WawonaNews.com - March 2022
Yosemite Fire Update March 1
The jackpot burning at Crane Flat a couple weeks ago was very successful with approximately 340 acres burned. This week fire crews have been continuing work in the Mariposa Grove, Merced Grove, El Portal woodlot, and the Foresta burn pile.
Conditions dependent, we are starting to assess some of the Studhorse units for burning mid-March. These units are located southeast of the community of Wawona and north of the Wawona Road (Hwy 41), approximately two miles northwest of the Mariposa Grove. A map will be shared in the near future as plans come together.
Thank you for your continued interest in Yosemite Fire, happy March!
Yosemite Fire Information
[email protected]
go.nps.gov/yosefire
Facebook @YosemiteFire
Twitter @YosemiteFire
Instagram @YosemiteFire
The jackpot burning at Crane Flat a couple weeks ago was very successful with approximately 340 acres burned. This week fire crews have been continuing work in the Mariposa Grove, Merced Grove, El Portal woodlot, and the Foresta burn pile.
Conditions dependent, we are starting to assess some of the Studhorse units for burning mid-March. These units are located southeast of the community of Wawona and north of the Wawona Road (Hwy 41), approximately two miles northwest of the Mariposa Grove. A map will be shared in the near future as plans come together.
Thank you for your continued interest in Yosemite Fire, happy March!
Yosemite Fire Information
[email protected]
go.nps.gov/yosefire
Facebook @YosemiteFire
Twitter @YosemiteFire
Instagram @YosemiteFire
Quilt Raffle For Wawona School
Feb. 28. Beautiful hand-made 75" x 75"quilt currently on display at The Redwoods lobby, where you can purchase raffle tickets. If you would like to purchase tickets via mail, send a check to:
Stacy Boydston
Quilt Raffle
Yosemite Wawona Elementary
Charter School
P.O. Box 2068
Wawona, CA 95389
Make it payable to "YWECS". Write “quilt raffle” in notation area and include your name, email address and phone number in your envelope to put on tickets.
All proceeds go to the Wawona School for a new roof. Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20 and the winner will be selected on Labor Day weekend. You do not need to be present to win.
Feb. 28. Beautiful hand-made 75" x 75"quilt currently on display at The Redwoods lobby, where you can purchase raffle tickets. If you would like to purchase tickets via mail, send a check to:
Stacy Boydston
Quilt Raffle
Yosemite Wawona Elementary
Charter School
P.O. Box 2068
Wawona, CA 95389
Make it payable to "YWECS". Write “quilt raffle” in notation area and include your name, email address and phone number in your envelope to put on tickets.
All proceeds go to the Wawona School for a new roof. Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20 and the winner will be selected on Labor Day weekend. You do not need to be present to win.
WAWONA BASSETT MEMORIAL LIBRARY REOPENS TO PUBLIC
- All County offices and services are to be open to the public on Monday, February 28, 2022.
- Individual requirements to wear a mask or wear a face covering will revert to those mandates or guidelines issued by the State of California. Those guidelines currently allow individuals who have received vaccination and booster shots to remove their mask indoors. Individuals who are partially vaccinated or unvaccinated are still required to wear a mask (or other face covering, if exempt from wearing a mask) indoors. This change is effective immediately.
The top 10 most visited US National Park sites in 2021 are ...
(CNN) — Stir-crazy from the pandemic, visitors poured into US national parks and related sites last year -- and they especially paid calls to the marquee names.
Roughly 297.1 million total visits were recorded in 2021 by the National Park Service, which released an in-depth visitation report on Wednesday.
The NPS said that last year's visitation increased by 60 million over 2020. That's when Covid-19 closed facilities in most parks for at least part of the year. Across the entire National Park System, the numbers still remained below pre-pandemic totals.
However, it was a different story for the best-known sites, which were inundated with visitors. Forty-four places actually set a record for recreation visits in 2021.
Top 10 most visited sites
Of 423 sites in the National Park System, the top 25 got more than half of the system's total number of visits.
