Daily Report - Yosemite National Park Monday, November 15, 2010
Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Monday, November 15, 2010
Weather
Yosemite Valley
This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 59. Northeast wind between 5 and 8
mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 42. East northeast wind 9 to 13
mph becoming northwest.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 57. North northwest wind between 5 and 7
mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 41. East northeast wind around 6
mph.
El Portal
This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming north around
6 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. East northeast wind 9 to 11
mph becoming south.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. North northwest wind between 5 and 7
mph.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 40. Northeast wind around 6 mph.
Wawona
This Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 70. Light north northeast wind.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 39. East southeast wind between 5 and 8
mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 65. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west
northwest.
Tuesday Night: Clear, with a low around 39. East wind between 3 and 5 mph.
Happening Today
World Liberty Contract Services will be continuing brush removal on the
Big Oak Flat and El Portal Roads around Foresta and Cascades . Brief
periods of traffic control will be in effect on weekdays through
November. Staff may view further descriptions of the work:
http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/intp/Shared%20Documents/Planning,%20Project,%20and%20RMS%20Fact%20Sheets/Roadside%20Brushing_9.10.pdf
(B.Mattos - 11/9/10)
Park & Partner News
Valley Campground Reservations for Spring
Due to ongoing road construction projects and scheduling that will be
occurring this spring in Yosemite, all reservations for Yosemite Valley
Campground arrival dates of March 15-May 14, 2011 will go on sale on
December 15, 2010 at 7am Pacific Time. There will be no sales for this
time period for Yosemite Valley camping prior to December 15. (M. Carter -
11/12/10)
Acting Designations
Mary Kline will be the Acting Chief of Interpretation & Education Nov. 15 -
Dec. 6. She can be reached at 372-0645.(T.Medema-11/15/10
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Jim Roche will be the Acting Branch Chief for Physical Science and
Landscape Ecology on Monday, November 15 .Jim can be reached at 379-1446.
(J. Meyer - 11/12/10)
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Mike Yochim will be the Acting Division Chief for the Planning Division
Monday, November 15 and may be reached by phone at 379-1441. If
unavailable, you may leave a message with Doyle Harrison at 379-1110. (D.
Harrison - 11/9/10)
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Jody Auerbach will be the Acting Branch Chief for Contracting Nov 9-18 and
Tom Tobin from Nov 19-26. Jody or Tom can be reached via email or at
379-1227 or 1040. (L. Schafer - 11/08/10)
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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 379-1282 or 379-1104. (J. Bayless -
06/03/10)
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Ed Dunlavey will be the Acting Operations Branch Chief and Deputy Chief
Ranger until further notice. (C. Cuvelier - 09/07/10)
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Ken Stowell will be in charge of PCO until Monday, November 22. Ken's
number is 372-0533, or you may leave a message with Tammy Lawhon at
379-1271.
Employee News
Ted Orland- Scenes of Wonder and Curiosity
The community is invited to attend an Artist's Reception for Ted Orland on
Thursday, November 18, from 3:00pm -5:00pm at the Ansel Adams Gallery.
Refreshments and drinks will be served.
Orland?s hand-colored black & white photographs follow in the West Coast
tradition of fine craft printmaking; and, at the same time engage a wide
range of contemporary subject matter. This unique and unusual exhibit
should surprise even those who think they have seen all types of landscape
photography. Orland is also an accomplished author, having written Man and
Yosemite and Art and Fear with David Bayles. Don't miss this opportunity to
meet him! For a preview of Orland's work, click here:
http://www.anseladams.com/TedOrlandC_s/87.htm. (KatieS-11/15/10)
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Happy Monday everyone-- It may be the beginning of a new work week, but
it's also the beginning of a new week of fun at The Carabiner. Tuesday
night (7:00pm) is Tie-Dye night, so bring some old t-shirts, and get ready
to look groovy. Buzzzzzz on over Wednesday, and test your orthography
skills at the Spelling Bee. Start the weekend right at Saturday's Casino
Night. give some support to that awesome quitter in your life. Hope
everyone has a fun and healthy week. We'll transform the Carabiner into our
own "mini-Vegas" and play for prizes including Ahwahnee and Mountain Room
dinners. Hope to see you all there.(A.Horn-E.Brosk-11/15/10)
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Farewell Celebration for Burcu Hinchberger
November 18, 2010 at 2:00pm
El Portal Lunchroom (across from Human Resources)
Please join us for a potluck get-together for Burcu Hinchberger on
Thursday, November 18. We would like to take a moment to recognize her
service with the Human Resources office at Yosemite National Park. If you
would like to make a presentation or contribute a potluck item, please
contact the Human Resources office at (209) 379-1805.(A. Long - 11/10/10)
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Arrow Glass will be here Tuesday, November 16 at 8:00am to repair/replace
any vehicle windshield/glass needs. Please park your vehicle in front of
the Machine Shop facing the parking lot with the doors unlocked and the
keys in the vehicle. Because of lack of parking spaces, please do not park
the vehicles in any other area. If you need to be added to the list between
now and then, please call me at the Machine Shop (379-1150) or Sharon at
Arrow Glass (533-3700) so supplies for your vehicle can be obtained. (G.
