WawonaNews.com - August 2011
Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire
Project has been postponed.
The 845 acre Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire, scheduled to begin on July 26, 2011, has been postponed. Fire officials cancelled the project due to projected days of unfavorable air quality and smoke dispersion. A high pressure ridge is now predicted over the Sierra Nevada, and will persist through most of next week. There are a multitude of conditions and parameters that must be met prior to beginning a prescribed fire. Smoke impacts are a high health concern and priority. Fire managers collaborated daily with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) on this project. The goal was to ignite the project on a day that coincided with favorable weather that would facilitate good air quality, and move and disperse smoke into the atmosphere away from the community.
Fire managers will now wait for weather windows that will more favorable smoke dispersion. The operational planning and development of strategic and tactical objectives will continue. The fire perimeter work accomplished will remain in place and will be utilized when prescribed fire parameters improve. Pre-fire planning efforts will continue and include: obtaining fuel moistures sampling, and weather data (wind speed, direction, relative humidity, temperatures, etc,) collection to determine our next ignition window. The prescribed fire unit is within the Wilderness boundary and firefighters optimally used “light on the land” minimum impact management tactics (MIMT) along fire perimeter lines.
The primary objective of the prescribed fire is for the direct protection to the community of Wawona. This project will take advantage of the 2007 Jack Fire perimeter and reduce hazardous fuel loading in the Wawona Wildland Urban Interface area. Burning this segment will reduce the future threat of catastrophic fire burning into the community of Wawona from a wildfire approaching from the Turner Ridge, north of the community. This project enhances multiple and previous historical research fires, natural ignitions, prescribed fires, and mechanical thinning.
Another objective for this project is to conduct ecosystem restoration by applying fire to this fire adapted landscape. Prior to the exclusion of fire over 100 years ago, fire was a natural process that played an integral role in shaping the landscape of Yosemite. Densities of shade tolerant tree species, such as white fir and incense cedar, forest litter and duff have accumulated to unnatural and unaccepted levels in the absence of fire. Through the application of fire, a more natural vegetation composition can be achieved that would likely support a surface fire, but less likely to support crown fire.
This fire segment is identified in the 2004 Yosemite Fire Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. The goals and objectives for this project conform to the park’s General Management Plan and Vegetation Management Plan.
For additional Information:
Fire managers will now wait for weather windows that will more favorable smoke dispersion. The operational planning and development of strategic and tactical objectives will continue. The fire perimeter work accomplished will remain in place and will be utilized when prescribed fire parameters improve. Pre-fire planning efforts will continue and include: obtaining fuel moistures sampling, and weather data (wind speed, direction, relative humidity, temperatures, etc,) collection to determine our next ignition window. The prescribed fire unit is within the Wilderness boundary and firefighters optimally used “light on the land” minimum impact management tactics (MIMT) along fire perimeter lines.
The primary objective of the prescribed fire is for the direct protection to the community of Wawona. This project will take advantage of the 2007 Jack Fire perimeter and reduce hazardous fuel loading in the Wawona Wildland Urban Interface area. Burning this segment will reduce the future threat of catastrophic fire burning into the community of Wawona from a wildfire approaching from the Turner Ridge, north of the community. This project enhances multiple and previous historical research fires, natural ignitions, prescribed fires, and mechanical thinning.
Another objective for this project is to conduct ecosystem restoration by applying fire to this fire adapted landscape. Prior to the exclusion of fire over 100 years ago, fire was a natural process that played an integral role in shaping the landscape of Yosemite. Densities of shade tolerant tree species, such as white fir and incense cedar, forest litter and duff have accumulated to unnatural and unaccepted levels in the absence of fire. Through the application of fire, a more natural vegetation composition can be achieved that would likely support a surface fire, but less likely to support crown fire.
This fire segment is identified in the 2004 Yosemite Fire Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. The goals and objectives for this project conform to the park’s General Management Plan and Vegetation Management Plan.
