Daily Report - Yosemite National Park Wednesday January 11th, 2017

Daily Report – Yosemite National Park

crane flat – yosemite – 1.11.17

Wednesday January 11th, 2017

Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast

Flash Flood Watch until January 11, 04:00 PM PST

Winter Storm Warning until January 11, 04:00 PM PST

Today: Snow showers…snow showers near the crest. Windy. Snow accumulation up to 8 inches. Snow level 5500 feet. Highs 35 to 41 at 5000 feet…26 to 31 at 8000 feet. Southwest winds 30 to 40 mph with gusts to around 65 mph over higher elevations.

Tonight: Snow showers likely in the evening. Near the crest… Snow showers likely in the evening. Chance of snow showers after midnight. Chance of precipitation 70 percent. Windy…colder. Snow accumulation up to 5 inches. Lows 24 to 33 at 5000 feet… 13 to 23 at 8000 feet. Southwest winds 25 to 30 mph over higher elevations. Gusts up to 55 mph over higher elevations.

Tomorrow: Snow showers. Snow accumulation up to 5 inches. Total snow accumulation up to 32 inches. Highs 32 to 38 at 5000 feet… 24 to 29 at 8000 feet.

Additional Point Forecast Weather Links:

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NEW AND HAPPENING TODAY

El Portal Road is open. Watch for rocks and other debris on the road. Please check road conditions for more information about road status, by calling (209) 372-0200, and then 1, 1.

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Shauna Potocky’s Farewell Party (Correction from Tuesday)

Come say farewell to Shauna Potocky, as she heads to her new position in Kenai Fjords NP, Alaska. Please join us as we say congratulations and farewell on Thursday, January 19th, at the Valley Auditorium from 4:00 – 6:00 PM. Appetizers welcome, cake and coffee provided. Shauna has accepted a position as the new Division Chief of Interpretation in Kenai Fjords NP. More details will follow. Save the date and please help us spread the word. (C. Raines)

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RECENT NEWS

Yosemite National Park has Activated Rapid Notify

Yosemite National Park has Activated Rapid Notify to send out emergency alerts to Yosemite residents and employees. Rapid Notify can send out these Emergency Messages through email, text, and voice messages. If you would like to receive Yosemite specific Emergency Messages to your non-government email accounts and phone numbers, you need to self-register at http://www.rapidnotify.com/customer/Yosemite.html. Doing so will allow you to receive alerts even when you are out of the area and off duty. Remember that during emergencies, power outages affect your ability to receive emergency messages and you should always use your best judgment to keep yourself safe.

Non-NPS personnel can use this link for self registration (NPS staff can use either):

http://www.rapidnotify.com/customer/Yosemite.html

This system is available for all Yosemite employees — NPS, concessioner, park partners, etc. Non-NPS personnel can use this link for self registration (NPS staff can use either):

http://www.rapidnotify.com/customer/Yosemite.html

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El Portal Road (Highway 140) into Yosemite National Park has Reopened – News Release
Road to close tonight at 6:00 p.m. due to weather and rockfall concerns

(Note added, this 6pm closure referred to Tuesday 1/10/17 evening)

The El Portal Road (Highway 140) into Yosemite National Park has reopened to all traffic following a rockfall that occurred during early Sunday morning. The road is anticipated to stay open, with controlled traffic, throughout the day. However, the road will close this evening at 6:00 p.m. to all vehicular traffic based on weather and rockfall concerns. The park will evaluate road and weather conditions early tomorrow morning and assess whether or not the road can be reopened. There is currently rain and snow falling in Yosemite National Park and continued precipitation is forecast over the next several days.

Visitor access to Yosemite Valley via the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) and the Wawona Road (Highway 41) is currently open. Visitors should always carry tire chains and chain control can be implemented at any time. The Hetch Hetchy Road remains closed due to a rockfall.

Visitors should be aware that there will be limited visitor services inside Yosemite Valley today, Tuesday January 10, 2017, and plan accordingly. Overnight accommodations and commercial services operated by the park concessioner are slated to fully reopen tomorrow, Wednesday January 11, 2017. Campgrounds in Yosemite Valley are open.

