Superintendent's Annual Report
Yosemite National Park Fiscal Year 1998
L Superintendent's Annual Report Produced by the Public Information Office Yosemite National Park
1 Table of Contents
Table of Contents 2
Foreword 7
Fiscal Year 1998 Highlights 8
Office of the Superintendent 17
Mission 17 Budget 17 Staff 17 Office of Strategic Planning 17 Staff 17 Highlights 18 Office of Safety and Occupational Health 18 Staff 18 Highlights 19 Office of the General Management Plan Implementation 19 Staff 19 Highlights 20
Division of Administration Management 20
Mission 20 Budget 20 Staff 20 Budget/Fiscal Office ! 20 Staff 20 Highlights 21 Contracting/Property Management & General Services 21 Staff 21 Highlights. 21 Housing Management Office 22 Staff 22 Highlights 22 Information Management Branch 22 Staff 22 Highlights 22 Human Resources Branch 23 Staff 23 Highlights 23 Office of Special Park Uses 23 Staff 23 Highlights 23
2 Division of Flood Recovery 24
Mission 24 Budget 24 Staff 25 Highlights 25
Division of Concessions Management 26
Mission 26 Budget 26 Staff 26 Highlights 26 Yosemite Concession Services 26 Ansel Adams Gallery 28 Yosemite Medical Clinic 28 El Portal Chevron 28 El Portal Market 28 Yosemite Electric Bus Project 28
Division of Interpretation 28
Mission 28 Budget 29 Staff 29 Branch of Interpretive Services 29 Staff 29 Highlights 29 Branch of Curatorial Services 31 Staff 31 Highlights 31 Branch of Information Services 33 Staff 33 Highlights 33 Public Information Office 33 Visitor Centers 34 Branch of Education 34 Staff 34 Highlights 34 Branch of Field Operations 35 Staff 35 Highlights 35
Division of Maintenance 36
Mission 36 Budget 36 Staff 36 Roads & Trails Branch 37 Staff 37
3 Highlights 37 Solid Waste 37 Parkway Roads 37 Sign Shop 37 Machine Shop 38 Equipment Specialist 38 Corrals Operation 38 Trails 38 Forestry 38 YCC 38 Building & Grounds Branch 38 Staff 38 Highlights 39 El Portal 39 Mather 39 Valley 39 Wawona 39 Historic Preservation 39 Utilities Branch 40 Staff 40 Highlights 40 Utilities Management 40 El Portal Utilities 40 Backcountry Utilities 40 High Voltage Electric 41 Electronic Shop 41 Valley Utilities 41 Wawona Utilities 41 Design and Engineering Branch 41 Staff 41 Highlights 41
Division of Visitor Protection 42
Mission 42 Budget 42 Staff 42 Branch of Administrative Support 42 Staff 42 Highlights 42 Branch of Operations 43 Staff 43 Highlights 43 Branch of Fee Collection 44 Staff 44 Highlights 44 Branch of Fire, Aviation and Telecommunications 45
4 Staff 45 Highlights 46 Wildland Fire 46 Structure Fire Alarm Responses 46 Prescribed Fire Operations 46 Structure Fire Operations 46 Telecommunications Operations 47 Law Enforcement Support 47 Staff 47 Highlights 48 Branch of Resource Protection 49 Staff 49 Highlights 49 Branch of Wilderness Management 49 Staff 49 Highlights 49
Division of Resources Management 50
Mission 50 Budget 52 Staff 54 Wildlife Management Program 54 Staff 54 Highlights 54 Human/Bear Management 54 Threatened and Endangered Species ..55 Interagency Cooperation 55 Non-Native Species 55 Physical Science and Environmental Compliance Program 55 Staff 55 Highlights 55 Environmental Contamination RCRA Program 55 Environmental Contamination CERCLA Program 56 Air Quality Program 56 Gaseous Air Quality Program 56 Visibility Air Quality Program 57 Water Resources Program 57 NEPA Program 58 Soils Program 59 Ecological Restoration and Vegetation Management Program 59 Staff 1 59 Highlights 59 Exotic Species 59 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Plant Species 60 Tompkin's sedge (Carex tompkinsii) 60 Hetch Hetchy monkey/lower (Mimulusfilicaulis) 60 Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) 60
5 Disturbed Lands 61 Ackerson Fire Rehabilitation 61 Cooks Meadow 61 Tenaya Lake Campground Removal/Revegetation 61 Glacier Point Sewerline/CIF. 61 Mirror Lake 61 Washburn Point 62 Wilderness Restoration 62 Yosemite Campground Resource Impact Evaluations 62 General Vegetation Management 63 Ackerson Fire Rehabilitation 63 South Entrance/Mariposa Grove 63 South Fork Bridge 63 Black Oak Woodlands 63 Tuolumne Visitor Center Revegetation 63 Compliance 63 Presentations 64 GIS Program 64 Staff 64 Highlights 64 Cultural Resources Management Program 64 Staff 64 Highlights 64 Published reports 65 Draff reports 66 American Indian Consultation 66 NAGPRA incidents 66 Public contacts 67 Attendance at meetings 67 Cultural Resources Management Projects 67 Archeological Projects 68 Large-scale and notable archeological projects 68
6 Foreword
The Superintendent's Annual Report is produced through submissions from each division of Yosemite National Park and includes summary information compiled during the federal fiscal year. The organization of each division is based on the nature of the work performed by that group, and each submission varies accordingly. Yosemite National Park is made up of the Superintendent's Office, six divisions and the temporary Division of Flood Recovery. They are represented here in no particular order.
Yosemite has an annual ONPS budget of approximately $19 million. There are approximately 420 National Park Service permanent employees and 300 seasonal employees. Yosemite's visitation for FY98 was 3,826,894 which is up 1% from FY97 visitation of 3,811,006.
7 Fiscal Year 1998 Highlights
- 1997 -- October 1 Tuolumne Meadows Campground closed for the season.
October 3 Weight restrictions were placed on the Wawona Bridge by the Federal Highway Administration. The new limits resulted from damage from the January 1997 flood. These new restrictions were in place until a temporary bridge was installed.
October 10 The Tioga Road temporarily closed for the day due to snow and ice.
October 16 The National Park Service campground reservation system was suspended due to termination of the National Park Service contract with DESTINET.
October 17 Yosemite National Park and the American Indian Council of Mariposa County entered into an agreement which allows for the development of a traditional Indian Village in Yosemite Valley and grants authority for traditional uses of park resources. The Traditional Use Agreement was signed during a special ceremony held in Yosemite National Park.
The agreement is the culmination of work begun with the park's General Management Plan of 1980, which called for the construction of a new Indian Village on a site which served as a traditional home for American Indians into the 1960s. The fifteen year agreement also provides for the traditional use of park resources, including gathering of medicinal and food plants and basket making materials.
October 18 A 29 year old hiker dies in a drowning accident. Arjuna D.N. Babapulle of Sri Lanka drown while trying to rescue his wife, who had fallen into Emerald Pool above Vernal Fall.
October 27 National Park Service Director Bob Stanton confirmed that Stanley T. Albright has been selected as the Superintendent of Yosemite National Park. Mr. Albright was named Acting Superintendent in May when Director Stanton's appointment as NPS Director was in the confirmation and hearing process.
Prior to his assignment in Yosemite, Albright served for 10 years as regional director for parks in the west. He also served as Associate Director for Park Operations in Washington and in a similar position in San Francisco and in the Pacific Northwest Region. Additional assignments have included Regional Director for parks in Alaska, park superintendent at Bandelier NM and Sequoia NP, and management assistant at Grand Canyon.
Albright has been honored with the Meritorius Service Award and the Distinguished Service Award, the highest recognition within the Department of the Interior. He is the nephew of National Park Sendee co-founder Horace Albright.
November 5 a ceremony in Yosemite Valley, Superintendent Stanley T. Albright released the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan / Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (VIP) for public review and comment through January 23, 1998. Speakers included Deputy Superintendent Hal Grovert, park planners Jerry Mitchell and Chip Jenkins, and representatives from Yosemite's surrounding communities.
The VIP presents four alternatives for carrying out provisions of the 1980 General Management Plan. Included in these alternatives is the removal of unnecessary structures, restoration and protection of recovered land, relocation of facilities out of sensitive or hazardous areas, and methods to reduce traffic congestion in Yosemite Valley.
Other speakers at the ceremony included members of the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation Strategy (YARTS) Management Board. YARTS is comprised of representatives from the surrounding communities working to devise a regional transportation system for the Yosemite area.
November 6 Aspen Valley area was ignited as a prescribed fire. The fire is expected to burn through Monday, November 10, 1997. The burn covered 1500 acres on the southeast flank of the 1996 Ackerson Wildfire.
November 9 Lower Pines Campground closed for the season.
November 10 The remains-of two hikers killed in unrelated events were identified by investigators. Zhiming Li of California and Yoshitake Osawa from Japan were identified through the use of dental records.
Zhiming Li, a former resident of Mountain View, California was killed on July 5, 1997 when he was swept over the 594-foot Nevada Fall. Li's remains were discovered during a low-water search on October 12.
Yoshitake Osawa was originally reported missing in December 1992
9 by the Teaneck, New Jersey Police Department. Rangers discovered Osawa's passport during the summer of 1993. Investigators suspect Osawa came to Yosemite during the 1992 Christmas break and went hiking in Little Yosemite Valley.
November 13 Ah °Pen house was held in Yosemite Valley to provide members of the public opportunities to learn about the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan.
November 17 A*1 °Pen house was held in Selma, California to provide members of the public opportunities to learn about the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan.
November 18 Property damage caused by black bears exceeded $500,000 in 1997. Over half the damage has been reported in Curry Village. Wildlife biologists attribute the problem to the failure of some visitors to follow the park's food storage guidelines, a lack of proper food storage facilities in the Curry Village area, and to an abundant apple crop from orchards planted by early Yosemite Valley settlers. Four bears were euthanized in 1997.
November 18 Ah °Pen house was held in Los Angeles, California to provide members of the public opportunities to learn about the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan.
November 20 ^ °Pen house was held in San Francisco, California to provide members of the public opportunities to learn about the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan.
November 22 ^ °Pen house was held in Mammoth Lakes, California to provide members of the public opportunities to learn about the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan.
November 26 The Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road (from Badger Pass to Glacier Point) closed for the season. The decision has been made to close the road for the season based on current conditions and predictions of continued heavy snowfall.
December 15 Yosemite National Park announces a thirty day extension of the public comment period for the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan from January 23,1998 to February 23,1998. There were numerous requests for the extension based on the complexity of the plan and the comment period coinciding with the holiday season.
December 15 The National Park Service decided to postpone construction on the El Portal Road to allow for additional measures to be taken to maximize the cost effectiveness of the project and minimize inconvenience to the local communities and park visitors.
-- 1998 -- January 15 Yosemite Valley Service Station closes permanently as a part of the Draft Yosemite Lodge Development Concept Plan.
January 15 An open house and public workshop was held in Groveland, California to provide members of the public opportunities to learn about the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan.
January 21 Biospherics, Inc. of Beltsville, Maryland was chosen to operate the new National Reservation Center by the National Park Service. Campground reservations will be available beginning March 15, 1998 up to three months in advance.
January 22 An open house and public workshop was held in Mariposa, California to provide members of the public opportunities to learn about the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan.
January 27 An open house and public workshop was held in Oakhurst, California to provide members of the public opportunities to learn about the Draft Yosemite J 'alley Implementation Plan.
February 6 An open house and public workshop was held in Merced, California to provide members of the public opportunities to learn about the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan.
February 9 Heavy snow and high winds caused multiple trees to fall across the Wawona Road closing the road from 5 a.m. to noon.
February 23 The public review and comment period on the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan (VIP) closed. The park received over 4,000 comments on the draft VIP.
February 25 Badger Pass Ski Area temporarily closed for the day to facilitate repairs on a propane tank.. All winter activities in the Badger Pass area including downhill and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are affected by this temporary closure.
March 15 National Park Reservation System, operated by Biospherics, Inc., began accepting reservations for Yosemite Campgrounds.
March 16 Almost nineteen inches of precipitation was recorded in Yosemite Valley in February 1998. The 18.82 inches of precipitation is over
11 three times the monthly average of 6.1 inches, and the greatest monthly precipitation recorded since the 22.57 inches the park received in February 1986.
March 27 Lower Pines Campground opens for the season.
April 5 Badger Pass Ski Area closes for the season.
April 10 North Pines Campground opens for the season.
April 10 The National Park Service released a concession prospectus seeking an individual, partnership, or corporation interested in operating the El Portal Service Station. The new contract will extend for eight years and five months to expire December 31, 2006. The new operator will be required to replace four underground storage tanks by December 1998 in accordance with Federal Law.
April 10 Mariposa Grove Road opens for the season. April 21 Yosemite National Park. Yosemite Concession Services and The Yosemite Fund accepted the 1998 Director's Award, the highest award presented annually by the National Park Foundation, for restoration efforts at Glacier Point. The award is in recognition of the long-term, collaborative public-private partnership which resulted in the $3.2 million restoration and renovation of visitor facilities at historic Glacier Point.
