops, and Round Tables Regarding
Outstanding Remarkable Values
Yosemite National Park is developing a Comprehensive Management Plan for
the Merced Wild and Scenic River, in order to protect and enhance its
Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs), water quality and free flowing
condition.

MONTHLY OPEN HOUSE: We will be presenting the ORVs on Wed 30th during our
monthly open house. Please get supervisor’s approval if you are planning to
attend during work hours.

When: June 30th 2010: 1-6 pm - 2 presentations (2:30 and 5 pm)
Where: Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium

**Additional ORV presentations include:

WORKSHOPS (discussion with Yosemite subject matter experts and user
capacity experts):

When: June 28th 2010: 5-8 pm
Where: San Ramon City Council Chamber - 2228 Camino Ramon, San Ramon, CA

When: June 29th 2010: 5-8 pm
Where: Fresno County Supervisors Chamber - 2281 Tulare St, Room 301,
Fresno, CA

When: June 30th 2010: 9-11 am
Where: Oakhurst Community Center - 39800 Road 24B, Oakhurst, CA

ROUND TABLES (discussion with Yosemite subject matter experts):

When: July 1st 2010: 12-2 pm
Where: Groveland Community Hall - 18730 Main St, Hwy 120, Groveland, CA

When: July 2nd 2010: 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Where: Mono Basin Visitor Center - Highway 395, Lee Vining, CA

When: July 13th 2010: 5:30-7 pm
Where: El Portal Community Center - 5567 Foresta Rd, El Portal, CA

For further information, please call 209/379-1110. See you there! (L. Leao
– 6/25/10)
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GEOLOGY UNDERFOOT IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK Yosemite Conservancy has
received its first delivery of our latest, and most definitive geologic
handbook, published by Mountain Press, and co-authored by Allen F. Glazner
and Yosemite’s own Greg Stock. This 300 page comprehensive trade paperback
retails at $24, and is available at the Yosemite Bookstore in the Valley
Visitor Center, or at the Yosemite Conservancy warehouse in El Portal.
Yosemite Conservancy current members and donors receive a 15% discount with
purchase, and park partners receive a 10% discount with a DNC employee
discount card. (T. Arfsten - 6/25/10)
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Prescribed Burn Scheduled in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park Fire Managers are planning a prescribed fire in the
western portion of the park near Crane Flat early next week. Ignition of
the prescribed fire is dependent on weather conditions. The total
prescribed burn area will include 200 acres. Roadside thinning along the
Big Oak Flat Road, as well as the ignition of several burn piles, has taken
place over the last few years in preparation for this project. Fire
engines, water tenders, and fire crews from Yosemite National Park and the
U.S. Forest Service will be present during all fire activity. This will be
the first prescribed fire of the 2010 fire season.

It is estimated that the burn will take approximately two to three days to
complete. Temperatures over the scheduled burn dates are predicted to be
in the mid-70’s.

Smoke from the burn may be visible throughout the park, but may be more
evident in Foresta, El Portal and the Hodgdon Meadow area. There is a
possibility of nighttime smoke impacts along the Big Oak Flat Road near the
Crane Flat area.

The goal of this prescribed burn is to reduce fire fuels near the park
boundary, the Rockefeller Grove of sugar pine trees, and structures located
in the Crane Flat area. This will be the first prescribed fire in this
specific location, however other areas near the proposed site have
previously been burned. (K. Cobb - 6/25/10)
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Volunteers Rock! –Recognizing volunteer accomplishments around the park.
Yosemite Conservancy has a strong volunteer program that supports visitor
services for the park. Their month-long volunteers staff the kiosk in front
of the wilderness office and the yurt located in Camp 6 in order to provide
information to visitors. From May 1 through June 12, these volunteers made
contact with 44,149 visitors! Another volunteer accomplishment has been a
joint project between RMS and Fire. They have utilized volunteers to reduce
fuel loading in the wildland-urban interface in the Ahwahnee Meadow. From
Earth Day through June 19, their volunteers have removed 30 stakebed
truckloads of vegetation from the meadow. These volunteer contributions
have really helped to improve Yosemite for visitors and employees alike!
Thanks to our wonderful park volunteers! (L. Prell - 6/24/10)

