Yosemite National Park
Tuesday, July 28, 2020
Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Sunny. Highs 82 to 90 at 5000 feet…71 to 79 at 8000 feet.
Tonight: Clear. Lows 57 to 67 at 5000 feet…48 to 57 at 8000 feet.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs 84 to 92 at 5000 feet…71 to 81 at 8000 feet.
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
Blasting In Yosemite Backcountry Today
Trail Crew is planning to blast a rock slide on the trail just north of Tuolumne Peak, near the South Fork of Cathedral Creek. Operations will be conducted Tuesday, July 28 and Wednesday, July 29. Intermittent closures are expected throughout both days. Call 742-8811 or email Greg_Torres@nps.gov for more information. (G. Torres)
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Free Covid-19 Testing In Yosemite Valley Every Wednesday
Free Covid-19 testing is available by reservation at the Emergency Services Complex (by the Valley fuel pumps) every Wednesday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Appointment required. Walk-through and drive-through available. Must be at least 18 years old. To make an reservation please go to: http://projectbaseline.com/covid (J. Hoeflich/J. Marschall)
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RECENT NEWS
Volunteer Appreciation Wednesday
Yosemite is grateful to all Volunteers for all they do! The Volunteer In Parks Office is holding a Volunteer appreciation event. Please remember the date of July 29! There will be ice cream for volunteers, supervisors, co-workers, and everyone who knows and loves volunteers.
Volunteers and friends, pass by the Valley softball field and grab a cold treat from Noon -2 pm. All ice cream will be served to-go.
Supervisors, please share this announcement with your volunteers! (J. Gonzales)
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Allies for Inclusion and the BIPOC Employee Resource Group present: Being an Ally for Diversity
Concerned about the current social climate? Want to be an ally for diversity and anti-racism? You are invited to join colleagues to connect and discuss these issues on Wednesday, August 5. Sponsored by Allies for Inclusion and the BIPOC Employee Resource Group. All Park Partners are encouraged to join! RSVP at yoscommunity.com/EventSU
Email yose_rdi@gmail.com For more information on how to get involved with Employee Resource Groups. (J. Gonzales)
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Deer Fawns & Protective Does
Mule deer fawns are typically born mid-June through July in Yosemite. Fawns are born relatively scentless and are brown with white spots. These characteristics provide camouflage which allow fawns to conceal themselves from predators: this is their primary form of defense. When approached by a human their natural response is to lay still and silent. Does often do not remain close tor their fawns in order to prevent drawing attention to them, however, they do keep watch over their fawns from a distance throughout the day, returning to nurse. Please do not touch or disturb fawns! Leaving them alone and leaving the area will help ensure the mother has the best opportunity to care for her young.
If you are a dog owner – you need to be particularly aware this time of year. Not only can an off-leash dog injure or kill young wildlife, but mother deer are particularly defensive against perceived predators. Recently people walking their dogs have been chased by a deer protecting its fawn near the school field. If you see a deer while walking your dog the best thing to do is to change your route to avoid the deer and keep as much distance as possible between you and the deer. (C. Lee-Roney)
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Yosemite Bear Facts—July 12 to July 25, 2020
2020 Total Bear Incidents: 7
2020 Total Property Damage: $ 1,360
Compared to 2019 (the lowest year on record for number of bear incidents), bear incidents this year are down by 41.7% and property damage is up by 36.7%.
Compared to 1998 (when incidents in the park peaked), bear incidents this year are down by 98.2%, and property damage is down by 99.2%.
Bear Activity Summary: Bears have been active across the park in recent weeks. Though the majority of Yosemite’s bear incidents have occurred in Wilderness areas this year, much of the recent bear activity and sightings have been concentrated in Yosemite Valley where the ripe berries have drawn bears down to a plentiful food source. Other recent hot spots include Tuolumne Meadows and Snow Creek. At Snow Creek, a bear approached a campsite and destroying a tent and sleeping bag while people were present. Another bear is testing food storage containers to see if they are latched properly by knocking them over in the night. A bear obtained food this way at Sunrise Creek as well. This week bear got food along the John Muir Trail from a backpack that people abandoned when they saw the bear approach. This bear was also reportedly fed by people on the trail. Because of these people’s actions, this bear could alter its natural behaviors to avoid people become a threat to human safety. Please NEVER approach or feed any wildlife in the park, keep your food and backpacks with you when you see a bear, and yell loudly to scare it away.