April 21 The National Park Sendee released a concession prospectus seeking an individual, partnership, or corporation interested in operating a photographic and art business. The new contract will be for five years to begin October 1, 1998.
May 1 Climbing closures were placed in effect continuing until 8:00 p.m. August 1, 1998 due to active peregrine nesting sites.
May 1 Yosemite National Park, in cooperation with the Folsom Zoo in Folsom, California, the Yosemite Association, the USDA Forest Service, and REI held a live demonstration to promote proper food storage in bear country.
May 20 Yosemite National Park launched a national media campaign to and issued a plea for the public's help this summer to save bears' lives. Traditional methods of keeping human food from bears no longer works in the Sierra Nevada. In Yosemite, bears caused over $500,000 in property damage in 1997.
12 May 26 Search efforts began to locate a Bay area man missing since May 25, 1998. David Paul Morrison, 28, of San Francisco, left on a hike to Half Dome. The CHP, Mariposa Sheriffs Search and Rescue, Madera County Search and Rescue, the California Rescue Dog Association, the U.S. Forest Service, and Lemoore Naval Air Station assisted in the search.
May 26 Two climbers were rescued from near the top of El Capitan after calling by cell phone asking for rescue. Both were reported in good condition.
May 30 The search for Morrison was scaled down. Continuing search efforts will include periodic aerial surveys, ranger foot patrols, and ongoing visitor awareness contacts. At its peak, the search involved 250 people, 15 dog teams and four helicopters. More than a dozen other federal, state and local agencies and numerous volunteers aided in the search.
June 1 The contract for the reconstruction of the El Portal Road was awarded by the Federal Highways Administration to Kiewit Pacific Co. of Concord, CA. Reconstruction of the 7.5 mile road is projected to be completed by October 2000.
June 8 The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), in cooperation with the National Park Service (NPS) and the California Department of Health Services (DHS) held a public meeting to discuss plans for protecting the groundwater in Yosemite National Park. The park's groundwater serves as the primary source of drinking water for Yosemite's millions of visitors and employees. June 8, 1998
June 9 The cables on Half Dome were installed.
June 15 The El Portal Road (Highway 140) was temporarily closed east of the junction with the Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 West). A 100-foot long section of the roadbed was undercut by the Merced River by runoff from melting snow. The high water is due to a later than normal melting of a heavy Sierra snowpack.
June 15 The Merced River reached 9.4 feet at 2 a.m. causing rangers to move campers to higher ground. Tent and RV campers were moved into vacant campsites and parking areas when thirty campsites in North Pines and Lower Pines campground flooded with six inches of water. Flood stage for the Merced River is 8.7 feet.
June 18 Highways 120 and 140 reopened to travel in and out of Yosemite
13 Valley after emergency repairs to a undermined section of road were completed.
June 25 Weight restrictions lifted on the Wawona Bridge on the Wawona Road.
July 1 The Tioga and Glacier Point Roads opened for the season.
July 3 Crane Flat Campground opens for the season.
July 6 One person was killed and five others were seriously injured in a traffic accident at Gin Flat along the Tioga Road. A group from Great Britain was traveling westbound when their mini-van left the road and struck a tree. One of the passengers was dead at the scene. The five others in the vehicle suffered serious to critical injuries. The Tioga Road was temporarily closed due to the accident.
July 7 Two young men, 16 year old Miguel Lopez of West Covina and 17 year old Manny Castillo of Hacienda Heights, California, died in a hiking accident. Rangers found their bodies on the unused Ledge Trail.
July 17 Bridalveil Creek, Tuolumne Meadows and Tamarack Flat Campgrounds opened for the season.
July 24 White Wolf and Yosemite Creek Campgrounds opened for the season.
July 27 An environmental assessment for the construction of a proposed new Resource Management Building was released. The environmental assessment was available for a thirty day public review and comment period from July 28 to August 28, 1998. The National Park Service proposes to construct an 8,500-square-foot, two-story building adjacent to the existing maintenance/warehouse complex in El Portal.
July 28 Five people were sentenced in U.S. District Court for participating in, and assisting, an illegal parachute jump in Yosemite National Park which resulted in the death of a sixth man. All five pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges stemming from a BASE jump from El Capitan.
July 31 Merced Lake and Glen Aulin High Sierra Camps opened for the season. These opening dates were delayed by a heavy snowpack and wet winter.
14 August 9 Richard "Ory" Benabou, a 23 year old man from Alameda, California, died while hiking on the Yosemite Falls trail. Benabou had been hiking off-trail with a group of friends when he fell into Yosemite Creek. Rangers recovered Benabou's body in the middle section of Yosemite Falls. The preliminary cause of death was drowning.
August 10 Vogelsang High Sierra Camp opened for the season. This opening date was delayed by a heavy snowpack and wet winter.
August 13 An environmental assessment for a proposal to enhance degraded meadow communities in Cook's meadow, Yosemite Valley was released for public review and comment. The environmental assessment was available through August 26, 1998.
August 14 May Lake High Sierra Camp opened for the season. This opening date was delayed by a heaw snowpack and wet winter.
August 24 Yosemite National Park celebrated the National Park Service's 81st birthday with a "free fee" day. Visitors were admitted to the park free of charge.
August 28 The Environmental Assessment for the Mirror Lake Loop Trail Reconstruction Project was released for public review and comment. The comment period was open through September 15, 1998. The return loop of the Mirror Lake Trail was closed after being damaged by flooding in January 1997.
September 7 Yosemite Creek and Tamarack Flat Campgrounds close for the season.
September 8 Construction on the El Portal Road began with traffic delays and periods of restricted access. The entire project will take two years to complete. The El Portal Road was severely damaged by flooding in January 1997.
September 10 Several prescribed bums are scheduled for the fall and early winter of 1998. The largest planned bums are: Elevenmile (100 acres on Henness Ridge); Aspen Valley (3,000 wilderness acres); Big Creek (500 acres in Wawona); Turner Ridge (2,000 wilderness acres west of Wawona)
September 13 Bridalveil Creek Campground closed for the season. May Lake and Merced Lake High Sierra Camps closed for the season.
September 19 The 1^th Annual Yosemite Alumni Picnic was held on the lawn of the Wawona Hotel. The Yosemite Award was presented to Jay Johnson for his outstanding contributions to the park as well as his service and dedication to the Yosemite Native American community and preservation of its heritage and culture.
September 20 Vogelsang and Glen Aulin High Sierra Camps closed for the season.
September 24 Environmental Assessment (EA) was released for the Hetch Hetchy Road Drainage Improvements project. The City of San Francisco provided the funding for the improvements. The public comment period was open until October 8, 1998. Office of the Superintendent
Mission
To preserve and protect Yosemite National Park while providing for visitor use and enjoyment and accomplish this in compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and policies.
Budget $19,169,000 (initial allocation)
Staff 1 Superintendent, Stanley Albright, SES 1 Deputy Superintendent, VACANT, GS-15 1 Confidential Assistant. Karren Warren, GS-10 1 Administrative Assistant. VACANT, GS-5.6,7
Total FTE: 4 Deputy Superintendent Hal Grovert transferred to become the Superintendent of the Colorado Plateau System Support Office in Denver, Colorado The Deputy Superintendent position has been filled on a rotating acting basis by each of the division chiefs. Confidential Assistant Sharon Clark moved into detail assignments in the Office of Special Park Uses, then Procurement and is currently serving on a detail to the Bureau of Reclamation in Denver, Colorado Karen Warren, formerly the park housing officer, became the Superintendent's Confidential Assistant.
Office of Strategic Planning
Staff
1 Program manager, Chip Jenkins, GS-13 1 Transportation Policy Analyst, Henrietta Degroot, GS-13 (On detail from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation) 1/2 Project Manager (split with Flood Recovery), Amy Schneckenberger, GS-13 1 Public Affairs Officer, Lisa Dapprich, GS-12 1 Visual Information Specialist, Margie Steigerwald, GS-11
In December of 1997 Margie Steigerwald transferred into the Visual Information Specialist position from Chief of Interpretation at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Alaska. In May of 1998 Henrietta Degroot joined the staff on detail from the Department of Transportation.
17 Highlights
• Represented the Superintendent on the YARTS Management Board. Worked with the 5 surrounding counties so that the YARTS short and long range plan was adopted on August 3, 1998. • Worked with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation in creating an Memorandum of Understanding between DOT and DOI. Under this MOU secured a detail of a staffer to the park (Henrietta Degroot). • Initiated work on an employee transportation program, wrote scopes of work for a transit operations plan and vehicle management system. • Staff in this office served as the principle points of contacts with the congressional delegation, boards of supervisors for the five surrounding counties, major environmental organizations and other interest groups. Numerous briefings were provided to these people, in the park, around the state and in Washington DC • Coordinated the response to litigation over the Yosemite Lodge project. Worked with the Solicitor's Office and the park's Flood Recovery Office in attempting to negotiate a settlement and then in preparing the legal case. • Assisted the Yosemite Fund and park staff to complete over $2 million in projects with donated funds.
• Coordinated the process to submit $1.2 million in new grant proposals to the Yosemite Fund for 1999 • With the Yosemite Fund and the Offices of Larry Halprin, initiated the project to rehabilitate the area around the Lower Yosemite Falls. Three workshops with invitees from various interest groups developed a conceptual plan. A fund raising feasibility study has been completed, a 1/2 time project manager hired, and an administrative draft Environmental Assessment completed. • For ongoing partnership work, including the completion of the Glacier Point rehabilitation, the park, the Yosemite Fund, and Yosemite Concession Services received the 1998 Director's Award for Partnership Leadership from the National Park Foundation. • Negotiated the 1998/99 annual budget with the City/County of San Francisco, Hetch Hetchy Water and Power. • Coordinated the public release of the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan and worked with the Chief of GMP implementation on developing and executing a public involvement program. • Produced 5,000 copies of an Executive Summary of the VIP and produced three GMP & Flood Recovery Updates that were sent to approximately 8,000 people on the mailing list. • Worked with the Yosemite Fun on implementing a public relations strategy for their 10th anniversary. This included coordinating the re-dedication event for Glacier Point. • Handled 22 Freedom of Information requests.
Office of Safety and Occupational Health
Staff 1 Safety Manager, Lloyd "Oly" Olson, GS-018-13 1 Sanitarian, Bernice Dommer, GS-000-11 1 Safety Technician, Cheryl English, GS-000-05 1 Clerk, Yvonne Radanovich, GS-000-04
18 Safety Office had 3.5 FTE's authorized with .5 FTE as lapsed during this FY. Cheryl English transferred to the USDA in June and Yvonne Radanovich was selected in May to fill the new Clerk position funded by Flood Recovery.
Highlights
• Completed comprehensive assessment of park-wide safety programs based on compliance to NPS-50 and OSHA regulations. • Reestablished the worksite inspection and abatement program for maintenance operations including the new El Portal maintenance complex. • Reestablished the Safety Team of representative members from all divisions including the Safety Office and OWCP coordinator. • Reestablished the Board of Review process to review employee accidents and make recommendations for corrective actions. • Developed a Safety Management Handbook for Supervisors that included the Accident Investigation and Reporting program and Employee Report of Unsafe Working Conditions program. • Implemented the SMIS accident reporting program and established a hard copy revision to ensure adequate field input.
• Provided three sessions of "Safety for First-line Supervisors" - over the past two years 65% of all field supervisors have completed this training. • Hazardous Communications -Right to Know training program was initiated, along with Hazardous Materials First Responder training. • Developed special emphasis safety program for trail maintenance including a NIOSH study and development of 35+ individual accident prevention safety plans for trail and bridge reconstruction activities. • Provided OSHA/safety compliance overview of preliminary designs and contracts for the Yosemite Lodge project along with EPA/HazMat review of demo contracts. • During the period of July 1 to June 30, overall employee occupational injuries were reduced by 30% and the numbers of lost-time injury cases were reduced by 58%. • Safety Office staff conducted 173 public health of Concessionaire's facilities, YCC camps, and Trail Crew camps. • Over 11 investigations were conducted as a result of complaints generated from Concessionaire facilities of foodborne illness. • The El Portal NPS Commissary staff was provided foodhandlers training and general area sanitation as an integral part of the overall backcountry public health program. • Coordinated and arranged for disposals of five hazardous waste pickups via individual contracts by bid process. • Two Fire Management employees were provided training as instructors for the HazMat First Responder; and they provided refresher training to 46 employees.
Office of the General Management Plan Implementation
Staff 1 Program Manager, Jerry Mitchell, GS-13
19 1 Public Involvement Specialist, Gary Colliver, GS-11
Highlights no report
Division of Administration Management
Mission The GRPA Goals for the Division of Administration have been integrated into the goals of the remaining Divisions due to the nature of the services provided by this Division.
