Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Monday, June 25th, 2018
Today: Sunny. Areas of smoke. Highs 78 to 88 at 5000 feet… 71 to 81 at 8000 feet.
Tonight: Clear. Areas of smoke. Lows 57 to 67 at 5000 feet… 48 to 56 at 8000 feet.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Areas of smoke. Highs 81 to 91 at 5000 feet… 74 to 84 at 8000 feet.
Additional Point Forecast Weather Links:
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NEW AND HAPPENING TODAY
Forest Service Press Release: Lions Fire Reaches the Inyo National Forest
Clovis, CA. June 24, 2018 – The Lions Fire started on the Sierra National Forest around June 1st as a lightning strike, and is burning near the Lion Point area in the Ansel Adams Wilderness. It crossed onto the Inyo National Forest on June 22 and is now being co-managed by both the Sierra and the Inyo National Forests. Due to strong winds the evening of June 24 of 20-30 mph, the fire spread to the south and west and is now about 1000 acres, 7 miles southwest of Mammoth Lakes.The fire is burning at 6000-8000’ elevation in red fir with some growth to the southeast. Large areas of standing dead and down timber are within and surrounding the burning area. There is no present threat to structures or public safety.
The fire will be managed for multiple resource and protection objectives including suppression, air quality, firefighter safety and hazardous vegetation reduction. Because the fire is burning in designated wilderness, fire officials will be using MIST (Minimum Impact Suppression Tactics), such as using natural barriers for containment lines and minimizing mechanical disturbance with chainsaws or aircraft.
To maximize daylight work time, crews are camping near the fire and consist of four Type I hotshot crews and a Wildland Fire Module.
The communities near the fire can expect smoke impacts in varying degrees for the next two- three weeks. Air quality and smoke forecasts will be available as the incident progresses.
For more information, see Lions Fire https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/news/5850/ or 760-582-5203.
Independence Day Fire Safety
Independence Day is just around the corner and Yosemite Fire and Aviation wants to remind our residents and visitors to be extra careful with fire by following a few guidelines:
- NO FIREWORKS are permitted within Yosemite National Park
- Always make sure your campfire is dead out before leaving
- Follow all posted signs and restrictions
- Celebrate Independence Day safely and joyfully
For fire information contact: yose_fire_info@nps.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter @YosemiteFire (S. Saunders)
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Merced River Plan Restoration Implementation
Wetland restoration at the Art Activity Center begins June 26th and will continue through the end of July. This project returns 0.8 acres of what was the former Art Activity Center into a seasonal wetland. Crew will be shaping the wetland area, planting native plants, and replacing the construction fencing with split rail fencing.
Riverbank restoration at Sentinel Meadow Boardwalk begins June 25th and will continue through mid-July. Workers will add fences to protect unstable riverbanks, protect vegetation and define a viewing area of Yosemite Falls. Crew will also plant native plants over 900 square feet of trampled vegetation. Portions of the boardwalk will be intermittently closed for repair and for visitor safety during fence construction. (G. Dickman)
High Elevation Forest Monitoring: Watch New Video
The Sierra Nevada Network Inventory & Monitoring Program has a new video available highlighting our high elevation forest monitoring project, that can be viewed at https://youtu.be/q3DA9oxsusQ. Enjoy traveling to a foxtail pine stand in Sequoia National Park, learning about these iconic trees, and seeing how our field crew monitors these subalpine forests. In Yosemite, enjoy the beauty of whitebark pine after a mid-September 2017 snowstorm and the raucous calls of Clark’s Nutcrackers as they forage on the seeds of these pines.
For more information about the Sierra Nevada Network Inventory & Monitoring Program, a National Park Service program monitoring natural resources in Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks and Devils Postpile National Monument, visit this web page: https://science.nature.nps.gov/IM/units/sien/index.cfm (L. Mutch)