These were the top 10 for 2021, which includes national parks but also parkways, recreation areas, memorials and related sites (figures are rounded off):
1. Blue Ridge Parkway: 15.9 million
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 14.1 million
3. Golden Gate National Recreation Area: 13.7 million
4. Gateway National Recreation Area: 9.1 million
5. Lake Mead National Recreation Area: 7.6 million
6. George Washington Memorial Parkway: 6.8 million
7. Natchez Trace Parkway: 6.4 million
8. Lincoln Memorial: 5.8 million
9. Gulf Islands National Seashore: 5.5 million
10. Zion National Park: 5 million
The Blue Ridge Parkway, which covers 469 miles in the Appalachians of North Carolina and Virginia, kept its title of the most-visited site in the system.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park set a visitation record for 2021, passing 14 million recreation visits for the first time, NPS said in its report.
Top 10 national parks
(CNN) — Stir-crazy from the pandemic, visitors poured into US national parks and related sites last year -- and they especially paid calls to the marquee names.
Roughly 297.1 million total visits were recorded in 2021 by the National Park Service, which released an in-depth visitation report on Wednesday.
The NPS said that last year's visitation increased by 60 million over 2020. That's when Covid-19 closed facilities in most parks for at least part of the year. Across the entire National Park System, the numbers still remained below pre-pandemic totals.
However, it was a different story for the best-known sites, which were inundated with visitors. Forty-four places actually set a record for recreation visits in 2021.
Top 10 most visited sites
Of 423 sites in the National Park System, the top 25 got more than half of the system's total number of visits.
These were the top 10 for 2021, which includes national parks but also parkways, recreation areas, memorials and related sites (figures are rounded off):
1. Blue Ridge Parkway: 15.9 million
2. Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 14.1 million
3. Golden Gate National Recreation Area: 13.7 million
4. Gateway National Recreation Area: 9.1 million
5. Lake Mead National Recreation Area: 7.6 million
6. George Washington Memorial Parkway: 6.8 million
7. Natchez Trace Parkway: 6.4 million
8. Lincoln Memorial: 5.8 million
9. Gulf Islands National Seashore: 5.5 million
10. Zion National Park: 5 million
The Blue Ridge Parkway, which covers 469 miles in the Appalachians of North Carolina and Virginia, kept its title of the most-visited site in the system.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park set a visitation record for 2021, passing 14 million recreation visits for the first time, NPS said in its report.
Top 10 national parks
Of those 400+ sites in the entire system, only 63 of them are actually designated a "national park." These are most visited national parks of 2021 (figures are rounded off):
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 14.16 million
2. Zion National Park: 5.03 million
3. Yellowstone National Park: 4.86 million
4. Grand Canyon National Park: 4.53 million
5. Rocky Mountain National Park: 4.43 million
6. Acadia National Park: 4.06 million
7. Grand Teton National Park: 3.88 million
8. Yosemite National Park: 3.28 million
9. Indiana Dunes National Park: 3.17 million
10. Glacier National Park: 3.08 million
If you want to really avoid the crowds and be alone with nature, Kobuk Valley National Park in northwestern Alaska had only 11,540 recreational visits in 2021. Even by Alaska standards, this place is remote.
NPS to visitors: Let's spread it outLong lines and closed signs sometimes greeted visitors at the most popular sites last year. This prompted the Park Service to impose new systems to control crowds. For instance, Arches National Park in Utah is rolling out a timed entry program, with reservations set out three months in advance.
Along with measures to regulate crowding at the most popular places, the NPS is also trying to steer people toward the parks that aren't setting records.
"It's wonderful to see so many Americans continuing to find solace and inspiration in these incredible places during the second year of the pandemic," said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams in the report.
"We're happy to see so many visitors returning to iconic parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite, but there are hundreds more that should be on everyone's bucket list."
One idea: Park clustersOne idea the NPS is encouraging: visit a cluster of parks on the same vacation.