Budget
ONPS funds allocated to the Administration Division: $2,248,600 Cost recovery funds received by the Office of Special Park Uses: $233,989 20% Fee Demonstration for VIP projects: 551,167 Construction money for the LAN for new shop buildings: $197,224 Utility income: $35,000
Staff 1 Chief of Administration, GS-14 1 Budget Analyst, GS-9
Total Employees for the Division are as follows: 52 Permanent 10 Term employees 1 Seasonal Employee 1 Lapsed employee 1 Resignation
Budget/Fiscal Office
Staff Branch Chief, Maggie Martin, GS-12 Voucher Examiners = 2 Term Voucher Examiner = 1 (Flood Recovery) Budget Analysts = 1 Term Budget Analyst = 1 (Flood Recovery) Fiscal Technicians = 2 Term Fiscal Technician = 1 (Flood Recovery) Detailed Fiscal Technician = 1 (Mail and File Clerk in training) Term Fiscal Clerk = 1
20 Highlights
• The park's budget cleared the fiscal year with only $4,000 on the books. • All 10-23 8's were converted from DOS to the Internet Program. This included the conversion of construction, repair/rehab, line item, cyclic and all cultural resources documents. • All travel for the park was issued timely and accurately. • Implemented the new Access Billing Program. • Physically moved the Accounts Payable section from the warehouse building in to the Fiscal Office. There was no disruption in service to the park. • A new Budget Analyst Term position was filled from within the park. • A new Voucher Examiner Term position was filled. • The Valley Mail and File Clerk was detailed into a Fiscal Technician position for training experience.
Contracting/Property Management & General Services
Staff Branch Chief, Sally Stansberry, GS-13 Contracting Officer =1 Purchasing Agent =1 Procurement Technician = 1 Term Procurement Technician =1 (Flood Recovery7) General Supply Specialist = 1 Property Management Specialist =1 Property Management Technician = 1 Property Management Clerk = 1 Supply Clerk = 1 Mail and File Clerk = 2
Materials Handler = 3 Term Materials Handler = 1 (Flood Recovery7) Motor Vehicle Operator = 1 Term Motor Vehicle Operator = 1 (Flood Recovery)
Highlights
• Awarded 35 contract actions for a total of S2,602,038. Includes 8 formal contracts, modifications and construction projects awarded under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures. • Twenty Agreement actions were executed. • Total of small purchases processed was $ 1.868,248. • Initiated 80 Reports of Survey, 8 Certificates of Unserviceable Property, and 91 Reports of Excess Property. • Issued 417 new property numbers. • Issued 972 wood permits. • Assisted the Regional Office with conversion to the FAS property system. • Relocated the property office into the accounts payable section of the warehouse. • Lost and Found returned a record 767 lost items to the owners.
21 • Processed 6,688 sale transactions from warehouse stock totaling $637,000.
Housing Management Office
Staff Branch Chief, Vacant, GS-11, Cindy Baker, GS-7 placed in Acting position Housing Management Assistants = 2 permanent part time
Highlights
• Manage 434 units listed on the Quarters Management inventory system, 4 units used for office space, will be removed from QMIS, 55 trailer pads included in inventory, 207 units used for parkwide permanent housing, 168 units used for parkwide seasonal housing. • Provided Division Chiefs with allotments of 276 seasonal beds. • Processed 172 possessory interest refunds estimated total value of $49,000. • Let 14 housing units out for bid for employees. • Initiated new housing bid policy. • Provided ongoing information for the Needs Assessment Contractor for the NPS.
Information Management Branch
Staff Acting Branch Chief, John M Bailey, GS-12 Computer Specialists = 3 Term Computer Specialist = 1 (Flood Recovery) Computer Assistants = 2
Highlights
• Stability and maintenance of the existing LANS/Servers and cc:mail. • User productivity support significantly reduced Help Desk backlog. Open requests for help desk now average about 70. Approximately 780 recorded service requests were received during this reporting period, and 624 were closed. An 80% completion rate for the recorded service requests including non-recorded requests. An estimated total of 2000 - 2500 were received and 1600 - 200 were completed. • Staff reorganization and recruitment. • Upgrade of cc:mail to version 8, upgrade users to version 6.2. • Significant staff training. • Provided LAN and server security. • Additional user site connectivity. • Upgrade of existing servers and wiring. • Upgrade of user workstations. • The remote access server was upgraded with additional lines and 56KB modems. • Secure and air-conditioned server facilities were completed in the warehouse and fiscal buildings.
22 • Created "server farm"' in the warehouse to centralize management of existing equipment.
Human Resources Branch
Staff Branch Chief, Michael Clayton, GS-13 1 Classification Specialist 2 Staffing Specialists 1 Workers Comp Specialist 1 Employee Benefits Assistant 6 Personnel Assistants 1 Employee Relations Specialist 1 Personnel Clerk 1 Term Personnel Clerk (Flood Recovery)
Highlights
• Mailed over 8000 applications for seasonal employment. • Received and processed 3600 seasonal applications and over 1800 other applications. • Issued 168 vacancy announcements, 85 of which were for permanent positions. • Appointed 161 permanents, 22 term and 353 temporary positions. • Processed 132 worker's compensation cases, a 47% reduction over 1997. • Processed over 230 background investigations. • Processed 3 retirements, and provided retirement counseling to 150 employees. • Administered 114 pre-employment drug tests to applicants for covered positions. • Processed 7500 personnel actions. • Reduced timekeeping corrections by 35%. • Classified 128 positions. • Provided ongoing assistance to employees and managers in all areas of Personnel Management.
Office of Special Park Uses
Staff Branch Chief, Bob Johnson, GS-13 Park Ranger = 3 Volunteer Program Manager = 1 Administrative Support Assistant = 1 Term Maintenance Worker Leader = 1 Detailed Employee = 1 Student Conservation Corp Intern = 1 (Six months)
Highlights
• Recruited for Lands Program Administrator. • First permits for Transient Rental issued. • Program for IBP Commercial Tour Groups initiated.
23 • 290 wedding permits issued for 1998 versus 197 in 1997. • Some 374 Commercial Bus IPS's issued. • Over 1000 permits being managed by the Branch. • Volunteer in Park hours totaled 123,471 hours, equating to 59.16 FTE and a cost savings to the park of $1,606,357. • The Yosemite (IMAX) filming is continuing. Some 120 other file company requests were fielded and 35 filming projects were approved. Some $80,512 in filming expenses were cost recovered.
• Total Branch Program managed for FY98 was $425,156. Permits income was $233,989. • Public Land Corps Grants totaled $51,167. • El Portal Land Lease Guidelines are poised for next release. A meeting was held on the Draft Guidelines with the El Portal Homeowners Association.
• 120 citations were issued by the branch rangers. Two interagency bus inspections involved 173 buses, multiple citations issued to 67 defendants and 19 buses placed out of service. One motor vehicle accident managed by the staff involved a 2 bus accident resulting in 23 passenger injuries. • The Branch assisted the Protection Rangers in 20 EMS responses. • A Commercial Tours Manager was selected and provided a 17 week DARE class to 5th and 6th graders. • Sue Clark, as Chairperson for the Board of Survey responded to 150 reports of survey. Resolved the Steuer/Anderson parking issue in El Portal East. • A1 Thorpe was detailed to the SPU Office. David Walker was selected as Student Conservation Corp leader for 6 months.
Division of Flood Recovery
Mission
The Office of Flood Recovery was established as a term (approximately four-year) organization during the 1997 flood emergency. Its mission is responsible management of the repair and rehabilitation of Yosemite's flood-damaged facilities. Objectives include: assessing flood damage; restoring visitor access and services through both temporary and long-term measures; estimating the cost to repair facilities so that they will not be damaged in a future flood of similar magnitude; requesting and obtaining funding from Congress, and providing regular status reports; phasing over $176 million in facility development projects based on compliance issues, size and complexity of projects, location, type of work, and amount of design needed to implement the repair; accomplishing projects in an orderly sequence that coincides with the facility development process used for the National Park Service's line-item construction program; enhancing accountability through project managers who are responsible for projects from beginning to end; and ensuring that park staff is adequately involved with the facility development process. (This Office does not receive ONPS funding and has not participated in the formal GPRA mission and goal setting process.)
Budget Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act (Public Law 105-18):
24 • Emergency: $176,053,000 • Non-emergency transportation: $10,000,000 Future NPS/Federal Lands Highways Program funding commitment: $11,100,000 Total Flood Recovery Budget (no-year funds, available until expended): $197,153,000
Staff Flood Recovery Manager: Kevin Cann Deputy Flood Recovery Manager: Bill Delaney 6 Project Managers 1 Compliance Coordinator with staff of 7 and 1 seasonal 1 Budget Analyst 1 Secretary 1 Management Assistant 1 Public Information Coordinator 1 Transportation Specialist
Total FTE: 21 Total FTE of lapsed positions: 0 Total new hires: 12 new term appointments, 2 new permanent appointments, 1 intermittent appointment. Positions were filled primarily through term detail or term promotion assignments from other divisions within the park. Total transfers: 0 Total retirements: 0
Highlights
• Awarded a $33 million design/build contract for permanent reconstruction of El Portal Road; began construction. • Completed redesign of Yosemite Lodge Area overnight visitor accommodations. • Presented 3 projects (Yosemite Lodge, Yosemite Creek Lift Station, and Resource Management Building) to the National Park Service Development Advisory Board and received approval to proceed. • Demolished over 150 flooded structures at Yosemite Lodge, removing hazardous materials, salvaging reusable lumber and recycling glass, metal and ceramics. • Used a rockfall analysis and a floodplain analysis to identify areas unsuitable for relocation of damaged camping and lodging facilities. • Removed hundreds of pounds of debris from the Merced River in Yosemite Valley and El Portal.
• Seeded over an acre of emergency road repair cutslopes. • Grew and harvested over 300 pounds of seed for erosion control on construction sites. • Conducted 2 campground design workshops and constructed 4 prototype campsites to evaluate campground reconstruction options. • Produced 1 flood reconstruction video explaining the El Portal Road project. • Prepared 3 Environmental Assessments and over 30 Categorical Exclusions for flood recovery project environmental compliance. • Finished repair of 5 flooded comfort stations.
25 • Refurbished a 7-bed dormitory at Arch Rock. • Installed rock skirting, a handicapped lift, and a sewage holding tank at the historic Yosemite Valley Chapel. • Rehabilitated grounds at 3 picnic areas and Curry Village. • Repaired 3 hiking trail bridges in Yosemite Valley. • Repaired or reconstructed 8 backcountry bridges. • Rebuilt 30 miles of backcountry trail. • Completed 12 road projects. • Prepared 4 quarterly reports to Congress regarding flood recovery progress and spending (obligations now total $60,387,166).
Division of Concessions Management
Mission
The mission of the Division of Concessions Management is to assure the existence of a contractual framework that provides that quality commercial services are available to the public at reasonable rates.
Budget
ONPS budget = $396,600
Staff Division Chief, GS-14, Martin L. Nielson Construction Analyst (1) GS-12 Financial Analyst (1) GS-12 Concession Specialist (3) GS-11 Construction Representative (1) GS-12 (Detailed to Flood Recovery) Civil Engineer (1) GS-12 (Detailed to Flood Recovery) Concession Assistant (1) GS-6
Total FTE for the Division: 8.88 Total FTE of lapsed positions: 0 Total new hires: 0 Total transfers: 0 Total retirements: 0
Highlights
Yosemite Concession Services
Yosemite Concession Services (YCS) continued to perform in a satisfactory manner during the year. A contract amendment was signed December 29, 1997 which served as a settlement for "any rights, claims or causes of action" that YCS might have against NPS relating to the January 1997 flood. This amendment reduced YCS contributions to the CIF by $2,982,000. Revenues for
26 calendar year 1998 have tracked close to those recorded for calendar year 1997, reflecting a continued impact from the January 1997 flood. YCS has projected that gross revenues for calendar year 1998 will be only marginally higher than the $76 million gross posted for calendar year 1997. YCS and Delaware North Corporation (DNC) have requested financial relief through the contract mandated fee renegotiation process. Since a reduction in Capital Improvement Fund (CIF) contributions is the only major source of cash under the National Park Service (NPS) contract with YCS, negotiations have been focused on this area. Since the process is not yet completed, the possible future formula for determining CIF contributions since the beginning of calendar year 1998 is not yet known. Deposits to the Government Improvement Account (GIA) totaled $222,756 in accordance with the contract.
A total of $1,639,037 was expended on CIF/GIA projects during fiscal year 1998. Twenty-three projects were completed and closed out during the year. At year's end, thirteen active projects remained. Of these, nine were pending completion and closeout and one was pending deactivation, leaving three active projects under either a level of facility assessment or construction. The expected reduction in CIF contributions resulted in deactivating 10 lower priority projects. A total of 25 corporately funded projects were active during fiscal year 1998.
YCS continued to perform underground fuel storage tank removal, replacement, and soil and groundwater remediation under the CIF program. A total of 7 underground storage tanks were removed and four were replaced during fiscal year 1998 bringing all of their fuel storage facilities into compliance with State of California regulations.
