Yosemite – Daily Report – Yosemite National Park Friday, July 5, 2024

Yosemite – Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Friday, July 5, 2024

Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Sunny. Highs 72 to 88. East winds up to 10 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon.
Tonight: Clear. Haze in the evening. Lows 50 to 66. North winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the northeast after midnight.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs 74 to 90. East winds up to 10 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon.

NEW & HAPPENING TODAY

French Fire Highway 140 Closure
Highway 140 is closed in the Mariposa area, outside of Yosemite, due to the French Fire. All other roads to Yosemite are open; expect long delays at entrance stations. The fire is not threatening Yosemite National Park. If you are in the Yosemite area, please be prepared for power outages. Please find more information about the French Fire here: https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents/2024/7/4/french-fire (J. Trust)
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Traffic Delays on Big Oak Flat Rd for Vegetation Managment 07/08- 07/09
There will be vegetation management on Big Oak Flat Rd starting at the Foresta and Big Oak Flat intersection to Crane Flat on 7/08 – 7/09. 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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Valley Mall Tree Removal Project
Valley Forestry will be working in the Valley Mall area removing trees for a construction project starting the week of 7/8 and lasting 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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Acreage Remains Unchanged on Sheering Fire
Aviation Resources on Scene Since July 2

Acreage: 370
Percent Containment: 0%
Total Personnel: 60
Inciweb Entry: Castf 2024 Sheering Fire Information | InciWeb (wildfire.gov)
Incident Images: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBxnar

SONORA, California, July 4, 2024— Fire crews on the Stanislaus National Forest saw no growth on the Sheering Fire over the last 24 hours, holding at 370 acres.

“The fire is primarily flanking into Lost Creek,” explained Incident Commander, Shaun Craig. “There’s small short-lived uphill runs occurring from roll out into the drainages.”

Single and group tree torching has been observed in areas outside of dense snag patches where the canopy is still intact due to decadent shrub growth. Numerous snags in the area have fallen and drastically increased the fuel loading though it does not have much impact on the rate of spread.

In addition to ground resources on scene, air resources have been assigned to the Sheering Fire since July 2 – since then, the Stanislaus National Forest Helitak crew has dropped more than 17,000 gallons of water on the fire. Helitak Superintendent Patrick Keener explained that before being assigned the Sheering fire his resources were assigned to other, higher priority incidents.

“That was when we had that unusual lighting event on June 24 – our crews were extinguishing fires in the Clavey River Drainage as well as assigned to two fires down in Mariposa County,” Keener explained.

“Fire burning in the Clavey River drainage is a recipe for disaster,” said Craig, noting the Clavey River drainage was where the 2013 Rim Fire started. “So the decision was made at the time to prioritize air resources on those incidents.”

For more information please contact Forest Public Affairs Officer, Benjamin Cossel at Benjamin.cossel@usda.gov or 209.288.6261. (B. Cossel)

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RECENT NEWS

Yosemite Hospitality – Heat Related Changes
As we enter an excessive heat warning in the Valley, we want to make sure that all of the Yosemite Community has a safe space to hang out and cool off. Beginning on July 3rd and going through the end of the forecasted heat wave (July 9) the following two areas will be open during all normal business hours as spaces for the community to rest and get out of the heat: The Poolside Room at Curry Village Pavilion, 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM and The Carabiner (at Degnan’s) 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM. Please be respectful of fellow team members as you are utilizing these spaces.

Due to excessive heat and for the safety of all guests, the Valley Floor Tour will move to a covered coach bus. The 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM tours on 7/3 are cancelled, returning to normal full tour schedule 7/4 through 7/9, hopefully returning back to the open-air Green Dragon Trams 7/10.

Due to excessive heat and for the safety of guests, mules, horses and guides, the noon and 3:30 PM stables rides will be cancelled Friday, Saturday and Sunday. (C.Layman)
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Kudos to Wawona YC Team
Sending a shout out to Jenn, Silvia and the entire Wawona YC team for bringing free pop-up art classes to the Wawona lawn on Friday evenings. This was a dream brought to reality with a little bit of guidance and trust to “make it happen”. Jenn, Silvia and the team collaborated with the community to offer a fun and free experience for all visitors and park employees. If you’re looking to participate or curious about what projects are up next, stop by the Wawona Visitor Center and ask a YC team member!
(K.Bouchard)
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Yosemite Forum
Yosemite Forum–Design By Fire: Resistance, Co-creation, and Retreat in the Pyrocene-Monday July 8th, 10-11am

Please join the next hybrid Yosemite Forum, to be held in-person in the Exploration Center Auditorium Monday, July 8th 10:00-11:00am. Note the switch in date and time. This month’s talk, Design by Fire: Resistance, Co-Creation and Retreat in the Pyrocene, will be given by Dr. Brett Milligan from UC Davis.

This presentation provides an overview of a recent book publication titled Design by Fire: Resistance, Co-Creation and Retreat in the Pyrocene. Drawing upon fieldwork, mapping, drone imagery, and interviews, this publication curates 27 global design case studies of innovative and emerging techniques of land-fire stewardship. This talk will focus specifically on Yosemite National Park as one of the case studies featured in the book.