In one example, a family might be considering a visit to the extremely popular Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee). The NPS said they could also divert to these other relatively nearby spots that might be less crowded:
• Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (Georgia and Tennessee)
• Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia)
• Little River Canyon National Preserve (Alabama)
• Carl Sandburg National Historic Site (North Carolina)
• Obed Wild and Scenic River (Tennessee)
1. Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 14.16 million
2. Zion National Park: 5.03 million
3. Yellowstone National Park: 4.86 million
4. Grand Canyon National Park: 4.53 million
5. Rocky Mountain National Park: 4.43 million
6. Acadia National Park: 4.06 million
7. Grand Teton National Park: 3.88 million
8. Yosemite National Park: 3.28 million
9. Indiana Dunes National Park: 3.17 million
10. Glacier National Park: 3.08 million
If you want to really avoid the crowds and be alone with nature, Kobuk Valley National Park in northwestern Alaska had only 11,540 recreational visits in 2021. Even by Alaska standards, this place is remote.
NPS to visitors: Let's spread it outLong lines and closed signs sometimes greeted visitors at the most popular sites last year. This prompted the Park Service to impose new systems to control crowds. For instance, Arches National Park in Utah is rolling out a timed entry program, with reservations set out three months in advance.
Along with measures to regulate crowding at the most popular places, the NPS is also trying to steer people toward the parks that aren't setting records.
"It's wonderful to see so many Americans continuing to find solace and inspiration in these incredible places during the second year of the pandemic," said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams in the report.
"We're happy to see so many visitors returning to iconic parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite, but there are hundreds more that should be on everyone's bucket list."
One idea: Park clustersOne idea the NPS is encouraging: visit a cluster of parks on the same vacation.
In one example, a family might be considering a visit to the extremely popular Great Smoky Mountains National Park (North Carolina and Tennessee). The NPS said they could also divert to these other relatively nearby spots that might be less crowded:
• Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (Georgia and Tennessee)
• Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia)
• Little River Canyon National Preserve (Alabama)
• Carl Sandburg National Historic Site (North Carolina)
• Obed Wild and Scenic River (Tennessee)
Update On Fuels Reduction Grant
Gail Young, a Wawona homeowner, wrote to Melinda Barrett, the Mariposa County administrator for the Fuels Reduction Grant, with some questions she had. Here are her questions and Melinda's response.
Hi Gail. Thank you for getting in touch and sharing this information with others. We have received 110 forms from Wawona residents and yours is one of them. A few of the forms had incorrect Assessor's parcel numbers and we are following up to get those corrected. I believe I have enough properties to move ahead with hiring a contractor, but we don't have 100%. The good news is that we can add people as the work is ongoing, as long as we still have budget to cover the work. The other good news is that YNP property is included in the work. We plan to treat both public and private property at the same time, and I am working with Yosemite. I hope to begin work in May or June. I"ve put some answers below to make it easier to find.
My name is Gail Young. I own a piece of property in Wawona at 7989 Forest Dr. I have a few questions.
1). First I would like to confirm my form (application) for the property cleanup was received.
Yes
2). The piece of property immediately adjacent to mine… 30 feet from my cabin is Park property. Is it possible for me to put in a request to have that parcel also cleaned up? OR..My parcel is pretty cleaned up. I could request that that one be done instead of mine if need be. It’s quite a fire hazard.
Park property is already included in the project.
3). How extensive will the work be….will they be burning the slash at all … ?
We will mostly be removing downed trees and some thinning along the roads. We can remove hazard trees if necessary. We will take the biomass (wood waste) to a cogeneration facility to be turned into energy, so we don't expect any burning.
4). When will the work be done? I expect it to be this summer. I don't have exact dates. I need to file the CEQA documents which requires a 30-day posting and hire a contractor.
5). How will it be decided the order in which the parcels will be done. If they are going to be burning, that will not be possible on the ones done later.