For additional Information:
- Yosemite Fuels and Prescribed Fire Office: [email protected] - (209) 375-9576.
Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire Scheduled for Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Yosemite National Park fire managers are planning the 845 acre, Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire, to begin on the morning of July 26, 2011. Favorable weather is predicted for the project through the week, with conditions for favorable smoke dispersion improving each day, through the entire week. Please Note – these are predictions only, and if stagnant air develops or persists over the Sierra Nevada region, fire managers will postpone the prescribed fire.
The primary objective of the prescribed fire is for the direct protection to the community of Wawona. This project will take advantage of the 2007 Jack Fire perimeter and reduce hazardous fuel loading in the Wawona Wildland Urban Interface area. Burning this segment will form a barrier to the community of Wawona from the spread of unwanted wildfire approaching from Turner Ridge to the north and partially from the South Fork Merced River drainage to the northwest. This project ties together multiple and previous historical research, natural and prescribed fires, and mechanical thinning.
Another objective for this project is to conduct ecosystem restoration by applying fire to this fire adapted landscape. Prior to the exclusion of fire over 100 years ago, fire was a natural process that played an integral role in shaping the landscape of Yosemite. Densities of shade tolerant tree species, such as white fir and incense cedar, and forest litter and duff have accumulated to unnatural and unaccepted levels in the absence of fire. Through the application of fire, a more natural vegetation composition can be achieved that would likely support a surface fire, but less likely to support crown fire.
Community members and visitors will see equipment and crews moving into the area as they prepare the fire perimeter for fire ignition and operations. Other pre-fire planning efforts include taking fuel moistures and moving remote automated weather (RAWS) equipment into the fire area.
Smoke will be present during the prescribed fire, particularly during the early morning hours. Fire managers are working with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (APCD), daily to time the project to coincide with favorable weather that will facilitate good air quality, and move and disperse smoke into the atmosphere away from the community. A burn permit will be issued to the park by the County APCD. Air quality measuring devices are being moved to local communities to measure air quality. It is suggested that community members that are sensitive to smoke, close windows and doors and/or they may wish to leave the area during active ignition of the project.
This fire segment is identified in the 2005 Yosemite Fire Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement and re included in the Multi-year Strategic Fuels Management Plan. The goals and objectives for this project conform to the park’s General Management Plan and Vegetation Management Plan.
More updates will be published in the next few days and through the prescribed fire project.
For additional Information:
Yosemite Fire Information and Education Office: [email protected] - (209) 375-9574 or 372-0480
Yosemite Fire Management Website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/rx-fire-projects.htm
Local Artist Exhibition and Reception at the Bassett Memorial Library in Wawona in Yosemite National Park showcases Diane Detrick Bopp’s ‘Mastery of Watercolor and Other Media’.
"The Last Tram Just Left" - Diane Detrick Bopp
Local artist Diane Detrick Bopp is scheduled for two “Evening with the Artist” receptions at the Wawona Bassett Memorial Library, 7 p.m. on July 28 and August 25, to talk about her works currently on exhibition at the library through August. Refreshments will be served; admission is free.
Diane’s rich background as an artist and art instructor is in full display at the library this summer, showing a wide range of style, media and technique. From extremely tight figurative watercolors showing a Yosemite climber and weary backpackers, to loose and colorful interpretations of Yosemite landscapes with oil pastel and colored pencils, Detrick Bopp’s artistry shows a rare balance of technical mastery and artistic freedom.
Much of the artwork is available for sale, with 10% of the proceeds going to the Wawona Friends of the Library. Also available for sale are several of the artist’s exhibition-quality matted and signed prints, including one of the artist’s husband, Tom Bopp, performing at the piano at the Wawona Hotel, and another of famed Ranger/Naturalist Carl Sharsmith delivering one of his last talks in Yosemite’s Tuolumne Meadows in 1994.
Diane Detrick Bopp holds Master’s degrees in Art and Education and has taught art at Beverly Hills High School, UCLA, UC Irvine, locally for the Yosemite Art Activity Center and Vision Academy Workshops, and at Oakhurst Intermediate, Yosemite High, and the Oakhurst Center Community College.
Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire
Click for larger image
Yosemite National Park fire managers are planning the Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire for late July, 2011.
The primary objective for this 800 acre prescribed fire is to reduce hazardous fuel loading in the Wawona Wildland Urban Interface area. Burning this segment will form a barrier to the community of Wawona from the spread of unwanted wildfire approaching from Turner Ridge to the north and partially from the South Fork Merced River drainage to the northwest. The segment is directly adjacent to several government and private home and structures. This project ties together multiple and previous historical research, natural and prescribed fires, and mechanical thinning.
Another objective for this project is to conduct ecosystem restoration by applying fire to this fire adapted landscape. Prior to the exclusion of fire over 100 years ago, fire was a natural process that played an integral role in shaping the landscape of Yosemite. Densities of shade tolerant tree species, such as white fir and incense cedar, and forest litter and duff have accumulated to unnatural and unaccepted levels in the absence of fire. Through the application of fire, a more natural vegetation composition can be achieved that would likely support a surface fire, but less likely to support crown fire.
Before the actual date of the prescribed fire crews will be on the ground preparing the segment for fire operations, including measuring fuel moistures. Other pre-fire planning will include working with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District for issuing a burn permit, and timing the project for a weather system that will facilitate good air quality, and move and disperse smoke into the atmosphere away from the community.
This fire segment is identified in the 2005 Yosemite Fire Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement and re included in the Multi-year Strategic Fuels Management Plan. The goals and objectives for this project conform to the park’s General Management Plan and Vegetation Management Plan.
The additional acreage increase is due to fire managers "ground truthing" the proposed perimeter and finding an increase in the complexity of the burn project. The new burn project perimeters will show the acreage increase to approximately 800 acres. A new Geographic Information Systems (GIS) operational planning
map will be provided later.
More details concerning this prescribed project will be available as planning continues.
For additional Information:
Yosemite Fire Information and Education Office: [email protected] - (209) 375-9574 or 372-0480
Yosemite Fire Management Website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/rx-fire-projects.htm
Wawona Webcam is Now On!
Thanks to The Redwoods in Yosemite and ABC 30 Fresno based news channel, Wawona now has its own webcam. You can access the Wawona webcam from this site by clicking on the "Yosemite Area Webcams" link on the top menu of this page, or you can go directly to the ABC 30 News channel web page:
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/feature?section=weather/webcams&id=8236979
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/feature?section=weather/webcams&id=8236979
Bear Safety Suggestions
There have been eight incidents this week where bears have entered occupied homes in Wawona. In almost all of these incidents, windows were left open, or doors were not properly latched while the occupants were asleep in another room. Additionally, when the bear was captured, its scat was full of bird seed indicating that bird feeders had likely been attracting it to homes. The Wildlife Management Staff will be closely monitoring bears in the residential areas; however, it is the responsibility of park residents to keep homes bear-proof!
Bears entering homes through open windows or doors is a yearly problem in housing areas park-wide. This is a good time to remember if you are living anywhere in Yosemite, you are living in bear habitat.
Please help keep bears safe and out of your house, by following these suggestions:
* Close and latch all windows and doors if you are not home.
* Close and latch all windows and doors in unoccupied rooms when you are home, especially windows and doors near the kitchen.
* Remove attractants such as bird feeders, coolers, and recycling from outside your home.
Remember to report bear sightings and incidents by leaving a message on the Save-A-Bear Hotline (209) 372-0322.
Caitlin Lee-Roney
Wildlife Technician
Resources Management and Science Division
Yosemite National Park
9039 Village Drive, P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
209.372.0476
209.372.0497 fax
[email protected]
Bears entering homes through open windows or doors is a yearly problem in housing areas park-wide. This is a good time to remember if you are living anywhere in Yosemite, you are living in bear habitat.
