Yosemite Photos, Video and News

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Weather

Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 92. South southwest wind between 13 and 15
mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 55. South wind between 6 and 11
mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 92. Southeast wind 6 to 14 mph becoming
southwest. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.

El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 95. South southwest wind around 11 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 55. South southwest wind 7 to 9 mph
becoming east.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 94. East southeast wind 7 to 10 mph
becoming southwest.

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind between 10 and 13 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 47. South southwest wind 6 to 9 mph
becoming east.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 91. East wind 5 to 13 mph becoming
southwest.

Tuolumne Area
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. South southwest wind between 14
and 17 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Southwest wind between 11 and
14 mph becoming light. Winds could gust as high as 18 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 72. South southwest wind between 7 and
17 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.

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

Hazard Tree Work Continues
Contractors plan to complete tree hazard cleanup along the Big Oak Flat
Road in the Rattlesnake Creek area Tuesday and Wednesday. Intermittent
one-lane traffic control is anticipated with brief delays. (B. Mattos -
7/26/10)
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Tioga Road Work: The Mather road crew will be performing road maintenance
on theTioga Road starting at the Tenaya Lake area and working east. Expect
short traffic delays. Thanks for your cooperation. (B. Brantley - 7/23/10)

Construction Update
Village Wayfinding Sign Project: As you may have noticed a number of posts,
pillars, and other steel sign frames have been installed throughout
Yosemite Village. These new signs will improve wayfinding for park visitors
between the Visitor Parking area and the Yosemite Museum. The signs
themselves will be installed once the concrete cures - beginning August 5
with a completion date of August 20, 2010. (M. Ortiz - 7/27/10)
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UPDATE - Hwy. 120 (East of Tioga Pass)
Paving Work: The contractor will grind bumps on the new pavement at 3
locations between Ellery Lake & Blue Slide, remove remaining signs,
equipment, etc.on Hwy. 120 Wednesday, 7/28/10, using traffic control with
flaggers from Tioga Pass/Yosemite National Park Entrance to 5.5 miles east.
Delays are not to exceed 20 minutes. It is anticipated this work will be
done in the morning, after which, all work for the paving project will be
complete.

Guardrail work will resume today, Monday 7/26/10 starting at Warren Creek
& continue east. This work is expected to be completed by Fri 7/30/10 and
may cause minimal delays. (M. Ortiz - 7/26/10)
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Soda Springs Bridge Intermittent Closure: The Soda Springs Bridge (near the
Parson's lodge) will be closed periodically from July 12 - August 5 for
repairs. Sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause. (C. Hime -
7/12/10)
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El Portal Complex Photovoltaic System (July 22, 2010 - December 2010)
Paragon Industrial Applications (PIA) [contractor] started moving material
and equipment into the El Portal Complex area on July 22, 2010. To minimize
potential traffic and parking problems, PIA has agreed to work Thursday -
Sunday.
This week beginning Thursday, July 29 the contractors will be moving
people on site to begin trenching and structure work. PIA will be
moving into their staging area (by the Wastewater Treatment Plant)
with material, equipment and tools. On Friday July 30 the contractor
will be excavating and cutting pavement in the area of the Planning
Trailer in the North part of the Complex. The construction area will
be flagged and coned. Employees should plan on parking at least 50
yards from the Planning Trailer.
Next month: Trenching for the new PV systems and work on the carports
will begin in August. Work to begin setting the Photovoltaic panels
will most likely not start for another month.

IMPORTANT - Get Creative to Avoid Extra Cars at the EP Complex: This week,
the area near the Planning Trailer will be impacted beginning Friday, July
30. El Portal Complex employees are strongly encouraged to carpool, use the
bus, ride your bike or walk to work during construction days as there will
be a noticeable decrease in parking during construction. Specific locations
of work will be posted throughout the project.
INTERESTING PROJECT FACT: This grid-tied solar photovoltaic system,
comprised of roof top panels and parking shade structures, could reduce
grid-suppplied electric use in the El Portal Complex by almost 25%
annually. (M. Ortiz - 7/27/10)
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Wawona Road Rehabilitation (June 1 - November 2010):
**Please use caution when driving along the Wawona Road - there are
numerous unpaved surfaces.

Paving work has begun on the Wawona Road. Contractors started north of
Wawona Campground, and they will be alternating lanes every night going
north. At this moment, the southbound lane is paved from 1.9 miles north of
Alder Creek to 0.9 miles north of Wawona Campground. And the northbound
lane is paved about the same distance where they will continue tonight.
Just south of Chinquapin, the waterline is being placed so there is no
pavement there.
*Today's work: Today, contractors will continue to pour more concrete
curb in areas between Wawona and the South Entrance as well as between
Chinquapin (Glacier Point Road intersection) and the Wawona Tunnel.
*Tonight's work: Night work will consist of working on the Chinquapin
waterline project and paving. The contractor will continue to pave in
the northbound lane between the Wawona Campground and Chinquapin.
(Please see the Wawona Tunnel work below for additional delays).
*Tomorrow's work: Tomorrow, contractors will continue to pour more
concrete curb in areas north of Chinquapin.

