Daily Report - Yosemite National Park Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
El Portal
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 38.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 73.
Wawona
Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 65.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 63.
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NEW AND HAPPENING TODAY
Today's Daily Report
Yes, this is indeed Tuesday's Daily Report sent out at 5:30pm on Monday. There will be no separate Daily Report sent out on Tuesday itself, so any submissions received after I click the "Send" button (right........NOW) will first appear in Wednesday's Daily Report. (M. Holly)
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Yosemite Archives Closed Today
The Yosemite Archives will be closed to researchers on Tuesday 2/21 to permit staff to attend the annual Interpretation Division training/field trip. (B. Lissoway)
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DNC Phone Number Changes
Effective immediately, please note the following phone number changes for our department. Although some old numbers will automatically forward for a period of time, please start using the new ones and re-program any auto-dial or speed dial options you might use. All facsimile numbers remain the same at this time.
DNC Yose Security Dispatch: 209-372-1053
DNC Yose Lost and Found: 209-372-1390
DNC Yose Security Briefing Room: 209-372-1397
DNC Yose Security Patrol Supervisors' Office & Investigator's Office: 209-372-1398
DNC Yose Firehouse: 209-372-1396
David Stone, Chief of Security & Fire: 209-372-1144
Beckie Jonasky, Assistant: 209-372-1392
Mas Chastain, Assistant: 209-372-1393 (D. Stone)
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Tioga Road Officially Closed for Season
The park experienced a significant winter storm the week of January 17. We preemptively closed the Tioga Road due to safety concerns. Because of the mild winter we have been experiencing, we have continued to reassess the road for a possible opening. Last week we received several feet of new snow at the higher elevations causing us to determine that the Tioga Road is closed for the season. (K. Cobb)
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Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) in Yosemite National Park to Close for Rockslide Repairs - news release
Approximate Six Week Closure Needed to Rebuild Damaged Section of Road
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
Yosemite National Park announces that the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) within the park will close at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, for the park to repair damage to the road caused by a large rockslide on January 22, 2012. The closure, in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week, is expected to last until early April. Crews will be working around the clock which necessitates a “hard-closure.”
The road will be closed between the Foresta Road Junction on the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) and the El Portal Road (Highway 140) junction.
Yosemite Valley remains accessible via El Portal Road (Highway 140) coming from Merced/ Mariposa and via Wawona Road (Highway 41) coming from Fresno/ Oakhurst. The Foresta Road, between Foresta and El Portal, is not accessible.
The Big Oak Flat Entrance Station along the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) via Groveland, remains open. Visitors arriving to the park via Highway 120 will have access to Hodgdon Meadow Campground, the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, the Merced Grove of Giant Sequoias, and the Crane Flat area. Hetch Hetchy also remains accessible along Highway 120.
The park reopened the road five days after the rockslide after removing rocks and debris. However, the damaged section is not paved and needs permanent repairs to allow for safe travel. Working with engineers from the Federal Highway Administration, it was determined that there was extensive structural damage to the roadway necessitating a total rebuild of the affected section. Crews will be working below the steep slope in the rockslide area seven days per week, twenty hours per day, in order to expedite the repair of the damaged section of the road.
The park secured emergency funding for the road repair and is now scheduling these repairs so the work is completed and the road reopened prior to the busy spring and summer seasons.
It is anticipated that the work will be completed before the Easter Weekend. The park will issue periodic updates on the road reconstruction progress and estimated dates for reopening. (K. Cobb)
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New Yosemite National Park Directives
Yosemite National Park Directives #5: Incident/Accident Reporting and Investigation and #8: Internet Publishing have been posted to the Superintendent's Office Sharepoint site (http://sharepoint.yose.nps.
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Reminder: Radon Testing Kits are Here
The radon testing kits have arrived in the park. The schedule for placing the test kits within NPS housing units is listed below:
Yosemite Valley: February 21 - 24
El Portal: February 24 - 27
Mather District: February 24 - 27
Wawona District: February 24 - 27 (C. Baker)
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Mariposa Music Marathon
The Grammy award winning "Pride of the Sierra," our Yosemite region's own Mariposa County High School Grizzly Band will be having their annual Music Marathon on Sat, March 31st from 9:00am – 5:00pm, hosted at the Mariposa Museum and History Center. This has become one of the band’s most important fundraiser’s and also one of its biggest events. Our Band Booster families are busily putting together the event but could use your help. The MCHS band will be performing several times throughout the day, but we will also need additional performers volunteering their talent. We would appreciate hearing from any musicians or singers who would like to perform at this event. The performance slots are only 15 minutes long, and the Marathon is a fun way to display your talent. Another way to help our band is that, as part of the day, there will be a silent auction available. Any items our community businesses or artists would care to donate for it would also be greatly appreciated. Our small but dedicated MCHS band is a fine example of how a diverse group of our children can show the world the talent that grows up around Yosemite. However, the costs of operating a viable band program are significant, and our band receives no school funding, expenses are covered by fundraising. Please contact Linda Niles-Sheetz at LNS123@yahoo.com for information. (L. Niles-Sheetz)
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Badger Pass Daily Snow Report - 2/21
Base Depth: 18” – 30”
Snow Conditions: Powder & Packed Powder.
Forecast: Mostly Sunny
Temperature: High 56, Low 36
Runs Groomed: Bruin, Eagle, Turtle, Rabbit, Badger
Lifts Open: Turtle, Bruin, Eagle, Badger
Runs open: All
XC trail snow conditions: 100% coverage and groomed from Badger Pass to Glacier Point on Monday morning. Teaching area groomed Tuesday. (E. Fraley)
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ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Tom Medema will be the acting Superintendent from Tues. 2/21 - Fri. 2/24.
Randy Fong will be the acting Deputy Superintendent from Tues. 2/21 - Fri. 2/24.
David Engelstad will be Acting Division Chief for Project Management on Tuesday, February 21, 2012, and Thursday, February 23, 2012. David can be reached at 379-1277 or you may leave a message with Sarah Henderson at 379-1202.
Sue Beatty (379-3290) will be acting Branch Chief for Vegetation and Ecological Restoration Feb. 21-23.
Carol Knipper will be acting Division Chief for Resources Management and Science, February 21 thru February 23, 2012. She can be reached at 209-379-1097.
Kevin Killian will be the acting Chief Ranger Feb. 17-24 while Charles Cuvelier is out of the park on leave.
Rachel Lewis will be acting Wilderness Patrol Supervisor from Friday February 17th , 2012 through Sunday February 26th. Rachel can be reached at the Wawona Ranger Office at 375-9520.
Tom Tobin will be the Acting Contacting Officer from 2/6 thru 2/21. Jody Auerbach is out to the office and will return on 2/22. Jody will periodically be checking her email. Tom can be reached at 379-1040.
Elexis Mayer will be the Acting Division Chief for the Planning Division February 21st, 22nd, and 23rd. You may reach Elexis in her El Portal office at 379-1377. Elexis is currently working in the Planning Division and can be reached in the Planning Office. If unavailable you may leave a message with Doyle Harrison at 379-1110.
Madelyn Ruffner (379-1226) is on a 120-day detail as Acting Environmental Planning and Compliance Program Manager. Madelyn may be found at her regular desk location in the EPC Trailer. Elexis Mayer (379-1377) has temporarily moved to the Planning Trailer to continue her work on the Merced River Plan. For further assistance, you may also contact Jessica Zeek (379-1002), Administrative Support Assistant for Environmental Planning and Compliance.
Jack Hoeflich will be acting Valley District Ranger until further notice.
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.
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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