Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Weather
Yosemite: TODAY...SUNNY. AREAS OF SMOKE. HIGHS 80 TO 90 IN YOSEMITE
VALLEY... 62 TO 72 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. AREAS OF SMOKE. LOWS 42 TO 52 IN YOSEMITE
VALLEY...33 TO 43 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.WEDNESDAY...SUNNY. AREAS OF SMOKE. HIGHS 81 TO 91 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...58
TO 68 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 43 TO 53 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY... 33 TO
43 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.THURSDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS 82 TO 92 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...60 TO 70 IN THE
HIGH COUNTRY.
El Portal: Today: Areas of smoke. Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Light
wind becoming west southwest between 10 and 13 mph.
Tonight: Areas of smoke. Mostly clear, with a low around 51. Light wind
becoming east northeast between 10 and 13 mph.
Wednesday: Areas of smoke. Sunny, with a high near 92. Northeast wind 5 to
13 mph becoming west southwest.
Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Light wind becoming
east northeast between 10 and 13 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming west southwest
between 10 and 13 mph.
Happening Today/This Week (Check the Community News section for other
events)
Reconstruct El Portal Road at the “narrows”
There will be construction activity causing delays at night which will
be coordinated with the Valley Loop Road project.
Guardwall staining is scheduled to begin on June 23rd and may cause
afternoon delays.
Final paving is delayed until electrical repairs are completed.
The contractor will be staining the new guardwall on the El Portal Road
beginning Tuesday night (6/24). The final coat of staining results in the
aged look and needs to be applied in daylight. This will occur on
Wednesday and Thursday between noon and 4:00 PM. During these afternoons
traffic will be reduced to one lane and will be controlled by flaggers. (G.
Rothell - 6/23/08)
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TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT: Aviation for Supervisors and Managers (M3)
Tuesday June 24th - Admin Lobby
Lead by Shad Sitz - Park Aviation Officer - detailer from WASO
Required training for all division chiefs and superintendents and/or
actings to attend this training if your division uses aviation asets to
accomplish park missions. This training will be held on June 24th in the
Admin Lobby from 0900 - 1400. Please contact Kelly Martin at 372-0325 or
Shad Sitz at 372-0415 if you have any questions about the training. You
can register for this training at:
https://www.iat.gov/Training/Course_List.asp
Select M3
Select show classes - and register for the training being held at Yosemite
(K. Martin - 6/20/08)
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Wildland Firefighter Refresher Training - To date this season, the Fire
management Office has hosted 7 Wildland Firefighter Refresher Sessions. I
have been told that there still may be a few Red Carded Firefighters out
there that have not been able to attend. If this is the case, please let
me know if you or somebody who works for you, need this training. We are
trying to decide whether or not to host another session as fire season is
already upon us. Please let me know by 6/24. (D. Mills - 6/20/08)
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Yosemite Campground Opening Update!
Crane Flat, White Wolf, Tuolumne Meadows, and Yosemite Creek Campgrounds
are scheduled to open for the season on Friday, June 20, 2008.
Tamarack Flat Campground will open for the season on Tuesday, June 24,
2008.
Porcupine Flat Campground will open for the season on July 3, 2008.
Bridalveil Creek Campground will tentatively open for the season on July 3,
2008. (M. Carter - 6/18/08)
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Contracting Office Closure - Please be advised that the Contracting and
Procurement office will be closed for internal administrative operations
every Wednesday beginning 25 June through the end of the fiscal year. If
you experience an unexpected, urgent situation, please contact Dan Sohn at
379-1173. (L. Schafer - 6/20/08)
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Yosemite National Park Childcare is hosting a bbq fundraiser on Wednesday,
June 25 between 11:30 am to 1:30 pm In front of Indian Museum. Hamburger,
cheeseburger, veggieburger or hot dog with salad, chips and lemonade for
$7.00 or add a soda for $1.00 (C. Brochini - 6/24/08)
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The next Croaking Toad will be this Thursday, June 26 at 8 am in the Large
Break Room in the NPS Administrative and Maintenance Facility in El Portal.
Lisa Acree will be discussing "The Invasive Plant Management Plan: Road to
a Weed Free Yosemite."
The public review period is now open for input on the Invasive Plant Plan
for Yosemite National Park. Lisa will guide the audience through the
development of the plan, explain differences between the alternatives, and
discuss what adoption of the plan will mean for Yosemite.
