Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
elcap reports 2023
ElCap Report 9.27.23
Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Sunny. Highs 57 to 69. Southwest winds up to 15mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows 36 to 48. South winds up to 10mph.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs 55 to 67. South winds up to 10mph in the afternoon.
Additional Point Forecast Weather Links:
Yosemite Valley | Wawona | Tuolumne Meadows | Glacier Point | Big Oak Flat | Hetch Hetchy | El Portal | Mariposa | Badger Pass
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NEW & HAPPENING TODAY
The Daily Report Technical Difficulties
The Daily Report is experiencing technical difficulties with sending to personal email addresses. We are working to resolve the issue with IT. Thank you for your patience. (S. Miyako)
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Quarry Fire
Please Note: This is not a Yosemite NPS Fire but visitors may be able to see it while on their way to park entering on Hwy 120
Fire Statistics:
Location: The Quarry Fire is located on the Miwok Ranger District, Stanislaus National Forest, off Forest Road 3N01, east of Bourland Creek and approximately four miles west of the Emigrant Wilderness Border.
Acres burned to date: 2,157 Total Personnel: 123
Cause: Lightning Injuries: 0
Background: The Quarry fire was one of many fires ignited by lightning strikes across the forest on September 9, 2023. District fire managers immediately worked to ensure these naturally ignited fires stayed within pre-determined boundaries. Fire personnel with the Stanislaus National Forest are currently managing the Quarry Fire to achieve multiple resource objectives.
These objectives include benefits such as reducing concentrations of dead ground fuels, re-establishing multigenerational timber stands, improving wildlife habitat, promoting vegetation diversity, and re-introducing fire into fire adapted ecosystems. (B. Cossell, Forest Service)
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PG&E Planned Power Outage at Hodgdon Meadows: Oct. 2nd
PG&E planned power outage for Hodgdon Meadows on Monday, October 2, 2023 from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM. PG&E will be replacing a power pole. (C. Flores)
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RECENT NEWS
Wawona Road Delays
Mather Forestry will be removing hazard trees along Wawona Road through the end of October. Work will take place from 0800-1530, Monday through Thursday. Expect traffic delays. (J. Brown)
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LGBTQ+ ERG Mixer 9/28 @ 6:30pm
Join the Yosemite LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group at the Carabiner/Degnan’s Loft for a mixer! Come enjoy casual snacks, music, and community. Employee, park partners, volunteers, and community members welcome! For any questions, email yose_dei@nps.gov. (S. Soroka)
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RISE Innovation Station Workshops 9/28, 9am-12pm
Join us at the Valley Auditorium for an open forum brainstorm to explore the new NPS RISE Framework and Surgeon General Mental Health in the Workplace Framework. This will be the second session of an interactive style 3-part workshop with breakout groups and a chance engage with the material and your peers. You can join one individually or participate in the full series. Can’t attend the full time? Feel free to stop in for an hour or two! For questions and RSVP, email yose_dei@nps.gov. (S. Soroka)
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Annual Fire System Inspections
We are in the home stretch! The fire system inspectors will be finishing up in Wawona tomorrow and moving to Mather on Wednesday. The inspectors will be revisiting a few locations in El Portal on Thursday (EP Apartments, exteriors) and Friday (El Portal Maintenance Shop, audible alarms). We thank you for your cooperation during these annual inspections. If any schedule changes are needed, please reach out to Steve Lyon. (C. Toepper)
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Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center (YCHC) Closing for Season
The Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center (YCHC) is closing for the season on September 30th. Come on by if you’ve never been in and if you didn’t make it in this year, it will be open again in May 2024! The end of this season also marks the retirement of Dr. Bonnie Gisel, the curator of the YCHC for 21 years. Cheers to Bonnie and happy retirement! (C. McIntosh)
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Mariposa Rental Available 10/1
Accepting inquiries for an immaculate 2 bed/1 bath home located on 4+ manicured acres, just 3 minutes from downtown Mariposa. Spacious open floorplan and sunny woodland views out every window. The local landlords are respectable and handy, just like Chip and Joanna Gains. No cats, $2,000 per month plus deposit. Text 707-292-6669 for more information. (E. Davenport)
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Warehouse Coordinator Position Available with Yosemite Conservancy
Do you enjoy visiting all corners of Yosemite on a weekly basis? Find satisfaction from a well-organized and catalogued warehouse? Thrive in multi-departmental work environments? Love switching gears and keeping each day interesting, fun and challenging? Yosemite Conservancy is seeking a self-motivated team member to work in our El Portal warehouse to keep our inventory moving through all our locations in the park, year-round. This is a physical job with heavy lifting as well as detail-oriented computer work and strong communication skills.
