Daily Report - Yosemite National Park Monday, October 18, 2010
Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Monday, October 18, 2010
Weather
Yosemite Valley
Today: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am.
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57. East northeast wind around 6 mph.
Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with
a low around 40. Light wind becoming east northeast between 10 and 13 mph.
Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after
11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. East wind between 6 and 15 mph,
with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
El Portal
Today: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 11am.
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Calm wind becoming west southwest
around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with
a low around 48. North northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of
precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after
11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. East northeast wind 5 to 11 mph
becoming west southwest. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Wawona
Today: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after
11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 67. South southeast wind at 5 mph
becoming east northeast. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with
a low around 40. Northeast wind between 3 and 10 mph. Chance of
precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after
11am. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. East northeast wind at 11 mph
becoming south. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuolumne Meadows Area
Today: A chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also possible.
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43. East northeast wind between 7 and 11
mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Total daytime snow accumulation of
less than one inch possible.
Tonight: A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also
possible. Snow level 9000 feet. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. East
northeast wind between 9 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tuesday: A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Some thunder is also
possible. Snow level 9300 feet. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. East
wind between 11 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Happening Today
Glacier Point Road Revegetation (Oct. 18-Nov.18)
Resources Management and Science revegetation crews will be planting and
watering native plants between Badger Pass and the Chinquapin intersection
as part of the Glacier Point Road rehabilitation project. Please take extra
caution when driving. There may be very short traffic delays. (L. Nelson -
10/18/10)
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Hazard Tree Mitigation: NPS Forestry Crews will be felling hazard trees
along Glacier Point Road from Badger toward Chiquapin. Traffic control will
be in effect Mon. 10/18 through Thur. 10/21 from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm. (L.
Castro - 10/18/10)
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The Yosemite Archives will be closed to researchers October 18-22 as staff
host the inaugural NPS "Effective Oral History" course at Yosemite. The
Archives will resume regular research hours October 26. All employees are
welcome to attend the course brown-bag session on Monday October 18 from
Noon-1pm in the El Portal Large Break Room. Historian and YOSE Ranger,
Jeff Pappas, will provide an overview of Yosemite's more recent past and
discuss how oral history can play a critical role in furthering our
understanding of park history. (B. Lissoway - 10/14/10)
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The Yosemite Research Library will be closed Monday, October 18th - Monday,
October 25th. (L. Eade - 10/14/10)
Construction Update
El Portal Apartment - Exterior Painting (October 13 - 22, 2010)
Beginning October 13, Lamcon-Mear (contractor) with be painting El Portal
apartment buildings 741 and 742. Each day the will be covering any vehicles
parked in the parking lots in front of 740, 741 and 742 in order to prevent
any over spray from occurring. This project is expected to last until
October 22nd and will be preformed Monday thru Friday from 7:00am until
4:30pm. If you have any questions or concerns you may contact Brian Martin
or Tara Hawksley at 209-379-1061. (T. Hawksley - 10/14/10)
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Tioga Trailheads Project (Began 10/8/10 - weather dependent)
Allison Sierra Inc. (contractor) began work on October 8. The following two
locations are the main focus for this fall.
Yosemite Creek-Ten Lakes Trailhead
During the past week crews began making improvements to the Yosemite Creek
Trailhead parking area. Currently the Yosemite Creek Trailhead parking
area is closed and on Friday, October 15 the Ten Lakes Trailhead parking
area closed. Hikers are being directed to the nearest parking areas which
are very close by. Work will continue in these areas as long as the weather
permits.
Tamarack Flat-Aspen Valley Trailhead
On October 14 crews began closing off this trailhead parking area to make
improvements to this parking area. Weather permitting, the goal is to have
this area reopened by October 22.
