Daily Report - Yosemite National Park

Posted June 23, 2009 - 5:59am by Yosemite Blog

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Weather
Yosemite: TODAY...SUNNY. HIGHS 81 TO 91 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...61 TO 71 IN
THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.TONIGHT...CLEAR. LOWS 41 TO 51 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...33 TO 43 IN THE HIGH
COUNTRY.
.WEDNESDAY...SUNNY IN THE MORNING...THEN MOSTLY SUNNY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE
OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF
PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT. HIGHS 82 TO 92 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...62 TO 72 IN
THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT. LOWS 44 TO 54
IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...33 TO 43 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.THURSDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT. HIGHS
78 TO 88 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...56 TO 66 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.

El Portal: Today: Sunny, with a high near 93. East northeast wind 7 to 10
mph becoming southwest.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 47. West wind 6 to 13 mph becoming north
northeast.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 94. Northeast wind 6 to 11 mph becoming
west southwest.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 54. North northwest wind between
7 and 11 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest between
6 and 9 mph.

New Today
Campground opening - Wawona Campground has re-opened for the 2009 season
(the paving project is complete). (M. Carter - 6/23/09)
*************************************************
Traffic control/possible short delays in Wawona - On Wednesday, June 24th
– NPS Contractors will be performing sewerline video inspection in Wawona
on Hwy 41 and Chilnualna Falls road. This may create short intermittent
traffic delays between 0730 and 1030. (K. Bablitch - 6/23/09)
*************************************************
Bear Facts
June 14 - 20, 2009

All Areas | # of | Damage
Weekly Total | Incidents |
----------------+---------------+------------
Parking Lots | 0 | $0
----------------+---------------+------------
Campgrounds | 4 | $128
----------------+---------------+------------
Other Areas | 11 | $171
----------------+---------------+------------
Backcountry | 0 | $0
----------------+---------------+------------
Total | 15 | $299
----------------+---------------+------------
All Areas | # of | Damage
Yearly Total | Incidents |
----------------+---------------+------------
Parking Lots | 16 | $2,910
----------------+---------------+------------
Campgrounds | 59 | $2,714
----------------+---------------+------------
Other Areas | 78 | $4,537
----------------+---------------+------------
Backcountry | 2 | $80
----------------+---------------+------------
Total | 155 | $10,241

*Additionally there have been 15 bear incidents where a bear obtained trash
that was left out or from trash cans or dumpsters that were not secure.

Year to Date Comparisons for the Week of June 14th – June 20th

| 1998 | 2009 | Percent | 2008 | 2009 | Percent
| | | Change | | | Change
------------+-----------+-----------+--------------+-----------+-----------+--------------
Incidents | 382 | 155 | -59.42% | 109 | 155 | +42.20%
------------+-----------+-----------+--------------+-----------+-----------+--------------
Damage | $178,735 | $10,241 | -94.27% | $23,734 | $10,241 | -56.85%

There have already been 8 bears hit by vehicles this year. Please obey
speed limits and pay attention while driving!

BEAR ACTIVITY SUMMARY

Bears are very active in Yosemite Valley. Curry Village has had the most
bear activity this week with 9 incidents. Bears have been in Upper, Lower,
and North Pines nightly, often before dark. If you are camping in Yosemite,
please treat your bear locker like you would your refrigerator at home.
Open it to get what you need, then close and latch it immediately. Stay
close to any food that is out.

Bears have also been seen this week around the park at Crane Flat, White
Wolf, and Tuolumne Meadows.

INTERESTING BEAR FACT
Black bears can run up to 30 miles per hour, are great swimmers, and are
very comfortable in trees. (T. Seher - 6/23/09)
*************************************************
Yosemite News Release
June 22, 2009
For Immediate Release
Media Contacts:
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
Yosemite National Park Ranger Saves Lives of Two Park Visitors
On May 26, 2009, Yosemite National Park Ranger Dan Abbe was flagged down by
park visitors on his way to work in Yosemite Valley. Abbe was traveling on
the Wawona Road and entered the pullout about 2.5 miles south of the Wawona
Tunnel. He was informed that there was a vehicle over the side of the road
and it was on fire.

The visitors told Ranger Abbe that there were people in the vehicle. He
walked to the vehicle, about 30' below the road surface and saw a full
sized pickup truck resting on its side with an upright travel trailer
behind it. Abbe also noticed that there was a fire in the engine
compartment of the truck as he attempted to extricate the two park visitors
from the truck. After trying to open the doors, he was able to help the
visitors exit the truck and he escorted them downhill and away from the
truck and trailer.