All park community staff members are invited. (N. Nicholas - 6/24/08)
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The Chowchilla Mountain Road is closed from the Wawona Golf Course to the
Yosemite NP boundary due to the wild fires in Mariposa County. (M. Dowdle -
6/24/08)
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Ferguson Rockslide notice (Highway 140): June 24, 2008 - Expect a 6 hour
delay (road closure) between 11:00 pm and 5:00 am.
New Today
Fires near Yosemite National Park
As of 0600 Tuesday, June 24, 2008 several significant fires continue to
burn outside Yosemite National Park due to the weekend's lightning strikes.
The Oliver Complex, burning on the Sierra National Forest, is currently at
over 1300 acres with about 5% containment. This complex, which includes 14
fires, has threatened homes in some areas.
FOR EVACUATION INFORMATION: Please call the Mariposa County Sheriff's
Office Hotline at 209/966-1133.
For fire information, please contact the Sierra National Firest at
559/877-2218.
The North Mountain fire is burning in the Stanislaus National Forest
between Cherry Creek and the Tuolumne River. It is currently approximately
600 acres. It's progress has been impeded by the low fuel loads resulting
from 2004's Early Fire, and has not yet reached the park boundary.
This fire was transitioned yesterday to management by a Type 2 team.
Information can be found by calling 209/532-6371.
Remember, we are experiencing severe fire weather that will likely continue
through the coming months. While the number of residences affected by these
fires is still small this is a good opportunity for all of us to think
about our personal fire safety. For more information, please visit
www.firesafecouncil.org/homeowner/index.cfm (A. Freeman - 6/24/08)
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Air quality alert - Smoke from the surrounding region will be causing
unhealthy air quality due throughout the air districts (Mariposa, Tuolumne,
and Madera) that include Yosemite National Park: Text from the air quality
alert issued by National Weather Service, Hanford office follows:
AIR QUALITY ALERT MESSAGE
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA
209 AM PDT TUE JUN 24 2008
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY, KERN COUNTY, MARIPOSA COUNTY, AND TUOLUMNE COUNTY AIR
POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICTS HAVE ISSUED AN AIR QUALITY ALERT DUE TO SMOKE
IMPACTS FROM FIRES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA.
WINDS ARE TRANSPORTING SMOKE FROM FIRES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA INTO THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY...PROMPTING LOCAL AIR POLLUTION OFFICIALS TO ISSUE A HEALTH
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT.
SMOKE MAY AFFECT
TUOLUMNE...MERCED...MARIPOSA...MADERA...FRESNO..KINGS...TULARE AND KERN
COUNTIES...AIR DISTRICT FORECASTERS SAID.
LOCALIZED AIR QUALITY COULD FLUCTUATE DEPENDING ON SMOKE IMPACTS.
EXPOSURE TO PARTICLE POLLUTION CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH
PROBLEMS...AGGRAVATE LUNG DISEASE...CAUSE ASTHMA ATTACKS AND ACUTE
BRONCHITIS...AND INCREASE RISK OF RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS.
RESIDENTS ARE ADVISED TO USE CAUTION AS CONDITIONS WARRANT. PEOPLE WITH
HEART OR LUNG DISEASES SHOULD FOLLOW THEIR DOCTORS ADVICE FOR DEALING WITH
EPISODES OF UNHEALTHY AIR QUALITY.
ADDITIONALLY...OLDER ADULTS AND CHILDREN SHOULD AVOID PROLONGED
EXPOSURE...STRENUOUS ACTIVITIES OR HEAVY EXERTION...AS CONDITIONS DICTATE.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...CALL YOUR LOCAL AIR DISTRICT
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR DISTRICT OFFICE...FRESNO 559.230.6000. ..
BAKERSFIELD 661.326.6900.
KERN COUNTY AIR DISTRICT OFFICE...661.862.5250
MARIPOSA COUNTY AIR DISTRICT OFFICE...209.966.2220 (L.Tarnay - 6/24/08)
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New Website Empowers National Park Visitors To Address Global Warming -
www.doyourpartparks.org/yose
You can help Yosemite reach its carbon footprint goal! The National Park
Service in cooperation with the National Park Conservation Association have
developed a new website, www.doyourpartparks.org, which empowers national
park visitors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help national parks
become leaders in combating global warming. It’s simple. Go to the website
and pick a park to create a personal profile that will be linked to your
carbon footprint and the park of your choice—Yosemite is one of 15 parks
currently participating in the project. Calculate your carbon footprint by
entering basic information about your household’s energy usage and pledge
to reduce your carbon footprint. Explore the website and learn more about
climate change and other information about what you can do to help. Join an
on-line community of people committing to reduce their carbon footprint. By
focusing your efforts with your pledge to Yosemite you will be able to see
how every effort you take adds up. Our collective effort will help protect
Yosemite’s glaciers, plants, wildlife and air. Sign up today!
