WawonaNews.com - January 2018
YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Meeting
Wawona Elementary School
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 5:30 PM
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, California
AGENDA
ACTION ITEMS
INFORMATION ITEMS
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 5:30 PM
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, California
AGENDA
- CALL TO ORDER
- ROLL CALL
- CONSENT AGENDA
- Approval of minutes of the regular meeting, December 13, 2017
- Approve P1 attendance report
- Financial reports
- Monthly approval of warrants (Action needed)
- Financial Report
- Payroll Report
- HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
ACTION ITEMS
- Discuss and approve instructional minutes
- Discuss transportation issues and approve purchase of snow chains for bus
INFORMATION ITEMS
- BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
- STAFF REPORTS
- L CAP Update
- NEXT MEETING DATE
- CLOSED SESSION Personnel/Negotiations/Litigation
- Employee Negotiations (Gov. Code 54957.6)
- Personnel (Gov. Code 54957)
- RECOVENE IN OPEN SESSION: ANNOUNCE CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
- ADJOURNMENT
Where Do Bears Go in Winter?
by Yosemite Bear Team | Jan 4, 2018 | KeepBearsWild, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Wild Bear Project |
It’s January, but Yosemite has only seen a small amount of snow. So where are the bears? Are they hibernating yet? The answer might be more complex than you’d expect. Hibernation in black bears is dependent on food availability – meaning that once a bear is using more energy than they can find, they’ll hibernate. Bears that continue to find enough calories foraging in the late fall and winter may go into hibernation later, or skip it altogether (these bears are more often males). Likewise, if bears have access to human food or trash in the winter, they may skip hibernation altogether, even in winters with heavy snow accumulation. There were several accounts on social media of this occurring last winter in the Tahoe Basin. It’s critical to maintain proper food storage year-round. Making the assumption that all bears are hibernating as soon as the weather cools off is a common mistake that can be much more difficult to correct than maintaining proper storage of human food and garbage year-round.
Most years, the majority of bears in Yosemite begin closing in on a hibernation location starting as early as October. GPS data paired with observations of family groups in the spring have shown that pregnant females are the first to select dens. Bears in Yosemite typically select hollowed out fire cavities in large trees or caves formed by large rocks in talus fields. The majority of the dens we have located here in the Park are very difficult to access with protected entry ways and good vantage points to observe potential threats from the entrance. Once the den location is selected, bears may continue to move around scouring the area for food while continuing to prepare their den. We can see this behavior using their GPS data as they begin to travel much smaller distances, circling back to their chosen den site. GPS data has also shown that bears often move into their dens, even traversing long distances, in advance of the first significant snow storm. Once the availability of fall foods fade, they will enter their den and begin hibernation (typically later in November, and December).
In the late fall and winter months, we remove the BearTracker data to ensure the locations of the bear’s dens are protected. Hibernation is incredibly important for bears and is physiologically astonishing. While hibernating, bears don’t eat, urinate, or defecate. Preparation for a very short gestation drives pregnant sows into dens that will protect them from the elements and predation. Cubs are born in late January and nursed for the first few months of their lives. It’s an important time in a cub’s life since they are born weighing less than a pound and must gain several pounds before venturing out of the den. Once in hibernation, bears in Yosemite typically don’t become active again until late March or April. When they do come out, they’ve lost up to ⅓ of their body weight, and spend their time foraging on early spring foods-usually fresh grasses in meadows. Males are typically the first to emerge for the season while sows with cubs are usually the last to emerge for the year.
So, where are the bears now? Most of them are hibernating, but not all! This is turning out to be one of those late hibernation years for some bears. We have observed several bears continuing to forage on this year’s plentiful Black and Live Oak acorns at lower elevations throughout December. Even females and their cubs were out late, as you can see in the image above of a sow and her cub’s tracks in the snow that was taken in late December.
It’s January, but Yosemite has only seen a small amount of snow. So where are the bears? Are they hibernating yet? The answer might be more complex than you’d expect. Hibernation in black bears is dependent on food availability – meaning that once a bear is using more energy than they can find, they’ll hibernate. Bears that continue to find enough calories foraging in the late fall and winter may go into hibernation later, or skip it altogether (these bears are more often males). Likewise, if bears have access to human food or trash in the winter, they may skip hibernation altogether, even in winters with heavy snow accumulation. There were several accounts on social media of this occurring last winter in the Tahoe Basin. It’s critical to maintain proper food storage year-round. Making the assumption that all bears are hibernating as soon as the weather cools off is a common mistake that can be much more difficult to correct than maintaining proper storage of human food and garbage year-round.