If weather allows, Gaylor Lakes trailhead will be the next one to be worked
on. The purpose of this project is to address site maintenance and design
needs that improve visitor safety and experience while protecting natural
and cultural resources. There are eight formal trailheads included in this
project: Gaylor Lakes at Tioga Pass, Mono Pass, Snow Creek, May Lake/Weston
Pond, Porcupine, Yosemite Creek/Ten Lakes, Lukens Lake, and Tamarack
Flat/Aspen Valley. This effort does not include Sunrise or Murphy Creek
trailheads (Tenaya Lake Area Plan), nor Dog Lake and Cathedral Lakes
(Tuolumne River Plan) as these are addressed in other planning efforts. (M.
Ortiz - 10/18/10)
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Wawona Utility River Crossing Replacement (September 13 through November
30, 2010)
Candelaria (contractor) will be replacing utilities under the South Fork of
the Merced River in Wawona (near the Wawona Fire Station). Work consists
of in-kind replacement of two 10-inch water mains and electrical conduit
that was damaged in the 1997 flood. (M. Ortiz - 10/14/10)
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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)
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El Portal Complex Photovoltaic (PV) System ( July 22, 2010 - December 2010)
Paragon Industrial Applications (PIA) [contractor] began work at the El
Portal Complex area on July 22, 2010. To minimize potential traffic and
parking problems, PIA is working Thursday - Sunday.
Last week's accomplishments: Suntrek moved up to the carport area and
were able to install the PV paneling on carport 4. Carport 4 has been
primed and painted. As more carports are primed and painted (heading
west) the Suntrek crew will follow with panels. They will continue
working on carports 1 through 5. Painting has been more difficult and
slower than expected due to high morning humidity levels and stronger
afternoon breezes. PIA has also finished concrete work on the new
carport 9, 10 and 11 area (carports across from the Gov. gas pumps).
Most of the concrete pads for the larger inverters were poured this
weekend as well.
NOTE: The contractor is trying to cover vehicles that are
accidentally left in the paint spray zone with plastic but if you
work in the El Portal Complex it is highly recommended that gov.
vehicles (and personal vehicles) be moved away from the spray area to
keep overspray off the vehicles. This way painters can spend more
time painting and less time covering vehicles.
Parking: Between Thursday, October 21 and Sunday, October 24, some of
the farthest east carports will be available for parking. However, the
upper parking deck where government vehicles are parked needs to be
completely free of vehicles as the parking deck steel structure work
will be started. A large crane is being brought in to move steel around
so there will be NO PARKING ON THE UPPER PARKING DECK NEXT THURSDAY,
FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. Any vehicles left in this area will be
towed.
**Over 800 (240 watt) panels have been installed so far! (M. Ortiz -
10/18/10)
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Wawona Road Rehabilitation (May 3 - November 2010):
**Please use caution when driving along the Wawona Road - there are
multiple locations where work is being completed at this time.
**Today's locations of work: Today, there will be lining of an existing
culvert in the area right before the Glacier Point Road intersection
(Chinquapin). There will also be work on electrical boxes in the mile
section south of the Wawona Tunnel.
**Tonight's locations of work: Tonight, there will be placement of
aggregate on shoulders as well as grinding a centerline rumble strip in the
6 mile section south and north 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 - 10/18/10)
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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 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. The utilities work within North Pines is scheduled to begin on
November 1. (M. Ortiz - 10/18/10)
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Wawona Meadow Restoration (through November 2010). 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. (M.Ortiz 10/7/10)
Park and Partner News
Yosemite Fires – Update #29 – October 15, 2010
This update will sort out and provide information to all fires started by
lightning during the week of October 4, 2010. The thunderstorms were
accompanied with 2 to 4 inches of rain, and at higher elevations, snow.
Sunday, October 10, was the first day of clear skies to allow helicopter
reconnaissance. Of the 30 plus fires reported 10 have shown light smoke
and are mostly smoldering in damp fuels; including the Slope and Vernon
fires. Drier weather may increase the number of found fires and the fire
potential at lower elevation wilderness and suppression zones fires.
Although fire season was declared over on October 8, Yosemite fire crews
are being retained for fire response. Attached to this update is a current
fire spread sheet, describing the name, location, found date and extent of
each fire.