Tilley-11/10/10)
Construction Update
Update - El Portal Complex Photovoltaic (PV) System (July 22, 2010 -
January 2011)
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 Progress:
PIA subcontractor, Suntrek Solar, almost finished paneling
carports 9, 10 and 11 (those across from the gas pumps).
PIA electricians were also busy installing florescent lighting
fixtures beneath the carports. Some of the existing underground
wiring for the street lights was destroyed by the large drill
rig brought in for pier footings so PIA electricians are also
repairing street light circuits. As of today (11/15) most of
the existing street lights including the lights above the gas
pumps will be working again. The new lights inside the carports
will most likely be ready for use within the next two weeks.
The structural steel workers completed the upper deck parking
(carports 6 and 7). The last remaining portion of the upper
deck parking (carport 8) is still being fabricated in Southern
California and will probably be on site and installed during
the first week in December. With the steel work complete for
carports 6 and 7, the painters were able to begin priming and
painting the structure yesterday.
The contractor has installed 1,780 (240 watt) panels so far.
There will be 2,820 panels installed by the end of this
project.
Due to the recent good weather, the contractor is still on
schedule to complete the project in January 2011.
Parking:
Many normal parking areas adjacent to the gas pumps will be
available to park employees, but some parking east of there
near the Planning Trailer will have to be restricted to "No
Parking -Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday" as the
electricians put up light fixtures. In addition, the upper deck
parking will be off limits to parking until construction ends.
Overall, the upper deck will remain a off limits construction
area until carports 6 and 7 are complete. (M. Ortiz -
11/15/10)
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Wawona Road Rehabilitation (May 3 through November 2010):
Work will be ongoing through the month, as long as weather allows. Please
use caution when driving along the Wawona Road - there are multiple
locations where work is being completed at this time.
NOTE: **Striping, snow pole installation, stone and riprap work, manhole
work, shoulder work, final asphalt work, along with culvert work will
continue through this week with crews doing an internal inspection on
Thursday (11/18). Delays of up to 30-minutes throughout the corridor will
still be in place for the remainder of this week.
-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 - 11/15/10)
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Update - Drilling for the Glacier Point Water Well (November 3 - 19, 2010)
Work began November 3 digging a new well near Glacier Point. Well
completion is expected by November 19 but is dependent upon factors that
include: weather, reaching water, the depth of the water, and associated
tasks to determine capacity, collect ongoing data, winterizing of the well
and associated site clean-up . Delays this week have occurred due to recent
weather. Beginning next season (after well testing), trenching alongside
the existing road and along existing utility alignments will take place to
connect the new water well to the existing utility system. The well is
being constructed to replace the surface water sources currently used for
the Glacier Point drinking water system. If you have any questions please
contact Russ Balch 379-1089 or Colter Chisum 379-1068. PEPC #25201(R.
Balch - 11/12/10)
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Integrated Utility Master Plan [IUMP] (2010 - 2011)
Removal of Old, Abandoned Utilities Embedded in the River, within Meadows,
and within Campgrounds
Phase 3B - Mozingo Construction (contractor) is finishing up with the
river-crossing related portions of the project. The removal of the lift
station near Lower River has also been completed. You will notice work
being done primarily around The Ahwahnee. (Phase 3B to be completed by the
end of 2010)
Update - Phase 2B - Allison Sierra (contractor) began work in the North
Pines Campground area on November 1. This is continuing work to replacing
old and outdated utilities and removing abandoned utilities from
environmentally sensitive areas.This phase includes work within the
following areas, and highlights include:
North Pines Campground
- New lift station and related accessories to be located
near Campground Entrance Kiosk.
- Removal and replacement of existing sanitary sewer
system.
Southside Drive and Upper Pines Corridor (including Clark
Bridge)
- Installation of water, sewer, communication, and
electrical utilities through and across Clark Bridge (between North
and Upper Pines Campgrounds)
Backpacker’s Camp Utilities
- Installation of new vault toilets (removal of current
flush toilets). Because the gravity sewer line serving the
Backpacker's Camp bathroom crosses Tenaya Creek and is impacting the
creek flowage, this sewer line will be removed from the creek
bed. This will require that existing bathroom with flush toilets to
be removed and replaced with vault toilets. (M. Ortiz -
11/9/10)
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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. During the past week crews started
installing new roof shingles, installed the new permit window, continued on
electrical work, and moved out of the fee collection office so that the
contractor could start on office improvements and additional security
upgrades. (M. Ortiz - 11/9/10)
Community News
Vintners' Holidays 2010-Locals Discount
Attention All Yosemite Area Residents! We are offering a special "Locals
only" gala dinner rate of $99 (plus tax) for Sessions 3, 4, 6, and 8. Only
a limited number of seats are available at this rate for each session....so
get your tickets soon! The discount is available to all local residents and
their friends and family.
Visit www.yosemitepark.com/vintners for the line up. To book, please call
DNC Parks & Resorts reservation line at (801) 559-5000 and mention the
promo code 99VINTNERS.
Fine print: Payment with a credit card must be made at the time of booking.
Cancellation policy is seven days prior to the day of the dinner.
Reservations must be made NO LATER THAN 7 DAYS PRIOR TO THE DINNER.
Seating requests and dietary restrictions must to be communicated 3 days
prior to the dinner. Please email requests to klangley@dncinc.com. Be sure
to include confirmation numbers. (L. Cesaro - 11/10/10)
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