Daily Report - Yosemite National Park Friday, December 16, 2011

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Friday, December 16, 2011

WEATHER

Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 46. East northeast wind between 10 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. East northeast wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 50. East northeast wind between 14 and 17 mph becoming calm. Winds could gust as high as 23 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 43. North northwest wind around 5 mph.

El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 60. East northeast wind 6 to 13 mph becoming northwest.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. East northeast wind between 9 and 11 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Northeast wind at 11 mph becoming west.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 59. North wind around 5 mph.

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 54. East northeast wind at 11 mph becoming north northwest.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. East northeast wind between 9 and 11 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56. East northeast wind between 10 and 13 mph becoming calm.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 50. North northwest wind between 3 and 7 mph.

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HAPPENING TODAY

Yosemite Employee Association's Annual Winter Social
Mark your calendars for December 16th, the Yosemite Employee Association's Annual Winter Social. This semi-formal, child-free evening begins at 5 PM with a host bar, hearty hors d'ouevers, and live music. Held, as usual, at Cedar Lodge and this year you can stay for a discounted price at the Lodge-just mention you are with Yosemite Employee Association. (M. Dale - 10/24)
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Memorial Services for Virgina Salmon
The memorial services honoring our friend Virgina have been finalized. The viewing will be Friday, December 16, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Stratford Evans Funeral Home 1490 B Street, Merced, CA 209-722-4191 . The funeral will be Saturday, December 17, at 9:30 a.m. at the Church of Christ on Yosemite Parkway in Merced (209-728-2852). Employees attending the viewing and funeral may wear their uniforms. Please visit the obituary for Virginia Lee Salmon http://www.legacy.com/link.asp?i=ls000155015613 (C. Mattiuzzi - 12/13)

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PARK AND PARTNER NEWS

Yosemite National Park Rangers Staffing in Gateway Community Visitor Centers: Park Providing Additional Staffing During Holiday Season - news release

Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
 
Yosemite National Park announces that Park Rangers will be staffing visitor centers in the gateway communities of Mariposa, Oakhurst, and Groveland from Saturday, December 17, 2011 through Monday, January 2, 2012.  Park Rangers will be helping to staff the Mariposa Visitor Center, the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau in Oakhurst, and the Yosemite Chamber of Commerce in Groveland.  The hours of each of the visitor centers varies. 
The park has provided Rangers working in the gateway community visitor centers for the past several years.  The Rangers help provide up-to-date information about the park, assist in trip planning, and sell park passes.  In the visitor centers, park visitors can purchase the 2012 Annual Yosemite National Park Pass, the Interagency Annual Pass, the Lifetime Senior Pass, and the Access Pass.  Additionally, visitors can purchase a single visit pass to the park that is good for any time during the 2012 calendar year. 
“We are very happy to be able to provide Park Rangers to assist in staffing the gateway community visitor centers.  We have received a lot of positive feedback about Rangers who have staffed these centers during the summer months.  The holidays are a great time to visit Yosemite National Park,” said Don Neubacher, Yosemite National Park Superintendent.
For more information about Yosemite National Park and available passes, please visit www.nps.gov/yose .  For information on each visitor center hours, please visit their website. (K. Cobb - 12/16)
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Yosemite National Park Announces Extension of the Public Scoping Period for the Mariposa Grove Restoration: Public Comments on Project Accepted through February 3, 2012 - news release

Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Yosemite National Park announces the extension of the public scoping period for the Mariposa Grove Restoration Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will close on Friday, February 3, 2012. The socping her period has been open since August, 2011. The Mariposa Grove is the largest of the three giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) groves in Yosemite National Park and was part of the original Yosemite Grant signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1864 (the rest of the grant included Yosemite Valley). The park is asking for the public to help park managers identify issues and concerns that they would like considered for preparation of the EIS.
The proposed plan aims to restore the Giant Sequoia habitat in the Mariposa Grove. This would be accomplished through a range of actions including:
· Restoring the natural hydrology within the grove
· Removing unnecessary infrastructure
· Realigning roads and trails in sensitive sequoia habitat
· Relocating the existing visitor parking
· Reducing visitor trampling of soils and vegetation around the giant sequoias
The project also seeks to improve the visitor experience within the Mariposa Grove by assessing visitor facilities and transportation.
The public is invited to attend an Open House in Yosemite Valley at the Valley Visitor Center Auditorium on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Park staff will be present to provide information on the proposed project, and will be available to answer questions and accept comments.
The public is encouraged to submit scoping comments electronically through the National Park Service Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) database at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/mariposagrove , or by mail to: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park, Attn: Mariposa Grove Restoration EIS , PO Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389. Comments should be received by Friday, February 3, 2012. (K. Cobb - 12/15)
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Traffic Counter Installation
There will be minor roadway work in locations throughout the park associated with installing traffic counters. Locations and dates (weather permitting) are as follows: Friday 12/16 Arch Rock; and Monday 12/19 El Cap Cross Over & near Camp 4. Please use caution when workers are present. For more info: Bret Meldrum 209-742-4254. (B. Meldrum - 12/9)

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Utility work at the Tecoya Dormitories
The last phase of utility work at the Tecoya Dormitories is now underway with the replacement of the sewer lines serving the Northern units. ASI is installing the majority of the new lines using a drilling method instead of open trenching. Areas that cannot be drilled due to soil conditions will have to be trenched. This area is very congested and difficult for the contractor to work in. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. There will be no work during the holiday period from December 24th through January 2nd. (G. Rothell - 12/14)
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Foresta Road Closure - Slide Repair Between Rancheria and Old El Portal
Starting Monday, November 14th the Foresta Road will be closed between Rancheria and Old El Portal as crews complete a slide repair from a spring 2011 slide. The Foresta Road will be closed at 7:00 AM on November 14th and remain closed for approximately 2-3 months, while crews complete the stabilization work. The crews are planning to work 6-days per week, Monday thru Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Due to the safety concerns, it will require a hard closure, meaning that throughout the duration of the project, there will be no access for pedestrians, bicycles, passenger vehicles, trucks, etc... Access will be limited to construction crews and emergency vehicles only. Trucks will also be using middle road to access CA St. Rte. 140, so please be cautious as you are traveling thru this area of Hwy. 140. Also, crews will be bringing in equipment and materials starting Thursday, November 10th, with intermittent single lane traffic control along Foresta Road. (M. Pieper - 11/10)

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ACTING DESIGNATIONS

Ron Gaunt will be acting Branch Chief of Construction and acting Branch Chief of Design for Project Management, beginning Friday, December 16, 2011, through Thursday, December 22, 2011. Ron may be reached at 379-1027 or you may leave a message with Ashley Wilde at 379-1221.

David Stone will be out of the Park from Friday, December 9 through Wednesday, December 21. He will have limited cell reception, but may be reached, with urgent issues, by 209-372-8458.

Julie Byerly will be acting Deputy Chief Ranger from Saturday 12/3 through Sunday 12/18, she can be reached at 372-0243.

Andy Fristensky will be Acting Deputy Chief of Interpretive Operations until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0599.

Jeffrey Trust will be Acting Yosemite Valley Field Interpretation Supervisor until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0307.

Greg Torres will be Acting Trails Supervisor 11/30 through 1/3. He can reached at 742 8811.

Ron Watson will be the Acting Supervisory Information Technology Specialist until further notice. He may be reached at 379-1074.

Brenna Lissoway (379-1283) is on a detail as the Park Archivist. If you have need to access the Archives, or have archive related questions, you can call 379-1282 or 379-1104.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Annual Community Christmas Dinner
Yosemite Community Church, Sunday December 18th at 5:00 P.M.
Come join us for our annual Christmas Dinner held at the Yosemite Elementary Multipurpose Room. Please being a side dish to share with 12 people. Sing Christmas carols and enjoy time with friends. A visit from Santa Claus for the children! Free will offering accepted but not required. (B. Moore - 12/15)

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