Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Monday, August 28, 2023
Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Sunny. Highs 66 to 80. Southeast winds up to 10 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon.
Tonight: Clear. Lows 42 to 56. Southeast winds up to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs 64 to 78. South winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the southwest 5 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 30 mph.
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
TODAY Limited Hours at Big Oak Flat
The Big Oak Flat Information Station will have limited hours today. Wilderness permits will be distributed during their regular hours, but an interp ranger will only be available to support trip general trip planning intermittently throughout today, with the Information Station closing at 4pm. We hope to return to normal operations on Tuesday. (S. Miyako)
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Reminder from Valley Elementary School
This is a friendly reminder from your neighborhood elementary school! We love to have our community members enjoy our grounds, however, access to the school is restricted during school hours. Children are present from 8:00am-2:30pm Monday through Thursday and 8:00am-1:30pm on Friday. We are so fortunate to have an open schoolyard without fences and locks, so we appreciate the community respecting these rules. If you have business at school, please register in the office. Thank you for helping us to keep our precious children safe. (C. DeCecco)
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Tree Work, Road Delays in Hodgdon Meadows Area
Please be aware that there will be temporary delays / lane closures on the Hodgdon access road and around the entrance station / visitor station the week of Aug 28 through Sept 1. A contractor will be conducting tree falling along the roadway and may need to delay traffic for short periods. This is in support of hazard fuels reduction and fire protection goals in the community and entrance station of Hodgdon Meadows. (B. Spielman)
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Community Farmer’s Market
Mark your calendars for the final Community Farmer’s Markets of the season!
The Farmer’s Market is an initiative hosted by the (NPS) Yosemite Wellness Coalition in partnership with the (YC) Zero Landfill Initiative, Farm to Crag, and Yosemite Hospitality in efforts to provide staff and residents access to affordable fruits and vegetables, and local resources. This event is not open to the public. *As conditions permit
Final dates will be Thursdays 9/7 and 10/5 from 4:30p-6:30p
Located at the Wellness Center (near Curry Village.)
More information and additional events can be found at yoscommunity.com/events. (J. Gonzales)
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Womxn’s Wellness Weekend
Hosted by the Yosemite Wellness Coalition & Latino Outdoors
September 9-10, camping at Yellow Pine provided. Optional early arrival on Friday and late departure Monday
This multiday immersive in-park Staycation retreat is an opportunity for *womxn to detach from the occupational & personal stressors and connect with theirSelves and each other through a variety of grounding workshops and activities. Activities include yoga, campfires, journaling, sustainability discussions. Workshops on Nutrition, Dimensions of Wellness, and a Sunday Stewardship project. Breakfast and dinner are provided, please pack your own lunches. *or those who identify as women.
Open to all staff, volunteers and park partners and local Latino Outdoor Members.
Questions? Contact jamie_gonzales@nps.gov (J. Gonzales)
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Yosemite Valley Lodge Pool Season Ending
The pool at the Yosemite Valley Lodge will have its last day of the season on Labor Day. (C. Layman)
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Locksmith Dave Muench’s Retirement Party
It’s time! Locksmith Dave Muench’s retirement party is finally here, so come join us this Wednesday, August 30th, Noon/12PM in the El Portal Large Breakroom/Conference Room to celebrate his 36 years of service. Everyone is invited to join the BBQ and potluck, so we hope to see you there!
Best regards from all of us here in Facilities. (K. Sheetz)
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The Yosemite Volunteer Awards for 2023 are live!
Nomination categories for exceptional volunteers that have served in the past fiscal/calendar year include:
Individual Adult VIPs (over 30 or if veteran 35)
Individual Youth/Young Adult VIP (under 30 or if veteran 35)
Team VIP (Organized group, collective, or family)
Volunteer Supervisor
Innovation Award *New Category
Intern (non VIP)*New Category (under 30 or if veteran 35)
Email Yose_Volunteers@nps.gov for more details and instructions.
Deadline for nominations is September 8th, Friday, at midnight
Winners will be recognized during Yosemite Facelift! (A. Martinez)
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ONGOING PROJECTS
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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El Portal Road Delays
Crews are continuing road repairs on the El Portal Road approximately ½ mile east of the Arch Rock Entrance Station. 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 El Portal Road delays will continue thru August 31, 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 M-TH between 7:00am and 3:30pm from 7/10/23 – 9/1/23. Beginning 9/2/23 – 11/2/23 the trail will be closed M-Fr between 7:00am and 3:30pm. The trail will be open on Labor Day and 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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Valley-wide Continuous Flow Intersection Improvement Project
The contractor is attempting to re-open Sentinel Drive as soon as possible, one-way, southbound only, depending on availability of materials and favorable working conditions. One lane on Southside Drive, from the Sentinel Meadow chapel to Sentinel Drive, will be closed to divert vehicles and to establish a safe work zone for intersection and pedestrian crosswalk improvements. Crews are also working this week on Yosemite Valley Lodge, the Yosemite Falls Promenade, and the Curry Village Drive intersection with Southside Drive. Patience and understanding are appreciated. Work is happening Monday thru Thursday only.
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Yosemite Valley Shuttle Bus Stop Improvements
The NPS contractor continues work at seven sites for new pavement construction in Yosemite Village, Curry Village, and on Happy Isles Loop. Disruption and delays in traffic circulation are to be expected. The contractor is authorized to conduct traffic control operations Monday through Thursday. (J. Donovan)
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Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment
The contractor has completed work in Wawona and in Yosemite Valley. However, vehicle chargers are not available until the units can be energized and commissioning is complete. Until further notice, working charging stations are limited to eight at Yosemite Valley Lodge, two at the Ahwahnee Hotel, one at the Village Store, and two between the El Portal market and gas station. (J. Donovan)
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Dispatch Expansion Project
The Dispatch Expansion project will convert most of the El Portal Warehouse lobby into office space for the Emergency Communications (Dispatch) Center. The lobby area is an active construction zone and therefore is off-limits to non-construction workers. 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 that portion of the construction is finished. Do not enter through the RMS building unless you work there. Expect intermittent construction noise throughout the project, which is scheduled to be completed in September of 2023. 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)
