Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Weather
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
413 AM PDT WED APR 2 2008
...RAINY SEASON NOT OVER JUST YET..
AFTER A VERY DRY PERIOD OF WEATHER FOR MOST LOCATIONS IN THE CENTRAL
CALIFORNIA INTERIOR...A TASTE OF WET WEATHER WILL OCCUR LATER TODAY AND
TONIGHT AS A PACIFIC STORM MOVES INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
ALTHOUGH THIS SYSTEM WON'T BE TOO STRONG...LOWER ELEVATION RAIN AND
MOUNTAIN SNOW IS LIKELY AT MOST LOCATIONS.
RAINFALL AMOUNTS IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY ARE EXPECTED TO AVERAGE IN THE
0.10 TO 0.25 INCH RANGE WHILE AREAS SOUTH OF BAKERSFIELD MAY RECEIVE A
LITTLE MORE. IN THE SIERRA NEVADA AND HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE KERN COUNTY
MOUNTAINS...SNOWFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES ARE LIKELY ABOVE 6500 FEET.
ISOLATED HIGHER AMOUNTS ARE POSSIBLE FROM SEQUOIA PARK SOUTH. IN THE KERN
COUNTY DESERTS...RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 0.10 TO 0.20 INCHES ARE ALSO POSSIBLE
BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION ENDS AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BEGIN BUILDING BACK IN OVER THE REGION THURSDAY WITH A
RETURN TO DRY AND WARMING WEATHER INTO THE WEEKEND.
Yosemite: TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING...THEN SNOW LIKELY AND CHANCE
OF RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 70 PERCENT. SNOW
ACCUMULATION UP TO 3 INCHES. SNOW LEVEL 5500 FEET. HIGHS 43 TO 53 IN
YOSEMITE VALLEY...27 TO 37 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW AND RAIN IN THE
EVENING. SNOW LEVEL 5500 FEET. LOWS 24 TO 34 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...14 TO 22
IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
THURSDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. NOT AS COOL. HIGHS 54 TO 64 IN YOSEMITE
VALLEY...38 TO 46 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
THURSDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 26 TO 36 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY... 14 TO 24
IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
FRIDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS 56 TO 66 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...41 TO 49 IN THE HIGH
COUNTRY.
El Portal: Today: A 50 percent chance of rain after noon. Partly sunny
through mid morning, then becoming , with a high near 61. Calm wind
becoming southwest between 7 and 10 mph.
Tonight: A 40 percent chance of rain before midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a
low around 35. South southwest wind between 5 and 8 mph becoming calm.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 69. Calm wind becoming west northwest
between 6 and 9 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. North northwest wind
between 5 and 8 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 70. East northeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming
west southwest.
Happening Today/This Week (Check the Community News section for other
events)
The Hetch Hetchy Road is open 7 am to 8 pm. (C. Flores - 4/1/08)
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APRIL 2 is WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY
Did you know that the United Nations designated April 2 as World Autism
Awareness Day beginning in 2008? On this day, member nations will seek to
raise society’s awareness of autism and the struggles of families with an
autistic member.
I'm not an expert on the subject, just a mom of an incredible 10-year-old
who teaches me everyday that for scores people, the world isn't always the
way we see it. When he was five, my son Milo was diagnosed with Asperger's
Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism. He requires routine, can be
easily frustrated, loves anything orange, has difficulty making eye
contact, and wants to be an archeologist/treasure hunter when he grows up
(like his hero, Indiana Jones). Milo is a wonderful and spectacular kid,
but I worry about him making his way in a world where being different is
not embraced.
While the exact causes are not known, autism is a complex brain disorder
that inhibits a person's ability to communicate and develop social
relationships. There is no cure. But World Autism Awareness Day revolves
around the hope that in the future, improved research (as well as increased
compassion among members of society) will help improve our knowledge and
understanding of and responsiveness to autism. For more on autism spectrum
disorders, visit the Autism Society of America at www.autism-society.org.