Acting Designations
Bret Meldrum (379-1216) will be acting Branch Chief for Vegetation and
Ecological Restoration on June 25. (J. Weaser - 6/25/10)
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On Friday, June 25, Carol Knipper will be acting Branch Chief of Wildlife
Management. She can be reached at 379-1097. (S. Thompson - 6/25/10)
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Historical Architect Sueann Brown (379-1222) will be acting Branch Chief
for History, Architecture & Landscapes June 25, 2010. (D. Humphrey -
6/25/10)
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Marty Nielson will be the point of contact for the Lands Management Program
while Sean McCabe is on leave from June 24 until July 6. If you need
immediate assistance please contact Marty by calling Wendy Malone on
209-372-0270. (S.McCabe - 6/22/10)
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George Harders will be the Acting Branch Chief for Utilities Monday June
28th. You may phone George at his El Portal office at 379-1828. If
unavailable you may leave a message with Katie Bablitch at 379-1055. Rodney
Raines will be the Acting Branch Chief for Utilities Friday June 25th. You
may phone Rodney at his Wawona office 375-9510. (S. Gaynor - 6/22/10)
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Renea Kennec will be Acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and
Compliance on June 23, 24, and 25. You may reach her at 370-1038. (K. Dera
- 6/21/10)
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Curator Barbara Beroza (372-0297) will be acting Branch Chief for the
Museum Program June 19 - July 7, 2010. (J. Bayless - 6/1710)
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Jay Shields will be the acting Mather District Ranger from 6/15 through
6/26. He can be reached at the Crane Flat Subdistrict Office, 379-1926. (K.
Killian - 6/15/10)
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Until further notice, Brenna Lissoway (379-1283) will be the Acting Park
Archivist while Paul Rogers is on a detail as the Acting Regional Archivist
(PWR). If you have need to access the Archives, or have archive related
questions, you can also try calling at 379-1281 or 379-1104. (J. Bayless -
6/3/10)
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Until further notice, Lorene Schafer (379-1873) will be the Acting Chief
for Contracting and Procurement . If you have contracting related questions
and don't already have a point of contact, please call Helli Tucker at
379-1368. Please continue to route purchase request (PR) packages to Lorene
for Acquisition Approval in IDEAS.
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Until further notice, Ed Dunlavey will be the acting Operations Branch
Chief and Deputy Chief Ranger.
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Until further notice, Cindy Whitten will be the acting Human Resources
Officer - 209/379-1878.

Employee News
Yosemite National Park Archeologist Laura Kirn Wins Prestigious Award
Laura Kirn is the 2010 recipient of the Stephen K.F. and Katharine W. Lee
Prize from the Goucher College Master of Arts in Historic Preservation
program. The Lee Prize was established in 1999 by Antoinette J. Lee,
National Park Service Deputy Assistant Director for Cultural Resources, in
honor Lee's parents.

The Lee Prize is given each year for the best paper or project from a
Goucher College graduate student that addresses the preservation of
America's diverse heritage, including cultural and ethnic groups,
life-style diversity, and the cultural imprint of other defined groups on
American society.

Kirn’s work documents the historical significance of the Wesley and Alice
Wilson House, the last remaining building from the Indian Village in
Yosemite Valley. This modest house embodies the importance of the National
Park Service’s historical and ongoing relationship with American Indians.

Kirn is currently the Branch Chief for Anthropology and Archeology in the
Division of Resources Management and Science at Yosemite National Park. (K.
Cobb - 6/25/10)