Available housing for employees continued to be limited. Although plans were developed for temporary housing, they were not implemented due to ongoing litigation relating to the Yosemite Lodge Project. Pre-flood Valley housing for YCS employees totaled 1262 beds compared to 989 beds in 1998. The strong job market also had a negative impact on YCS employee recruitment and retention. YCS employed only 1491 on July 8. 1998 as opposed to 1915 on the same date in 1996. Employee shortages during the summer months were correlated with less than optimum service levels for some facilities.
Even with the difficulties related to the 1997 flood, YCS instituted a program to improve guest service. This program included employee surveys, additional training, and the appointment of a director of quality assurance. YCS also reorganized, hiring a Vice President for Operations. This individual was given responsibility for responsibility for Lodging, Food and Beverage, Retail, and Guest Recreation.
The High Sierra Camps, with the exception of Sunrise, opened in July and later than usual. Sunrise did not open because of the combination of a heavy winter and repairs that were required at the showerhouse facility.
YCS Valley Stables and the Wawona Stables re-opened in 1998. A final decision on the future of concessioner operated stables within Yosemite Valley has not yet been made.
The Yosemite Lodge Service Station closed on January 15, 1998 and was removed shortly thereafter, which left Yosemite Valley without a public service station. Emergency gas service was
27 provided by YCS while gas was provided for employees and residents at the new Valley Fueling Facility, which opened on January 5, 1998. It is operated by YCS.
Ansel Adams Gallery
A new 5-year concession contract was executed on October 1, 1998.
Yosemite Medical Clinic
Doctors Medical Center (DMC) received an "unsatisfactory" Annual Overall rating for the 1997 operating period. This "unsatisfactory" rating was the second consecutive unsatisfactory annual rating for this operator. DMC had not finalized a subconcession agreement with American Medical Response and/or First Medical as of fiscal year 1998. Operational improvements with regard to actual medical services were evident as were renovations to the facility (remodeled emergency room, examining rooms, and an ongoing remodel of the nurse's dorm). However, concerns regarding patient billing and the timely submission of the Annual Financial Report continued throughout the year.
El Portal Chevron
A prospectus for continuing gas service in El Portal through December 31, 2000 was issued April 10, 1998 and was paneled June 22 through June 26, 1998; however, the one offer received was found to be non-responsive. The prospectus was revised and reissued on September 25, 1998. The current concessioner received a satisfactory score on their overall annual rating. The amount of gasoline sold during the summer months was close to double the amount sold in 1996 which is thought to be a result of the closure of the Yosemite Lodge Service Station. The community was also saddened by the death of Bob Bevington on September 14, 1998. He had served as concessioner for the service station, both as sole proprietor and in partnership with his son John since 1976.
El Portal Market
The concessioner received a satisfactory score on their overall annual rating for 1997. Action on reconsidering their franchise fees was postponed due to uncertainty as to how the future road restrictions on Highway 140 will impact their business.
Yosemite Electric Bus Project
Two Bluebird electric buses were delivered to the park in January 1998, which increased the parks electric bus fleet to four buses. This was the final bus purchase under the cooperative partnership (California Energy Commission, California Department of Transportation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Yosemite National Park) which was initiated in 1994.
Division of Interpretation
Mission The GPRA mission for the division of Interpretation is: • Goal 1A Natural and Cultural Resources and associated values are protected, restored and maintained in good condition and managed within their broader ecosystem and cultural context.
28 • Goal IB The National Park Service contributes to knowledge about natural and cultural resources and associated values; management decisions about resources and visitors are based on adequate scholarly and scientific information. • Goal 2A Visitors safely enjoy and are satisfied with the availability , accessibility, diversity and quality of park facilities, services and appropriate recreational opportunities. • Goal 2B Park visitors and the general public understand and appreciate the preservation of parks and their resources for this and future generations.
Budget Division Budget from AIPR Park ONPS 1,517,628 Park VIP funds 4,000
Soft Funds 93,384 - this includes YCSC loop money, Exhibit cyclic, Hetchy etc.
Cooperating Association Funds - 260,800
Staff
1 Division Chief - GS-14 1 Budget Analyst GS-5/7/9 (currently at the 5) 1 Administrative Assistant GS-7.
Total FTE for the Division: 42 Lapsed Positions: 8
1 new permanent hire - Burrel Maier
2 permanent transfers - A1 Nash and Linda Doucette
1 permanent resignation - Sue Branch 0 retirements
Branch of Interpretive Services
Staff James Corless, Chief, GS-025-12, Supervisor}' Park Ranger 2 Permanent Positions 2 Term Positions 6 Volunteers 2 Detailed employees (4 weeks each) 3 Employees, including branch chief, detailed to Valley Implementation Plan (VIP) Public Involvement Process for 1/4 year
Highlights
• 3 Comprehensive Interpretive Plan Workshops held; draft Plan developed • 26 VIP Fact Sheets prepared/edited • "State of the Park" scripted slide program developed for management use • Produced 4 issues of the "Yosemite Guide" and developed/implemented sales strategy
29 • Developed scope of work for orientation film and theater rehab; solicited proposals from four producers • Major review and modification of Unigrid Folder and development of an emergency alternative while waiting for delivery of revision • Contracted for Yosemite Fund funded Parsons Lodge exhibits • Completed (14) exhibits for Soda Springs trail • Completed installation of 28 Yosemite Valley wayside exhibits • Produced 2 feature videos, 2 video shorts, coordinated VIP video for public meetings • Awarded $315,000 grant for Mobile Interpretive Classroom from NPF • Awarded $43,000 from EPA for groundwater protection exhibits • Awarded $40,000 from USS&CS for soils interpretation • Developed interpretive text for prototype Meeker sign plan • Restored exterior "interpretive garden" at Nature Center at Happy Isles • Restored relief map in Valley Visitor Center • Completed punch list and closed out Nature Center at Happy Isles exhibit contract • Developed emergency interpretive signs for closure of Yosemite Falls trail and developed interpretive sign for flood recovery-related archeology • Published six issues of the occasional "Yosemite Interpreter" • Planned and coordinated the Resource Seminar Series for park staff • Completed restoration of the Crane Flat Amphitheater seating • Implemented marketing strategy and visitor survey for the Yosemite Theater • Six employees were assisted in preparing 20 interpretive competency submissions • Seasonal training and coaching of permanent, seasonal and intern staff accomplished by master interpreter; training sessions held for Yosemite Transportation Services interpreters • Replaced wayside exhibit panels and repainted and repaired HFC-style exhibits park-wide • Designed and implemented wayside preservation program to combat high country snow loads • Coordinated rewriting, solicitor review and approval of Yosemite Association MOA • Moved audio-visual production studio from Cascades to Yosemite Valley and moved Branch Chiefs office from Yosemite Valley to Wawona • Developed with Division Chiefs 10-238s for highest priority interpretive projects • Managed twelve branch operations and donation budgets • Advertised and filled the Park Partner Liaison Position with Martha Lee • Responded to 15 visitor comment letters • Presented one community outreach program regarding park planning • Developed and presented paper on interpreting controversial issues to a regional interpreter conference
• Presented approximately 110 interpretive programs for visitors • Participated as trainer in three off-site interpretive competency courses • Participated in Service-wide Interpretive Development Program workshop • Assisted in the development of the Yosemite Fund's 10th Anniversary exhibit
30 Branch of Curatorial Services
Staff Branch Chief, GS 1015-12, Curator David M. Forgang 1 permanent Museum Technician position, (Registrar), vacated in FY97, presently filled by a detailed employee. 1 permanent Library Technician GS-8 1 permanent Historian/Archivist GS-9 1 permanent Museum Technician GS-7 2 permanent Museum Curators GS-11 1 Detailed employee to vacated Museum Technician (Registrar) position GS7 2 seasonal Museum Technicians from the Backlog Catalog Program GS5 1 Intern from University of Texas 1094 Volunteer hours in the Yosemite Museum Gallery
Highlights
• With the installation of additional compactor storage units in the El Portal Storage Building, the move of archival material was completed, many of the archeological collections were shifted to that space, and over 26,000 items were moved and reinventoried. • The Park Historian reboxed and shelved 90% of the park archives in El Portal. • The Branch Chiefs office was moved to El Portal • The Curator of Ethnography answered well over 400 requests for research assistance. • The Collections Manager and the Curator of Ethnography positions were both redescribed and upgraded. • The Curator of Ethnography traveled to St. Petersburg, Russia, with a Native American dance group from Grindstone Creek Rancheria as recipients of a Lennon Foundation Grant to perform at an international music festival and for the curator to conduct research on California Ethnography at the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. • The Curator of Ethnography assisted BLM on two Archeological Resource Protection Act investigations dealing with looting sites. • The Park Historian assisted YA with research related to a forthcoming publication on the Hutchings expedition to the Eastern Sierra and Mt. Whitney area. • The Branch Chief provided professional support to the Mariposa County Archives and Historic Sites Commission on archival storage and preservation and to the Northern Mariposa County Historical Society on museum storage planning, preservation, and conservation. • The Historian arranged and assisted for an .Archival Condition Survey of the Collections with a graduate student intern from University of Texas. • The Museum Staff participated in a weeklong workload planning session and retreat in the Presidio.
• The Historian provided review of over 15 documents, park plans, and environmental statements and Cultural Resource field reports. • The Slide Archive logged 170 orders and provided 3990 slides in response. Flood Recovery, VIP, Interpretation, the Superintendent's Show, researchers, and other parks were particularly heavy users, and a large order was assembled for Bob Manning.
31 • Two exhibits were installed in the Yosemite Museum Fine Arts Gallery, and were viewed by 65,500 visitors. The Gallery was open 182 days and was staffed for 1092 hours by Yosemite Association volunteers. • The Slide Archive was disassembled in preparation for its move from Yosemite Valley to El Portal. • Research Library circulation figures increased from 1474 items in FY 97 to 1787 in FY 1998. • New additions to the Research Library included 177 books accessioned and 215 books cataloged. • The Research Librarian loaned 188 duplicate photographic prints, and checked out 266 negatives for printing. • Through Yosemite Association Aid to NPS the Research Library purchased 85 books and 33 periodical subscriptions. • The Research Library handled 173 research information requests, of which 16% were photo related.
• Public Contact averaged 90 - 100 users per week, 50% NPS and 50% other, and 20 - 30 phone calls, 70% NPS and 30% other. • Tours of the Research Library were offered for seasonals, new employees, and the librarians from the North Fork Historical Society. .An open house was held during the Yosemite Association's Spring Forum, with attendance of 60 members. • 112 museum accessions were made consisting of 71 field collections, 36 gifts, 2 incoming loans, 2 transfers and 1 exchange. • Outgoing loans from the Yosemite Museum were made to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for their Carleton Watkins Exhibit (which will travel to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Washington D.C. National Gallery of Art), to the California College of Arts and Crafts for their exhibit "Held and Let Go", to the Oakland Museum for the "Gold Fever" exhibit, (which will travel to Los Angeles), and to the Crocker Art Museum for their Thomas Hill exhibit, (which will travel to New York, San Francisco, and New Hampshire. Additionally, Yosemite Museum has current long term loans to 13 national and regional museums.
• 2312 catalog records were added to the Automated National Catalog System, representing an item count of over 19,000. Database totals are currently 4,391 Accession Records, 44,080 Cultural Catalog Records (representing over 450,000 items) and 10,352 Natural History Catalog Records. • Computerized inventory database currently totals 90,692, 24,622 (over 27%) of which were added or updated during FY98. The uncataloged accessions database currently totals 726 records. • A Museum evaluation team consisting of Kent Bush, Curator, Columbia-Cascades Regional Office, Dale Durham, Management Assistant, Amistad NRA and Diane Nicholson, Curator, Golden Gate NRA, visited the park and met with staff to prepare a written report on museum operations. • Special project support for backlog cataloging funded two seasonal employees who were trained in the use of ANCS and cataloged several large collections of archeological material as well as completing catalog documentation for other historic and natural history items. • The ANCS+ software package was distributed by WASO, with the user's manual due in early FY99. The Collections Manager attended training for its use, and all existing ANCS records
32 are to be converted, and FY98 Collections Management Report, Checklist, and the National Catalog are to be submitted in ANCS+ format. • Contract for nitrate negative duplication and rehousing for 1400 historic negatives was negotiated with Northeast Document Conservation Center. • The Yosemite Fund's film preservation grant was completed in FY98, and viewing copies of all films were made by park staff. Videotape copies of these historic films from the Yosemite Park & Curry Co. Archives are now available in the Research Library.