(K. Rylands - 4/2/08)
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Please be advised that in order to prepare for an AMR CAP Status review,
the Contracting Office will be closed onThursday 3 April 2008. (L. Sheetz -
3/21/08)
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The entire Yosemite/El Portal community is invited to join the retirement
party for Hugh Carter and Steve Speltz. Please stop by the Cedar Lodge
Conference room after 6:30 pm Sat., April 5th to thank Hugh and Steve for
their years of service at the El Portal Market. A private dinner is being
served earlier, but all community members are encouraged to stop by after
6:30 for the short program and sharing of memories and other facinating
facts about the last 40 years of the EPMarket. There will be live music
and a no-host bar provided by the Yosemite Employee Association. We hope
to see you all there! (M. Carter - 4/1/08)
New Today
CANCELLED: Tuolumne Public Planning Workshop on April 12 - The Tuolumne
River Plan/Tuolumne Meadow Plan Public Workshop scheduled for Saturday,
April 12 from 9 am to 4 pm in the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium
has been CANCELLED while park management considers the implications of the
recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling regarding the Merced River Plan.
For more information on the Tuolumne planning process, visit online at
www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/trp.htm. Also check out the project manager’s
Tuolumne Planning Blog at www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/trpblog.htm.
The aforementioned ruling can be found on the Yosemite National Park
website at: http://home.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/litigation.htm (K. Rylands -
4/2/08)
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It’s SPRING – and you know what that means!
Bear Facts
Yosemite Valley, March 23 - 29, 2008
Comparisons Year to Date March 23 - 29, 2008
| 1998 | 2008 | Percent | 2007 | 2008 | Percent
| | | Change | | | Change
--------------+------------+-----------+------------+---------+-----------+--------------
Incidents | 55 | 12 | -78.2% | 11 | 14 | 27.3%
--------------+------------+-----------+------------+---------+-----------+--------------
Damage | $18,845 | $2,777 | -85.3% | $2390 | $2,777 | 16.2%
As the weather continues to get warmer and the snow continues to melt, more
bears will be becoming active and in search of food. Grass is starting to
turn green but there is still not an abundance of natural food for bears.
Be cautious with your food and garbage as bears are active. So far this
year, there are a similar amount of incidents in comparison to last year.
This year most bear incidents have occurred at the Ahwahnee Hotel, Curry
Village, and Yosemite Lodge. There was also a report of a sow with a
yearling at Crane Flat this week. In addition to the 14 incidents listed
above there have also been two incidents where a bear obtained trash. (T.
Seher - 4/2/08)
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North and Southside Drive Rehabilitation
*March 24th thru April 4th---There will be intermittent one lane traffic
control on Southside Drive between Housekeeping and Pohono Bridge as crews
are surveying and placing rock (Less than 15-minute delays).
*Crews are continuing to grind up the existing asphalt in preparation for
paving. This week they also began installing the permeable subgrade in the
El Capitan Straight area.
*ROAD CLOSURE APRIL 7th THRU APRIL 17th>>Southside Drive will be closed
between Sentinel Bridge and the west end of Housekeeping. (Access to
Housekeeping, Leconte Memorial, Curry Village, and Campgrounds will be via
Northside Drive.) Northside Drive between Camp-6 Intersection and Curry
Village will become 2-way traffic during this 10-day detour. Also,
Southside Drive will be limited to administrative/residential use between
Curry Village and Housekeeping with 2-way traffic. During this closure
crews will be placing culverts on this segment of Southside Drive.
Big Oak Flat Road Slide Repair
*March 31st thru April 4th weather permitting crews will complete repaving
and cleanup.
Big Oak Flat Road Seal Project
*May 5th to May 23rd>>Crews are planning to work nights placing a seal coat
on the remaining Big Oak Flat Road segment between Foresta Road
Intersection and the Tioga Road Intersection (Crane Flat). The work is
scheduled over a 2-week period beginning the week of May 5th or the week of
May 12th>> depending upon the weather and temperatures.
Yosemite Creek Pedestrian Bridge
*March 31st thru April 4th, crews should complete placing the wood decking
and railing.
*April 7th thru 17th rebuilding of approaches and paving (Weather
Permitting). (M. Pieper - 4/2/08)
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Awards Information..I just wanted to remind everyone that when picking up a
gift certificate for your Excellence In Service Award a signature is
required. You may designate someone to pick up your award but they will
need to sign as well. Because we need to show that the award was received
we cannot send them via inter office mail. If the award needs to be mailed
to an employee because they are on furlough etc. they can contact Katie
Bablich and she will mail it return receipt to the employee. The gift
certificates are same as cash and we cannot replace them if they are lost
so please take care that they are in a secure place.