Community News
Prepare to take a FUNKY RIDE!! The Pimps of Joytime are making their 2nd
appearance in Yosemite Valley. On Tuesday, June 29th from 9pm until
Midnight they will rock out the East Auditorium (behind the Visitors
Center) at yet another FREE show sponsored by DNC Employee Recreation.
Every Yosemite community member is invited and encouraged not to miss this
incredible show! Please remember to bring an employee and photo ID, cash
for refreshments, and dancing shoes! No backpacks or outside alcohol
please. (E. Brosk - 6/25/10)
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Jay Cook Bruce’s Movie “Cougar Killer”
In another chapter in the history of Wawona, the Wawona Friends of the
Bassett Memorial Library will host Tom Phillips and the 1924 movie Cougar
Killer starring Wawona’s Jay Bruce Tuesday, June 29 at 7 p.m. in the
library. . In 1918, Jay Cook Bruce was appointed the first California State
Mountain Lion Hunter. Jay was born in Hornitos and grew up in Wawona where
he learned to hunt from the local Indians. In 1924, Henry Snow, a world
renown wildlife photographer, followed Jay on some of his hunting
expeditions and filmed the events. Jay did the audio portion of his film
in 1953 - the same year as his book “Cougar Killer” was published. Tom
will give a short presentation following the viewing of the movie and he
will be available for questions about the film or other items of interest
regarding his family’s history in Wawona. Refreshments will be served.
There is no admission charge. (P. Sischo - 6/24/10)
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Groveland this weekend
6/25/26 All of a Sudden Live at the Door Saloon. Chris
209-962-5947. The Iron Door Saloon offers just the greatest
historic ambiance with a bunch of beers on tap, good live dance
music on Friday and Saturday nights...a great way to wind down
from a day of hiking.
6/26 Movies in the Park: Cats and Dogs in Lower Mary Laveroni
Community Park. Weekly movies in the park sponsored by the
Yosemite Chamber of Commerce. Great family fun, bring a blanket
and buy your popcorn, candy, hotdogs and soda at the park.
Great prices!
6/26 Farmer's Market at Mountain Sage from 8 am to early
afternoon. Stop by for a home grown treat and a cup of jo!
6/26 Wild Adventures of John Muir a Musical Play Big Creek
Meadow Ranch. Ann. 209-962-1942. This is an original script
with music and lyrics by Dr. Ann Schafer. An opportunity to
remember a great man, John Muir.
6/28 Card Stamping Party with Stamp’n up Cindini. $25 includes
materials for three unique cards, instruction and lunch at the
Hotel Charlotte. 209-962-4660 for reservations.
Mayor Goose: Incumbent Candidate's weekly update:
Have you heard? Goose is turning professional. Now that he
plays the piano, he does it for money, a vote, a bribe....It's
$1 per audience member and you could win the grand prize in the
festival raffle! Shows performed nightly at the Hotel Charlotte
and they are originally composed for each set...new songs on a
whim! Come down and see the show before or after dinner, or
vote for the dog from the comfort of your home computer.
www.MayorGoose.com
More events and details can be found online at
www.HotelCharlotte.com/events.html (Hotel Charlotte - 6/24/10)
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This weekend in Don Pedro: On June 26, 2010 - It's all happening at the
Don Pedro Lumber Cafe in Don Pedro on Merced Falls Road a few miles west of
Coulterville off Hwy. 132 - The John Muir Hwy. This Saturday presenting -
"Kil'n Time" - a 5 piece country band out of Mariposa. They will play for
your enjoyment from 6 - 10 P.M. As always, no cover and really great food -
world famous burgers - each patty 1/2 lb. and you can get up to 4 patties
on your bun !!! Try them if you dare !!! Also steaks and Mexican food,
beer and wine. Reserve for the best table - 209 852 0146. (6/23/10)
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Mariposa Symphony Orchestra "Independence Day Spectacular!" Concert,
Saturday, June 26 at 7:00 pm in the Amphitheatre at Mariposa County Park -
a spectacularly fun concert of very familiar classical 'pops'; a great way
to spend a cool summer's eve. Bring your picnic dinner - and enjoy this
great early celebration of our nation's Independence. This rousing
outdoor concert will be held at the Amphitheatre at Mariposa County Park:
4998 County Park Road, off Stroming Rd. (6 th Street off Hwy 140) Tickets
are (Adults:) $6 and Students: $4. Advance ticket purchase is strongly
urged. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring blankets for the lawn or
cushions for the seating area. For concert tickets and information:
call the Mariposa County Arts Council, Inc. (209) 966-3155 (Monday -
Friday, 9/AM-5/PM) at 5009 5 th Street, and at the Mariposa County
Visitors Center Hwy 49 & Hwy 140 intersection - (209) 966-7081. (D.
Brownell - 6/22/10)
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FOR RENT: Mobile home in Mariposa. One bedroom/one bath. Contact Chuck at
742-2099 for more information. (Y. Radanovich - 6/24/10)
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FOR RENT: Beautifully remodeled 2 bedroom 2 bath manufactured home on 25
acres with views of the Clark Range, located off Colorado Road near
Chappel Vineyard. $900/month plus utilities. Please contact Tom Ronay
(209) 769-5065 (C. Ronay - 6/23/10)