Yosemite - Daily Report - Yosemite National Park Friday, July 26, 2024

Yosemite – Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Friday, July 26, 2024

Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Sunny. Highs 63 to 79. South winds up to 10 mph with gusts to around 25 mph shifting to the southwest with gusts to around 35 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Colder. Mostly clear. Lows 36 to 52. South winds up to 15 mph. Gusts up to 35 mph decreasing to 25 mph after midnight.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs 57 to 71. Southwest winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.

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NEW & HAPPENING TODAY

Annual Fire System Inspections
It’s time again for the annual fire system inspections. Contractors will be escorted through residences and administrative buildings to inspect and test the fire alarm and fire suppression systems.
Here is the general schedule:

August 5th – 9th – El Portal locations
August 12th – 16th – El Portal and Valley locations
August 19th – 23rd – Valley, Wawona, and Mather locations

The contractors will need approximately 15-20 minutes in each housing location to physically identify any sprinkler heads and test any systems.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation and assistance with this annual requirement. (C. Toepper)

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RECENT NEWS

Fire Update – July 24, 2024
Yosemite National Park has seen multiple thunderstorms over the past two weeks and the weather outlook calls for continued thunderstorm activity. Yosemite Fire has responded to 14 fires since July 13, 2024, with three active fires remaining. These fires are in high elevation wilderness ranging from 7,600 to 9,800 feet and fire managers are assessing conditions and response. The Porcupine, Wegner, and Dorothy fires have firefighters regularly providing updates on conditions.

Yosemite National Park is a fire-adapted ecosystem. The overall strategy for all wildland fires is to provide for the safety of employees, the public, and to protect and enhance natural and cultural resources.
Porcupine
Location: North of Tioga Road, southwest of Wegner Lake.
Discovery Date: July 13, 2024 Size: 0.1 acre
Containment: 0% Cause: Lightning
Elevation: 9,800’
Wegner
Location: Near Mount Hoffman, surrounded by granite
Discovery Date: July 16, 2024 Size: 0.1 acre
Containment: 0% Cause: Lightning
Elevation: 9,500’
Dorothy
Location: Just south of Dorothy Lake, surrounded by talus
Discovery Date: July 16, 2024 Size: 0.1 acre
Containment: 0% Cause: Lightning
Elevation: 9,600’
(S. Lyon)
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Shuttle Bus Stop Construction in Yosemite Valley
All road work for the east valley shuttle bus stops in now completed. Happy Isles Loop Road is now open for normal circulation, with access to Wilderness Parking and disabled person parking spaces for vehicles with placards. More work is to be done outside the roadways, such as paving access pathways, installing benches, and re-installing signs. A rock retaining wall is under construction for the pedestrian waiting area at Lower Pines CG (#18), and shelters will be constructed at the stops in Curry Village Orchard Parking. (J. Donovan)
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All Shuttle Buses resume regular service
With completion of work on the east valley bus stops, all shuttles have resumed regular service (C. Layman)
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Kudos to Dave Patrick!
Big thanks to Dave Patrick for helping quickly get Mather Interp an AC unit during a heat wave! He came by our office almost immediately on the same day we learned that we couldn’t use our central AC. He quickly found a window AC unit that could fit our small space, ordered it, installed it, and checked back in to ensure that it was working well later. We appreciate you, Dave! (S. Montroy)
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Traffic Closure
On Monday, July 22, and Tuesday, July 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the exit to Village Drive on the North Side Drive traffic circle will be closed (The exit that services the Ahwahnee and village store). Traffic will be detoured through the day-use parking lot and back onto Village Drive by the garage. Detours will only occur for approximately 15 minutes at a time. Oversized vehicles like buses and delivery trucks will be directed to use the admin road northwest of the day-use parking area.

Additionally, traffic will be diverted on Thursday, August 1, and Friday, August 2. This will be for the backfilling portion of the project, so the diversion will be limited to just a few minutes to deposit material at the work site. (C. Layman)
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Reminder on The Carabiner/Loft
Friendly reminder that The Carabiner/Loft at Degnan’s is not available for general use, hanging out, or lunch outside of business hours of 6:00 – 10:00 PM, unless otherwise noted. Thank you for your understanding. (C. Layman)
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Yosemite Medical Clinic
We are recruiting for a temporary promotion/detail opportunity (GS-0343-09) Management and Program Analyst position, NTE 120 days. We are seeking a highly motivated and dedicated individual that has an interested in working in a highly dynamic environment with superior administrative, organizational and management skills, ability to be flexible and adapt, great problem solving and critical thinking skills to work with our team and patients. The position is in Yosemite Valley and will have a heavy focus on managing program and operation. This position not only offers a chance for professional growth but also plays a critical role in ensuring our operational success.
Who should apply: Current permanent National Park Service employees serving in career/career conditional appointments in the competitive service with supervisor’s approval.
How to apply: Submit SF-50, usajobs resume, most Recent EPAP, 3 references and email them to HR Specialist, lori_frusetta@nps.gov by 8/2/24: Please include “YOSE- Management and Program Analyst Detail/Temp Promo” in the subject line of the message.