For application instructions and job description go to yosemite.org/careers (K. Bouchard)
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Yosemite Medical Clinic Improvement Updates
To improve our patient care quality and efficiency, the new operating systems will go-live on Oct 1, 2023, please expect:
Closure Mon-Fri, 9/25-29/2023 due to systems migration and training
Longer appointment and wait time between Oct – Dec 2023
Meeting our new staff, Ms. Jacqui Rettura, Administrative Support Assistant/Medical Receptionist; and nursing staff over the next few months.
For Medi-Cal beneficiaries in Mariposa County, the new Medi-Cal’s managed care company will be switched from Anthem to Central California Alliance for Health (CCAH) as of 01/01/2023. Please look out for Medi-Cal communication. CCAH covers Merced, Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
Expanded services:
Point of care testing, collection for lab order, and digital x-ray services
Accept new primary care patient with enhanced case management service.
Osteopathic manipulative medicine
Trigger point injections
Federal employee health physical exam and screening (eScreen)
Commercial Driving License and other physical exams
Pre-ordered immunization
Upcoming mental fitness training for established primary care patients.
Vaccines:
COVID-19 and other vaccines including flu, pneumococcal, Tdap, Shingles, MMR & chickenpox,…, etc., are available at Rite Aid (and other pharmacies). Online schedules can be made for Rite Aid in Mariposa every day and late hours (availabilities right now are from Oct 20th) or (209) 742-7600.
YMC may be able to accommodate pre-ordered vaccine if requested. Text or call 209-372-5452.
Hiring:
Medical Support Assistance GS-5/6/7. Established profile on USAJOBS, make your resume searchable, and email yose_ymc@nps.gov that you want to be notified when our announcement is active. Individuals with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply.
Volunteer with us. Visit volunteer.gov and search for Yosemite Medical Clinic to apply.
Community service:
Mental Health First Aid, September 27, 8a-5p. There are 3 seats left, email yose_ymc@nps.gov if interested.
Open for feedback and suggestions: Please email pattama_ulrich@nps.gov (P. Ulrich)
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ONGOING PROJECTS
Cascades CERCLA Removal Action
The Cascades CERCLA site is located near Ribbon Creek/El Cap Woodlot. This site was formerly the Civilian Conservation Corps Cascades Camp, a name derived from the original site at Cascade Creek along El Portal Road. The camp utilized a creosote dip tank to treat lumber and this practice has led to present day contamination of the soil. NPS Environmental Compliance and Cleanup Division has contracted a non-time critical removal action at this site. The Contractor has mobilized on 9/11/23 and begun excavations. Beginning on 9/18/23, they began loading out contaminated soil from this site to a waste collection facility outside the park. The contractor will be working MON-THUR 7A-5P. Anticipated completion of backfill mid-October. There is no traffic control associated with this work, but please be mindful of truck traffic between Pohono Bridge and El Capitan Bridge on both sides of the river. Contact Moshe Calm with any questions. (M. Calm)
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Mariposa Grove Road Hazardous Fuel Removal
Tribal crews and contractors are removing hazardous fuels along the Mariposa Grove Road from the South entrance to the lower grove welcome plaza. Removing hazardous fuels in the form of small trees and logs will support fire fighters to implement planned prescribed fires that will ultimately lead to better protection of the Mariposa Grove from high severity fires. Delays up to 15 minutes may be expected. Please slow down and watch for workers along the road. Contact garrett_dickman@nps.gov with any questions. (G. Dickman)
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Valley-wide Continuous Flow Intersection Improvement Project
Primary stages of Sentinel Drive construction are now complete. The Sentinel-Cook’s Meadow Parking Area remains closed because the space is assigned to the contractor for construction staging. Work that is now underway includes modifications to the roundabout in Yosemite Village, a widening of Northside Drive, reconstruction and extension of Shuttle Bus Stop #1 at Village Parking, paving the new driveway into Yosemite Valley Lodge, and paving the new pedestrian promenade to Yosemite Falls. The contractor is also grinding the center line on Northside Drive to remove the continuous mumble strip and to lay new asphalt prior to re-striping. One travel lane will be blocked as contractor equipment occupies the other lane. Sign post hole excavation and sign installation are also occurring over the next two weeks. Construction work should be completed on Oct 15. Please drive carefully and watch for laborers and equipment on roadways. (J. Donovan)