-For all Yosemite road construction information and updates, visit the
park's website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/roadwork.htm

-For daily traffic control updates, call the park information line at (209)
372-0200 (then press 1, and 1 again). (M. Ortiz - 7/27/10)
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Integrated Utility Master Plan [IUMP] (to be completed by the end of 2010)
Mozingo Construction (contractor) is currently working on the new sewer
lift station at the Ahwahnee Hotel as well as some of the fire hydrants and
valving on Ahwahnee Drive. Further work on the abandonment of old utilities
has been put on hold.

Allison Sierra (ASI) was recently awarded the contract for the new North
Pines sewer lift station project that is to start shortly after the
campground closes for the season. (M. Ortiz - 7/26/10)
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Wawona Tunnel (ongoing)
Candelaria Construction (contractor) will be controlling traffic in the
Wawona Tunnel tonight and the rest of the week for installation of a new
fire alarm system in the Wawona Tunnel. The traffic control will be
between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. Candelaria will be using a pilot car for
traffic movement through the tunnel.(M. Ortiz - 7/26/10)
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Tecoya Housing (to be completed by October 1, 2010)
Allison Sierra (ASI) [contractor] will be working in the Lower Tecoya area
to replace old and failing water, sewer, and power lines and remove them
from sensitive ecological areas. This contractor (ASI) was also awarded the
contract for the new North Pines sewer lift station project that is to
start shortly. (M. Ortiz - 7/26/10)

Park and Partner News
Yosemite Quarter Event: All Yosemite National Park employees, partners,
families, and friends are invited to help launch the YOSEMITE QUARTER
Thursday, July 29th, @ 11:00 a.m. in front of the Yosemite Valley Visitor
Center!! This public event will feature Superintendent Don Neubacher,
United States Mint Director Edmund Moy, and surprise guests!! The event
will be followed by a Quarter Exchange, where participants can exchange
paper money for up to 10 rolls of uncirculated Yosemite Quarters!!! Also
included are free quarters for kids 18 and under and a commemorative cake
to be enjoyed by all!! Don't miss this historic event, and the first
opportunity to obtain the Yosemite Quarters, the third coin released in the
America the Beautiful Quarters Series!!!! We'll see you there!!! (S.
Gediman/K. Cobb - 7/27/10)
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YOSEMITE OUTDOOR ADVENTURES #54
Miwok-Paiute Acorn Basketry 2 With Lucy Parker and Family
August 20-22, 2010 in Tuolumne

Meet heritage that lives on in Yosemite. Each student will prepare
materials for an acorn gathering basket. Lucy, her daughter Ursula, and
her mother Julia, will demonstrate weaving techniques and help students
start and build their own baskets. Yosemite basket traditions and history
will be discussed throughout the class. All materials are provided to
participants. This class involves short walks of which you will be
gathering material for your baskets. Hiking is not the focus of this
course. Please contact Holly at 209-379-2317 X17 or Pete 209-379-2317 X12
for more information. NPS is free, but would have to pay for the cost of
materials. This is a great class to be creative and learn about the
Miwok-Paiute Culture. Come join the 3 generations--Lucy, Ursula, and
Julia. (H. Kuehn - 7/27/10)
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Yosemite Conservancy, the new non profit formed from the merger of the
Yosemite Association and The Yosemite Fund, has posted 2009 annual report
and financial statements.

Yosemite Association- 2009 Annual Report
http://www.yosemite.org/dsn/wwwyosemiteassociationorg/Content/2009_YAAnn...

The Yosemite Fund-2009 Annual Report
http://www.yosemitefund.org/documents/FinalPrinted.pdf (N. Morrison -
7/27/10)
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Yosemite Fire Status:
Two new fires were found yesterday (7/25/10) during a reconnaissance flight
by Helicopter 551 after a thunderstorm:
The Slope Fire, is approximately 1 mile north/west of Harden Lake
with low to moderate rate fire activity.
The other found fire is the Olmsted Fire. It is a single tree
burning in rock. It is approximately ½ mile south of Olmsted Point on
a ridge.
The Wildcat 2 and Tuolumne fires continue to slowly grow.
Other fires may be found in the park due to the continuing thunderstorms.
Helicopter 551 will be conducting fire observation flights today. (G.
Wuchner - 7/26/10)

Acting Designations
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 379-1282 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
DETAIL/TEMPORARY PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY – Permanent NPS YOSE employees -

The Division of Facility Management has an exciting opportunity for a
detail/temporary promotion (if qualified) to Facility Services Assistant
GS-1603-06.

Applicant selected for this detail/temporary promotion would provide
support to the Buildings and Grounds Facility Manager. This assignment
will provide an opportunity to work with a broad range of people in support
of park operations. Skill in written and verbal communication is essential.
Primary tasks include maintaining the FMSS and related databases to support
branch functions, preparing reports, updating program costs, tracking and
maintaining Branch budget, monitoring obligations and expenditures to
ensure the proper allocation of funds, scheduling appointments for Branch
Chief, and providing administrative support including timekeeping, travel
management, records and information management, and purchasing.