We will do the parcels who have submitted their Right of Entry and adjacent YNP lots going along the roads. I will work with the contractor to determine the most cost effective route. It will make the most sense to address areas with the most participation. A lot of the cost is staging and moving the equipment and log hauling trucks, so much will depend on where we have participants.
I have included a draft map of those properties we have ROEs for. There are a few folks missing because of incorrect APN numbers and a few might not have been added yet, but it is fairly useful to show where we have blocks of participants and where we have very few. Apologies that it's a bit hard to follow. I would appreciate your help in one last push to get folks to return the ROE and join the project.
Gail Young, a Wawona homeowner, wrote to Melinda Barrett, the Mariposa County administrator for the Fuels Reduction Grant, with some questions she had. Here are her questions and Melinda's response.
Hi Gail. Thank you for getting in touch and sharing this information with others. We have received 110 forms from Wawona residents and yours is one of them. A few of the forms had incorrect Assessor's parcel numbers and we are following up to get those corrected. I believe I have enough properties to move ahead with hiring a contractor, but we don't have 100%. The good news is that we can add people as the work is ongoing, as long as we still have budget to cover the work. The other good news is that YNP property is included in the work. We plan to treat both public and private property at the same time, and I am working with Yosemite. I hope to begin work in May or June. I"ve put some answers below to make it easier to find.
My name is Gail Young. I own a piece of property in Wawona at 7989 Forest Dr. I have a few questions.
1). First I would like to confirm my form (application) for the property cleanup was received.
Yes
2). The piece of property immediately adjacent to mine… 30 feet from my cabin is Park property. Is it possible for me to put in a request to have that parcel also cleaned up? OR..My parcel is pretty cleaned up. I could request that that one be done instead of mine if need be. It’s quite a fire hazard.
Park property is already included in the project.
3). How extensive will the work be….will they be burning the slash at all … ?
We will mostly be removing downed trees and some thinning along the roads. We can remove hazard trees if necessary. We will take the biomass (wood waste) to a cogeneration facility to be turned into energy, so we don't expect any burning.
4). When will the work be done? I expect it to be this summer. I don't have exact dates. I need to file the CEQA documents which requires a 30-day posting and hire a contractor.
5). How will it be decided the order in which the parcels will be done. If they are going to be burning, that will not be possible on the ones done later.
We will do the parcels who have submitted their Right of Entry and adjacent YNP lots going along the roads. I will work with the contractor to determine the most cost effective route. It will make the most sense to address areas with the most participation. A lot of the cost is staging and moving the equipment and log hauling trucks, so much will depend on where we have participants.
I have included a draft map of those properties we have ROEs for. There are a few folks missing because of incorrect APN numbers and a few might not have been added yet, but it is fairly useful to show where we have blocks of participants and where we have very few. Apologies that it's a bit hard to follow. I would appreciate your help in one last push to get folks to return the ROE and join the project.
Summer Entrance Reservations For Guests Of Owners
(From Trish Peterson) Owner's need to email or write a note to guests/family who will be visiting between May 21 through Sept. 21, 2021, in order to get entry into the Park. (A day-use reservation will be in effect and day-use visitors have to get a reservation to get in.) Guests and family do not need a reservation - just this note from the owner.
The email or note must include the owner's name and the guest's name, the Wawona address where they will be visiting, and the dates they will be there. Reminder - if it's an email on a smartphone - there will not be internet at the gate, so screenshot the email and save to your photos while at home, and then you can access it to show the entry gate Ranger without having internet.
Guests who rent a cabin through the Redwoods and Scenic Wonders will get a reservation confirmation from them to show at the gate. If an owner rents their cabin through VRBO or airbnb, there is a form on the NPS website for you to fill out and give to the guest.
The difference this year, is that there will be peak hours system, so people can come in any time after 4 or before 6 a.m.
(From Trish Peterson) Owner's need to email or write a note to guests/family who will be visiting between May 21 through Sept. 21, 2021, in order to get entry into the Park. (A day-use reservation will be in effect and day-use visitors have to get a reservation to get in.) Guests and family do not need a reservation - just this note from the owner.