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Yosemite Valley Shuttle Bus Stop Improvements
The NPS contractor has completed demolition work in Yosemite Village and has turned attention to Curry Village (Orchard Parking) and at Upper Pines and Lower Pines campground stops on the Happy Isles Loop. All seven work sites will be ready for paving in early October. Disruption and delays in traffic circulation are to be expected. The contractor is authorized to conduct traffic control operations Monday through Thursday. This work is likely to continue until mid-December. (J. Donovan)
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Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment
The contractor is working at the Tuolumne Meadows visitor parking area over the next two to four weeks. New vehicle chargers will not be available until the units can be energized and commissioning is completed. Working EV charging stations are available only at Yosemite Valley Lodge, six at the Ahwahnee Hotel, four at the Village Store, and two between the El Portal market and gas station. (J. Donovan)
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Ackerson Meadow Restoration Project
The long-planned Ackerson Meadow Restoration Project, on Evergreen Road, is set to begin. Be aware of potential truck traffic in the area between August 14 and October 31.
The project goal is to eliminate excessive soil erosion, slow water loss, and reverse loss of water-loving plants and animals, and impacts to endangered species. To do this, a contractor will completely fill the century-old human-caused erosion gully that is now more than 3 miles long, and up to 14 feet deep by 100 feet wide. Revegetation of the area will be completed using more than 425,000 wetland container plants and 700 pounds of native plant seeds. This project is planned for completion in spring 2025, and is a partnership of American Rivers, Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite Conservancy, and Yosemite National Park. Learn more: https://go.nps.gov/ackerson. For questions, contact tim_kuhn@nps.gov. (T. Kuhn)
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Valley Forestry on Glacier Point
Valley Forestry will be removing hazard trees along Glacier Point Road through the end of September. Work will take place from 0800-1530 Monday through Thursday. Expect 15 minute delays. Thanks for your patience. (B. See)
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Glacier Point Road Delays
Crews are continuing rehabilitation of the Glacier Point Road between Wawona Road junction (Chinquapin) and Glacier Point. The Crews will be working Monday thru Friday from 6AM to 6PM with alternating one-way traffic control and up to 30-minute delays. Delays should be diminishing as work progresses over the next couple of months; however, please expect delays thru September 29, 2023. Please contact Michael Pieper, with any questions or concerns at (209) 200-1131. (M. Peiper)
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Tioga Road Delays
Crews are continuing to complete intermittent road repairs on the Tioga Road between Tamarack Flat Campground entrance road and Little Blue Slide. Over the next couple of months there will be multiple crews working at various locations along the Tioga Road corridor. The Crews will be working Monday thru Friday, from 6AM to 6PM with alternating one-way traffic control and up to 15-minute delays. These Tioga Road delays will continue thru September 29, 2023. Please contact Michael Pieper, with any questions or concerns at (209) 200-1131. (M. Peiper)
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Construction in Bug and Ranger Camps is underway in Tuolumne Meadows
Several crews are repairing damaged structures and replacing the underground and overhead electric. Please avoid the area unless you are a resident. Any questions, contact Matt Outhier. (M. Outhier)
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Mist Trail Repair July 10th – November 2nd
The Lower Mist Trail – from the John Muir Trail (JMT) junction (just uphill from the Vernal Fall Footbridge) to the top of Vernal Fall – will be closed Monday -Friday between 7:00am and 3:30pm. The trail will be open on Columbus Day.