Most years, the majority of bears in Yosemite begin closing in on a hibernation location starting as early as October. GPS data paired with observations of family groups in the spring have shown that pregnant females are the first to select dens. Bears in Yosemite typically select hollowed out fire cavities in large trees or caves formed by large rocks in talus fields. The majority of the dens we have located here in the Park are very difficult to access with protected entry ways and good vantage points to observe potential threats from the entrance. Once the den location is selected, bears may continue to move around scouring the area for food while continuing to prepare their den. We can see this behavior using their GPS data as they begin to travel much smaller distances, circling back to their chosen den site. GPS data has also shown that bears often move into their dens, even traversing long distances, in advance of the first significant snow storm. Once the availability of fall foods fade, they will enter their den and begin hibernation (typically later in November, and December).
In the late fall and winter months, we remove the BearTracker data to ensure the locations of the bear’s dens are protected. Hibernation is incredibly important for bears and is physiologically astonishing. While hibernating, bears don’t eat, urinate, or defecate. Preparation for a very short gestation drives pregnant sows into dens that will protect them from the elements and predation. Cubs are born in late January and nursed for the first few months of their lives. It’s an important time in a cub’s life since they are born weighing less than a pound and must gain several pounds before venturing out of the den. Once in hibernation, bears in Yosemite typically don’t become active again until late March or April. When they do come out, they’ve lost up to ⅓ of their body weight, and spend their time foraging on early spring foods-usually fresh grasses in meadows. Males are typically the first to emerge for the season while sows with cubs are usually the last to emerge for the year.
So, where are the bears now? Most of them are hibernating, but not all! This is turning out to be one of those late hibernation years for some bears. We have observed several bears continuing to forage on this year’s plentiful Black and Live Oak acorns at lower elevations throughout December. Even females and their cubs were out late, as you can see in the image above of a sow and her cub’s tracks in the snow that was taken in late December.
Click on images to enlarge
Den site
|
GPS collar found in den
|
Bear tracks showing 4 months of movement prior to hibernation
|
Bear tracks showing movement as bear prepares den site
|
Bear Team rappelling down after GPS collar retrieval
|
December School Board Meeting - WED, 12/13
YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Meeting
Wawona Elementary School
Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 5:30 PM
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, California
AGENDA
ACTION ITEMS
------------------------------ ----
Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School (Y-WECS) School Board Meetings are open to the public, as Y-WECS is a California public charter school. All parents and community members are welcome to attend.
Please Note:
All meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month at 5:30pm at Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School, unless otherwise noted.
YWECS School Board agendas will be publicly posted on our school website (https://www. yosemitewawonacharter.org/ board.html), the Wawona News website (WawonaNews.com) & will be physically posted at our school for public notification prior to each board meeting.
If you have any comments, questions, or concerns during the 2017-2018 school year, please direct them to the current
Y-WECS Board Chair, Ed Mee. Contact information is listed below:
Ed Mee, Y-WECS Board Chair
[email protected]
Thank you!
Ms. Esmé McCarthy
School Administrator
Lead Educator, TK-8th Grades
Ms. Karen Stansberry
Office Administrator
Field Studies Coordinator and Educator
Ms. Jess Stanphill
Educator, TK-8th Grades
Community Outreach Coordinator
Ms. Annie Starkey
Educator, TK-8th Grades
Art and Spanish Enrichment
Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School
PO Box 2068
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, CA 95389
Phone: 209.375.6383 Fax: 209.375.1029
E-mail: admin@yosemitewawonacharter. org
School Website: http://www. yosemitewawonacharter.org/
School Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/ YosemiteWawonaCharterSchool/
Board of Directors Meeting
Wawona Elementary School
Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 5:30 PM
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, California
AGENDA
- CALL TO ORDER
- ROLL CALL
- CONSENT AGENDA
- Approval of minutes of the regular meeting, November 8,2017
- Approve Audit
- Financial reports
- Monthly approval of warrants (Action needed)
- Financial Report
- Payroll Report
- HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
ACTION ITEMS
- Vote in new Board of Director members
- Approve first interim Budget
- Approve new policies and amendments
- Discuss and approve enrollment cap
- Discuss and approve instructional minuets
- Discuss and approve reading tutor/aid
- BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
- Letter to Michelle Stauffer
- STAFF REPORTS
- L CAP Update
- NEXT MEETING DATE
- CLOSED SESSION Personnel/Negotiations/Litigation
- Employee Negotiations (Gov. Code 54957.6)
- Personnel (Gov. Code 54957)
- RECOVENE IN OPEN SESSION: ANNOUNCE CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
- ADJOURNMENT
------------------------------ ----
Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School (Y-WECS) School Board Meetings are open to the public, as Y-WECS is a California public charter school. All parents and community members are welcome to attend.