Branch of Information Services
Staff 1 Branch Chief, GS-025-12 (Scott Gediman) Supervisory Park Ranger, Visitor Center Operations, GS-025-09 Supervisory Park Ranger. Public Information Office, GS-025-09 2 permanent, one month subject to furlough GS-303-05 (PIO) 1 permanent, GS-303-05 2 terms (6 months subject to furlough),Visitor Center Operations, GS-025-05 1 all year, part time seasonal, Visitor Center Operations, (Division of Recovery funded for Mariposa Visitors Bureau) 1 seasonal, PIO, (Division of Recovery funded ) 1 intern, deaf services
Highlights
Public Information Office
• 3,441 print and broadcast media contacts, including regional, national, and international news outlets. Examples include network affiliates from San Francisco, Sacramento, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Reno; national television broadcasts such as Dateline NBC, National Geographic Explorer, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX. MSNBC, and CNN news organizations; international television broadcasts including the British Broadcasting Company, the Chinese National Television Network, and German National Television. • Handled all media relations on sensitive park management issues, such as the Draft Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan; Yosemite Area Regional Transportation Strategy; Flood Recovery; black bear management; Yosemite Lodge Service Station removal; Granite Stone/Terry Johnson Tricking; labor union activity; abolishment of the Pass-Through Fee Program; El Portal Road Construction project, contract, access schedule, and lawsuit; Tioga Road opening; Yosemite Lodge lawsuit and demonstration; cancellation of Yosemite Concession Services lodging units; park visitation levels vs. Yosemite Concession Services business levels; Fee Demonstration Program projects; potential closure of the El Portal Chevron Station; Scott Connelly arrest; OSHA ranking of park safety; and TermSTF employees. • Launched a national media campaign on May 20, 1998 with a press conference to inform the public of the park's bear-human conflict. The press conference drew nine television crews and received national attention. Press coverage included ABC's World News Tonight, NBC's Nightly News, CBS News, National Geographic Explorer, NBC's Dateline, CNN, BBC, and approximately 30 local television station crews who came to the park during the summer to cover the story. Other activities included designing and distributing a bear warning flyer, a weekly bear damage report, membership on the park's Bear Council, and several other public information devices designed to increase public awareness of the human-bear interaction in Yosemite National Park. • Worked closely with the Communications Office of the Department of the Interior on press events and issues in Yosemite which directly involved the Secretary of the Interior. • Branch staff served as park representative on the Yosemite Area Traveler Information (YATI) Management Board. • Branch staff served as Information Officers under Incident Command System on several major Search and Rescue operations. • Branch staff served as park representative on the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation Strategy Citizens and Technical Advisory Committee. • Branch staff served as intregal members of the Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan's public involvement team. Duties included preparation of interpretive background information; designing and purchasing print ads to advertise openhouses and workshops; participating in road trips to several cities in California for workshops and open houses; and handling all media relations before, during, and after the road trips. • Work closely with chambers of commerce of surrounding communities regarding a myriad of sensitive issues pertinent to the region. • Over 100 news releases and media advisories issued. • 54,000 known receipents were reached through e-mail and facsimile transmission of news releases, weekly updates, and Daily Reports. • 43,927 visitor contacts (up 14.6% from FY97). • Hosted over 50 international visitors from countries including, but not limited to, Brazil, India, Japan, Korea, Israel, Mexico, Ireland, Chile, Argentina, China, Australia.
Visitor Centers
• 1 additional visitors bureau was staffed in Mariposa. The Mariposa community information post was established for long-term staffing on a part-time basis. • Deaf services contacted 334 visitors.
Branch of Education
Staff
1 Branch Chief, Lynda Doucette 10/97-3/98 transferred to Pt. Reyes NS; Acting, Kendell Thompson 4/98-7/98; Acting, Nancy Hadlock 7/98-10/98 1 Permanent, subject to furlough, Sue Branch 10/97-4/98 resigned 1 Permanent, Nancy Hadlock (detailed to Branch Chief and to Field) 2 Terms: 1 subject to furlough, Noreen McClintock 10/97 - 4/98 resigned; 1 subject to furlough Dave Dahler 3/98-10/98
1 Volunteer, Marcia Sanderson spring 98 - over 300 hours in 6 weeks 1 Student Intern, Amy Clark summer 98
Highlights
• Completed, printed and mailed 350 Yosemite Teacher's Guides
34 • Completed Yosemite Geology Curriculum • Conducted ELP Teacher Workshops for 123 participants • Hosted 19 ELPs for 703 students/teachers/parents • In cooperation with Mariposa High School, produced 8-minute ELP video • Presented 5 outreach programs to colleges promoting Yosemite's ELP • Participated with YI on 5-day Teacher's Workshop • Remodeled old "garage" in Wawona to become park uniform cache • Dave Dahler received award for the remodeling • Led 31 2-hour Parks As Classrooms Programs for 986 students • Coordinated 37 Junior Ranger Programs for 409 children • Completed 10 Yosemite Geology Traveling Trunks for off-site use • Noreen McClintock received award for their completion • Coordinated YA Student Intern Program leading to the hiring of 29 interns throughout the park
Branch of Field Operations
Staff
Branch Chief - Mary Kline, position 8817-001, GS- 12, Total permanent employees - 9 Total detailed employees - 1 (Nancy Hadlock) Total term employees - 0
Total seasonals - 21
Total interns - 14
Total VIP's - 12
Highlights
• 216,966 contacts outside of visitor centers, 1621,533 contacts in visitor centers for a total of 1,838,499 contacts with park visitors. • All permanent employees attended one training session this year in their specialty area. • One permanent employee, Julia Parker, received national recognition by receiving the Sequoia Award for lifetime achievement in Interpretation. • Conducted modified loop trips from Mid August to Mid September. • Conducted one evening program per night and at least one walk per day, in 6 areas of the park from Mid June to October. Conducted at least two walks or programs per day in the open areas of the park from October through May. • Reduced supervisory staff by combining two areas. Expanded the use of interns in Yosemite Valley. • Competency certification attained at the GS-5 level for programs by 4 permanents, at the GS-7 level for writing by one permanent, at the GS-5 level for informal contacts by 2 permanents. • All permanent staff actively participated in the workshops to define the Long Range Interpretive Plan. • Three permanent staff participated in writing and design of new interpretive exhibits in cooperation with the Branch of Interpretive Services. • Two permanent staff members applied for and received Albright Scholarships for 1999. One was awarded for the design and implementation of a joint workshop for Yosemite and Sequoia - Kings Canyon NP interpreters to share information and techniques. The second scholarship was for original research into the history of the ninth cavalry in California. • Recruited for and filled the Stagecoach Driver Position 8817-925. • Hosted an interpretive training session for 20 Japanese interpreters in cooperation with WASO training office. • Cooperatively shared staff with Branch of Education to provide the Environmental Living Program at Wawona and to carry out the Junior Ranger program in 3 areas of the park.
Division of Maintenance
Mission
Maintain all park facilities to meet all compliance as mandated by all regulatory agencies. Assure safe access for all park visitors and employees, and protect the natural resources and our capitol investment. Division accomplishments include: • Completed nine new 10-238 packages for justification in the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program. • Negotiating an Energy Saving Performance Contract (ESPC) to lower energy consumption. • Completely revamped the maintenance division's 10-238 project funding database (some 600 packages) using the Project Management Information System (PMIS) website
Budget ONPS: $6,397,466 Fee Enhancement: $1,711,300 Fee Demo: $11,980,556 Cultural Cyclic Maintenance: $77,000 Regular Cyclic Maintenance: $461,088 Repair/Rehab: $437,110 Equipment Replacement: $529,379 Construction: $82,622 YCS-Trails/Snow Removal: $119,697 Hetch Hetchy: $249,629 Utility Income: $3,657,689 Donation - Yosemite Fund: $75,130 Quarters: $923,084 ERFO (FY95 Damage): $320,557 Fire Rehab: $232,274 USDE/PG&E Retrofit: $6,361
Staff 1 Chief, Division of Maintenance & Engineering, Edward Walls GS-14 1 Secretary, GS-6 1 Program Assistant, GS-11
36 1 Budget Analyst, GS-9 1 Budget Assistant, GS-6/7 1 Safety Tech WS-5 45 YCC Enrollees 5 detailed employees in the Maint Mgmt staff
FTE for the Maintenance Division: 249.62 FTE of lapsed positions: 11.2 New Hires: 12 Transfers: 8 Retirements: 1
Roads & Trails Branch
Staff 1 Facility Manager, Roads & Trails, E. Dean Glenn (Acting) GS-12 57 Permanents 18STF 12 Details 17 Terms 83 Seasonals 0 Interns 3 Volunteers
Highlights
• Relocated R&T management function to new facilities in El Portal
Solid Waste
• Collected and transported 1,470 tons of solid waste • Refurbished 70 trash bins and performed minor repairs on 50
Parkway Roads
• Patched potholes • Clean culverts and ditches parkwide • Crack sealed portions of Hwy 41 • Replaced culverts on Hwy 41, Northside and Southside Drive, Aspen Valley, and Coulterville Road • Opened Tioga Road. Glacier Point Road, Mariposa Grove, Parkwide campgrounds and various visitor use areas. To open these are required 3500 hours of overtime.
Sign Shop
• Fabricated 200 Regulatory/warning signs • Replaced 175 flood damaged signs • Fabricated 350 signs per park request • Support D. Galvin's Sign Demonstration Project
37 • Relocated operation to new facilities in El Portal
Machine Shop
• Processed 1600 GSA and Interior work orders • Maintains 289 GSA vehicles parkwide
Equipment Specialist • GSA vehicle replacement, prepared specifications for the Regional equipment replacement program
Corrals Operation
• Facilitated Horse School, graduated 8 Patrol Rangers • Provided support for; Trail Crews (5 camps), wilderness Rangers, Resource Management, Restoration operation, Yosemite Assoc., & CCC Director's trip • Logged 95% of park trails • Packed a total of 337,325 pounds of equipment and supplies
Trails
• Repaired and/or replaced bridges at Happy Isles, Wapama Falls, Ostrander Trail, Snow Creek, and Pate Valley • Logged 95% of park trails • Completed 155 miles of comprehensive trail maintenance • Supervised 5 independent trail crews and backcountry camps • Relocated operation to new facilities in El Portal
Forestry
• Assisted Prescribed Fire in Aspen Valley and Mariposa Grove • Removed hazardous trees in Section 35 • Removed hazardous trees along all major Park highways • Total # of trees 7snags removed 649 • Relocated operation to new facilities in El Portal
YCC
• Supervised 4 crews. Weathered through a very tumultuous year. • Crews worked at Merced Lake for the Utility Branch, Parkwide installing bear boxes, North Pines Campground sign plan, historic preservation, and recovery projects
Building & Grounds Branch
Staff Facility Manager, Bldgs & Grnds, Terry Gamble (Acting) GS-11 54 Permanents 21 STF 6 Details
38 2 Terms 58 Seasonals 0 Interns 1 Volunteer
Highlights
El Portal
• Installed Energy efficient HV/AC System. El Portal Fiscal Office • Rehabilitate and convert # 792 Carport into a Multi-Use Office Area at El Portal, Human Resources Office • Major Rehabilitation El Portal Unit # 732 (Garage, Painting and Grounds • Major Rehabilitation of landscaping and grounds at El Portal Fiscal Building and Human Resources Completed flood damaged rehabilitation to interior, exterior, fencing and grounds at Arch Rock Dorms Painted and Repaired Decks in El Portal • Relocated operation to new facilities in El Portal
Mather
• Complete Interior Rehabilitation of Roadside Cabin # 3011 at Tuolumne • Construction of restroom facilities including, covered handicapped ramp and decking at Tuolumne Visitor Center • Rehabilitation Porcupine Campgrounds
Valley
• Relocation of Bear Management, Residence ~ 1 • Trail Crew area Rehabilitated • Cascades move to Building # 524 • Rehabilitation of residence # 48 • Move Christiansen to # 60C
• Rehabilitation of residence # 34
• Install 2 double concrete vault toilets at Sentinel Beach Picnic area, • Mirror Lake Junction constructed 2-stall toilet • Repair and rehabilitate Yosemite Valley Chapel" • Constructed Audio-visual office in the Valley
Wawona
• Remove and replace Solar System at Wawona # 4066 • Installed 1 single concrete vault toilet at Chilnualna Trail Head
Historic Preservation
• Rehabilitation of Pioneer History Center Roofing in Wawona • Major rehabilitation and stabilization at Wagon Shelter, Pioneer History Center • Rehabilitation of Buckcamp Wilderness Cabin • Relocated operation to new facilities in El Portal
39 Utilities Branch
Staff 1 Facility Manager, Utilities Branch, John Clark (Acting) GS-12 47 Permanents 14 STF 6 Details 4 Terms 15 Seasonals 0 Interns 0 Volunteers
Highlights
Utilities Management
• 12 week course in water treatment; began June 9, ended August 25 • 12 week course in wastewater treatment; began June 10, ended August 26 • Source water protection demonstration project for Yosemite Valley water system with California Department of Health Services and US EPA. • Value analysis in Denver of White Wolf water and wastewater systems • Value analysis in Denver of Tuolumne Meadows water and wastewater systems • Functional analysis of the Utilities Branch
El Portal Utilities
• Hydro flushed all sewer lines in El Portal • Repair of underwater water and sewer lines across the Merced River at Abbieville • Removal, fabrication and reinstallation of secondary clarifiers • Installed transfer switches for generator hook-up • Installed new lime solution tanks • Installed new secondary polymer tank • Installed lift station for motor inn cabins • Re-energized trailer court to main system • Repair of underwater water and sewer line across Merced River at Abbieville • Removal, fabrication and re-installation of secondary clarifiers • No violations at the El Portal Waste Water Treatment Plant for 1998
Backcountry Utilities
• Repair/replace sewer mound system at Merced Lake High Sierra Camp • Completed Merced Lake solar sewage pumping system • Pumped septic tank system at May Lake (2,000 gal. of solids removed) • Replaced roof on chlorinator building at May Lake and Backpacker toilet • Moved operations to El Portal complex • Pasteurized end-product from composting toilets (no landfill) High Voltage Electric
• Replace transformer at Crane Flat • Replace substation at Cascades • Transformer and apparatus/upgrades/relocation, Crane Flat Lookout and Tent City area • Updated/verified electric meter database • Moved operations to El Portal complex
Electronic Shop
• Installed Hetch Hetchy entrance video surveillance system • Installed Big Oak Flat entrance traffic counter
Valley Utilities
• Water well at Crane Flat lookout • New sewer line crossing Tenaya Creek • Vault sewer at Chapel • Pumped millions of gallons of septic • Yosemite Valley well-1 overhaul
Wawona Utilities
• Seven day per week shift coverage with only two certified operators • Upgraded Bridalveil Creek Campground water system • Upgraded Program Logic controller (PLC) at Wastewater Treatment Plant
Design and Engineering Branch
Staff Branch Chief, Design & Eng., Chris English (Acting) GS-13, 10/97-2/98; Don Fox (Acting) GS-13, 4/98-8/98 3 Permanents 1 STF 2 Details 0 Interns 1 Volunteers
Highlights
• Designed Tuolumne Meadows wilderness kiosk • Provided survey support for the Recovery Group, 12 topographic surveys • Facilitated Denny Galvin's proto-type sign program • Retained Joel Shilling and Larry Moore by bringing them back to work off long term OWCP roles • Don Fox assumed the role of Pacific West Region Accessibility Coordinator
41 Division of Visitor Protection
Mission
The mission of the Protection Division is the protection of resources, life, property, the visitor experience, and the management of the visitor to achieve the forgoing.