The trail will remain open on weekends. It is expected to be open overnight, however there may be certain days when trail crew is not able to make it safe to open overnight. In that case, the gates will remain closed, and signs will be posted at the two closure gates that the trail is closed.
Hikers and backpackers headed to Little Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and points beyond from the trailhead at Happy Isles may hike uphill on the Mist Trail if they reach the Mist Trail/JMT junction by 7:00am, Monday through Friday. Otherwise, they must hike the JMT. (W. Weaver)
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The Merced Grove is Closed for Restoration
Giant sequoias are adapted to frequent, low-intensity fire and depend on fire for reproduction. Frequent fires reduce fire intensity by thinning the forest of small and unhealthy trees and reducing the accumulation of dead branches and trees. But over the past century, fires were suppressed, and drought and insects killed millions of trees in Yosemite. In the Merced Grove, there is limited sequoia regeneration and fuel loading has increased to dangerous levels. Currently, we cannot safely introduce fire without first mechanically removing fuels first. Since 2020, wildfires have killed almost 20% of mature giant sequoias across their range due to extreme fuel loading, and we aim to prevent that outcome in the Merced Grove. Therefore, we are removing small diameter conifers, trees posing a hazard to firefighters and containment lines, and dead and downed wood to reduce wildfire risk to the sequoias and firefighters as preparation for the first prescribed fire in and around the grove. The grove will be closed for 2.5 months during the restoration for visitor and worker safety. Please contact garrett_dickman@nps.gov with questions or for access. (G. Dickman)
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Dispatch Expansion Project
The Dispatch Expansion project is converting most of the El Portal Warehouse lobby into office space for the Emergency Communications (Dispatch) Center. Work is resuming September 18-28, so the lobby elevator will once again be off-limits during that time except in case of emergency. The stairs are still blocked off and the rest of the lobby area is closed unless you are involved with the project. To access the Dispatch office area, follow the signs in through the Trails area door just inside the fence/gate. Warehouse occupants and visitors need to use alternate means of ingress/egress until the re-construction of the stairs is finished. Do not enter through the RMS building unless you work there. Contact Nicole Belle Isle, Project Manager, for more information. (N. Belle Isle)
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Sugar Pine Floodplain Restoration Through November 10
The Vegetation and Ecological Restoration Branch will be conducting restoration work in the floodplain south of Sugar Pine Bridge from August 14 to November 10. This project will excavate fill from historic channels to reactivate the floodplain, provide habitat for aquatic wildlife and plants, and restore natural hydrology. This project is a recommended action from the Merced Wild and Scenic River Management Plan to mitigate the effects of the historic but undersized Sugar Pine Bridge on the Merced River. Earth moving machinery, including excavators and dump trucks, will be operating in this area. Please ask that the public stay out of this area for their safety. To learn more about Merced River restoration visit: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/mercedriverrestoration.htm (A. Puchkoff)
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Y8 Fuel Station Down
The Y8 gas station is currently down. For gas needs in the meantime, please call the garage from 8 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week at 209-372-1060 to schedule a fill until further notice. We’ll update when the station is back up and running. (C. Layman)
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Valley Shuttle Construction Impacts
Valley Shuttle stops 19, 4 and 2 are out of service due to construction. (C. Layman)