Please Note:
All meetings will be held on the second Wednesday of the month at 5:30pm at Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School, unless otherwise noted.
YWECS School Board agendas will be publicly posted on our school website (https://www. yosemitewawonacharter.org/ board.html), the Wawona News website (WawonaNews.com) & will be physically posted at our school for public notification prior to each board meeting.
If you have any comments, questions, or concerns during the 2017-2018 school year, please direct them to the current
Y-WECS Board Chair, Ed Mee. Contact information is listed below:
Ed Mee, Y-WECS Board Chair
[email protected]
Thank you!
Ms. Esmé McCarthy
School Administrator
Lead Educator, TK-8th Grades
Ms. Karen Stansberry
Office Administrator
Field Studies Coordinator and Educator
Ms. Jess Stanphill
Educator, TK-8th Grades
Community Outreach Coordinator
Ms. Annie Starkey
Educator, TK-8th Grades
Art and Spanish Enrichment
Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School
PO Box 2068
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, CA 95389
Phone: 209.375.6383 Fax: 209.375.1029
E-mail: admin@yosemitewawonacharter. org
School Website: http://www. yosemitewawonacharter.org/
School Facebook page: https://www.facebook. com/ YosemiteWawonaCharterSchool/
Tree Lighting and Dinner - Friday, December 15
The annual Tree Lighting Program and Dinner at the hotel is Friday, December 15. Tom Bopp will begin the program at 5 p.m. and dinner reservations start at 5:30 p.m. I will be making reservations for the 5:30 seating.
Would you like to be included in the dinner reservation? If you will let me know how many your reservation will be for, I will put you on the list! (Please share this email with others who I may not have emailed - I used last year's list)
Please email me with your reservation info by December 13. We can always make late additions if needed.
Thanks,
Pat
[email protected]
559-658-0628
Would you like to be included in the dinner reservation? If you will let me know how many your reservation will be for, I will put you on the list! (Please share this email with others who I may not have emailed - I used last year's list)
Please email me with your reservation info by December 13. We can always make late additions if needed.
Thanks,
Pat
[email protected]
559-658-0628
Approximately 300 jobs to be filled over the next several months
Yosemite National Park has approximately 300 seasonal job openings for the summer of 2018. There are positions open in all areas of the park. In addition to Yosemite, there are seasonal jobs opportunities at many of the over 400 National Park Service units across the country.
The park will be filling a wide variety of positions, including backcountry rangers, entrance station rangers, custodial services, forestry technicians, utility systems operators, administrative assistants, traffic control rangers, and more. The jobs range in pay from $16 to $22 an hour.
All open job announcements and detailed position descriptions are posted online at www.usajobs.gov beginning now through the end of January 2018. To see information on all available positions in Yosemite, search for “National Park Service” and “Yosemite National Park.” Each job announcement will be posted for up to 5 business days. Some positions do have application limits ranging from 50 to 100 applicants.
All applications must be submitted through www.usajobs.gov. Applicants may create a profile on the website in advance to save time once the hiring process begins, which is highly recommended.
Yosemite National Park welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds across our nation. The Federal Government offers unique hiring paths (also known as a hiring authority) to help hire individuals that represent our diverse society. If you fall under one of these groups of people you may be eligible to receive preference when applying for jobs.
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 413 national park sites, and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.
All candidates interested in working at Yosemite National Park in the summer 2018 are encouraged to frequently visit www.usajobs.gov to view the latest job announcements.