Please don't forget to have the nominees supervisor sign the award
nomination and, if it is a STAR Award, that person's Division Chief will
need to sign as well as determine the amount of the award. Awards are
processed after the 7th of each month. We are currently working on the
Awards website and for the interim I am attaching the awards nomination
form for you convenience.
We really enjoy reading the nominations that you send forward, it's great
to know that we work with such outstanding individuals. (C. Mattiuzzi -
4/2/08)
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Many new employees will be coming on board with names we will not
recognize. Please tell the mailroom as quickly as possible who your new
employees are and where their mail should be sent.
ALL interoffice mail should be addressed primarily to an office rather than
a single name. Ideally a letter will be delivered most quickly if
addressed to:
John Doe
Mather Trails Office
Remember, we have five distinct districts, El Portal, Valley District,
Wawona District, Mather District, & Tuolumne District. A letter simply
addressed to Buildings and Grounds (and not in our phone directory) could
be delayed several days if sent to the wrong district. Thousands of
pieces of mail come and go out of Yosemite every day, interoffice as well
as outgoing domestic and international pieces. Help us help you by making
your addresses as complete as possible. (D. Hales - 4/2/08)
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The Upper Merced River Watershed Council presents an opportunity for
community members to learn what is involved in renewing the license for
operation of the New Exchequer and McSwain Hydropower facilities on the
Merced River. A five-year process leading up to the relicensing of these
dams is carried out by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and
begins in the next year. Please join us at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, April 8, at
the Midpines Community Center. Ted Selb, Deputy General Manager of the
Merced Irrigation District (MID), will present an overview of the
relicensing process. Dan Pope, MID Hydroelectric Project Manager, and Jim
Lynch, FERC Relicensing consultant with Devine Tarbell & Associates, will
accompany Mr. Selb. If you have questions or need directions, please
contact the watershed office at (209) 966-2221 or watershed@sti.net.
On Friday morning, April 11, the Upper Merced River Watershed Council and
Yosemite Area Audubon invite community members to learn bird sketching
techniques from an expert. Join wildlife artist and naturalist John Muir
(Jack) Laws at the Ag Complex conference room adjacent to the Mariposa
County Fairgrounds from 9 am to noon for a hands-on workshop. He’ll teach
you tricks to get down the shape and proportion of birds in a quick sketch
and then fill in details with an improved understanding of bird anatomy.
You’ll learn proportion basics, drawing wings, the bright-eye trick and
feather tricks of the head. Bring binoculars, a soft pencil, colored
pencils or watercolors, and a small sketch book (about 8 1⁄2 x 11”).
Weather permitting, some time will be spent outdoors observing birds. The
cost is $25 per person. Space is limited. Please call the watershed office
at (209) 966 2221 to reserve your place in the class. Directions: Enter the
Fairgrounds parking lot and stay to the right. The Ag Complex is straight
ahead on the left. Please call (209) 966-2221 or email watershed@sti.net if
you have questions. (A. Steed - 4/2/08)
Announcements
Yosemite Training Opportunity Available!
The Introduction to Park Program Management (IPPM) class is going to be
offered in El Portal May 12 through May 16, 2008. It has recently been
posted to DOI Learn. The The course code is NPS-ADM2010. There is more
than one IPPM course listed so applicants need to scroll down and make sure
they are selecting the Yosemite course. It has been a few years since the
course was last offered in Yosemite, so please consider attending. Below
is the course description from DOI learn. A course annoucement is also
attached with additional information. You must apply to this course
through DOI Learn. Deadline to apply: April 4, 2008
Target Audience: Superintendents, managers, division chiefs, first-line
supervisors and program managers with budget and programming
responsibilities in all disciplines. Prioirty given to those with limited
budget training.
Class: NPS-2008-0512-YOSE-IPPM Class Dates: 05/12/2008 - 05/16/2008 M Tu W
Tr F Class Times: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Course: Introduction to Park Program
Management Course Code: NPS-ADM2010 Course Description: Inter-disciplinary
course providing an introduction to analyzing and accomplishing work,
techniques for planning and organizing work, managment and accountability
of funds, and evaluation of results. Upon completion, participants will
have a thorough understanding of the relationships between resources, the
park mission and the planning, programming and standards for all
activities.