July fires managed for forest restoration and have been monitored with
little intervention by firefighters:
Slope: (37 54.572 x 119 40.924; 6900’ el., Tuolumne Co). The Slope fire is
approximately 1911 acres. This lightning caused fire began July 25. Fire
Crew 7 has piled and burned heavy fuels along the Harden Lake road, and
they are not expected to grow. There is little heat within the perimeter
of the fire and has little potential to spread due to receiving nearly 4
inches of rain.
Vernon: (37 59.813 x 119 43.618; approximately 7000’ el., Tuolumne Co.)
The acreage is at 909. The fire was observed to have one log burning
within the interior perimeter of the fire. Yosemite Fire Crew 7 is
scheduled to obtain final fire acreages by hiking the perimeter with hand
held GPS units. They will cut any logs across trails and remove any ‘trail
closures” signs, and rehab the fire “spike camp.”
The July, Tuolumne and Wildcat 2 fires are now out.
Cooperators include the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the
Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties and San Joaquin Valley County Air Pollution
Control Districts.
All fire related trail closures have been lifted.
Weather: A cooling trend is predicted through the weekend, and a chance of
precipitation beginning Monday, October 18.
“The National Park Service manages wildland fire to protect the public,
communities and infrastructure, conserve natural and cultural resources and
restore and maintain ecological health.”
For Additional Information:
Fire Information and Education Office: (209) 372-0480
Current Yosemite Fire Activity Online:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/current_fire.htm
Firenews: http://www.nps.gov/fire/public/pub_firenews.cfm
Inciweb California: http://www.inciweb.org/state/5/
NOAA satellite images of smoke:
http://www.firedetect.noaa.gov/viewer.htm
USGS regional webcam images of smoke movement:
http://sierrafire.cr.usgs.gov/swifers/pages/WebCam.htm (G. Wuchner -
10/18/10)
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Yosemite News Release
October 18, 2010
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts:
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
Yosemite National Park Reschedules Public Site Visit for the Tioga Road
Rehabilitation Project
Yosemite National Park is currently developing an Environmental Assessment
(EA) to study rehabilitation on approximately 40 miles of the Tioga Road,
the highest trans-sierra highway that crosses the northern part of the
park. The primary goal of this project is to improve visitor safety along
the Tioga Road while still preserving the natural and cultural resources
throughout the Tioga Road corridor.
Yosemite National Park invites the public to a site visit for the Tioga
Road Rehabilitation Project on Friday, October 29, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m. The previously scheduled site visits were cancelled due to
inclement weather at the higher elevations in the park. This public site
visit is an opportunity for interested parties to learn more about this
planning effort. Park planners will be at the meeting to discuss the
project and hear comments and concerns regarding the planning effort and
proposed rehabilitation actions.
Due to the high elevation of the Tioga Road, the proposed Tioga Road
Rehabilitation Project will be completed over a series of three phases.
Phases include:
Phase 1: Crane Flat to White Wolf (2012)
Phase 2: Olmsted Point to east of Tuolumne Lodge (2014)
Phase 3: White Wolf to Olmsted Point (2016)
The site to discuss the Tioga Road Rehabilitation Project will take place
in two locations along the Tioga Road. Interested parties are invited to
join one, or both, portions of the discussion. Visitors should meet at the
South Fork Bridge turnout along the Tioga Road (approximately seven miles
east of Crane Flat) from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The second site visit
will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor
Center parking lot.
Visitors wishing to attend the site visit are urged to wear comfortable
hiking shoes and bring water, lunch and/or snacks, and wear appropriate
attire in preparation for colder weather.
The Tioga Road Rehabilitation Project will be released for public review in
spring of 2011.