Please help keep bears safe and out of your house, by following these suggestions:
* Close and latch all windows and doors if you are not home.
* Close and latch all windows and doors in unoccupied rooms when you are home, especially windows and doors near the kitchen.
* Remove attractants such as bird feeders, coolers, and recycling from outside your home.
Remember to report bear sightings and incidents by leaving a message on the Save-A-Bear Hotline (209) 372-0322.
Caitlin Lee-Roney
Wildlife Technician
Resources Management and Science Division
Yosemite National Park
9039 Village Drive, P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, CA 95389
209.372.0476
209.372.0497 fax
[email protected]
Bear Enters Wawona Homes
As you may have heard, an adult bear has been seen wandering the neighborhood over the past several days. He has attempted to enter several homes and did successfully enter two houses on July 9th. No one has been injured. On the morning of the 10th, the Park's wildlife team was notified. They brought a trap to Wawona and set it that evening. The bear was captured later that night and was then tagged and collared on July 11. He now has a yellow tag in his right ear with the number "86" on it and is wearing a white collar. He has a blond body with darker brown legs, is approximately six years old, and weighs 220 lbs.
On the afternoon of July 11, the bear was released inside the park, southwest of Wawona (Long distance relocation is rarely successful). We were hopeful that he would have been traumatized enough by his capture to not want to return. Unfortunately, he was not. In the past several days, he has broken into several houses and obtained significant amounts of food. We are making every possible effort to attempt adverse conditioning techniques (hazing) to get him to leave the neighborhood and spare his life.
If you see this, or any other bear, in the developed areas of Wawona, please call Park Dispatch (9-1-1) to report it. Our staff will respond and attempt to haze the bear.
The wildlife team suspects that what attracted this bear to the neighborhood were bird feeders, as he had a significant amount of bird seed in his droppings. Please make sure that any bird feeders you have out are taken down and stored away. Additionally, this is a good reminder to always keep your vehicles clean of food and scented items, and to keep your pet's food stored indoors.
Please make sure that when you go to bed, your doors and windows are secure. The less food he obtains, the less likely he is to keep trying to get it.
Thank you for your cooperation,
Chad Andrews
Wawona Subdistrict Ranger
Yosemite National Park
W (209) 375-9520 x228
C (209) 742-8269
F (209) 375-9534
On the afternoon of July 11, the bear was released inside the park, southwest of Wawona (Long distance relocation is rarely successful). We were hopeful that he would have been traumatized enough by his capture to not want to return. Unfortunately, he was not. In the past several days, he has broken into several houses and obtained significant amounts of food. We are making every possible effort to attempt adverse conditioning techniques (hazing) to get him to leave the neighborhood and spare his life.
If you see this, or any other bear, in the developed areas of Wawona, please call Park Dispatch (9-1-1) to report it. Our staff will respond and attempt to haze the bear.
The wildlife team suspects that what attracted this bear to the neighborhood were bird feeders, as he had a significant amount of bird seed in his droppings. Please make sure that any bird feeders you have out are taken down and stored away. Additionally, this is a good reminder to always keep your vehicles clean of food and scented items, and to keep your pet's food stored indoors.
Please make sure that when you go to bed, your doors and windows are secure. The less food he obtains, the less likely he is to keep trying to get it.
Thank you for your cooperation,
Chad Andrews
Wawona Subdistrict Ranger
Yosemite National Park
W (209) 375-9520 x228
C (209) 742-8269
F (209) 375-9534
Wawona Town Planning
The County of Mariposa has completed the Draft Wawona Specific Plan Update. The project is an update to the "Wawona Specific Plan Land Use Policies and Standards Element" that was adopted in 1987 and is currently in place governing the use and development of the Wawona Town Planning Area.
A copy of the Draft Wawona Specific Plan Update is available online at the following location:
http://mariposacounty.org/index.aspx?NID=1130
A copy of the Draft Wawona Specific Plan Update is available online at the following location:
http://mariposacounty.org/index.aspx?NID=1130