The visitors told Ranger Abbe that the truck was filled with 70 gallons of
gasoline, they had an extra 50 gallon gas container, and the trailer had
two full propane tanks. He then took the visitors through thick brush
further away from the vehicle and back up to the roadway. At this point, he
noticed the passenger compartment was filling with smoke and he heard
crackling noises. Within minutes, the truck and trailer were fully engulfed
in flames and a fire, about 1/4 of an acre, had started.

The fire was suppressed and Ranger Abbe and the park visitors were
transported to the Yosemite Medical Clinic. They were all treated for smoke
inhalation and released. The truck and trailer were a total loss.

The park visitors credit Ranger Dan Abbe with saving their lives and are
coming back to the park in the near future to present him with a plaque to
show their appreciation. -NPS- Editors Note: Photos of accident scene
available upon request (K. Cobb - 6/23/09)
*************************************************
The General Services Administration will be conducting an internet auction
of Yosemite personal property consisting of one lot of tires and one lot of
tire chains and cross links. For further information regarding the sale
items or to register to bid, visit the website gsaauctions.gov. The sale is
number 91QSCI09173 #801-802. The auction opens on 06/22/2009, and closes
on 06/29/2009. These items are located in the yard adjacent to the
warehouse in El Portal for inspection, and are marked with yellow item
number cards. 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. (D.
Ramsey - 6/23/09)
*************************************************
SAVE THE DATE for EPMF!
-- Saturday, August 8th, 6 pm to 12 midnight, Clark Community Hall --

EPCA brings you the El Portal Music Festival, featuring two sets of Radio
Devi, (check them out at www.myspace.com/radiodevi or
http://virtunes.bandcamp.com/album/radio-devi). These amazing musicians
from the SF Bay will be supported by our local favorites the Adam Burns
band, and two live DJ sets! The entrance fee is $15, and 100% of all
profits will be used toward improving our Community Hall. As usual, YEA
will provide their famous beverage service and delicious food will be for
sale.

If you are interested in participating as a food vendor or volunteer, or if
you have any other general questions regarding EPMF, please email our board
at: elportalcommunityhall@gmail.com (T. Newburger - 6/23/09)

Happening Today/This Week (Check the Community News section for other
events)
Submitting a Yosemite Fund proposal? Attend this workshop to learn how to
write an effective proposal!
What: Yosemite Fund Proposal-Writing Tutorial
When: Tuesday, June 23rd at 10 am
Where: El Portal Large Breakroom
Why: Learn about what projects typically appeal to the Fund, how to write
an effective proposal, how to avoid common pitfalls, what the Fund's
Project Review Committee is looking for, and more!

Every branch that is planning on submitting proposals should plan on having
at least one employee sttend. Contact me with any questions. (J.
Treutelaar - 6/18/09)
*************************************************
Come say good-bye to Bernadette - The one and only Bernadette Barthelenghi
of Project Management is leaving Yosemite for the wilds of Wyoming! Please
join us on June 23, 2009, at 3:30 p.m. on the deck of Project Management in
El Portal, for a farewell social in Bernadette's honor. (S. Henderson -
6/18/09)
*************************************************
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 24, 2009 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm 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
Meet project managers to discuss the Yosemite Institute Environmental
Education Campus Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) now open
for Public Review - Park staff will be available at both the Henness
Ridge and Crane Flat sites to answer questions between 1:00 and 4:00
pm, as well as at the Open House in the Valley

Visitors attending the Open House will have the entrance fee waived. If
unable to attend, refer to the Yosemite National Park web site for a
schedule of future Open House dates.
*************************************************
Please be advised that the Contracting Office will be closed to visitors on
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 for administrative contracting operations. In
the event of an emergency, please contact Pat Lendvay Humphrey at 379-1007
or Lorene Schafer at 379-1873. (L. Sheetz/P. Lendvay Humphrey - 6/22/09)
*************************************************
Glacier Point Road Rehabilitation Project to Begin in Yosemite National
Park
Yosemite National Park will be reconstructing part of the Glacier Point
Road beginning this Monday, June 22, 2009. Work will consist of the
rehabilitation, restoration, and resurfacing of the road, including
repaving and drainage improvements to include 5.1 miles of the road from
the Chinquapin intersection to Badger Pass Ski area. Additionally, there
will be work on the Wawona Road (Hwy. 41) near the Chinquapin intersection.