Did you know? If only 5% of national park users substituted 10% of their
current electricity use with greener sources of power, they would save 11
billion lbs. of CO2 per year! (P. Meierding - 6/24/08)
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Bridalveil Creek Campground Road Resurfacing - Construction for this
project is scheduled to start on Thursday, 06/26/08 and will be completed
Saturday, 06/28/08. The campground is currently closed to visitors and
construction completion will happen in advance of the scheduled opening
date of July 3. The contractor will be staging within the campground and
material supply trucks will be hauling on both Friday and Saturday from
Oakhurst to the campground. For additional information contact Lou
Summerfield at 379-1089. (L. Summerfield - 06/24/08)
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The General Services Administration is conducting an internet auction of
Yosemite personal property.
The auction is now open and closes at 10:45 am on 06/26/2008. The sale is
number 91QSCI08151331. The item is a 1990 Tascam reel to reel recorder. It
is at the El Portal warehouse for inspection. Park employees are allowed
to participate in the sale, with the exception of any employee with unfair
(nonpublic) detailed knowledge or prior use of an item offered for sale.
Such employees are prohibited from bidding on that item, and the
prohibition includes their immediate family as well. Employees must view
the items and bid on their own time. For further information regarding the
sale items or to register to bid, visit the website gsaauctions.gov. (D.
Ramsey - 6/24/08)
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Driving Cost Calculator - How much do you really spend driving to work each
year?
This is really cool...the MUNI's driving cost calculator that allows a
person to figure how much they spend each year driving to work, the savings
of taking the bus, and the reduction of the individual carbon footprint.
http://webapps1.muni.org/peoplemover/drivingcost.cfm (H. Whitman - 6/24/08)
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64th Anniversary of the Port Chicago Explosion
Saturday, July 19, 2008, 10:00 a.m. to noon
During World War II, on July 17, 1944, 320 military and civilian men gave
their lives in service to America when the munitions ships they were
loading mysteriously exploded. Today, we reflect on the memories of loss,
struggle, and lessons evoked by the 1944 explosion. Mr. Spencer Sikes Jr.,
a son of one of the survivors, will be the keynote speaker. Participants
will board a shuttle bus to attend the program held within the Military
Ocean Terminal Concord and which includes a visit to the Port Chicago Naval
Magazine National Memorial.
To attend this free event, please RSVP with your name, phone number, the
number of people in your party, and any special needs to:
(925) 228-3396 x 23 or poch_interpretation@nps.gov (E. Tucker - 6/24/08)
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Mountain Sage Music Series PRESENTS: BLUE TURTLE SEDUCTION
JUNE 28th - 5pm - gates 4:00
$12 advance/$15 door - $6 children 6-14 years
Blue Turtle Seduction is one of the grooviest bands we know and are sure to
get you up and dancing. They are one of the most requested repeats of last
summers music series. Described as a combination of rock, bluegrass, funk
and jazz, Blue Turtle just received high acclaim at High Sierra Music
Festival. Paired with Tistrya Hamilton, an outstanding singer-songwriter,
this will certainly be a performance you won’t want to miss. Dinner will
be available by Blue Oak Aryuveda as well as beer and wine will be served
as a local fundraiser. Bring a lawn chair and a blanket and relax under
our new shade canopy.
Again, thanks to our co-sponsers GAINS, StayNearYosemite.com and Sunset Inn
Cabins at Yosemite!
Tickets are available now at 962-4686, info at www.mtnsage.com. (Mtn. Sage
- 6/24/08)
Park News
Yosemite National Park Invites Public To Open House
The National Park Service welcomes those interested to attend an Open House
in Yosemite Valley on
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm in the Yosemite Valley
Visitor Center Auditorium.
The public is invited to the Open House to:
Talk to park staff and listen to presentations given throughout the
day
Review newly released documents and reports
Submit comments on proposed projects and ongoing implementation
efforts
Planning efforts and projects that will be represented at this Open House
are:
Invasive Plant Management Plan
The public comment period for the Invasive Plant Management Plan
Environmental Assessment
runs from Friday, June 13, 2008 through Sunday, July 13, 2008.
High-Elevation Aquatic Resources Management Plan
The public scoping comment period for this plan runs from June 23
through July 25, 2008.
