Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Weather
AIR QUALITY ALERT MESSAGE
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT RELAYED BY NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CA
1002 AM PDT WED JUN 25 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...MARIPOSA...MERCED...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 OFFICES...FRESNO 559.230.6000.
..BAKERSFIELD 661.326.6900. ..MODESTO 209.557.6400
KERN COUNTY AIR DISTRICT OFFICE...661.862.5250
MARIPOSA COUNTY AIR DISTRICT OFFICE...209.966.2220
TUOLUMNE COUNTY AIR DISTRICT OFFICE...209.533.5693
Yosemite: TODAY...SUNNY IN THE MORNING...THEN PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20
PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE CREST IN THE
AFTERNOON. AREAS OF SMOKE THROUGH THE DAY. SNOW LEVEL ABOVE 8000 FEET.
HIGHS 80 TO 90 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...62 TO 72 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR...EXCEPT PARTLY CLOUDY NEAR THE CREST IN THE
EVENING WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. AREAS OF
SMOKE THROUGH THE NIGHT. SNOW LEVEL ABOVE 8000 FEET. LOWS 45 TO 55 IN
YOSEMITE VALLEY...34 TO 44 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.FRIDAY...SUNNY IN THE MORNING...THEN PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE CREST IN THE AFTERNOON. AREAS
OF SMOKE THROUGH THE DAY. SNOW LEVEL ABOVE 8000 FEET. HIGHS 84 TO 94 IN
YOSEMITE VALLEY...63 TO 73 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.FRIDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR...EXCEPT PARTLY CLOUDY NEAR THE CREST IN THE
EVENING WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. AREAS OF
SMOKE THROUGH THE NIGHT. SNOW LEVEL ABOVE 8000 FEET. LOWS 46 TO 56 IN
YOSEMITE VALLEY...35 TO 45 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
.SATURDAY...SUNNY IN THE MORNING...THEN PARTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT
CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS NEAR THE CREST IN THE AFTERNOON. AREAS
OF SMOKE THROUGH THE DAY. SNOW LEVEL ABOVE 8000
FEET. HIGHS 84 TO 94 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...63 TO 73 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
El Portal: Today: Areas of smoke. Sunny, with a high near 93. Calm wind
becoming west between 8 and 11 mph.
Tonight: Areas of smoke. Mostly clear, with a low around 58. Calm wind
becoming east northeast between 7 and 10 mph.
Friday: Areas of smoke. Sunny, with a high near 94. Calm wind becoming west
between 7 and 10 mph.
Friday Night: Areas of smoke. Mostly clear, with a low around 59. West
northwest wind at 10 mph becoming east northeast.
Saturday: Areas of smoke. Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. Calm wind
becoming southwest between 8 and 11 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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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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Mary Vocelka, a long-time employee of Yosemite National Park, passed away
on June 1st. A memorial service will be held in Yosemite on Saturday, June
28th from 12:30 pm - 2pm at the Yosemite Chapel. (L. Eade - 6/25/08)
New Today
Smoke Air Quality Alert - The air quality alert due to unhealthy levels of
pollution from wildfire smoke remains in effect for today and is forecast
to persist through the weekend. Unhealthy air quality means that people
with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid
prolonged or heavy exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy
exertion. (L. Tarnay - 6/26/08)
*************************************************
Fires near Yosemite National Park
The North Mountain Fire on the Stanislaus National Firest is at 1,128 acres
and is 25% contained.
The Silver Complex on the Sierra National Forest (formerly known as the
Oliver Complex) is comprised of several fires:
The Westfall is 105 acres 100% contained; Silverknob is 480 acres, 60%
contained; Chiquito is 52 acres at 60%; Star Fire is 180 acres at 0%
containment.
The Oliver Fire (formerly part of the Oliver Complex but now managed alone)
is approximately 2,000 acres and is 20% contained.
For those of you interested in a state-wide perspective:
About 200,000 acres have burned from all the fires in CA. Most of these
fires are from the lightning burst over the weekend that affected so much
of the state. This number isn't exact but it is a very good estimate.
If you have a good internet connection, the following link really shows the
amount of fire (and smoke) that the state is experiencing
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/index.php?subset=AERONET_Fres...
(Thanks to Deb Schweizer in SEKI for that tidbit and for doing the math!)