The Merced River in Yosemite Valley reached flood stage at Pohono Bridge (above 10 feet) Sunday afternoon. The river peaked at 12.7 feet at 4:00 a.m. on Monday, January 9, 2017. Although there was no major flooding, park roads and infrastructure (water systems, sewer systems, etc.) and visitor facilities were impacted. The park is currently assessing the impacts and will address any repair needs in the coming days and weeks.

Park visitors are asked to be aware of hazards, including potential wet and icy road conditions, rockfall, and debris in roadways. The park has experienced significant rainfall over the past month and ground saturation could lead to hazardous conditions along park roadways.

For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200 and press 1. Updated information is also available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/yose

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Yosemite Valley to Reopen to Visitors Tomorrow Morning,Tuesday, January 10, at 8:00 a.m. – News Release

Park assessing impacts from storm over the weekend

Yosemite Valley will reopen for day-use visitors tomorrow morning, January 10, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. There is no access to Yosemite Valley via the El Portal Road (Highway 140) due to a rockfall that occurred early this morning. There is no estimated day or time for the road to reopen. The Hetch Hetchy Road is also closed due to a rockfall. Visitors should be aware that there will be limited visitor services and plan accordingly. Overnight accommodations and commercial services operated by the park concessioner are slated to reopen on Wednesday, January 11, 2017. Campgrounds in Yosemite Valley are slated to be open for tomorrow evening.

The Merced River in Yosemite Valley reached flood stage at Pohono Bridge (above 10 feet) last evening. The river peaked at 12.7 feet at 4:00 a.m. and park roads facilities have been impacted. The park is currently assessing the impacts and will address any repair needs in the coming days and weeks. Although there was no major flooding in Yosemite Valley, both roads and infrastructure (water systems, sewer systems, etc.) were impacted.

For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200 and press 1. Updated information is also available on the park’s website at www.nps.gov/yose. (S. Gediman)

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Hetch Hetchy Road closure

Hetch Hetchy had a significant rock/mudslide in the same area where we had a previous rock slide last year near the lower housing area. We have the area closed and HHWP is bringing barricades again so no vehicle traffic can travel through. HHWP road crews are going to wait until the area is more stable to clear the slide as water is still flowing through it. This could possibly happen after the next series of storm(s) pass.

Hetch Hetchy Road was closed throughout Monday and possibly closed Tuesday as the roadway is experiencing flooding with debris. Mission essential admin traffic is permitted at this time. The trail is also experiencing heavy flooding along with Wapama Foot Bridge. (G. Bias)

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Valley Forestry Work in Valley Campgrounds and Rangers Club Areas

Valley Forestry will be running a split crew today (1/10/17) completing the removal of the black oak at Rangers Club with 4 people available to assist other projects and staged at at Lower Pines Camp falling dead pines. (J. Ivey)

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Yosemite Medical Clinic Holiday Closure

Yosemite Medical Clinic will be closed Monday, January 16 in observance of the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. As usual, ambulance response will be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week by calling 911. (C. Griffin)

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Old El Portal Sewer System Improvement Project Community Meeting

The meeting will provide an opportunity to hear the details and proposed schedule of construction elements of the EL Portal Sewer System Improvements Project.

The facilitator is Garret Chun, Yosemite NP program manager.

Where: El Portal Clark Hall Community Center

When: Thursday, January 12

Time:7 PM to 8PM

If weather and/or road conditions change, the meeting may be postponed. Please refer to the “Daily” or emails concerning meeting changes if needed.