Parkwide Vegetation Map
Find out about the parkwide vegetation map and how park managers are
utilizing it.
Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan
Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan
Environmental Education Campus
Construction and Project Updates (P. Meierding - 6/18/08)
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Announcing scoping period for the Yosemite National Park High-Elevation
Aquatic Resources Management Plan
Yosemite National Park is preparing a High-Elevation Aquatic Resources
Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (EA) to guide management
actions by the National Park Service to protect Yosemite’s diverse
high-elevation aquatic ecosystems and to restore natural composition,
structure and function to systems that have been disturbed by past or
ongoing human activities.
The plan will include the lakes, ponds, wet meadows and streams located in
the high country above Yosemite Valley and the diverse plants and animals
that inhabit these environments. The EA will consider:
Removal of non-native fish from selected areas of the park to restore
natural biodiversity in critical basins. Chemical removal of non-native
fish is not currently being considered in this plan.
High-quality recreational fishing opportunities would continue to be
available in diverse habitats throughout the park.
Restoration of Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs, Yosemite toads, and
other species to suitable locations within their historic range that are
strategically important to survival of these species.
The development of Best Management Practices for recreational and
administrative activities within high-elevation aquatic ecosystems to
ensure that park resources and values remain unimpaired. This includes:
preventative measures to avoid the introduction or spread of
non-native species or pathogens that may threaten native species or
their habitats.
evaluation of human use within aquatic environments in order to
ensure that human use does not result in loss of ecological function
(e.g., campsites, pack stock use, trails).
The National Park Service is requesting public input on the scope of the
Aquatic Plan EA from June 23, 2008 through July 25, 2008. Two public
meetings are currently scheduled. An Open House will take place on June 25,
2008 in the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium from 1:00-5:00 pm and
a public meeting will be held on July 12, 2008 at Parson’s Lodge in
Tuolumne Meadows from 1:00-4:00pm.
Written scoping comments should be postmarked no later than July 25, 2008.
A draft document is expected to be available for public review in summer
2009. To request a hard copy or CD ROM version of the EA and to submit
written comments, contact the National Park Service in person or by any of
the means listed below:
Mail: Superintendent
Attn: High-Elevation Aquatic Resources Management Plan
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Phone: 209/379-1365; Fax: 209/379-1294
E-mail: Yose_Planning@nps.gov
PEPC: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/
Visit online: www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/aquatic.htm (T. Tucker - 6/11/08)
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June 4, 2008
For Immediate Release
Yosemite National Park Announces the Public Comment Period for the Invasive
Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment
Invasive plants are one of the greatest threats to the integrity of
National Park Service lands. Non-native plants invade an estimated 4,600
acres of federal land in the United States every day, and already infest
millions of acres in the national parks. Fortunately, Yosemite National
Park is at the early stages of invasion. Unfortunately, 177 non-native
plant taxa have already established within Park borders, many with the
potential to spread rapidly.
The purpose of this Invasive Plant Management Plan Environmental Assessment
for Yosemite National Park is to evaluate a range of alternatives to
prevent the establishment and spread of invasive plants into uninfested
areas of the park, and quickly and effectively eradicate new infestations.
The public comment period for the Invasive Plant Management Plan
Environmental Assessment will open on Friday, June 13, 2008 and will run
through Sunday, July 13, 2008. The plan is available on the park's website
at http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/invasive.htm. A public meeting will
take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. during
the monthly Open House in the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium.
Additionally, park representatives will be available at the El Portal
Planning Advisory Meeting on Tuesday, July 8, 2008 at 7pm in the Clark
Community Hall.
Written review comments should be postmarked no later than July 13, 2008.
Comments can be submitted at public meetings, by mail, fax, email, and
through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) commenting
system. To request a hard copy or CD ROM version of the EA and to submit
written comments:
Mail: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Attn: Invasive Plant Management Plan
PO Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Fax: 209/379-1294
Email: YOSE_planning@nps.gov
PEPC: http://parkplanning.nps.gov
For more information on park planning efforts, visit the website at
www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt.htm. (-NPS-)
Announcements
DOI Training Requirements DUE DATE JUNE 30, 2008
Federal Information Systems Security Awareness course (FISSA) on DOILearn
NPS's "Responsibilities For Computer use" (RCU)
All employees are required to complete the Federal Information Systems
Security Awareness course (FISSA) on DOILearn every year by June 30.
Anyone who has not completed this course since June 30, 2007 must do so by
June 30, 2008 or they may be subject to having their access to the NPS LAN
disabled.