If interested in being considered for a detail or temporary promotion (if
qualified) for the Facility Services Assistant GS-1603-06, please submit
your resume to Amanda Burnham in the Human Resources Office no later than
Friday July 30, 2010. Please make sure to have your supervisor’s approval.

Questions about the position, call Tom Darcy, Buildings and Grounds
Facility Manager
Phone 209-379-1076. Questions about how to apply, call Amanda Burnham at
(209) 379-1815. (A. Burnham - 7/27/10)
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Welcome to RMS! I am very pleased to announce that Karen Dera has accepted
a permanent GS5 Administrative Assistant position with the Resource
Management and Science Division Chief's Office. Karen has a Bachelor's
degree in Information and Communication from California State University at
Chico. She has had an extensive career in the private sector throughout
California working as a freelance writer, communication specialist, and an
executive assistant. Karen joined the Department of Interior several
years ago working for the Bureau of Land Management in Redding as a
Contract Specialist and more recently here in Yosemite as an Administrative
Assistant for the Project Management Division and the Superintendent's
Office. Please join me in welcoming Karen to RMS! (N. Nicholas - 7/27/10)

Community News
FOR RENT: 2 bedroom 1 1/2 bathroom Condo for rent located in town on HWY
49 North... Trash removal and outside maintenance paid by owner... Rent
$875.00 plus utilities (Propane and PG& E)... There's a nice swimming pool
too for those long and hot work days nice to just jump in and relax...
Available October 1, 2010. Please contact Marguerite Collins if you are
interested. cell phone number 1-559-760-4771. (D. Buskeness - 7/27/10)
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Free Movie Night!!! 7:30 pm on Friday, July 30th at Yosemite Community
Church. Showing of "Amazing Grace", the story of William Wilberforce
life's work to abolish slavery in the British Empire. Free popcorn and
soda! Everyone is welcome. (D. Engelstad - 7/27/10)
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Homeless yet Hopeful NPS Permanent Employee looking for a place to live.
Need a subletter, housemate, or house sitter? Have a habitable shack in
your back yard? I'm interested! If you've got a free space that's
available for 3 or more months, please contact me at haley_bercot@nps.gov .
(H. Bercot - 7/27/10)
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SIERRA INSTITUTE PRESENTS RESULTS OF IMPORTANT STUDY
A ground-breaking study has just been completed in Mariposa County. The
community is invited to a presentation of the final results at 6 pm on
Wednesday, July 28, at the Mariposa County Government Center.

Mariposa County was chosen from all the counties in the state of
California. It is helping to develop and test a new measurement of the
condition of watersheds in California. The Statewide Watershed Assessment
Framework currently includes scientific indicators for physical attributes
like water quality and the condition of plants and animals. This study
enters new territory by looking at the people living in a watershed, what
they value in their watershed, what concerns they have, and what is needed
for them to understand and work together to address watershed issues.
Over several months, community members from Mariposa County’s three
watersheds shared their knowledge and perspectives on watershed conditions.
Sierra Institute for Community and Environment Consultant Jonathan Kusel
will report on the social and economic indicators for Mariposa County’s
watersheds that emerged from these discussions. He’ll describe how the
indicators were tested in Mariposa County and how they will help to measure
watershed conditions here and throughout California as well. He‘ll
demonstrate how the information gathered in the study will document what
has succeeded and what is still needed to protect Mariposa County’s
exceptional natural resources.
The project was funded by the California Department of Water Resources and
managed by the Sierra Nevada Alliance.

For those who cannot attend, the report will be posted at
www.merced-river.org as soon as it is available. (A. Steed - 7/27/10)
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Come for a Knit and Chat!
What: A chance to catch up with old friends and meet new ones and learn
from other people in the craft.
When: Wednesday, July 28 - 7:30pm
Where: 9766 Riverview Road (Rancheria)
To Bring: A blanket or a chair and the crafts of your choice.
Look forward to seeing you there! Questions? Call Keri Miller at 372-0359.
(K. Miller - 7/26/10)
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Farewell Potluck for Brindeiros: The Brindeiros are leaving Yosemite and
going to Pinnacles National Monument! Come and say “Goodbye” or “See you
later”
WHEN: Tuesday August 10, 2010
WHERE: Wawona Community Center
TIME: 6:00 PM
POTLUCK SANDWICHES PROVIDED, BYOB (M. Brindeiro - 7/26/10)
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El Portal Music Festival
Saturday, August 14
El Portal Community Hall
Doors open at 5:30. Music starts at 6:30.
Mark your calendars for the “(not quite) 10th Annual El Portal Music
Festival” with special guests The Heavy Guilt, a San Diego-based roots band
featuring El Portal favorite Al Howard. After the band, DJ 5Min_Crush
(Dylan Macintosh) will be filling the dance floor with his unique blend of
electro dance rock.

Tickets will be available at the door for $10. A delicious Mexican meal
will be available for purchase from Angel and Norma at the event from 5:30
– 8:30. Cash bar provided by YEA. No outside alcohol permitted. If you
would like to volunteer in exchange for entrance, contact the El Portal
Community Association at epcommunityhall@gmail.com.
Sponsored by ElPortalLive and the El Portal Community Association (M. Carr
- 7/26/10)