Body Of Missing Man Located In Glacier Point Area
- Posted by: gina clugston November 29, 2017
When Hernandez was reported missing, Park Rangers, with the aid of search dogs and a CHP helicopter, launched an extensive search looking for him. The search has been ongoing.
Hernandez’s body was located in the Glacier Point area late yesterday afternoon, and was recovered this morning. A positive I.D. has been made.
The cause of death is not known at this time, and is part of an ongoing investigation.
The Hernandez family has been notified.
No further details are available at this time.
Yosemite National Park worked with several agencies during the search effort and would like to acknowledge and thank the California Highway Patrol, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, YODOGS (volunteer search dog team), and National Park Service Special Agents for their assistance with this search.
Tioga Road (Hwy 120 through the park) and Glacier Point Road are closed for the season
The Tioga and Glacier Point Roads in Yosemite National Park are closed for the season, due to hazardous driving conditions. Recent winter storm activity throughout Yosemite National Park has resulted in snow accumulation above 6,000 feet. Glacier Point and Tioga Roads close each fall, when snow and ice create hazardous driving conditions, and remain closed throughout the winter months until weather conditions permit reopening in the spring.
Yosemite National Park is open year-round with snow removal on all other roads within the park. All roads within the park are subject to chain control or temporary closures due to hazardous driving conditions. All motorists are required to carry tire chains, even if their car is equipped with four-wheel drive, while driving in the park during the winter months.
For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200.
(then press 1 then 1).
Yosemite National Park is open year-round with snow removal on all other roads within the park. All roads within the park are subject to chain control or temporary closures due to hazardous driving conditions. All motorists are required to carry tire chains, even if their car is equipped with four-wheel drive, while driving in the park during the winter months.
For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200.
(then press 1 then 1).
OAKHURST COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE
AUCTION!
OAKHURST COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TREE AUCTION!
Save the date & come support Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School,
along with many other great organizations in the mountain area!
2017 Christmas Tree Auction
Ticket pricing is $65 per person OR $480 for a table that seats 8.
MORE INFO:
https://www.facebook.com/treeauction/
Click here to purchase tickets:
http://bit.ly/2fMux2Z
Ms. Esmé McCarthy
School Administrator
Lead Educator, TK-8th Grades
Ms. Karen Stansberry
Office Administrator
Field Studies Coordinator and Educator
Ms. Jess Stanphill
Educator, TK-8th Grades
Community Outreach Coordinator
Ms.. Annie Starkey
Educator, TK-8th Grades
Art and Spanish Enrichment
Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School
PO Box 2068
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, CA 95389
Phone: 209.375.6383 Fax: 209.375.1029
E-mail: [email protected]
School Website: http://www.yosemitewawonacharter.org/
School Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YosemiteWawonaCharterSchool/
Save the date & come support Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School,
along with many other great organizations in the mountain area!
2017 Christmas Tree Auction
- Friday, December 1st from 5:30 PM - 11 PM
- Sit-down dinner of filet mignon
- Dress to impress
- DJ for dancing after the live auction
Ticket pricing is $65 per person OR $480 for a table that seats 8.
MORE INFO:
https://www.facebook.com/treeauction/
Click here to purchase tickets:
http://bit.ly/2fMux2Z
Ms. Esmé McCarthy
School Administrator
Lead Educator, TK-8th Grades
Ms. Karen Stansberry
Office Administrator
Field Studies Coordinator and Educator
Ms. Jess Stanphill
Educator, TK-8th Grades
Community Outreach Coordinator
Ms.. Annie Starkey
Educator, TK-8th Grades
Art and Spanish Enrichment
Yosemite-Wawona Elementary Charter School
PO Box 2068
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, CA 95389
Phone: 209.375.6383 Fax: 209.375.1029
E-mail: [email protected]
School Website: http://www.yosemitewawonacharter.org/
School Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/YosemiteWawonaCharterSchool/
Fire Update for Yosemite Nov. 10, 2017
We have experienced a few small rain and snow events in Yosemite over the last week. With these, we are considering Ribbon and South Fork fires 100% contained. Star King and Empire fires have minimal activity but smoke from these may continue to be visible from Glacier and Washburn Points.