Since the entire NPS is attempting to complete the FISSA by June 30 we
typically see extremely poor performance before mid afternoon when most of
those east of us are still using it. Try DOILearn midafternoon for best
results.
Starting in 2008 there is also a second requirement, previously only
required for new Employees, of annually reading and agreeing to the
standards set forth in NPS's "Responsibilities For Computer use" (RCU).
There is a copy of the RCU (current version is 2007-1) on DOILearn that
everyone is automatically registered for just as they are for FISSA. If
you have not read and signed the Acknowledgement Form for RCU Version
2007-1 since it was released in January 2008 you must do so prior to June
30 2008. (the former version was 2003-3)
The DOILearn version of the RCU lacks some necessary programmatic
components and has frequently been exceedingly frustrating. It is usually
much faster to simply read the paper version available from the Park's IT
Help Desk or on InsideNPS at
http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=572&id=4710. Simply sign
the Acknowledgement Form available on the same page of InsideNPS and submit
a copy to your Supervisor and the IT Help Desk.
Please contact Dan Sohn or the IT Help desk if you have any questions.
Thanks (L. Harris - 6/19/08)
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Updated air quality site and haze from regional fires:
The Yosenet "website" (
http://www.yose.nps.gov/yosenet/AirQuality/default.htm) has been updated
with information on haze from the regional fires currently impacting
Yosemite air quality.
Note also that direct links to current air quality measurements of ozone
and fine particles in the Yosemite Valley, at Turtleback Dome, and other
less permanent sites are also linked from this page in the right-hand
column. I'll continue to post descriptions and, to the extent possible,
explanations of the major events that impact the Park's air quality as they
occur throughout the rest of the year on this page. As always, basic
information and background on air quality is linked in the tables at the
bottom of the page. (L. Tarnay - 6/18/08)
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The following Yosemite National Park employees have been approved for
participation in the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program:
Shari Baudoux
Kevin Bowman
Kimberly Cunningham-Summerfield
Linda Kelly
If you are interested in contributing annual leave to any of the above
individuals, please do so by completing a Request to donate Annual Leave to
Leave Recipient (Within Agency) Under the Leave Transfer Program, Optional
Form 630-A (OF 639-A).
Please forward your OF 630-A to:
Human Resources Office
Yosemite National Park
P.O. Box 700
El Portal, CA 95318
or fax to (209) 379-1800
Click HERE for more Information on the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program.
(H. Whitman - 6/9/08)
HR Corner
No announcements currently open for Yosemite.
Community News
6th STREET CINEMA is a non-profit theater located in downtown Mariposa,
atop the historic Masonic Lodge on 6th Street. We are the presentation arm
of the Rural Media Arts and Education Project, a 501(c)(3) corporation,
and are supported by the California Arts Council, the National Endowment
for the Arts, SierraTel, the James Irvine Foundation, Mariposa County, and
the Geoff and Josie Fox Family Foundation, a Donor Advised fund of the
Silicon Valley Community Foundation. We are also generously supported by
Iron Mountain Systems and Stonecutter.com. The views expressed by the
films, in print materials, or by discussion facilitators are not
necessarily those of these funders.
Monthly membership is $12, allowing film entry for $3 each; non-members pay
$7 per film, and non-member students pay $5. Recorded Information: (209)
966-1333. Staff: 209 742-6666. http://www.sixthstreetcinema.org. E-mail us:
sixthstreetcinema@sti.net
UPCOMING EVENTS (at 7:30 unless otherwise noted):
"Blade Runner," (Director's Cut) June 27-28
July: musical month! (T. Arfsten - 6/18/08)
Acting Designation
Bernadette Barthelenghi will be Acting Branch Chief of Design for Project
Management June 26,27, and July 1st. You may phone Bernadette at 379-1025
or you may leave a message with Tricia Radmacher at 379-1221. Mark
Husbands will be Acting Branch Chief of Design for Project Management June
23,24,25, and 30th. You may phone Mark at 379-1364 or you may leave a
message with Tricia Radmacher at 379-1221. (D.Harrison - 6/20/08)
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Jim Allen will be Acting Utilities Branch Chief starting June 16th through
June 27th. He can be reached at 379-1039 or leave a message with Katie
Bablitch at 379-1055. (K. Bablitch - 6/13/08)
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Rodney Raines is now acting Wawona Utilities supervisor until further
notice. He can be reached at 375-9510 or leave a message with Shawnessy.
(K. Bablitch - 5/28/08)
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