For more information about this project please visit:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/tioga_rehab.htm (K. Cobb - 10/18/10)
Acting Designations
Lena McDowall will be Acting Chief of Business and Revenue Management on
Monday, October 18, 2010. I will be in Mariposa at YARTS Board Meetings
from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (M. Nielson - 10/18/10)
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Mark Marschall will be the Acting Chief Ranger from October 18-20 and Oct
22-28 while I am out of the park in travel status. (C. Cuvelier -
10/18/10)
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Adrienne Freeman will be the acting Branch Chief for Interpretive Services
from Oct. 13-22. (M. Kline - 10/13/10)
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While Dave Humphrey is out for shoulder surgery and the associated
recuperation - Oct. 13 thru Oct. 18, 2010; Historical Landscape Architect
Daniel Schaible (379-1295) will be acting Branch Chief for History,
Architecture & Landscapes (HAL).
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Jay Shields will be Acting Mather District Ranger from 10/12 until sometime
the week of October 18th. (K.Killian - 10/12/10)
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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)
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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 379-1282 or 379-1104. (J. Bayless -
6/3/10)
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Ed Dunlavey will be the acting Operations Branch Chief and Deputy Chief
Ranger until further notice. (C. Cuvelier - 9/7/10)
Employee News
Compost Dumpster Now Available!!!!!!
Have you ever wanted to compost your biodegradable trash? Does it disturb
you to toss biodegradable items into a plastic bag that ends up in the
landfill? There is now a more environmentally friendly option. Through a
collaboration between NPS and DNC, we are placing a dumpster for
biodegradable materials in the Valley lower housing area. The contents
will be taken to the composting facility in Mariposa. Please take advantage
of this opportunity and be sure to maintain support for the dumpster and
waste reduction.
WHEN will it be available?
October 18. Start gathering your items in a paper or compostable bag
that can be tied or closed, right away!
WHERE is it located?
On Lost Arrow Road, at the trash/recycling collection site on the
western portion of the loop. It is labeled and painted a tan color to
differentiate it from the other dumpsters.
WHO can use it?
Employees, Volunteers, Park partners, School/Daycare, Residents,
Anyone that uses it correctly!
WHAT can I put in the compost dumpster?
Items that are biodegradable and collected in a paper/compostable
bag:
-Food waste items including vegetables, fruits, meats, breads,
cheeses, and dairy. Basically if it is edible or a waste item from
something edible (like a stem, peel, or bone), you can put it in this
dumpster
-Compostable utensils and containers made from corn or other
vegetable products
-Paper products such as plates, cups, and napkins
-Yard waste, such as small bags of leaves and weeds
-NO pet waste, please!
HOW should I gather items for composting?
-Collect your organic waste separately in a compostable bag
(available at the Village Store) or a brown paper bag. When full of organic
waste, tightly close or tie off the top of the paper bag or compostable bag
and take it to the dumpster. If you are hosting a meeting in the Valley,
consider gathering food waste separately from non-biodegradable items.
WHY use it?
-In 2009, Although Yosemite recycled 496 tons of trash, 1446 tons
still went to the landfill. Approximately 49% of the trash from the
residential area is compostable. By composting, you are doing your part to
reduce waste. (V. Mates - 10/14/10)
Community News
YOSEMITE WINTER CLUB SKI/WINTER SPORT SWAP -- Friday, November 19 from
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the East Auditorium. Sell your used skis,
snowshoes, skates, sleds and winter sports gear. Tables rent for $20. To
rent a table contact Art Baggett -- baggett.art@gmail.com. Table set-up
will begin at 11:00 a.m. Please remember to take home any unsold items.
At 3:00 p.m. enjoy free ice skating at the Curry Village Ice Rink (weather
permitting). Afterward attend the YWC Dinner Dance at The Loft starting at
5:30 p.m. Enjoy free pizza, Caesar salad and dessert with paid membership
-- adults $15 and children $10! EVERYONE WELCOME!!!! (I. Guy - 10/18/10)
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Needed as soon as possible: Afterschool care for energetic kindergartener
in El Portal from about 230-3 pm Wednesday and Thursday and from early
release on Fridays to 430 pm and care during school breaks. Must have own
transportation or be within walking distance of the school or bus stop.
$50/week during school, negotiable rates when on break. References
required. Please call 559-676-7739 and leave a message for details and
questions. (B. Eagle - 10/15/10)
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