(A. Freeman - 6/26/08)
*************************************************
Information from: http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/#
Fire Information Report for Silver Complex
Wildland Fire Incident
Report Date: 26-JUN-08
Burnt Area:|818 Acres
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Location:|Madera Dnd Mariposa County, CA (FISH CAMP TO THE
|MERCED RIVER)
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Cause:|Lightning
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Incident Team Type:|IMT Type 1
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Team Leader:|TOM CABLE, NIMO TEAM
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Containment Status:|50% contained
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Expected|Unknown
Containment:|
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Fuels:|Mixed timber, heavy brush, 0.00 241
Fire Information Report for Oliver
Wildland Fire Incident
Report Date: 26-JUN-08
Burnt Area:|2,000 Acres (43% increase from yesterday)
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Location:|Mariposa County, CA (NORTH OF PONDEROSA BASIN)
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Cause:|Lightning
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Incident Team Type:|IMT Type D
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Team Leader:|BILL HODSON ICT #6
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Containment Status:|20% contained
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Expected|Unknown
Containment:|
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Fuels:|Mixed timber, heavy brush, pot holes of heavy fue
|0.00 2275PRIM
Fire Information Report for North Mountain
Wildland Fire Incident
Report Date: 26-JUN-08
Burnt Area:|1,210 Acres (100% increase from yesterday)
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Location:|Tuolumne County, CA (North Mountain 7mi NE of
|Groveland)
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Cause:|Lightning
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Incident Team Type:|IMT Type 2
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Team Leader:|Ron Woychak
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Containment Status:|25% contained
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Expected|Unknown
Containment:|
-------------------+-----------------------------------------------------
Fuels:|Heavy Brush and Timber Extreme 450000.00 637PRIM
*************************************************
Arrow Glass will be here Wednesday, July 9 at 8:00 am to repair/replace any
vehicle windshield/glass needs.
Please park your vehicle in front of the machine shop facing the parking
lot with the doors unlocked and the keys in the vehicle.
Because of lack of parking spaces please do not park the vehicles in any
other area.
If you need to be added to the list between now and then please call me at
the Machine Shop (379-1150) or Sharon at Arrow Glass (533-3700) so supplies
for your vehicle can be obtained. (W. Tilley - 6/26/08)
*************************************************
Detail/Temporary Promotion or Critical Need Hire Opportunity: Legal
Instruments Examiner, GS-06
An opportunity exists in the Division of Visitor Protection, Law
Enforcement Office for a detail/temporary promotion (if qualified) up to
120 days or if currently a non-status applicant (critical need hire not to
exceed 30 days with a 30 day extension possible).
The incumbent will provide primary support services to the Prosecutor/legal
officer of the Law Enforcement Office (LEO) and as such, will work with
legal and technical documents which support the criminal processes for
Yosemite cases.
Duties will include:
Examining legal documents for accuracy, facial errors and sufficiency of
probably cause, documents may include criminal complaints, criminal
citations, criminal reports, interrogatory responses, affidavits, etc.
Completing required electronic and/or direct filing. May recommend
appropriate disposition action;
Preparing Discovery for prosecution of cases in accordance with Federal
Criminal Procedure and Rules. Preparing reports on the status and final
disposition of all appearance violations, misdemeanor, and felony court
cases processed. Recording case adjudication information, continuances,
pleadings and submit final fingerprint cards to CA Department of
Justice/FBI records.
Preparing a variety of legal documents, verifying legal case citations,
references and providing legal technician services to the Prosecutor;
Coordinating the recording and transmittal of legal documents with support
staff, various Federal Courts, Solicitors, and U.S. Attorney offices
engaged in Yosemite case litigation;
Preparing correspondence for the YNP Legal office to other legal offices
and courts;
Maintaining central files for all warrants, records of probation, and
service requests including subpoenas and proof of service documents, and
returns completed proof-of-service forms to the issuing jurisdiction;
Maintaining a statistical data gathering and retrieval system.
Interested candidates should submit their resume and SF-50 (if currently a
YOSE employee) to Irma Keheley in Human Resources, by close of business
July 2. For additional information regarding this position contact:
Charles Cuvelier or Jodi Gover at 372-0245. (I. Keheley - 6/26/08)
*************************************************
The wilderness branch is missing a dell laptop, property number 92378.
Please check your old laptops and call Mark Fincher at 372-0219 if you have
it. Thanks for your help. (M. Fincher - 6/26/08)
*************************************************
El Portal Community Dance: June 28th at the El Portal Community Hall. EPCA
and El Portalive present the first dance of the summer with APHRODESIA, an
amazing 10-piece afrobeat and african highlife band from San Francisco.
Local drum and bass heros the Hometown Zeros will open and DJ John
Rodriguez will close the show. Music starts at 6:30, admission is $15.
Food and drinks will be available for purchase. Local chefs will be making
panini sandwiches for sale starting at 6pm. Yea will be providing its
famous beverage service starting at 6pm. A limited number of free passes
are available for volunteers helping with setup, cleanup, and during the
event. For more information or to inquire about volunteering email
elportallive@gmail.com. Sign up for shuttle van service from Yosemite
through DNC Employee Recreation. (T. Newburger - 6/26/08)
Construction News
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)
Announcements
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)
*************************************************
July YARTS Vouchers - I am on leave next week and will return on July 7th.