For questions, contact yose_ymc@nps.gov or pattama_ulrich@nps.gov. (P. Ulrich)
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Yosemite Valley Interpretation Training 7/29/2024
The following NPS interpretative programs will be cancelled on Monday 7/29/2024 for staff training and development.
8:30am Naturalist Walk
1:30pm Junior Ranger Walk
2:00pm Bear Walk.
2:00pm Drop-in Jr. Ranger Discovery Table
All other programs will be offered as normal.
(S. Marick)
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Yosemite Bear Facts — July 21, 2024
2024 Total Bear Incidents: 19
2024 Total Property Damage: $760

Bear Incident Comparisons (year to date—previous years compared to 2024):
Last year (2023) – up by 27%
Most Incidents (1998) – down by 95%
Fewest Incidents (2019) – up by 58%

Bear Activity Summary: Bears have obtained unattended food from visitors and residents in Yosemite Valley and El Portal on multiple occasions. Tent cabins, picnic areas, and residential houses have all been targets of bears opportunistically finding food not properly stored. In Yosemite Valley, two tagged male bears have been actively seeking human food at picnic areas and tent cabin sites. As the raspberries dwindle, apples are becoming the main draw for bears in Yosemite Valley. Untagged bears have been observed foraging on apples and leftover raspberries, sometimes in close proximity to people. In El Portal, a female bear continues to approach and find food in and around unsecured residences. Fruiting trees in El Portal are also a current draw for bears to spend time too close to people and homes—please pick your fruit!

In early July, a human-bear encounter resulted in a minor injury to a hiker who inadvertently collided with a bear on Happy Isles Rd. The tagged bear had just obtained garbage from Upper Pines and ran into hiker walking down the road without a light.

Red Bear, Dead Bear: Please help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways. Eleven bears have been hit by vehicles with two confirmed dead. One cub was taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center last week, it is likely the mother was hit by a vehicle.

Fascinating Bear Facts: Bears can travel great distances to return to a known food source. Relocated bears frequently return within days in Yosemite, and in the process of returning, risk encountering vehicles as well as human development. For this reason, YNP usually avoids relocating bears.

Other Wildlife: Summer is here! The Northern Pacific rattlesnake is a venomous species found in Yosemite. These snakes have excellent camouflage and are easy to miss when hiking hot, dusty trails, or scrambling through talus fields. Always check under objects and rocks when sitting to snack, and if you encounter a rattlesnake, give it plenty of room. Do not try to move the animal, it will move off trail on its own if given space.

Please report bear incidents and sightings:
Call the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322 or e-mail yose_bear_mgmt@nps.gov.
For more information about Yosemite’s bears, please visit:
www.KeepBearsWild.org
(C.R Lee-Roney)
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August 5th – 9th – El Portal locations
August 12th – 16th – El Portal and Valley locations
August 19th – 23rd – Valley, Wawona, and Mather locations

If you are a resident in government housing, you will be notified by the housing office of the dates that the inspections will take place, additionally the district supervisors may also place notifications for your information. We would like to keep to the scheduled dates as much as possible. Please reach out the COR – Carrie Toepper, if there are any questions or concerns (carrie_toepper@nps.gov or 209-379-1089).
The contractors will need approximately 15-20 minutes in each housing location to physically identify any sprinkler heads and test any systems.
Thanks in advance for your cooperation and assistance with this annual requirement. (C. Toepper)
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Groveland Rental
Groveland, California Cute Cabin for Rent.
3 bedrooms, 1 bath
Rent $1250 mo., Security Deposit $1400
Refrigerator, Washer & Dryer included
Only approx. 24 mi. From Yosemite National Park.
Taking applications. Email: val@pmlr.com for application (V. Bruce)
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Volunteer Apple Picking Day August 1
It’s time for the annual Yosemite Valley Apple Picking Day, Thursday, August 1, 8am-12pm at the Curry Village Apple Orchard (Curry Village parking lot). All visitors, employees, and residents are invited to pick apples to help keep bears wild! Gloves, vests, buckets & helmets will be provided.

