Yosemite Photos, Video and News

************************
Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station Improvements (August 16 - November 2010)
Abide International (contractor) began work Monday, August 16 to upgrade
the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station. Work will last approximately three
months. Expect slight delays at the kiosk during this time. The entrance
will be upgraded with new area lighting, a new security camera system, new
doors and reconditioned windows, and new HVAC system along with other
improvements that will bring the entrance station up to date in energy
efficiency and security.  (M. Ortiz - 8/30/10)
******************************************************
UPDATE - El Portal Complex Photovoltaic (PV) 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.  The contractor's staging area is located by the Wastewater
Treatment Plant, where they will keep their material, equipment and tools.

        Last week - Update:  Contractors (PIA and Suntrek) continued
        mounting 240 watt solar modules this weekend on wall 5 (south of
        the Machine Shop). Work was also concentrated on roof 1 (Warehouse
        area) for conduit and other electrical work. In addtion, work
        continued on the steel structure work on walls 3 and 4 (Machine
        Shop). Suntrek also started to install panels on the south wall of
        the Machine Shop. PIA also started excavation work on the street
        corssing and core drilling south of the Planning Trailer for
        carports.
        (Thursday - Sunday): This week September 9-12 -  Work will
        continue near the Planning Trailer on carports 2,3 and 4.  A new
        drill rig is due this week to try again to drill the pier footings
        for the carport columns.
        Parking: Parking will be restricted to "No Parking" on Thursday -
        Sunday in the area near the Planning Trailer for work on the
        carports. Appropriate signage will be in place indicating which
        spaces are closed to parking.

IMPORTANT - Get Creative to Avoid Extra Cars at the EP Complex : During
contracted work days (Thursday - Sunday) 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. NOTE:    Please remember to park Government vehicles in
appropriate locations and avoid taking over the limited parking available
for personal vehicles (perimeter of complex).

INTERESTING PROJECT FACT: Renewable Solar Energy generated by this project
will support the operations of the Wastewater Treatment facility which
plays a vital role in effectively treating wastewater that is generated by
park facilities. (M. Ortiz - 9/7/10)
******************************************************
Wawona Road Rehabilitation (May 3 - November 2010):
**Please use caution when driving along the Wawona Road - there are a
number of locations with unpaved surfaces.
CHANGE IN SCHEDULE:
Wawona Road Construction Delays Extended to Include Friday and Saturday
Nights. Work is scheduled to occur between Sunday nights at 9:00 pm and
Saturday mornings at 6:00 am. Additionally, work will occur on Saturday
from 9:00 pm - Sunday morning at 6:00 am. 60-minute delays are scheduled
nightly from 11:00 pm - 6:00 am.  Although wait times are scheduled, expect
overall slow travel times through the construction zone (due to following a
pilot car, driving over unpaved areas, and waiting in lines of traffic) to
increase beyond what is scheduled.

     *Today's locations of work (9/10):  There will be placement of
aggregate on shoulders in the 5 mile area that begins a mile north of the
Wawona Campground.  There will also be surveying in the area that begins
approximately 3 miles north of the South Entrance and runs to a mile north
of the Wawona Campground.
     *Tonight's locations of work (9/10): On Friday night, there will be
paving in the 2 mile area that runs south of the Glacier Point Road
intersection (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 - 9/7/10)
******************************************************
Integrated Utility Master Plan [IUMP] (to be completed by the end of 2010)
River Crossing and Meadow Work Underway - Removal of Old, Abandoned
Utilities Embedded in the River and Within Meadows
Mozingo Construction (contractor) is currently mobilizing for and working
on the river crossing - related portions of the project this week. You are
likely to see work near the Stoneman Bridge area (across from Curry
Village). Work with heavy machinery will begin each day at 9:00am - and
travel through areas such as Lower Pines Campground, North Pines
Campground, Housekeeping Camp will be essential in accessing the river
during certain portions of this project.

There are 8 different areas through the river corridor where contractors
will be removing abandoned utilities pipes and materials. These pipes are
embedded into the river, therefore it is a delicate process to remove them.
Contractors will work to minimize turbidity in the river during this
process and will be monitoring turbidity levels. Work will occur over the
next 2 months through mid-October.