This work will result in thirty-minute delays for park visitors. The
traffic delays will occur weekdays (Monday through Friday) with one lane
traffic control. Work will occur during daylight hours and night work will
begin on August 1. Traffic will be stopped by flaggers and vehicles will
be released every thirty minutes. Weekend construction will allow for two
lanes of unrestricted travel for park visitors.

Restroom facilities at the Chinquapin intersection will be closed.
Visitors are asked to use restrooms in Wawona, Yosemite Valley, and Glacier
Point.

The project will have a winter shutdown date as to not affect the operation
of the Badger Pass Ski Resort. The project is slated to be completed on
May 27, 2010. -NPS- (K. Cobb - 6/18/09)
*************************************************
Structure Fire Training - June 15 through 26, 2009
Yosemite national Park is hosting a Structure Fire Training Academy.
Twenty-four firefighters, law enforcement rangers, trails crews and
utilities personnel from Yosemite and Death Valley National parks, and the
Lake Mead national Recreation Area are participating in this important
training. The National Structural Fire Instructor Cadre for this
comprehensive program are Jeff Panetta, Dave Van Inwagen and Tony Bacon.
Adjunct instructors are by Yosemite fire personnel Dan Coffman, Arron Woods
and Bernard Spielman.

The components of this training include classroom and extensive
manipulative instruction. The emphasis is firefighter safety in structural
fires, building construction, structural fire behavior and live fire
exercises in flammable gasses, flash-over and vehicular fires.
The training is being conducted in the Wawona Community Area. The live fire
exercises will be Tuesday, June 23, and Wednesday June 24.

For additional information:
Yosemite Fire Office: (209) 372-0504
Yosemite Fire Information and Education Office: (209) 372-0489
Yosemite Fire Management Website: www.nps.gov/yose/fire (G. Wuchner -
6/18/09)
*************************************************
Spanish Night! : A very special Spanish Night will be happening on
Saturday, June 27 at 5 pm. Santiago’s parents have graciously offered to
host and cook a traditional Chilean dinner for all attendees. *NOTE* It is
customary to bring a small alcoholic drink to the host. “Tengo hambre”
just thinking about it! The usual Spanish charades will be conducted over
dinner (ALL IN SPANISH… of course). If interested, please RSVP to
spanish4yo@gmail.com by June 23. A $10 dollar donation is being asked to
simply cover the cost of the feast. (M. Escobar - 6/22/09)

Park News
Our public open house this week (Wed. June 24th, 1-4 pm) includes the
opportunity to drop-in and tour the proposed Environmental Education Campus
project site(s): Crane Flat and Henness Ridge, on your way to or from the
Valley Visitor Center Open House.

Yosemite News Release
May 8, 2009
For Immediate Release
Yosemite National Park Announces the availability of the Yosemite Institute
Environmental Education Campus Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for Public Review

The Yosemite Institute (YI), a National Park Service (NPS) non-profit park
partner, has provided environmental education programs in Yosemite since
1971 at its Crane Flat campus. Most of the campus structures and utilities
are over 60 years old, energy inefficient, and difficult to retrofit to
achieve modern standards for health, safety, and accessibility. The campus
can accommodate only a fraction of the students in the program; the
remainder must be based elsewhere in the park, in commercial lodging. To
address these issues, YI and the NPS are considering options to provide
better facilities by redeveloping the existing campus, or constructing a
new campus at Henness Ridge, and restoring Crane Flat to natural
conditions.

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement presents the environmental
analysis of three alternatives the agency is considering, for public
review, according to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 1969, as
amended): Alternative 1—No-Action; Alternative 2—redevelop Crane Flat
campus; and Alternative 3—construct a new campus at Henness Ridge, and
restore Crane Flat. Potential impacts to park resources are presented and
analyzed under each alternative. Public comments are welcomed and will be
considered in preparation of a Final EIS, anticipated for this fall.