Wendy Malone will have the vouchers during my absence. If anyone wants to
sign up for vouchers for August, I will need the completed and signed
applications by COB July 7. Per Department of Transportation rules,
vouchers are only for government employees - no interns, volunteers, or
contractors. (S. Grin - 6/24/08)
*************************************************
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)
*************************************************
The Yosemite Research Library will only be open Tuesdays and Thursdays
until July 10th. (L. Eade - 6/25/08)
*************************************************
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)
*************************************************
Drop in program: Come join the Habitat Protectors of Yosemite (HaPY)
program! Program runs Fridays from May2- October 31st. Work with park
staff to remove invasive plants and learn basic ecological principles. All
volunteers are required to wear pants and closed-toe shoes. Long sleeves,
sunscreen, water, and snacks are recommended. Meet in front of Yosemite
Valley Visitor Center at 9am. Bring a lunch and join us! (M. DeBree -
5/1/08)
*************************************************
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
Yosemite National Park -- Current Vacancy Announcements
UPDATED: June 24, 2008
The following is a summary of current vacancy announcements at Yosemite
National Park. Most vacancy announcements will be posted on
http://www.usajobs.gov. This website is the Office of Personnel
Management's USAJOBS internet site. If you have any questions or cannot
find the announcement on USAJOBS, please call the Park’s Human Resources
Office at (209) 379-1805.
PERMANENT – GOVERNMENTWIDE ALL CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES
Maintenance Worker/Maintenance Mechanic
Vacancy Ann.#: |YP 174261DR
---------------+-------------
Who May Apply: |Status
|Candidates
---------------+-------------
Pay Plan: |WG-4749-07/09
---------------+-------------
Appointment |Permanent
Term: |
---------------+-------------
Job Status: |Full-Time
Opening Date: |06/24/08
---------------+-------------
Closing Date: |7/14/2008
TERM -- STATUS NOT REQUIRED -- OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Civil Engineer
Vacancy Ann.#: |YP-185664
|(DS)
---------------+-----------
Who May Apply: |Public
---------------+-----------
Pay Plan: |GS-0810-12
---------------+-----------
Appointment |Term
Term: |
---------------+-----------
Job Status: |Full-Time
---------------+-----------
Opening Date: |6/24/2008
Closing Date: |7/8/2008
(I. Keheley - 6/25/08)
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 sponsors.
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
This week's film: (Please note: due to unforeseen theatrical rights
regulations, we will not be able to screen the Director's Cut of "Blade
Runner" this weekend. as announced. No one is more disappointed than we
are. However, we are pleased to announce as replacement "Red Rocks West,"
a film from the director of "You Kill Me" and "The Last Seduction." )
Friday-Saturday, June 27-28, 7:30 p.m.: RED ROCKS WEST. (98 min. Rated R)
This hard to categorize film was initially released directly to video,
because the studio did not know how it would be received. It was
subsequently booked into the Roxie Theater in San Francisco, and
immediately
broke the theater's house attendance record...and it has become legendary
ever since. Drifter Michael (Nicolas Cage) comes to town and is mistaken by
Wayne (J.T. Walsh) to be the hit man (Dennis Hopper) he has hired to kill
his unfaithful wife. Mike collects the money, and then decides to tell the
wife, who makes him a counter offer. Matters soon get worse when he runs
into the real hit man. Director John Dahl blends western, black comedy, and
film noir in this notable film.
Upcoming Films: July is Musical Month!
NO FILM July 4-5 (Happy Independence Day)
Bride and Prejudice, July 11-12 (A Bollywood adaptation)
Across the Universe, July 18-19 (Redux...due to popular demand)
Sweeney Todd, July 25-26 (Barberian?) (T. Arfsten - 6/25/08)
*************************************************
Mountain Sage Yoga
Saturday, June 28th In the Stage Area $10 per person 8 to 9:30 AM
Get your day started off right with a flow led by Jon-Paul Salonen of Blue
Oak Ayurveda. JP weaves flows that are strengthening and relaxing, that
foster balance and focus. Come savor the delicious morning air with
conscious breathing! (Mtn. Sage - 6/25/08)
*************************************************
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)
Acting Designation
Shawn Zumbrunnen is acting Back Country Utilities Supervisor on June 26.
Shawn can be reached at 379-1250 or leave a message with Vera Newitt @
379-1055. (B. Benitag - 6/25/08)
*************************************************
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
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)
*************************************************
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)
*************************************************
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)