The removal of abandoned utilities is a large part of the IUMP  work in
Yosemite. IUMP utility replacement work involves the relocation of old
failing utilities (water, power, sewer) from sensitive environmental areas
and relocating the new utilities into new integrated utility corridors
underneath roads and pathways. This allows meadow and wetland habitat to
revert back to pristine conditions.

Other Areas of Work (both current and upcoming) include:
     Areas within Ahwahnee Meadow
     Areas within Stoneman Meadow

Allison Sierra (ASI) was awarded the contract for the new North Pines sewer
lift station project that is to start shortly before the campground closes
for the season. Stay tuned for more information as the project time nears.
(M. Ortiz - 9/2/10)
******************************************************
Wawona Tunnel Ventilation Repairs (ongoing)
Candelaria Construction (contractor) is continuing the installation of the
new ventilation and fire alarm systems throughout the tunnel. They are
approximately 90% complete. (M. Ortiz - 8/19/10)
******************************************************
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)
******************************************************
Wawona Meadow Restoration
The south side of the Wawona Meadow Loop trail will be closed from 7:00am
to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday during meadow restoration. This temporary
closure is likely to be in effect through November, 2010.

The Wawona Meadow has been utilized and manipulated by humans for many
years, including the construction of two ditches in 1936 by the Civilian
Conservation Corp (CCC) that divert water to the edges of the meadow. These
ditches alter meadow hydrology by diverting and concentrating surface flow
and draining groundwater from the sides, drying out the adjacent areas and
changing plant communities.

Today, 165 acres above the golf course are the focus of current restoration
efforts. The diversion ditches (now deepened  by erosion to up to 10 feet
in some places) will be filled with native soil and replanted with native
plants salvaged from the surrounding area. This project, funded in part by
the Yosemite Conservancy, will include long-term monitoring of meadow
plants and animals.

The Wawona Meadow Loop is one of a handful of multiple-use trails in the
park, welcoming leashed pets, bicyclists, and horseback riders as well as
hikers. Spectacular in every season, the restoration of the Wawona Meadow
will  provide generations of park users a glimpse of the wildlife and
wildflowers that exist here naturally. (A. Freeman, 9/8/2010)

Park and Partner News

Temporary Gas Station Closures. DNC vendor, Banks & Co., will perform
annual Air Pollution Control Department testing with Mariposa and Tuolumne
Counties on all four service stations. There will be short closures
required at each station with the following closing schedules. Note that
the listed times are estimates only.

     Wawona - Sept. 14 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Sept. 27 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM,
     Oct. 4 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

     Crane Flat - Sept. 15 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Oct. 5 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM

     Tuolumne - Sept. 24 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

     Valley Fuel - Sept. 14 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Oct. 7 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM

Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. (Excerpted from DNC email
messages.) (W.Malone - 9/10/10)

This information will be kept available for review on the BRM/Concessions
Management Sharepoint Site until the testing is completed.
****************************************************
Bike Rentals. Effective September 8, the Curry Village and Yosemite Lodge
Bike Stand hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.. The last bike
rental for the day will go out at 4:45 p.m. and all bikes must be returned
by 5:45 p.m.  (ACatamec/SCostello - 9/10/10))
****************************************************
Windshield Replacement and Repairs. We have a couple of vehicles needing
windshield replacements and repairs.  If anyone else within the Park needs
to have a government vehicle or personal vehicle repaired  please notify
the Machine Shop at 379-1150 or call Sharon of Arrow Glass at 533-3700.
(G.Tilley-9/9/10)
****************************************************
Yosemite Forum - The Yosemite Forum lecture series scheduled for Tuesday,
September 14, 2010 has been cancelled. (M.Thornley-9/10/10)
****************************************************
Yosemite Press Release: Road Construction Delays Extended in Yosemite
National Park Extended Delays will include Friday and Saturday Nights

Road construction on the Wawona Road in Yosemite National Park began in May
2010.  In an effort to complete this project by November 2010, roadwork
will expand to include Friday and Saturday nights.  New hours will go into
effect tomorrow, Friday, September 10.