The email or note must include the owner's name and the guest's name, the Wawona address where they will be visiting, and the dates they will be there. Reminder - if it's an email on a smartphone - there will not be internet at the gate, so screenshot the email and save to your photos while at home, and then you can access it to show the entry gate Ranger without having internet.
Guests who rent a cabin through the Redwoods and Scenic Wonders will get a reservation confirmation from them to show at the gate. If an owner rents their cabin through VRBO or airbnb, there is a form on the NPS website for you to fill out and give to the guest.
The difference this year, is that there will be peak hours system, so people can come in any time after 4 or before 6 a.m.
Yosemite National Park Launches Temporary Peak Hours Reservation System May 20
System will help manage traffic congestion throughout summer season
Yosemite National Park – Beginning Friday, May 20, Yosemite National Park will implement a temporary peak hours reservation system. Building on lessons learned during the summer reservation systems in 2020 and 2021, the peak hours reservation system is designed to spread visitation out and reduce chronic congestion in the park.
Park visitors will need a reservation to enter the park between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. seven days a week. Visitors entering the park outside of the peak hours are not required to have a reservation.
“A visit to Yosemite should be about enjoying the beautiful granite-lined landscape, not sitting in gridlock,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon. “Yosemite visitors deserve a high-quality experience in this magnificent place. Our goal with the peak hours system is to ease overcrowding during the busiest times this summer while still offering access for all.”
The park will benefit from multiple major Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and other infrastructure improvement projects in 2022 to repair roads, trails, campgrounds, visitor facilities, and utility systems. This work will involve the closure of several park areas and impact traffic circulation. For example, the Glacier Point Road, Tuolumne Meadows Campground, Crane Flat Campground, and other sites will be closed for extensive repairs throughout 2022.
The peak hours reservation system will be in effect through September 30, 2022, and reservations will be required for all users, including annual and lifetime pass holders. Each reservation is valid for three days. Reservations are available on www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. on March 23, 2022. Each peak hours reservation is valid for one vehicle and the occupants of that vehicle.
Visitors who enter the park before 6 a.m. or after 4 p.m. will be required to pay the park entrance fee and that pass is valid for three days outside of peak hours. For more detailed information, please visit: go.nps.gov/reserve.
Peak hours reservations are included for all visitors staying overnight in the park. This includes reservations for The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village, Wawona Hotel, Housekeeping Camp, and NPS-managed campgrounds. Peak Hours reservations are also included for all visitors with wilderness and Half Dome permits and visitors entering the park via YARTS buses and on permitted commercial tours.
“Yosemite’s visitation affects our gateway communities in so many ways,” said Muldoon. “We are grateful for the helping hand our community partners have extended to make this system work better for all.”
For further information on Yosemite National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/yose.
System will help manage traffic congestion throughout summer season
Yosemite National Park – Beginning Friday, May 20, Yosemite National Park will implement a temporary peak hours reservation system. Building on lessons learned during the summer reservation systems in 2020 and 2021, the peak hours reservation system is designed to spread visitation out and reduce chronic congestion in the park.
Park visitors will need a reservation to enter the park between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. seven days a week. Visitors entering the park outside of the peak hours are not required to have a reservation.
“A visit to Yosemite should be about enjoying the beautiful granite-lined landscape, not sitting in gridlock,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon. “Yosemite visitors deserve a high-quality experience in this magnificent place. Our goal with the peak hours system is to ease overcrowding during the busiest times this summer while still offering access for all.”
The park will benefit from multiple major Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) and other infrastructure improvement projects in 2022 to repair roads, trails, campgrounds, visitor facilities, and utility systems. This work will involve the closure of several park areas and impact traffic circulation. For example, the Glacier Point Road, Tuolumne Meadows Campground, Crane Flat Campground, and other sites will be closed for extensive repairs throughout 2022.