Contacts: gary_wuchner@nps.gov 209.742.8990; garrett_chun@nps.gov; 209.379.1298 (G. Wuchner)

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El Portal, Rancheria Residents

Please be aware of mountain lion activity in upper Rancheria housing this week. (R.Mazur)

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New Family Member in Buildings and Grounds

Buildings and Grounds would like to congratulate Wayne and Sarah Winterstrom and welcome Tobias Winterstrom born 1/3/2017. He weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces and is 20 inches long! (C. Mitchell)

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Request for binders

Anybody looking to get rid of 1/2″ white binders? Maybe your department has a few sitting in the mezzanine or a storage unit? If so, please email heather_bromberg@nps.gov if you have some to spare. I am in need of 40 and any contribution would be helpful. (H. Bromberg)

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CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC DELAYS

Yosemite Valley Traffic Detour

Northside Drive and Southside Drive west of Sentinel Drive are back to one-way traffic. Sentinel Drive is open to two-way traffic.Northside Drive and Southside Drive east of Sentinel Drive are open for two-way traffic. Maps are available at:

Yosemite National Park website- https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/roadwork.htm

Yosemite Sharepoint (internal only)-http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/SitePages/Parking%20and%20Road%20Improvements.aspx(L. Acree)

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Cook’s Meadow Boardwalk

The Trails Crew has started preparing on-sight to replace the deck material on Cook’s boardwalk. Work typically is being performed Monday-Thursday, during which time the boardwalk will be closed to visitors. When crews are not working, the boardwalk will be left so visitors can safely use the boardwalk. This should take 3-4 weeks depending on weather and other emergencies.(A.Shapiro)

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Parkwide Communication Data Network (CDN):

During the next five weeks (Dec 23rd through Jan 20th) Abide International (Contractor) will be installing radio equipment in shelters and aligning microwave dishes on towers at eleven locations throughout the park. This is part of the last phase of the Parkwide Communication Data Network (CDN) project, which started in the Fall 2010, with the construction of communication towers and shelters. Yosemite’s CDN system will replace the dated/unreliable communication infrastructure (wires which run through park/wilderness areas), which dates to the 1950s, with a modern wireless system to support high speed data services and emergency communications for Yosemite National Park. Staging of the microwave equipment is at Old El Portal parking lot. Project is scheduled to be complete by January 20, 2017(weather permitting). (D. Engelstad)

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Emergency Services Complex:

Construction continues. Structural retrofit is nearly done. Most of the site grading, drainage improvements, utilities, and paving is done. Work on the interior electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire suppression, and fire alarms continue, as well as the remaining structural work. Finish work will begin soon. Completion is expected in winter 2017. (K. White)

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ACTING DESIGNATIONS

Dave Henderson will be acting Hetch Hetchy Program Manager and Yosemite Conservancy Liaison until 1/16/2017. He can be reached at 372-0600 or 372-0238.

Parker Davis will be acting Fee and Revenue Branch Chief until the end of February. Parker can be reached at 372-0406 or Parker_Davis@nps.gov

Michael Liang will be acting Branch Chief for Creative Media (formerly interpretive services) through February 2017. He can be reached at 372-0643

Rick Hall will be Acting Branch Chief of Design & Engineering until January 17. He can be reached at 209-379-1277.

Heather Boothe will be acting Hetch Hetchy Program Manager and Yosemite Conservancy Liaison until 4/15/2017. She can be reached at 372-0238.

Sally Kintner will be acting Volunteer Program Manager until 4/15/2017. She can be reached at 379-1850.

Sheri Ogden will be acting Division Chief of BRM until further notice. She can be reached at 209-372-0316.

Ron Gaunt will be acting Division Chief of Project Management until further notice. He can be reached at 379-1027.

Sabrina Diaz will be acting Chief of Interpretation & Education until further notice. She can be reached at 372-0291 or 347-0113.

R. Brad Lewis will be acting Branch Chief of Design and Construction for Project Management until further notice. He can be reached at 379-1006.

Billy Bryan will be acting Concessions Management Branch Chief until further notice. He can be reached at 372-0272 or william_bryan@nps.gov.

Erin Davenport will be acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance from 12/19/2016-12/23/2016.

Renea Kennec will be acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance from 12/27/2016-12/30/2016.

Daily Report – Yosemite National Park Wednesday January 11th, 2017