To watch the presentation virtually, follow the link at 10am on Monday:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MzVmMzEyODItNzIwOC00N2UzLTgzZWMtMDg2ZDI1ODQzMzkx%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%220693b5ba-4b18-4d7b-9341-f32f400a5494%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22d4a59213-f3e6-4d4b-b7d8-d2dfbaa8581f%22%7d
(G.Dickman)

Host a Mandela Fellow in August
The NPS Office of International Affairs is looking to place a volunteer from Zimbabwe through the month of August. The volunteer experience for the Zimbabwean fellow could involve community outreach, volunteer and youth programs. Other areas of interest would be to learn about a park’s work in environmental education, work with partners, and interpretation programs. The host park would need to provide housing for the fellow and a mentor. She will not have transportation and cannot rent a car. Please see Sharepoint – Host a Mandela Fellow for more information. (S. Martinez)
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Traffic Delays, Big Oak Flat Road
There will be vegetation management on Big Oak Flat Rd starting at the Foresta and Big Oak Flat intersection to Crane Flat on 7/01 – 7/03. Flaggers will hold traffic for 5-10 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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Barry Hance Award Ceremony, Tuesday July 8th
Please join us for the annual Barry Hance Award Ceremony on Tuesday, July 9th at the Valley Auditorium.

Schedule of events –
All-employee photo in front of the Exploration Center – 2:00pm
Barry Hance Award Presentation in the Valley Auditorium – 2:30pm
Late lunch in the auditorium courtyard – 3:00pm

As always, we encourage you to please bring your mess kits if you are able.

Please click on the link below for a brief visual description of what this award is all about.

https://youtu.be/dSzr8q3J0TE
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Mather District Meeting with Yosemite Leadership Team, July 10th
Please join us for the Mather District Meeting hosted by the Yosemite Leadership Team on Wednesday July 10th, from 2-4pm behind the Tuolumne Ranger Station. Any and all are welcome to attend any of the district meetings, which will be shaped around district-specific projects, issues, concerns, and successes. We hope these will be conversational in nature with good dialogue and as such, they will not have a virtual component.

Please coordinate attendance with your supervisor. For those who can’t attend or are working remotely, we will follow up with summary notes.There will also be an optional social half-hour beginning at 1:30pm – snacks and drinks provided. If there is a specific topic you would like to see discussed at this meeting, please email yose_superintendent@nps.gov with the details and we will do our best to fit it into the agenda.
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Yosemite Valley and El Portal Elementary Schools are Hiring
Yosemite Valley and El Portal Elementary Schools are hiring after school program expanded learning Coordinators beginning in August for the 2024-2025 school year. Please contact Principal Jim Freeman at jfreeman@mcusd.org or call 916-303-0921 if you have any questions. Housing may be available. These jobs will be open until filled. (J. Freeman)

Yosemite Valley School expanded learning coordinator
https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/1957322

Yosemite Valley School expanded learning instructional aide
https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/1957326

El Portal expanded learning coordinator
https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/1948475

El Portal expanded learning instructional aide
https://www.edjoin.org/Home/JobPosting/1781784
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Home For Rent: Mariposa
For Rent: Furnished 1 bed, private 1 bath in a single-family home in Mariposa town. Queen bed, Washer+ dryer, off-street parking, storage. Utilities (water, internet, PG&E) included. Must be comfortable living with a cat. $700 rent month-to-month. Available July 1. Chris (213)255-1264 (C. Truong)
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Kudos
We want to give Chris Lewis of Mather B&G Kudos! He handled a very busy Saturday with a smile on his face. He was very professional and kind to visitors, and even helped with an ongoing water issue in one of our campgrounds. Thanks for all you do Chris!
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Yosemite Fire Season Reminders
Yosemite National Park has declared the start of fire season on June 7, 2024, due to hotter and drier weather conditions. Fire season is officially enacted when fire danger rating indices for the park are moderate for three consecutive days. Multiple fires to the south have been contributing smoke to the Yosemite area this week. Take steps now to prepare for fire season and wildfire smoke. Preparation is key to reducing smoke exposures and health risks. Individuals and communities should plan ahead, know their potential risk, know how to make a clean air room, and know where to get information before and during a wildfire smoke event.  

AirNow’s Be Smoke Ready and Wildfire Factsheets contain resources to prepare for wildfire smoke.
The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map provides real-time smoke data from monitors across the country that you can use to help protect your health from wildfire smoke.
The National Park Service’s Live Weather & Air Quality Data page provides data for locations in Yosemite National Park.
Learn to use these resources before a wildfire smoke event and Be Smoke Ready! (K. Martin)

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ONGOING PROJECTS

Roadside Brushing on the Big Oak Flat Road
Road crews will be removing roadside brush on the Big Oak Flat Road from Crane Flat to the park boundary, expect up to 15-minute traffic delays for this critical work, use caution when driving in the work zone for workers and equipment, thank you. (B. Brantley)
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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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Bus Stop Construction and Impacts to Yosemite Valley Shuttle Service
Happy Isles Loop remains impassible to transit buses, due to road construction. All bus stops located east of the Curry Village registration access driveway are closed. Until further notice, all valley shuttle buses are operating on the Valley-wide Route (Green) schedule, with eastbound service terminating at Curry Village registration. (J. Donovan)
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Historic Preservation Crew – Post Office
The Yosemite Historic Preservation Crew will be performing stabilization work on the Yosemite Valley Post Office beginning May 6. 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 through June 20th. 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)