This is a drop-in volunteer opportunity that anyone can show up to the day-of to participate and is a great way to learn more about local bear management. These historic, ripe apples attract bears to developed areas and alter their natural diets. By helping the bear team to remove the apples, you can help bears return to their natural food sources found throughout the park and not become exposed to humans and their food. (J. Garcia)
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Excavation Along Eagle Creek
The Vegetation and Ecological Restoration branch will be removing abandoned infrastructure from a wastewater treatment plant that serviced Yosemite Valley in the 1920s and was decommissioned in the 1930s. Crews will be excavating along Eagle Creek and the adjacent meadow. In the fall, restoration crews will return to plant native species and seed in disturbed areas. This restoration project is part of the Merced Wild and Scenic River Management Plan, which aims to reverse some of the past human impacts to meadows and riverbanks, to protect and enhance river values, and to promote public access and enjoyment of the river. To learn more about this effort, visit: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/mercedriverrestoration.htm (T. Guardado)
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Road Work Along the Tioga Road
Roads crews will be performing drainage, road shoulder maintenance on the Tioga pass road from Porcupine trail head to Mc swain summit, expect up to 15 minutes traffic delays, please drive slow through the work zone and be aware of crews and equipment in the work area. (B.Brantley)
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Traffic Delays on Wawona Rd for Vegetation Managment 07/22- 07/25
There will be vegetation management on Wawona Rd starting at Tunnel View entrance to Glacier Point Rd intersection on Wawona Rd on 7/22 – 7/25. Flaggers will hold traffic for 10 – 15 minutes at a time to allow for vegetation management work. Please be aware and follow Road Work Ahead Signs.
(G. Hernandez)
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Guest Speaker on African American military legacy in the Sierra Nevada
On Tuesday, July 30th from Noon to 1 p.m. in the Valley Auditorium join Ranger Shelton Johnson and Military Historian Brian Shellum in a spirited conversation about the African American military legacy here in the Sierra Nevada, which lies at the heart of Mr. Shellum’s newest book! “Buffalo Soldiers in California, Charles Young and the Ninth Cavalry, 1902-1904” is the first non fiction book specifically focused on the once hidden yet nationally significant contributions of the African American troops who served here in YOSE, SEKI, and DEPO as mounted Wilderness Rangers around the turn of the last century. His new book will be available for sale at this event! Brian is a former senior intelligence officer with the Department of Defense and retired from the U.S. Army in 1994 after serving as an armor officer and European foreign area specialist. He’s a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. (S. Johnson)
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Groveland Room for Rent
Spacious, sunny, furnished room in a 2900 ft.², 3 bed, 3 bath, shared house on quiet, forested 1/2 acre with fenced in garden. One room is available for rent $730/mo utilities are included. Must be okay with cats. Wonderful neighbors. Room is ready to rent August 1. Contact Lori: lezock2@gmail.com with interest. (Lori Z)
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Daily Art Classes Cancelled This Week (7/22 – 7/26)
Yosemite Conservancy’s Daily Art Classes (4-hour workshops normally scheduled Monday – Friday) are cancelled this week due to an unforeseen instructor emergency. The Kid’s Art Classes, Forest Art Walks, and Paint & Sip will still run as scheduled. Happy Isles Art & Nature Center will still be open this week despite cancellation of the Daily Art Classes! (L. Spielman‑Dell Isola)
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Yosemite Medical Clinic will have adjusted operating hours during the week of 7/22 to 7/26.

Monday 7/22: Scheduled appointments only from 9am – 12pm. Closed after 12pm.
Tuesday 7/23: 8am – 12pm scheduled appointments. Open for walk-ins 1pm to 4:30pm.
Wednesday 7/24: 8am – 12pm scheduled appointments. Open for walk-ins 1pm to 4:30pm.
Thursday 7/25: Scheduled appointments only from 9am – 12pm. Closed after 12pm.
Friday 7/26: Closed all day for clinic administrative operations.

Thank you for your understanding of our change in hours this week. Please contact us at (209) 372-4637 if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment. (Z. Lucas)

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ONGOING PROJECTS

Traffic Closure
Traffic will be diverted on Thursday, August 1, and Friday, August 2, and the exit to Village Drive on the North Side Drive traffic circle will be closed (the exit that services the Ahwahnee and village store). Traffic will be detoured through the day-use parking lot and back onto Village Drive by the garage. Detours will only occur for approximately 15 minutes at a time. Oversized vehicles like buses and delivery trucks will be directed to use the admin road northwest of the day-use parking area.

This will be for the backfilling portion of the project, so the diversion will be limited to just a few minutes to deposit material at the work site. (C. Layman)

Ackerson Meadow Restoration Project
Earth-moving for final phase of the Ackerson Meadow Restoration Project on Evergreen Road, is set to begin. Equipment mobilization will start on July 29th and with more substantial project actions to begin on August 5th. Operations are planned through October 31. Please watch for trucks on roads in the area.