The public comment period for the YI Environmental Education Campus DEIS is
open now through July 15, 2009. The plan is available on the park's website
at http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/eecampus.htm Public meetings will be
held on May 28, 2009 at the Mariposa County Government Chambers from 4-7pm,
and at Fort Mason, Golden Gate NRA on June 17, 2009 from 4-8 pm. Public
Open Houses will be held at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium,
with drop-in site visits at Crane Flat and Henness Ridge, on May 27 and
June 24, 2009, from 1-4 p.m. (call 209/379-1365 for details/directions).
Additional copies of the plan will be available, and park staff will be on
hand to discuss the plan and answer questions.

Written scoping comments should be postmarked no later than July 15, 2009.
Comments may be submitted at public meetings, by mail, fax, e-mail, and via
the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) database. Submit
written comments, or request a CD or hard copy of the DEIS, to the
following:

Mail: Superintendent, Yosemite National Park
Attn: YI EEC DEIS
PO Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
Fax: 209/379-1294 Phone: 209/379-1365
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
The following property was reported missing during this year's property
inventory. Please check your work and storage areas and notify Karen
Kolbeck in Property Management (379-1028) if you find any of these items.
Thank you.
Property #
(or license) Item
NP8000094386 Dell laptop
NP8000093296 Nikon camera
NP8000049638 HP printer
NP8000094366 Kodak camera
NP8000092362 Dell laptop
NP8000097881 Nikon camera
NP8000093629 Nikon camera
NP2000011773 Dell monitor
NP8000092604 HP printer
NP8000093146 Nikon camera
I-271754 Ford Th!nk cart
NP8000093470 HP printer
NP8000092671 Dell computer
NP8000093409 Dell monitor
NP2000011757 Dell monitor
NP8000091617 HP printer (K. Kolbeck - 6/17/09)

(H. Whitman - 6/16/09)

Community News
Free art classes at the Yosemite Art & Education Center
Enjoy expert instruction by a professional artist in the spectacular
scenery of Yosemite Valley! Our volunteer artist this week is Don Fay,
teaching Watercolor for Landscape.

The Art Center, located just south of the Village Store, is open for its
25th season. We are open 9:30am to 4:00pm Wednesday through Saturday only,
offering free classes from 10am to 2pm. Bring your own supplies or buy
them at the Center. Sign up in advance by stopping by the Center, or call
372-1442. Space is limited! Kids 12 and under are welcome when
accompanied by an adult. Kid’s Kraft Classes are offered Sundays from 11am
to noon.

For additional information and the complete schedule of classes for 2009,
go to: http://www.yosemite.org/116/Art-Education-Center.htm
or, give us a call at 372-1442. Happy painting! (M. Seiler - 6/22/09)
*************************************************
Sales Information Assistant position available with the Yosemite
Association.
This seasonal position is part-time, 32 hours a week, selling educational
materials and providing information to Park visitors at the Big Oak Flat
Information Station and Valley Visitors Center. Candidates should have at
least one year of related experience, a high school diploma, excellent
customer service skills and the ability to work independently. Strong
computer skills are essential. Knowledge of and interest in Yosemite
National Park is preferred.

The pay range for this position is $9 to $13 per hour, dependent upon
experience. For a full job description and more information, contact Todd
King at 209-379-2646, x21.

To apply, download and print a YA employment application at
http://www.yosemite.org/DSN/wwwyosemiteassociationorg/Content/YA%20Appli...
. Mail your completed application, cover letter and resume to:
Yosemite Association
Attn: Todd King
PO Box 230
El Portal, CA 95318 (M. Seiler - 6/22/09)
*************************************************
News Release from: Yosemite Chamber of Commerce
The Yosemite Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its new location –
at the Mountain Sage – is in full operation. Associated with the Chamber
office is a Visitor Information Center with complete materials from
Yosemite NP, Stanislaus NF, Hetch Hetchy materials as well as local
materials from Tuolumne County and Highway 120.

We look forward to seeing you at our Grand Opening – June 25th at our
regular mixer. Featured will be a triple ribbon cutting ceremony with
County Supervisor John Gray, Honorary Groveland Mayor Kay Glaves, and
Chamber president Carole Wilson. This grand celebration will include live
music.
# # #
Regards, Bob Asquith (B. Asquith - 6/19/09)

Acting Designation
David Thorpe will out of the office June 15, through June 26, 2009. Dan
Clingenpeel will be acting Branch Chief for Telecommunications June 15,
through June 20 he can be reached at 379-1260. Nancy Bissmeyer will be
acting Branch Chief June 21, through June 26, 2009 she can be reached at
379-1188. (P. Dutrey - 6/15/09)

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