The Protection Division is structured with seven branches; Resource Protection ( a newly created unit), Administrative Support (also newly created), Field Operations, Law Enforcement Support, Fire Management, Fee Management, and Wilderness Management. This organization is the culmination of a restructuring that began in 1995 and concluded this FY.
Budget
• ONPS - $4,126,000
• FirePro - $1,100,000
• Hetchy - $956,000 • Fee Collection - $1,527,000 ($915,000-Budget for both campground and entrance station operations. This was all fee collection funding; no ONPS. $88,332-San Francisco funding for Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station. $10,485.071-Entrance Station revenue, including passes and commercial tour fees. $1,723,955-Campground revenue. (A possibly significant, but unknown amount of campground revenue was lost when Destinet went bankrupt. They owed the NPS approx. $600,000 and a large portion of that was probably owed to Yosemite.)
Staff
Division Chief - Robert M. Andrew - GS025-14
Administrative Support Assistant (shared with Interp) - Chris Edison -GS303-07 Division FTE -113
Lapsed positions - 13 in FY98 - 23 total since 1995 New hires - 1 - Admin Support Tech
Total transfers - 9
Retirements - 0
Branch of Administrative Support
Staff
Branch Chief - Phyllis Harvey - GS560-09
Admins Techs - 4 - GS303-05/06
Highlights
A new branch set up to manage budget for the Division and to equally distribute administrative workload and adjust as needed. Branch will be tweaked during FY99 to achieve best functional make-up
42 Branch of Operations
Staff
Branch Chief - John Roth, one year detail - GS025-12/13
District Rangers - 3 - GS025-11 District Ranger, one year detail - 1 - GS-025-11 District Ranger, one year detail - 1 - GS-025-12
SAR/EMS Coordinator - GS-025-11
GS09 Park Rangers - 27 - GS-025-09 Term Park Rangers - 1 - GS-025-07
SAR Technician - 1 - GS-025-09
Admin Assistants - 3 - GS-303-3
Vacancies - Permanent GS-025-09 Park Ranger - 11 Permanent GS-025-11 Park Ranger - 5 Total # of seasonal 025s: 18 (ONPS funded: 2'City funded: 16) Total # of volunteers/interns: 2 Total volunteer hours: 15 hours
Highlights
• Branch began reducing emphasis on social based law enforcement and increasing emphasis on resource protection based enforcement. • Branch continued to function well in spite of myriad of lapsed and vacant positions resulting from 1995 implementation of Ranger Careers. Cost to division from that program is nearly $520,000. • 266 motor vehicle accidents investigated • 172 emergency medical cases handled • 119 search and rescue incidents managed • 276 resource protection cases handled • 30 resource education presentations • 111 driving under the influence and alcoholic beverage cases • 52 drug cases • 671 other criminal incidents and traffic cases • 31 initial responses to fire and hazmat incidents • 364 miscellaneous cases • 5738 miles of backcountry and watershed patrolled • 188 overnight backcountry patrols • 300+ Desk Officer reports taken • Hosted 50th Anniversary event of the O'Shaughnessey Dam. Managed in conjunction with Hetch Hetchy Water Project under a Type II All Risk Management Team. • Managed 2 multiple casualty motor vehicle accidents • Provided Critical Incident Stress Management at fatal shooting of a ranger at Great Smoky Mountains NP • Served on 10 park and 5 servicewide committees.
43 • Served on 14 servicewide or interagency incidents including fires, special events, investigations, etc. (Statistics do not include incidents initially handled by rangers and referred to Desk Office)
Branch of Fee Collection
Staff
Branch Chief - Mike Osborne (1 year detail) - GS025-11 Permanent Visitor Use Assistants - GS-303-04/05/-6/-7 - 17 (10 vacant) Term Visitor Use Assistants - GS-303-04/05/06 - 15 (six vacant) Seasonal Visitor Use Assistants - GS-303-04/05 - 40 (18 vacant)
Admin Support Assist - GS-303-05 - 1
20.14 FTE Entrance Stations 8.45 FTE Campgrounds 28.59 FTE TOTAL Estimate 5 to 10 FTE worth of lapsed positions for 1997. Because the unified fee collection program is still new and the org chart is still in flux, this is impossible to answer accurately. It was difficult hiring enough seasonals in a timely fashion so many positions remained vacant for much of the season. A lack of housing at the beginning of the season also contributed to several positions either not getting filled or filled late in the season.
Approx. 20 new employees to YNP. One (1) permanent employee transferred. No retirements in 1997. Two (2) employees had three (3) temporary details. Only one of the details was a temporary promotion. Five (5) Term employees; 2 in campgrounds, 3 in entrance stations. 5 vacant Term positions. Thirty-three (33) seasonal employees. Zero (0) interns. Approximately 18-20 volunteer campground hosts donating 9,375 hours.
Highlights
• Program expanded because of increased budget for cost of collection. Went from 16 FTE to nearly 45 FTE • Revenues generated approached $12 million • Structure to be changed in FY99 based upon requested evaluation from regional fee coordinator. Expected completion FY99 • Continued to fund commercial bus permit operations and twice annual bus equipment inspections. • At the time of the Jan. flood, Valley campground reservations had been made through May 21st. Many of these reservations were for campsites that no longer existed. Many thousands of these campers had to be reassigned into existing campsites which would accommodate their party, their length of stay, and the size of their vehicles. Accomplished with a minimum of inconvenience to the public but required a heroic response by staff.
44 • Also in response to the loss of campsites in the Valley, Wawona Campground was placed on the reservation system with very little lead time. Same day sale of vacant campsites was difficult because there was no computer (no electricity) and no Destinet staff at Wawona. Some public dismay that the campground was no longer first-come, first-served but more people seemed glad that reservations were now possible. • Three permanent fee collection personnel were reassigned to the flood effort through March. • Closure of Hwy. 140 (and Arch Rock) until May 25 caused significant lost revenue. • Lack of seasonal housing led to understaffed fee operations for much or all of the 1997 season. Housing at Arch Rock was unusable for the entire year. South Entrance housing remained unusable as well. Arch Rock entrance station was not staffed for two days a week in June and July because we had no place to house seasonals. Most other entrance and campground operations were staffed at the bare minimum level. • Late arrival of seasonal certs and long lead times to get people on board also caused understaffing and reduced collections at entrance stations, especially May-July. • Beginning August 1, at the insistence of Congressman Doolittle, we instituted a program of permitting trans-Sierra travel for the reduced entrance fee of $5. Time limits of 2 hours between Big Oak Flat or Arch Rock and Tioga, and 3 hours between South Entrance and Tioga, were allowed. The park lost approximately S500,000 in revenue Aug. thru Oct. The program was also susceptible to fraud. Approx. 10% of the people requesting the pass through remained in the park until the entrance stations were closed. The program was very popular with the people who were actually driving through. Unfortunately, many people just wanted to drive through but also wanted to eat, stop at turnouts, take pictures and otherwise enjoy the park on their drive and could not do so in the time allotted. These people were very angry with us whether they just drove through or whether they missed the time limit and were asked to pay the remainder of the full entrance fee (many refused). Entrance station employees received much verbal abuse from the public over this program.
Branch of Fire, Aviation and Telecommunications
Staff
Fire Management Officer, Branch Chief - Ed Duncan - GS-401-13
Fire Protection Specialist - GS-081-11
Lead Dispatcher - GS-462-09
Supervisory Forestry Tech - GS-462-11
Prescribed Fire Specialist - GS-401-11 Supervisory Telecommunications Specialist - GS-391-12
Firefighters - GS-081-06 - 3 (1 vacant)
Forestry Techs - GS-462-05-08 - 8 (2 vacant )
Term - GS-462-05/06 - 2
Telecommunications Specialists - GS-391-11 - 2 Interns: 1 Volunteer Hours: 7000+
45 Highlights
• Crane Flat Air Operations Facility - Crane Flat Lookout well, wellhouse, and drinking water system 90% complete. • Proposal for new Crane Flat landing spot submitted to Planning Clearing House. • El Portal helicopter landing spot plan submitted. • Improved landing spot for Ahwahnee Meadow presented to Planning Clearing House. • Aviation support to maintenance division using type 1 helicopter to fly in bridges to the following locations: Hetch Hetchy Wapama falls bridge, Lake Vernon bridge, Pate Valley bridge, Piute creek bridge, Snow creek bridge, Sunrise High Sierra camp water system, Ostrander human waste project H51, May lake human waste project H51
Wildland Fire
• Wildfires (Human): 14 fires for 2.4 acres • Wildland (Lightning): 7fires for 2.6 acres • Management Burns: 11 fires for 2,442 acres • Prescribed Natural Fires: 20 fires for 155.7 acres • Total Fires: 52 (as of 10/26)
Structure Fire Alarm Responses
• Administrative Flights: 0 • Alarm-No Fire: 71 • Dumpster Fires: 14 • False Alarms, Malicious: 4 • Fires or Explosions: 18 • Hazardous Conditions: 25
• Air Ambulance: 47
• MVAs: 52
• SAR: 25
• Public Assistance: 10
Prescribed Fire Operations
• Aspen Valley east housing area management burn removed 212 acres of hazardous fuels. • Aspen Valley PW-2 area management burn 2,350 acres, 11 day burn. • Outfitted Hodgdon Fire Station with computer, fax machine and another phone line for communication and safety needs. • Supported resource management, GIS, and cultural resources with funding for 3 positions, including a smoke monitoring technician. • Burning to reduce hazardous fuels was accomplished in Yosemite West, Foresta, Aspen Valley, Wawona, and El Portal. • Started a very effective ten person fuels crew from commuting local personnel.
Structure Fire Operations
• Hosted 2 Structural Firefighter, Level II classes and trained 40 new firefighters.
46 • Equipped all engine stations with new lightweight Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus bottles for structure fires. • Provided NFPA yearly certification of all Park self contained breathing apparatuses. • Yosemite Valley Haz-mat trailer completed and in service • Conducted 3 "live fire" refresher-training sessions for park firefighters. • Completed 100% of annual fire inspections in Wawona and El Portal. Completed 100% testing of fire hydrants in El Portal, Wawona and Yosemite Valley. • Updated Structural Fire Operations Guide (draft)- 90% completed, • Completed "Minimum Company Standards" to assist engine companies with training evolutions. • Placed in service new 3000 gallon storage tank at the Foresta Fire Station.
Telecommunications Operations
• The Telecommunications shop saved the park over $25,000 by reutilizing Forest Service radio equipment. • Placed two new repeaters in service and upgraded the main communications hub at Henness Ridge • Replaced the aging Fire local radio with a new control station improving Fire Dispatch's reliability. • Managed >300 phone system moves related to office relocations to El Portal. Assisted DSC in placing new phone systems on line in two major facilities at the Maintenance Plant. • Performed the COTR duties for upgrading Microlog and AVT voice mail in El Portal. • Upgraded Guideline for Radio Communications for the park. • Established Fire Management Intranet site.