Visitors traveling into Yosemite via Highway 41/Wawona Road will experience
up to 30 minute delays Monday through Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
and on Fridays from 6:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Thirty minute delays will also
occur on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Additionally, 60 minute traffic delays will occur every night of the week,
including Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Visitors should be aware that construction delays will now occur seven days
per week until the project is completed.   However, there will be no
traffic delays during the day on Saturdays and Sundays from 6:00 a.m. to
9:00 p.m.

The project is currently improving 24.4 miles of the Wawona Road starting
from the South Entrance of Yosemite and ending at the junction of the
Wawona Road and Bridalveil Straight in Yosemite Valley.  This project
includes resurfacing, restoring, and rehabilitating the roadway, improving
drainage and grading, adding new signage and striping of the roadway.

For current information on this project and other road projects, please
visit: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/roadwork.htm  or call
209-372-0200. (K.Cobb - 9/10/10)

Acting Designations

Scott Jackson is Acting Branch Chief for Anthropology from September 7
through 10. Scott can be reached at 379-1316. (L. Kirn - 9/7/10)
****************************************************
Mark Fincher will be Acting Wilderness Manager from Sept. 10-Sept. 23. He
can be reached at 372-0219. (M.Marschall - 9/10/10)
****************************************************
Contracting Update:  Walt Schmidt will be the Acting Branch Chief for
Contracting & Procurement through 5 November 2010.  If you have contracting
related questions, don't already have a point of contact, and aren't able
to find the information you need at our SharePoint site (
http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/admn/contract/default.aspx) please call Tom
Tobin at 379-1040. (L. Schafer - 9/7/2010)
****************************************************
Historical Landscape Architect Amy Hoke (379-1425) will be acting Branch
Chief for History, Architecture & Landscapes (HAL) from Tuesday, Sept. 7
thru Friday, Sept. 10.
Historical Landscape Architect Kevin McCardle (379-1418) will be acting
Branch Chief for History, Architecture & Landscapes (HAL) on Mon. Sept. 13,
2010.
While attending/presenting at the Preserving Historic Roads Conference in
Washington, D.C. I will generally be available by cell phone at
330.715.4926. (D. Humphrey - 9/3/10)
****************************************************
Sue Clark will be Acting Environmental Planning and Compliance Program
Manager beginning Monday, August 30, 2010, through Friday, September 10,
2010.  Sue can be reached at 379-1115 or you may leave a message with Sarah
Henderson at 379-1202. (S. Henderson - 8/30/10)
****************************************************
Carol Blaney (372-0445) will be acting Branch Chief for Interpretive Field
Operations September 8-10. (V. Mates - 8/27/10)
****************************************************
Tom Medema, Interpretation and Education Division Chief, will be Acting
Deputy Superintendent  September 7 through 30.  You may reach him at
372-0332. (K. Dera - 9/1/10)
****************************************************
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)
****************************************************
Until further notice, Ed Dunlavey will be the acting Operations Branch
Chief and Deputy Chief Ranger.

Employee News
Out of Office Reply Settings. Did you know that you can set your out of
office reply from Lotus Notes so that it will not respond to emails sent to
YOSE All Employees or from YOSE Daily Report? Click on the exceptions tab
when you enable your out of office message and select YOSE Daily Report
under the from category. Out of office replies clog inboxes and keep those
responsible for distributing all employee messages from receiving important
emails. (J.Friesen McCabe - 9/10/10)
****************************************************
With the cool mornings and evenings, soon we will be thinking about
building those nice cozy fires to stay warm.  If you do burn firewood,
please remember the following:

  Use only dry and seasoned wood in your stove or fireplace.
  Stacking firewood away from your house or other structures will lessen
  fire danger, protect the housing unit from damage, and help prevent an
  invasion of rodents and pest.
  Cover wood with dark or clear tarps.  Blue tarps are not permitted per
  the Yosemite Residential Yard Care Policy.