The goal is to eliminate excess soil erosion, slow water loss, and reverse loss of water-loving plants and animals, especially rare/endangered species. To do this, the project team will completely fill the century-old human-caused erosion gully that is >3 miles long, and up to 14’ deep by 100’ wide. Phase 1 of the project was a huge success protecting and rewetting 78 acres of vital wetland habitat, by completing earth-moving of nearly 60,000cy of material between Aug 14 and Nov 9, 2023, and planting over 127,000 wetland container plants on the restored surface this spring. Though smaller in extent, Phase 2 requires the placement of nearly 100,000cy of combined mineral soil and woodchips. More than 290,000 container plants will be installed in May 2025 to complete the restoration project. The project is a partnership of American Rivers, Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite Conservancy, and Yosemite National Park. Learn more at: https://go.nps.gov/ackerson, or https://youtu.be/3u9TpTTcArk. For questions, contact tim_kuhn@nps.gov. (T. Kuhn)
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PG&E Contractor Work in El Portal and Wawona
Between the days of July 1 and August 2, PG&E contractors from Arborworks will be conducting vegetation removal and maintenance work in the Wawona and El Portal residential areas. For maps of the locations, please contact Alan Kunz (alan_kunz@nps.gov) or Natasha Lekach (natasha_lekach@nps.gov). Some traffic control may be necessary. (N. Lekach)
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Valley Mall Tree Removal
Valley Forestry will be working in the Valley Mall area removing trees for a construction project through the end of the month. There will be temporary closures of certain walking paths during the operation. Forestry staff will be on site to direct pedestrians around the work zone. (B. See)
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Mist Trail Repair July 1st – October 31st, 2024
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 7/1/24 – 10/31/24 (subject to change).
The trail will remain open Fridays, weekends and holidays. 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 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 Thursday. Otherwise, they must hike the JMT. (W. Weaver)
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Historic Preservation Crew – Post Office
The Yosemite Historic Preservation Crew is performing stabilization work on the Yosemite Valley Post Office. The project will repair damaged and broken windows, repair cracks in the masonry, and perform preservation carpentry on log elements. There will be no impact on Post Office operations. Please direct all questions to Kevin Brothers (kevin_brothers@nps.gov). (K. Brothers)
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Expect delays: North Side Drive between El Capitan Woodlot to Pohono Bridge
Hazardous fuel reduction is taking place on Northside Drive from El Capitan Woodlot to Pohono Bridge. This work is being conducted in preparation of prescribed fire and provide a safer place for fire fighters to work if a wildfire burns up the Merced River Canyon. The 2018 Ferguson Fire reached Cascades Falls and crossed both Wawona and Glacier Point Roads in a single run. Roads are our primary location to stop wildfires and implement prescribed fire. Personnel will be removing small trees and dead and down material. Wood will be transported to Ackerson Meadow where it will be mixed with fill as part of a massive gully restoration project will the aim of restoring one of the largest mid-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada. Mixing the wood with the soil sequesters the carbon and increases the water holding capacity of the soil creating a wetter, more productive meadow.

Please watch for workers and drive slowly through the work zone. Traffic holds are 15 minutes while workers remove woody material. Delays may be expected Mon-Fri, 06:00-16:00. Thank you for your support and understanding. (G. Dickman)
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Caltrans Announces Improvement Project on State Route 140: Cathey’s Valley to Mariposa
On Monday, April 29, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin a maintenance project to improve State Route 140 (SR-140) between Cathey’s Valley and the town of Mariposa. Work will include pavement preservation with hot-mix asphalt, and removal and installation of guardrails, culverts, dikes, shoulder backing, signage, and corner curb ramps at seven intersections. Crews will work night shifts for approximately 170 working days, Sunday through Thursday, with alternating lane closures on eastbound and westbound SR-140. Project completion is expected in December 2024. The contractor’s work schedule is subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment and materials, and construction-related issues. Please drive carefully and watch for laborers and equipment in roadways. (J. Donovan)
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Wawona Hotel Roof Replacement Project
The Wawona re-roofing project is underway and the Contractor, Southwest Property Management, continues to work at the hotel phasing demolition and reroofing in sections progressively. Without unforeseen discoveries, the completion should occur in the fall of this year. Contact Steve Dunakoskie, YOSE SPPM Project Manager, for more information. (S. Dunakoskie)
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Dispatch Expansion Project
The Dispatch Expansion project is converting most of the El Portal Warehouse lobby into additional office space for the Emergency Communications (Dispatch) Center. The lobby stairs are no longer walled off, but the stairwell and adjacent entrance will periodically need to be temporarily closed as work dictates. When the stairs and entryway are blocked off, Warehouse occupants and visitors will need to use alternate means of ingress/egress. Do not enter through the RMS building unless you work there. To access the Dispatch office area, follow the signs in through the Trails area door just inside the fence/gate. Contact Alyssa Sharp, YOSE Project Manager, for more information. (M. Vantzelfden)

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Yosemite – Daily Report – Yosemite National Park Friday, July 26, 2024