On November 3rd Yosemite Fire conducted a prescription burn in the Historic Merced Grove. This operation treated 100 acres in the upper grove. Prescribed fire is used to mimic natural processes in this fire adapted ecosystem. If conditions are favorable we may continue to burn in the Grove prior to a fire season ending precipitation event.
Pile burning will continue through the fall and winter as conditions allow. Pile locations will vary based on continued fuels work throughout the park and communities.
The current pile burning operations along the “Bridalveil straight” area in the Yosemite Valley are part of the Scenic Vista Management and Meadow Restoration Projects.
For more insight into the Scenic Vista Management and Meadow Restoration Projects you may visit the park website or follow the links below.
Pod cast https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/management/vista.htm
Video https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/photosmultimedia/restoringameadow.htm
Yosemite Fire, Forestry, Tribal Council, and Resource Management and Science work together to help ensure the safety of the visitors, the health of the ecosystem, the protection of natural and cultural resources, and the management of scenic vistas throughout the park.
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Meeting
Wednesday, November 8th, 2017 at 5:30 pm
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, California
AGENDA
- CALL TO ORDER
- ROLL CALL
- CONSENT AGENDA
- Approval of agenda
- Approval of minutes of the regular meeting, May 23, June 7, August 23 and October 4, 2017
- Financial reports
- Monthly approval of warrants (Action needed)
- Financial Report
- Payroll Report
- HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
ACTION ITEMS
- Approve Suicide Prevention Policy
- Approve and adopt Transportation Safety Plan and Bus Evacuation Procedures.
- Discuss and Approve Transportation Driver additional hours to meet bus schedule (38 hours/week instead of 36 hours/week). This would apply when bus transportation is being provided starting at the end of November or beginning of December.
- Discuss and approve winter tires for the bus.
- Approve corrected Unaudited actuals for 2016-2017.
- Approve corrected P2 and Annual Attendance Reports as per audit findings for 2016-2017.
- Approve 2018-2019 school calendar and instructional minutes.
INFORMATION ITEMS
- BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
- STAFF REPORTS
- L CAP Update
- NEXT MEETING DATE
- CLOSED SESSION Personnel/Negotiations/Litigation
- Employee Negotiations (Gov. Code 54957.6)
- Personnel (Gov. Code 54957)
- RECOVENE IN OPEN SESSION: ANNOUNCE CLOSED SESSION ACTIONS
- ADJOURNMENT
Fire Update Nov 3, 2017
Today Yosemite Fire began a prescription burn in the Mariposa Grove of Sequoias. As of 5pm the area treated consisted of 70 acres. This included 20 acres in unit 11 and the remaining 50 in unit 4. We are seeing a minor increase in fire behavior on the west hand line in unit 4 as it burns into the heavier dead and down fuels. There is currently moderate smoke production with smoke dispersal to the NE.
Tomorrow we are expecting the upcoming storm to bring significant rain and snow over Yosemite. This may be a "fire season ending event". With this, the Yosemite fires that are currently active may still smolder but will likely not produce much smoke. We expect to still see light, visible smoke on the Empire and Starr King fires.
Rain and snow will hamper prescribed fire efforts but will allow firefighters the ability to shift from wildfire management to prescribed fire management in the Mariposa Grove and to begin pile burning throughout the park. If conditions are too wet to do prescribed burning, fire crews will shift to thinning projects around developed and high risk areas.
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
Tomorrow we are expecting the upcoming storm to bring significant rain and snow over Yosemite. This may be a "fire season ending event". With this, the Yosemite fires that are currently active may still smolder but will likely not produce much smoke. We expect to still see light, visible smoke on the Empire and Starr King fires.
Rain and snow will hamper prescribed fire efforts but will allow firefighters the ability to shift from wildfire management to prescribed fire management in the Mariposa Grove and to begin pile burning throughout the park. If conditions are too wet to do prescribed burning, fire crews will shift to thinning projects around developed and high risk areas.
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
South Entrance Roundabout Taking Shape
Yosemite Prescribed Fire Update
Yosemite National Park fire managers are planning prescribed fire in the Mariposa Grove during the window of 4-14 of November, weather conditions permitting. We expect to have a few days of smoke associated with this burn.