The Yosemite Residential Yard Care Policy is posted on the NPS Sharepoint
Site: Administration/Housing/Policies and Procedures. (C.Baker - 9/10/10)

 Yosemite Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers: Have you served in the
 Peace Corps and are now part of the Yosemite community? This is your
 opportunity to stay connected and meet the Director of Peace Corps! On
 September 12 Director Aaron Williams will be visiting the park and would
 like to meet with RPCVs. This is also a great opportunity for RPCVs to
 reconnect as we look forward to celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the
 Peace Corps in 2011. For more information please contact Jim Bacon (RPCV
 Guatemala 03-05) at  jim_bacon@nps.gov, (209) 379-1375. (J. Bacon -
 9/9/10)

 ****************************************************
 Training Announcement - NPS Special Park Use Training
 November  1-5, 2010

 WASO Special Park Uses Program Manager Lee Dickenson will be visiting
 Yosemite NP to present the “Fundamentals of Special Park Uses” training.
 The 36-hour course covers all aspects of Special Park Uses from First
 Amendment to Commercial Filming and Photography to Wireless
 Telecommunication Sites. Class includes a field exercise. Also included is
 a component on temporary food services and other health and safety issues
 related to Special Park Uses. DO-53/RM-53 is covered in depth, as well as
 36 CFR and NPS Management Policies 2006.

 There are a limited number of spaces available for this class.  The
 majority of the class spaces are being held for Yosemite NP staff and
 management.  Those individuals on the park staff and management who have
 been identified for full or part time participation in the course have
 been notified by email.

 Travel will be paid for by the benefitting account.  There will be no
 tuition charge.  A block of rooms is being held for this course at the
 Cedar Lodge in El Portal.  Cedar Lodge is approximately 3 miles from the
 class location.  The course will take place in the large break room in the
 El Portal Warehouse.

 Cedar Lodge
 9966 Highway 140
 El Portal, CA 95318
 Toll Free 888 742-4371 or 209 379-2612

 NPS Special Park Use Program
 http://inside.nps.gov/waso/waso.cfm?prg=185&lv=3

 If you have questions please contact Sean McCabe by email at
 sean_mccabe@nps.gov or by telephone on 209-379-1856. (S. McCabe - 9/10/10)

Community News
Young family with a cat seek 2-3 BR / 1+BA apartment or house to rent
starting mid to late fall. Ideally in El Portal or near a YART stop. We
will be in the area from 9/17 - 9/20 and would like to look at as many
properties as possible. Please e-mail at brandonthomasschultz@gmail.com to
set up a viewing. Thank you. (B.Schultz - 9/10/10)
****************************************************
Mark your calendar's for YEA's 20th annual Oktoberfest on Sept. 25th. Chefs
Heidi Pusina and Mary Britt will prepare a delicious meal served by local
community members. Watch your local community boards for more details.
(M.Dale-9/9/10)
****************************************************
For Rent:  Clean 2 bedroom, 1 bath mobile with new appliances.  Triangle
Road area.  Small pet negotiable.  $600 per month with $600 deposit.  Call
after 6 p.m. at 742-7899. (C. Murdock 09/09/10)
****************************************************
El Portal's Potluck Preschool will start the 2010-11 year on Monday Sept.
13th.  We meet every Monday from 10 a.m. to noon at the preschool room
located at the Community Hall.  All ages 0-5 are welcome!!  A parent or
caregiver must attend with the child(ren).  Come join us for Circle Time,
Discovery activities, Art, Music, P.E. and Story.  All activities are
created and presented by our parents.  No experience necessary!!  The main
focus is to give the children the opportunity to have fun together and, in
the process, to learn to love learning.  If you would like more details or
have any questions, please call Bethany Gediman at 379-2960. (S. Gediman -
9/9/10)
****************************************************
For Rent:  4 bedroom, 1-3/4 bath house, 50 minutes from El Portal.
Available fully furnished (even dishes!) for $1550/month or empty for
$1250/month, includes satellite TV.  Freshly painted, new carpet in almost
entire house, very clean!  Garage with opener, pool, woodstove, fireplace,
forced-air heat, evaporative cooler.   Secluded setting off good paved
road.  No smoking;  pets considered with increased deposit/rent.  Great for
family or several room-mates.  209-966-6644 or e-mail house@shearwalls.com
(C.Baker - 9/10/10)