Red Bear, Dead Bear: Please help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways.
Documented bears hit by vehicles in 2020 — 3 (all in July)
Documented bears killed by vehicles in 2020 — 1
Fascinating Bear Facts: Bears spend the majority of their lives solitary, with the exception of courting individuals and mothers with their young. Black bear cubs spend about a year and a half with their mother before being sent off on their own. One year old bears (yearlings) are often mistaken for cubs that have lost their mother, when in fact they are on their own already.
For more information visit KeepBearsWild.org
Please report bear incidents and sightings: Call the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322 or e-mail yose_bear_mgmt@nps.gov. (C. Lee-Roney)
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Bootjack Rental
One bedroom trailer for rent in Bootjack. One person only. No smoking. $480 plus $450 security deposit. Email nassar@sti.net for application and photos. (A. Nassar)
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CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC DELAYS
Tioga Road Hazard Tree Removal
Mather Forestry will be working along Tioga Road between May Lake Road and Tioga Pass. Work will begin July 28 and will take place Monday through Thursday, 8am to 4pm, until further notice. Expect traffic delays. (J. Brown)
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PG&E Planned Outage July 30
PG&E will be replacing power poles on Thursday July 30. This will require power outages for the following areas:
El Portal Maintenance Complex to Rancheria Housing: 0800-0900 & 1500-1600
El Portal East of Rancheria, including all Old El Portal: 0800-1600
Chinquapin Area/Badger Pass: 0800-1600
For more information contact Heather Gonzales, PG&E Outage Coordinator, at 726-5588. (K. Bablitch)
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Tioga Road Work
Mather Roads will be working on the Tioga Pass Road from Yosemite Creek working to the west Monday-Thursday. Use caution and look out for employees and equipment on the road. Expect traffic delays. (B. Brantley)
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Goat Meadow Road Biomass Removal
Contractors are removing dead and down trees on Goat Meadow Road from the Grizzly Giant parking lot to the park/forest boundary. Extended delays should be expected Mondays through Fridays. Sierra National Forest is also removing biomass on Goat Meadow Road. Consider alternate travel than Goat Meadow Road. This project removes high fuel loading on the road corridor, reduces potential smoke impacts, and helps offset carbon loss by burning biomass for electricity instead of burning coal or other carbon. It helps protects the communities of Wawona, Fish Camp, and the Mariposa Grove as part of an inter-agency collaboration with Mariposa County RCD and the Sierra National Forest. For more information email garrett_dickman@nps.gov. (G. Dickman)
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Valley Forestry On Glacier Point Road
Valley Forestry is removing hazard trees along the Glacier Point Road. Work will continue throughout the summer. Please anticipate traffic delays. (B. See)
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Bridalveil Falls
The Bridalveil Fall parking lot and trails are closed to visitation to allow for ongoing rehabilitation work. NPS crews are currently constructing a new accessible trail and making other trail and site repairs. Contractor work consisting of utility upgrades and parking lot and bus platform improvements will begin later this summer and will continue through May 2021. (P. Johnson)
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PG&E Construction at Cascades Substation
Continuing through October, PG&E and their contractor will be constructing a spill prevention wall around the electrical transformers at Cascades Substation (about 3.25 miles from Arch Rock). In the event of a transformer failure, the wall will prevent oil from spilling into the Merced River. Expect traffic control measures and periodic traffic delays at the substation to be in effect as the contractor is mobilizing and staging materials. (M. Outhier)
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Single Lane Travel & One-Way Traffic Controls On State Route 120 During Spring & Summer 2020
Caltrans will conduct one-way traffic control on eastbound and westbound State Route 120 between Groveland and Yosemite National Park for paving operations. Work is scheduled between 6:00 AM and 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, and is expected to finish in the Fall of 2020. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays and plan travel time accordingly. Work is subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment and/or materials, and/or construction-related issues. Please drive carefully and watch for warning signs, workers and equipment in the roadway. (J. Donovan)