Law Enforcement Support
Staff
Branch Chief - Don Coelho - GS-025-13
Criminal Investigators - 1 - GS-1811-12
Criminal Investigators - 4 - GS-1811-11 Paralegal -1 -vacant
Paralegal Assistant - 1 - GS-963-06
Corrections Supervisor - 1 - GS-025-09
Corrections Officers - 7 (3 vacant) - GS-007-07
Supervisory Dispatcher - 1 - GS-391-10
Dispatchers - 7 (2 vacant) - GS-3 92-07
.5 FTE Training, Division training coordinator Total: 23.5 employees Detailed employees: 0 Term employees: 0 Seasonal employees: 0 Interns: 1 Law Student for 4 months during the summer
47 Volunteers: 4 Desk officer program utilizing retired Law Enforcement officers to take minor reports. This program is modeled after the "STARS" program that many communities are using these days. "Seniors" or retired folks are recruited exclusively for this program.
Highlights
• Lowlight - Paralegal arrested in Fresno CA and charged with numerous counts related to illicit sex with minors. Eventually pled guilty to four related counts and received jail sentence. Par suffered from several weeks of bad press but issue died fairly quickly.
• Plans developed for new dispatch facility in El Portal - move and consolidation with Fire dispatch to take place in fall of FYOO
• Ten arrests made related to base jumping - $ 15k restitutions ordered by court • 1457 court appearances handled • 22 civil (tort) investigations were conducted with 5 of which are now pending civil action in Federal district Court. • 9 death investigations occurred this year. The deaths occurred from a number of causes IE: Motor vehicle accidents climbing, medical (or bungee/climbing rope jumping) • Our Park investigators traveled out to out of park assignments in support of other cluster parks needing assistance and/or regional SET callouts 13 times.
Base Jumping: The CIU was very aggressive this last year in dealing with this issue. To date, 10 arrests were made. This included 4 accomplices and 6 jumpers. Large fines, stiff probation along with jails sentences were meted out. A total of approx. 15K in restitution have been awarded to the Govt, some of which has been added to the Mountain Safety fund to help defray some search and rescue costs.
Detention Facility: The staff dealt with 269 prisoners this last year. This worked out to 523 prisoner days. The jail staff also supplemented the district operation, filing in as needed and as able. Approx one third of the park arrests were drug or alcohol related. This included DUI, assault, disorderly conduct incidents.
Prosecutions: To date . for 1998 the division prosecution staff have dealt with 1,457 separate appearances before the local magistrate. At present there are still 247 cases pending. These cases stem not only from arrest situations, but also from citations or summons. The staff has litigated 19 separate trials. One of the largest increases in staff work is the increase of commercial tour bus operator or, company violations.
Dispatch: They continue to work on a plan in which we will combine fire dispatch with emergency service dispatch to create a true "all risk" dispatch operation.
Training: Utilizing .5 FTE the LEO operation also oversees branch training. The training officer put on training for all aspects of branch operations that include EMS, Search and rescue, Law enforcement, and horse operations. In addition, the training officer coordinated and instructed portion of the spring basic horse patrol school, and a advanced horsemanship school. She also was requested by the SFPD, RCMP to assist in teaching their school.
48 Branch of Resource Protection
Staff
Branch Chief - Jeri Hall - GS401-12
Protection Specialist (Detail) -1 - GS401
Volunteer - 1
Highlights
• Completed field work on non-Valley campground resource and impacts inventory • Began development of a prototype "Resource Protection" class for all Park Rangers to be presented in fall FYOO
Branch of Wilderness Management
Staff
Branch Chief - Laurel Boyers (1 year detail) - GS-025-11 Park Ranger, Climbing Manager (new position) - GS-025-09 Wilderness Education Specialist - GS-025-09 - vacant Park Rangers - 2 - GS-025-09 Seasonals - 8 (Hetchy funded)
Interns/Volunteers - 18
Highlights
• Summer staff of 26 issued nearly 14,000 wilderness permits, contacted more than 15,000 visitors, and patrolled over 6000 miles in the wilderness. Over 350 hours were spent on search and rescue.
• Winter Staff of 6 patrolled over 1200 miles, contacting almost 6000 visitors. They staffed the Badger Ranger station almost 1400 hours. • Completed 1990's portion of 30 year Wilderness Impacts Monitoring program. • Completed second Yosemite Valley Climbing Impacts Survey • Completed our third year of Wilderness Education Project. Again hosted USFS employee working on multi-agency Wilderness Education Program. • Participated in National Sign Prototype project, resigning 4 major trailheads • Obtained funding for, designed and participated in the building of the Tuolumne Permit Kiosk (halted due to weather), with funding from the City of San Francisco and most labor donated by Backcountry Horsemen. • Arranged and participated in replacement of sill and vertical logs at Buck Camp Ranger Station, and rebuilt corral at Merced Lake. Worked with YCC and SCA on impacts around High Sierra Camps. • Wilderness Manager traveled to New Zealand to speak at a Social Impacts Seminar and Tennessee to teach Visitor Experience Workshop. • Wilderness operations were staffed by volunteers/interns 203 person days in winter and 725 person days in summer. • Filled newly created Climbing Manager position
49 • Began work on new Wilderness Management Plan - expected completion FY01
Division of Resources Management
Mission The GPRA mission for the Division of Resources Management is:
Archeological Museum Collections: Current storage and security conditions will be assessed, critical security and environmental shortfalls will be corrected, and lab registrar function/procedures will be established.
Archeological Resource Inventory: Flammable and other sensitive historic resources will be identified in proposed 1998 burn units; reconnaissance for historic railroad logging resources will be conducted in the South Entrance area; and an inventory research design and high elevation reconnaissance will be conducted for high-use backcountry areas of the park.
Archeological Monitoring Sites: Archeological monitoring at the South Fork Merced River Bridge site is conducted and the site protected from unnecessary impacts.
Archeological Projects Backlog: El Portal Archeological Testing report will be published; remaining backlog projects will be assessed for status, and all records and objects will be consolidated and stored appropriately. Archeology staff will present two interpretive programs, participate in park staff (interp; protection) training, and present two papers at professional meetings.
List of Classified Structures: The draft LCS will be reviewed and submitted to the SHPO as inventory data
Ethnography Program: Consultation and NAGPRA agreements will be drafted for government to government relations with five tribes, and preliminary meetings will be held to initiate a park gathering plan.
Historic Railroad Logging: Contextual history for Madera Sugar Pine Logging Railroad will be completed.
Valley Implementation Plan: Cultural landscapes as defined in the CLR for Yosemite Valley are in good condition; set park standards for visitor experience throughout Yosemite Valley; determine visitor satisfaction levels with current and projected visitor experience goals.
ASMIS Database: The ASMIS database will be completed (baseline reporting) and post-burn condition of all known fire-affected sites is documented; priority fire-related threats are abated and disturbances are mitigated.
In-Park Knowledge Base: A prioritized list of tactical and strategic research needs is in place
50 GIS: Existing data from archeological sites, information from surrounding national forests, and recent fire history will be incorporated into the GIS; accessibility of the GIS for park operations will be improved by training & transfer of selected data to CD ROM WAN formats; and data will be collected, developed and analyzed for ongoing projects.
Data Management System: The existing site-file database program will be updated and linked to ASMIS; related database structures for existing files such as project, special studies, mortar and projectile point attributes, isolates will also be updated and linked. YRC cultural resource references will be added to the ProCite database file.
Soil Resources Management: Coordinate the third year of a five year Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) soil survey program
Air Quality Program (Visibility): Identify procedures for establishing visibility air quality 1997 baseline and desired conditions via technical assistance from NPS ARD, and coordinate distribution of appropriate data.
Air Quality Program (Gaseous): Identify procedure for establishing gaseous air quality 1997 baseline conditions via technical assistance from NPS ARD or other cooperators, and coordinate the distribution of appropriate data.
Environmental Quality Program (CERCLA): Ensure that 100% of all know contaminated groundwater/soil sites comply with CERCLA. Establish baseline conditions for three dumps; provide required monitoring and reporting.
Environmental Quality Program (RCRA): Three YCS and one NPS site will be given regulatory closure; provide required monitoring and reporting data to regulatory agencies.
NEPA & NHPA: Facilitate 24 PCH meetings to provide Park management with information - complete SEIS - Assist with one SEIS - Coordinate eleven EA's - and coordinate review & comment on XX external NEPA and CEQA projects - Review & comment on XX Park operational plans
Water Resources: Further define water resource protection goals, complete the WRMP; further determine water resource protection constraints, fmalize the Wild and Scenic river Outstanding Remarkable Values for the Tuolumne River; and further understand water protection baseline conditions, continue to provide technical assistance to the USGS for Merced River Hydro Benchmark program
Integrated Pest Management: All pest control programs shall be inventoried, and associated pest control program managers shall be briefed about the elements of Integrated Pest Management.
General Wildlife Management: Continue participation in local interagency groups: Yosemite Deer Herd Committees, Sierra Nevada Bighorn sheep Advisory Group, Sierra Interagency Wildlife Advisory Team; begin developing inventory and monitoring programs of high-priority wildlife species.
51 Threatened & Endangered Wildlife Species: Determine population status and assure the protection of peregrine falcons, bald eagles, northern goshawks, and bighorn sheep. Make data available to Park managers.
Human-Bear Management: Complete Revised Human-Bear Management Plan, and begin implementation through interdivisional cooperation. Install 400 bear-proof food lockers. BMP Objectives: AOEliminate the availability of human food sources and control human activities which may significantly modify bear behavior and ecology; B)Minimize the risk of human injury and property damage from bears by pursuing proactive management strategies and, this, limiting the use of reactive management.
Non-Native Wildlife Species: Complete eradication of bullfrogs from Ahwahnee Pond; continue eradication efforts in other known Valley locations. Survey Swamp Lake, Gravel Lake, and their surrounding areas for bullfrogs. Identify other non-native wildlife impacts.
Restoration: Focus on those projects already funded through donations. These include: Oak woodlands final restoration in YV(5 sites), revegetation at Washburn Point (5 acres), campground obliteration and site restoration at Tenaya Lake (5 acres), initial meadow restoration at Cooks Meadow (50 acres), construction mitigation at the South Fork Merced River bridge (3 acres), restoration of hill slope topography and drainage at Glacier Point (sewer removal project-40 acres), completion of sewer line revegetation at Tuolumne Meadows (50 acres), topography, soils, and hydrology returned to pre-fire condition in 50.574 acres of Ackerson Complex, revegetation completed at Mirror Lake (35 acres), wilderness restoration at sites along upper Yosemite Creek, Tuolumne River drainages, High Sierra Camp backpackers camps.
General Vegetation Management: Continue participation in local interagency groups: Northern & Southern Sierra Exotic Plant Committees; Sierra Interagency TES plant Advisory Group; Conduct vegetation survey of current conditions along road corridor - South Entrance station to Mariposa Grove, to Wawona. Continue providing vegetation management. Input to Region and PGB Cluster parks; Provide Vegetation mgmt. Input to fire mgmt. Program in Yosemite and WRO.
Exotic Plants: El Portal Administrative area will be inventoried for exotic species and control measures will be initiated. 50,574 acres within the 1996 Ackerson complex will be prioritized for occurrence of exotics and control measures will be completed. GMP identified transportation corridors and developed areas will have exotic populations mapped, prioritized, and control measures implemented.
Rare. Threatened. & Endangered Plant Species: Develop a systematic parkwide monitoring plan for all state-listed and federally-listed species, and sensitive species occurring within developed areas and road corridors. Develop habitat predictors to identify additional potential populations. Evaluate populations conditions for the 11 TES species impacted by the Ackerson Complex.