Over 100 years of aggressive fire exclusion throughout the Sierra Nevada Range has dramatically altered forested ecosystems. Historically, natural fires burned an average of 16,000 acres annually in Yosemite and played an integral role in shaping forest structure and creating important wildlife habitat. In the absence of frequent fire, unnatural levels of forest fuel have accumulated, putting many of Yosemite’s natural and cultural values at risk. Applying fire under prescribed conditions mimics the frequent, low intensity lightning caused fires that occurred in the Sierras prior to the exclusion of fire.
The Mariposa Grove project includes two to three burn units that total under 200 acres. Fire managers want to take advantage of the Mariposa Grove closure for a major restoration project to conduct the burn, minimizing impacts to public. Burning in the Mariposa Grove is a continuous process; the targeted areas have had 1-3 prescribed fires in the past 30 years, and continued burning is required to maintain healthy forest conditions. Fire produces the optimum conditions for Giant Sequoia regeneration. Fire not only removes the accumulated layers of dead woody debris exposing nutrient rich mineral soil, but fire is needed to dry the cones and allow the seeds to shed. In addition, by reducing the number of trees and undergrowth, wildfire opens up the forest canopy and reduces shade-tolerant competition.
Additional fire management activity in Yosemite
Fuel reduction projects including thinning and piling in the Mariposa Grove and within the community of Wawona for hazard fuel reduction.
Pile burning throughout the park will be conducted after receiving precipitation and during permissive burn days.
* The Soupbowl prescribed burn project has been canceled.
Smoke may be present during the prescribed fire and in the Wawona area. Fire managers are working with the Mariposa County Air Pollution District (MCAPCD) to time the project to coincide with favorable weather that will facilitate good air quality, and disperse smoke into the atmosphere away from the community. Prior to ignition, smoke monitoring equipment will be installed in the community and a burn permit will be issued to the park by MCAPCD. Community members who are sensitive to smoke may want to close their windows and doors and/or consider leaving the area during active ignition of the project in order to reduce their exposure.
For additional Information:
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
Over 100 years of aggressive fire exclusion throughout the Sierra Nevada Range has dramatically altered forested ecosystems. Historically, natural fires burned an average of 16,000 acres annually in Yosemite and played an integral role in shaping forest structure and creating important wildlife habitat. In the absence of frequent fire, unnatural levels of forest fuel have accumulated, putting many of Yosemite’s natural and cultural values at risk. Applying fire under prescribed conditions mimics the frequent, low intensity lightning caused fires that occurred in the Sierras prior to the exclusion of fire.
The Mariposa Grove project includes two to three burn units that total under 200 acres. Fire managers want to take advantage of the Mariposa Grove closure for a major restoration project to conduct the burn, minimizing impacts to public. Burning in the Mariposa Grove is a continuous process; the targeted areas have had 1-3 prescribed fires in the past 30 years, and continued burning is required to maintain healthy forest conditions. Fire produces the optimum conditions for Giant Sequoia regeneration. Fire not only removes the accumulated layers of dead woody debris exposing nutrient rich mineral soil, but fire is needed to dry the cones and allow the seeds to shed. In addition, by reducing the number of trees and undergrowth, wildfire opens up the forest canopy and reduces shade-tolerant competition.
Additional fire management activity in Yosemite
Fuel reduction projects including thinning and piling in the Mariposa Grove and within the community of Wawona for hazard fuel reduction.
Pile burning throughout the park will be conducted after receiving precipitation and during permissive burn days.
* The Soupbowl prescribed burn project has been canceled.
Smoke may be present during the prescribed fire and in the Wawona area. Fire managers are working with the Mariposa County Air Pollution District (MCAPCD) to time the project to coincide with favorable weather that will facilitate good air quality, and disperse smoke into the atmosphere away from the community. Prior to ignition, smoke monitoring equipment will be installed in the community and a burn permit will be issued to the park by MCAPCD. Community members who are sensitive to smoke may want to close their windows and doors and/or consider leaving the area during active ignition of the project in order to reduce their exposure.
For additional Information:
- Fire Information: [email protected], (209) 379-1493
- Yosemite National Park Fire Information website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/fireinfo.htm
- Facebook: Search-- Yosemite Fire and Aviation: @YosemiteFire
- Twitter: Search @YosemiteFire https://twitter.com/YosemiteFire
- Air Quality: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/aqmonitoring.htm
--
Yosemite Fire and Aviation Information
[email protected]
209-379-1493