Competencies Addressed: OPMG064-Team Building-Level 2 OPMG091-Attention To
Detail-Level 2 OPMG031-Flexibility-Level 2 OPMG075-External Awareness-Level
2 OPM0G77-Strategic Thinking-Level 2 OPMG105-Auditing-Level 2
This course requires supervisory approval. Your supervisor will be notified
by automated email and asked to approve your training.
Your course will not be available in My Courses until your request has been
approved
Categories: Business Administration & Financial Management , Engineering
Facilities Management Course Objectives: Budget, Accountability, Financial
Management 32 hours of supervisory training credit for taking this class
General Information: Tuition, treavel and per diem to be paid for by
benefitting account. Course Tuition: $300.00 Classroom (Location): TBD
(NPS-YOSE (Yosemite NP)
Please contact Tom Pimentel, Course Coordinator at 379-1863 or by email at
Tom_Pimentel@nps.gov. (T. Pimentel - 3/27/08)
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National Weather Service SkyWarn class - Anyone with an interest in the
weather can become a volunteer Weather Spotter for the National Weather
Service (NWS)!
The Hanford office of the NWS has numerous weather spotters throughout the
San Joaquin Valley, southern Sierra Nevada, and Mojave desert. The training
takes about two hours and will familiarize you with the identification of
hazardous weather for the purpose of reporting these observations to the
forecasters at the NWS office in Hanford. The contribution of Weather
Spotters is significant and can make a huge difference during severe
weather by giving the forecasters eyes and ears in local areas that may
have a lack of quality ground reports. The purpose is the same as the whole
purpose of the NWS as an agency: to save lives and property and enhance the
US economy.
Two training sessions will be held in Yosemite National Park on Thursday,
April 3: at 10:00 am in the El Portal Maintenance and Administration
complex (large break room) and at 2:30 pm in the auditorium behind the
Yosemite Valley visitor center. Spotters that have previously had the
training are reminded that NWS policy is for you to have a refresher
training course every two years to be a renewed spotter.
The training is open to the public. However, due to space limitations, you
must RSVP via e-mail at henk_parson@nps.gov or via phone at 209-379-1140.
(J. Meyer - 3/18/08)
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Leave Share Participants
Currently, YOSE leave share participants are:
Shari Baudoux
Kevin Bowman
Kimberly Cunningham-Summerfield
You can find leave share participants Servicewide on InsideNPS at:
http://insidenps.gov/index.cfm?handler=leaveshare
If you are interested in contributing annual leave, please do so by
completing a Request to Donate Annual Leave to Leave Recipient (Within
Agency) Under the Leave Transfer Program, OPM Form 630-A. A fillable PDF
version of the OPM 630-A may be found at:
http://opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm630a.pdf (T. Hawkins - 1/31/07)
Community News
The 6th Annual El Portal Spring Fling and 3rd Annual El Portal Spring Run
-off will be held Saturday April 26, 2008. This awesome community event
will begin at 7 am with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Yosemite
Lion's club. A 1 mile fun run, 5K and 10K races starting at 9 am. The
festivities will continue with a fun filled day with artisans, excellent
local food vendors and an exciting evening of music sponsored by El Portal
Live and beverages provided by YEA. Come on out and enjoy spring with all
of your friends and neighbors. For more information about the spring
run-off contact Claudine Ronay 379-2967. For spring fling info contact
Rosemary MacCallum 379-2665. (C. Ronay - 3/27/08)
Acting Designation
Sarah Stock will be acting Branch Chief of Wildlife Management Tuesday
4/1/08. You may reach her at 379-1435 or sarah_stock@nps.gov. (S. Stock -
4/2/08)
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Jim Roche will be the Acting Branch Chief for Physical Science and GIS on
Wednesday, April 2. Jim can be reached at 379-1446. (J. Meyer - 4/2/08)
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Ann Roberts will be Acting Branch Chief for Environmental Planning and
Compliance from 4/2 to 4/4. Ann may be reached in her El Portal office at
379-1383 or you may leave a message with Doyle Harrison at 379-1202.
(D.Harrison - 4/2/08)
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Acting Fire Chief designation - Mike Beasley will be acting Fire Chief
from March 31 - April 5th. He can be contacted at 209-375-9574
Deron Mills will be acting Fire Chief from April 6th - April 12th. He can
be contacted at 209-379-1902 (K. Martin - 3/31/08)
