Daily Report - Yosemite National Park Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 61. 0% chance of winter.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 57.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 58.
El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 77.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 40.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 69.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 32.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66.
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NEW AND HAPPENING TODAY
Yosemite Renaissance Opening Reception
Yosemite Renaissance opening reception this Friday, February 24. Please join us to celebrate the 27th Yosemite Renaissance exhibit on Friday from 5:30-7:30 pm. in the museum gallery in Yosemite Valley. This year's exhibit was selected from nearly 700 entries and includes 48 works in a variety of media. Award-winners will be announced at the reception. The exhibit will be on view in Yosemite from February 25 through May 6, 2012, and will travel after its showing here. More information on Yosemite Renaissance and its programs is available at www.yosemiterenaissance.org. (B. Beroza)
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Vehicle Sticker Update
To all Permanent and Term NPS employees, just a reminder that the Entrance Stations are in possession of a plentiful supply of the coveted new Permanent Employee Vehicle Sticker with an expiration date of December 2014 printed right on the front. For those qualifying NPS employees who have yet to obtain this essential accessory, please feel free to stop by any entrance station with your current registration and we promise to do our best to equip you with your very own. And please, after you have the sticker in your possession, we simply ask that you physically attach it to your windshield at the driver’s side lower corner as this is our primary focus when a vehicle approaches the station. So stop by, grab some words of wisdom, and pick up your new sticker. (G. Gibbons)
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When traveling or telecommuting with a government laptop or other portable data device, employees must exercise a high degree of care for the property. Do not leave the laptop in plain view in unattended vehicles or hotel rooms. Secure the laptop in the vehicle trunk, hotel safe, or take it with you. When flying, treat the laptop like money; have it on you and in your control at all times. Never travel with NPS equipment as checked baggage; always keep it with you as carry-on luggage. If any equipment or data is lost or stolen, contact the local law enforcement agency to file a report and notify the park’s IT Office immediately. (K. Kolbeck)
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Negotiated Sole Source 8(a) - 5/18
Negotiated RFPs and Sealed Bid IFBs - 5/7
Request for Quotations Construction ($25,000 - $150,000) - 5/18
Request for Quotation non-Construction ($25,000 - $150,000) - 5/18
Architect/Engineer Indefinite Quantity/Indefinite Delivery (ID/IQ) Contract Task Orders - 6/15
Simplified Acquisition - ($3,000 - $24,999)
And any dollar value <$3,000 that requires a purchase order - 6/15
Contract Modifications - 6/15
Cooperative Agreement (including task agreements and modification) - 5/7
Interagency Agreements - 6/15
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The Theater and Program Promotion Assistant is a full time, seasonal position promotes Yosemite Conservancy education programs (outdoor adventure, wilderness, art, volunteer and Theater) and provides logistics and on-site support to the performers in the Yosemite Conservancy Theater program in the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. This position will supervised by the General Manager and work cooperatively with the Theater program performers, NPS staff and Yosemite Conservancy staff. For more information about Yosemite Conservancy, the position and how to apply, see http://www.
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Please help support the Yosemite Valley School by joining us for some hot food and Warren Miller ski films. All proceeds will help provide staff and materials to the students of Yosemite Valley. The event will take place this Saturday, February 25th, at 5:30 PM at the Curry Village Pavilion in Yosemite Valley. The menu will include pulled pork sandwiches, salad, and a baked potato bar. $15 for adults and $8 for kids. Two Warren Miller films will be shown. Thank you for your support! (A. Kunz)
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The Yosemite Employee Association is pleased to bring you the final Sal's night of February on Thursday, February 23. Burritos and beverages will abound, and designated drivers get a free soda! You'll also have another chance to read over, learn about, and provide feedback on YEA's proposed new constitution before the election to ratify the changes on March 8. We look forward to seeing you Thursday night! (M. Goldberg)
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Badger Pass Daily Snow Report - 2/22
Base Depth: 15” – 27”
Forecast: Mostly Sunny
Temperature: High 54, 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 Wednesday. (E. Fraley)
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RECENT NEWS
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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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.
Ken Watson will be acting wilderness manager for Feb 21-24th. If you have any questions feel free to give him a call. Ed will be available via cell phone if necessary.
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.
Gene Smith will be acting Roads & Trails Branch Chief 2/22/12 through 3/13/12 while Lou Summerfield is out of the park. He can be reached at 379-1120.
David Engelstad will be Acting Division Chief for Project Management on Thursday, February 23, 2012. David can be reached at 379-1277 or you may leave a message with Sarah Henderson at 379-1202.
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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