The peak hours reservation system will be in effect through September 30, 2022, and reservations will be required for all users, including annual and lifetime pass holders. Each reservation is valid for three days. Reservations are available on www.recreation.gov beginning at 8 a.m. on March 23, 2022. Each peak hours reservation is valid for one vehicle and the occupants of that vehicle.
Visitors who enter the park before 6 a.m. or after 4 p.m. will be required to pay the park entrance fee and that pass is valid for three days outside of peak hours. For more detailed information, please visit: go.nps.gov/reserve.
Peak hours reservations are included for all visitors staying overnight in the park. This includes reservations for The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite Valley Lodge, Curry Village, Wawona Hotel, Housekeeping Camp, and NPS-managed campgrounds. Peak Hours reservations are also included for all visitors with wilderness and Half Dome permits and visitors entering the park via YARTS buses and on permitted commercial tours.
“Yosemite’s visitation affects our gateway communities in so many ways,” said Muldoon. “We are grateful for the helping hand our community partners have extended to make this system work better for all.”
For further information on Yosemite National Park, please visit www.nps.gov/yose.
Yosemite Pile Burning Update Feb 15
As conditions allow, crews are continuing to burn piles in the Merced Grove this week as well jackpot burning around Crane Flat along the Big Oak Flat Road. Jackpot burning targets high concentrations of naturally occurring downed debris. This process is in preparation for broadcast burning a larger area at a later time. Smoke may be present throughout burning operations and could linger to a much lesser degree into the following weeks as large logs are consumed. |
NPS Vehicle Stickers
If you got an NPS vehicle sticker in the last couple of years, it's probably still good. Ones from last year last to 2024. So check your sticker and send in an application if it's YNP-21 or earlier. You can email to [email protected]
Please send
Parker Davis
Deputy Fee Manager
Yosemite National Park
209-259-9884 (cell)
If you got an NPS vehicle sticker in the last couple of years, it's probably still good. Ones from last year last to 2024. So check your sticker and send in an application if it's YNP-21 or earlier. You can email to [email protected]
Please send
- physical address of property (cabin #25 doesn't help much)
- phone number
- registrations of vehicles - make sure license plate # is visible
- mailing address
- relationships of family members for whom they are requesting stickers. This can be incredibly confusing and one reason we used to provide stickers only to those listed on the deed as owners. Note: we provide stickers to immediate family members of owner (not cousins, aunts, nephews, etc.).
Parker Davis
Deputy Fee Manager
Yosemite National Park
209-259-9884 (cell)
YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
5:30 P.M.
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, CA
MONTHLY ITEMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS
3.1- Approval of Agenda
3.2– Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of January 11
3.3 - Approve Warrants/Payroll
3.4 – Accept Donations to YWECS
ACTION ITEMS
INFORMATION ITEMS
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Request that various items be placed on the next agenda for discussion and/or action.
Second Interim Budget Report
Audit Report for 20-21 (?)
Board of Directors Regular Meeting
Tuesday, February 8, 2022
5:30 P.M.
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualna Falls Road
Wawona, CA
- CALL TO ORDER
- ROLL CALL
MONTHLY ITEMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS
- CONSENT AGENDA
3.1- Approval of Agenda
3.2– Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of January 11
3.3 - Approve Warrants/Payroll
3.4 – Accept Donations to YWECS
- HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
ACTION ITEMS
- APPROVAL OF 2020-21 AUDIT REPORT FOR YWECS
INFORMATION ITEMS
- REVIEW THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE ANNUAL UPDATE FOR THE 2021-22 LCAP
- REVIEW P-1 ATTENDANCE REPORT
- REVIEW DRAFT DONATIONS POLICY
- REVIEW BID PROCESS FOR NEW ROOF
- REVIEW PARK SERVICES FACILITIES USE AGREEMENT
- YWECS FUNDRAISER UPDATES
- STAFF REPORTS
- BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Request that various items be placed on the next agenda for discussion and/or action.
Second Interim Budget Report
Audit Report for 20-21 (?)
- NEXT BOARD MEETING
- ADJOURNMENT