Budget Ackerson Rehab-Cultural: $101,628.93 Ackerson Rehab-Resources: $117,302.44
52 Air Quality Gaseous: $15,660.04 Air Quality Visibility: $2,355.48 Baseline Blister Rust Camp Dump: $6,703.00 California Air Quality: $2,432.52 Chevron Tank Replacement: $32,699.33 Chinquapin Site Investigation: $24,736.61 Cultural Resources: $270,726.54 Curry Village Landfill Risk: $8,296.87 Environmental Restoration Contract: $425,911.00 Environmental Stewardship: $60,541.55 FLHP-ARC S. Ent/Mariposa Grove (Survey): S3.197.78 FLHP-Mariposa Grove/S Entrance Reveg.: $17,697.00 FLHP-S. Fork Bridge (Construction Monitor): S3.900.00 FLHP-S. Fork Bridge Revegetation: $3,209.59 GIS: $90,669.02 HH Vegetation Mapping: $2,270.96 Inspect 50 Dump Landfill Sites: $23,074.35 Inventory and Monitor Birds: $218,400.00 Maverick-Meadow Rest.: $3,139.89 Monitor Archeological Sites: $18,716.72 NBS Vegetation Mapping: $24,004.83 Physical Restoration Management: $126,174.02 Planning & Compliance: $94,387.69 Survey Backcountry: $29,944.50 TMNPSUST: $55,999.53 TM Sewer & Water Improvements: $124.44 Wawona Vagim UST: $20,000.43 Waterline PKG 504BA: $469.01 Wildlife Management: $126,285.95 YCS-Bear Program: $6,976.47 YF-ARC Wilderness Restoration: $20,583.14 YF-Bear-Proof Food Lockers: $71,664.34 YF-Big Horn Sheep: $171.45 YF-Black Bear Mgmt/Dogs: $1,535.66 YF-Black Oak Woodland: $11,793.07 YF-Cooks Meadow: $16,618.61 YF-Environmental Compliance Equipment: $4,993.59 YF-Geographical Information System: $152.28 YF-Goshawk Survey: $55.49 YF-Glacier Point Sewer line Restoration: $14,486.65 YF-Meadow Restoration: $1,895.40 YF-Merced Grove Road Removal: $3,102.80 YF-Merced River Restoration: $273.75 YF-Mirror Lake: $4,141.71 YF-Tenaya Lake Revegetation: $26,227.63 YF-Vegetation Mapping: $50,006.89 YF-Washburn: $11,305.33 YF-Wilderness Rest'98: $48,157.20 YF-Wilderness Restoration: $6,788.77 Total: $2,231,590.25
Staff 1 Division Chief, Russell Galipeau, GS-14 1 Division Administrative Assistant, GS-5 1 Division Office Automation Assistant, GS-5
Wildlife Management Program
Staff 1 Supv. Wildlife Biologist, Steve Thompson. GS-11 1 Permanent, Biological Technician, GS-9 2 Seasonal, Biological Technician, GS-5 1 Detailed, Biological Technician, GS-7 1 Lapsed, Wildlife Biologist, GS-12 2,250 Volunteer hours
Highlights
Human/Bear Management
• 400 bear-proof food lockers were purchased and installed in 5 campgrounds. Now, all -1,800 campsites in the park have been equipped with new, larger lockers. • Intense media interest in Yosemite's human-bear problem continued in 1998, with 3 national TV broadcasts, 15 local TV broadcasts, and numerous national and local newspaper stories. The tone of this coverage was overwhelmingly positive, and served to inform millions of potential park visitors of the park's human-bear conflicts. In May, a press conference was held to build public awareness. Seven television stations, three print publications, and one radio station attended. • Formed Yosemite Bear Council to foster interdivisional cooperation in reaching human-bear management solutions. • Visitor information efforts were increased, including: fliers handed out to every car entering the park; new warning signs in parking lots, and in restrooms; completion of an informational video for play at registration desks and visitor centers. • Worked with concessionaire to improve facilities and information related to bears, including new signs and displays, food lockers at parking lots, and employee training. • Worked with Maintenance to provide more bear-resistant food storage in tent cabins and install clips on dumpsters to increase their bear resistance. • Increased use of bear-resistant food canisters through establishing new locations and methods of distribution. • Collected data on a total of 1,521 human-bear incidents, resulting in $648,335 in property damage and 7 human injuries. Nearly 3/4 of these incidents occurred in parking lots. A total of
54 23 bear captures were performed, with 16 of these captures resulting in relocation. Three bears were killed after they became unacceptably aggressive and posed a threat to human safety.
Threatened and Endangered Species
• Four peregrine falcon aeries were monitored to determine nesting success. Three of the aeries were successful, producing a total of at least 4 young. • Through interagency cooperation, monitored the reintroduced population of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep adjacent to the park. Only 20 bighorns were found; a drop of at least 29% from the 1997 census. Because of the critical status of this bighorn strain (less than 100 left Sierra- wide), the park is cooperating in emergency actions to elevate their state and federal T&E status, and initiate captive breeding operations.
Interagency Cooperation
Maintained active involvement in interagency groups including Sierra Interagency Wildlife Advisory Team, Yosemite Deer Herd Advisor}* Council, and Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Interagency Advisory Group.
Non-Native Species
Continued operations to eradicate bullfrogs from Yosemite Valley. Fifty-three frogs were captured and killed. Data on bullfrog food habits are being collected from killed frogs.
Physical Science and Environmental Compliance Program
Staff 1 Supv. Physical Science Specialist, Mark Butler. GS-12 1 Permanent, Physical Science Technician, GS-6 1 Term, Resources Management Specialist, GS-9 1 Seasonal, Environmental Science Assistant, GS-6 1 Seasonal, Physical Science Technician, GS-6 1 Seasonal, Physical Science Aid, GS-4 1 Lapsed, Physical Science Specialist, GS-9
Highlights
Environmental Contamination RCRA Program WASO funded the Yosemite Environmental Contamination (RCRA / CERCLA) Program with the largest annual budget to date in FY 99.
Yosemite continued to make substantial progress meeting the terms of the State of California EPA Cleanup and Abatement Order pertaining to the Yosemite (RCRA) Underground Storage Tank Program. Accomplishments include: • regulatory no further action status granted for three sites, • continued investigation and remediation at twelve sites, and • removal of one underground storage tank.
55 Two new abandoned UST were discovered (Wawona-Vagim Property and Crane Flat-old housing area)
The field work and associated documentation reports were completed for several RCRA Program sites, including: • a work plan for completion of a Preliminary Investigation and Evaluation Report and field work at the Chinquapin Government Fuel Station, • the 1997 Annual Report and the 1998 hydro-geological investigation of soils and groundwater for the Tuolumne Meadows Former Government Fuel Station, • a work plan for completion of underground storage tank removal and site report for the Former Vagim Property, • the Quarterly Reports for the YOSE Underground Storage Tank Program, • the draft work plan for the completion of a Preliminary Investigation and Evaluation Report and field work at the El Portal Chevron Station. • an Annual Groundwater Monitoring Summary Report for the El Portal Waste Water Treatment Plant Former Diesel Underground Storage Tank, • the Yosemite National Park Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Facility Assessment.
Contracting was initiated for closure of the Medical Clinic UST site, the El Portal Barium Mill UST site, the NPS Carpenter Shop site.
Program accomplishments also include the monitoring and oversight of the Yosemite Concessions Services Corporation RCRA/UST program.
Environmental Contamination CERCLA Program WASO funded the Yosemite Environmental Contamination (RCRA / CERCLA) Program with the largest annual budget to date in FY 99.
Included in this budget was first time funding that allowed Resource Management personnel to evaluate and inventory waste accumulation areas, including dumps and landfills. Over 100 was accumulation areas were identified throughout Yosemite. Specific program accomplishments include completion of: • An Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report for the Former El Portal Railroad Flat Landfill. • A Draft Park-wide Waste Accumulation .Area (landfill, dump, etc.) Inventory and Database. • Contracting was initiated to begin preliminary site investigations at three dump sites, (Baseline, Curry and Gaylor) and initiate monitoring of the El Portal Railroad Flat landfill.
Air Quality Program The air quality monitoring program for 1998 consisted of nine stations with the capacity to evaluate air for both visibility and gaseous pollutants. The nine stations were located at: Turtleback Dome, Yosemite Valley, and Hodgdon Meadows.
Gaseous Air Quality Program
• Five gaseous air quality monitoring stations (continuous ozone xl, passive ozone x2, wet deposition xl, and dry deposition xl) were operated and maintained. Data from these stations has been provided to central offices and park partners for processing.
56 • Three additional sites were added to the passive ozone network at higher elevation monitoring locations along the Tioga Road. Regular site visits were coordinated for the monitoring period. • Although not all data has been processed, it appears that this year will show significantly higher ozone readings than in recent years. (ARD has projected that Yosemite will be one of the seven parks that will be in non-attainment for the new NAAQS for ozone.) • The NADP site (acid rain) had three samples falling below pH 5.0. • The air quality technician continued to participate in the cooperative effort (along with SEKI, LAVO, PGSO, and USFS) to develop a "Spare the Air" CD ROM interpretive exhibit on gaseous air pollutants. • Air quality partnerships were strengthened by attending the Park Air Coordinators and the Interagency Smoke Counsel meetings. • A technical assistance request was submitted to ARD for the completion of comprehensive emissions inventory and for completing air quality bulletins. • The air quality technician attended GPS training for the purpose of using GIS to document the GIS 20 study plots associated with the Project Forest Study.
Visibility Air Quality Program Four visibility monitoring stations (transmissometer xl, four module IMPROVE xl, Hi-Vol. xl, TEOM xl) were operated and maintained. Data from these stations has been provided to central offices and park partners for processing. The visibility data for 1998 is not yet available for evaluation.
With funding assistance from the Prescribed Fire Program, a temporary Air Quality Technician was hired to initiate the development of a Smoke Management Program. Consequently, the air quality and prescribed fire programs collaborated in the development of smoke / air quality prescriptions for controlled fires. Other duties carried out by the technician included: • study of the smoke management programs of other agencies, • the evaluation of various types of visibility and particulate monitoring equipment to determine the best instruments and methods for monitoring smoke from prescribed and managed fires, • the addition of an additional mobile PM-10 monitoring station for monitoring smoke distribution and dispersion, and • utilization of photography, meteorology, ground observation, and aerial reconnaissance to predict, identify and document smoke impacts.
The air quality technician continued to participate in the cooperative effort (along with SEKI, LAVO, PGSO, and USFS) to develop a "Spare the Air" CD ROM interpretive exhibit on visibility air pollutants. The web version is scheduled to be completed for review this winter.
The Air Quality Program participated in the park planning / NEPA program by contributing to the completion and or review of five planning / NEPA documents (Yosemite Valley Housing Plan SEIS, Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan SEIS. Mirror Lake Trail Reroute EA, SDA Land Exchange EA, and Hetch Hetchy Road EA).
Water Resources Program
The physical science staff continued to assist in an ongoing water quality study in cooperation with the USGS. Samples were collected weekly from the Hydro Benchmark Merced River site located
57 at Happy Isles. The samples were sent to Denver and Menlo Park where they were analyzed and compared with mapped geological, hydrological and topographic features to identify the solute sources and processes that control water chemistry within the basin during baseflow. This information will assist in gaining a better understanding of the weathering processes which control surface water composition in the central Sierra Nevada.
NEPA Program
The NEPA program administered and facilitated the evaluation of approximately 12 Planning Clearinghouse meetings, and completed processing of NEPA and NHPA compliance for 86 Planning Clearinghouse decisions / NEPA actions. Other accomplishments are listed below:
Finalized the Yosemite Valley Housing Plan Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement. Specific accomplishments included: • facilitation of policy development and alternatives refinement processes, • coordination of the review of the plan by park staff, other agencies, and interested parties,
• writing/ updated the Environmental Consequences section - natural resources sections (vegetation, wildlife, floodplain, sensitive species), • writing responses to public comments, and • reviewing of final plan.
Assisted with public information process and wrote sections for the final Yosemite Valley Implementation Plan. Specific accomplishments included: • participation in four open houses and four workshops, • facilitation of small discussion groups, • completion of responses to public comments, and • initiation of a policy resolution process for major issues raise by public comment.
Initiated and facilitated the environmental assessment process for two environmental assessments: • Draft SDA Land Exchange EA, and • Cook's Meadow Restoration EA.
Completed the Cook's Meadow Environmental Assessment and FONSI planning process: • facilitated restoration alternatives analysis. • coordinated review of the plan by park staff, other agencies, and interested parties, and • wrote responses to public comments.
Reviewed four environmental assessments: • draft Yosemite Lodge DCP EA • Resources Management / Flood Recovery Office EA • draft Hetch Hetchy Road EA • Mirror Lake Trail Reroute EA
Reviewed San Francisco Project Proposals for NEPA Requirements: • Cherry Lake Fuse Gates Installation • Hetch Hetchy Geophysical Investigation
58 • Wrote vegetation sections of the Yosemite Valley Cultural Landscape Draft Determination of Eligibility
• Maintained the park statutory compliance file system.
Soils Program
1998 was the third year in the five year process to completely survey all soils in Yosemite National Park. Specific accomplishments included: • Complete review of the annual soil survey work plan, • Coordination of soil survey logistics, and • review of 1997 annual report.
Ecological Restoration and Vegetation Management Program
Staff 1 Supv. Resources Management Specialist, Susan Fritzke, GS-12 1 Permanent, Ecologist(Vegetation), GS-9 1 Permanent, Restoration Work Leader, WL-5 1 Term, Restoration Work Leader, WL-5 1 Seasonal Restoration Work Leader, WL-5 8 Seasonal, Restoration Workers, WG-5 1 Permanent, Biological Technician, GS-7 1 Term Biological Technician, GS-7 1 Term, Biological Technician, GS-6 5 Seasonal, Biological Technicians, GS-5 2 Seasonal, Biological Technicians, GS-7 1 Lapsed, Biological Technician, GS-7 5,032 Volunteer hours
Highlights
Exotic Species GPRA Annual Goal • Although this program continues to be largely unfunded, extensive use of volunteers has allowed some work to be carried out in an attempt to address a significant threat to the Sierra ecosystem. At least 150 exotic species are growing within Yosemite National Park to date (over 1/10th of the park's flora), including one species on the Federal and State List of Noxious Species. • GIS mapping of priority exotic plant populations was carried out in El Portal and Foresta. • Over 2,000 volunteer hours were spent removing 80,000-100,000 exotic plants in Yosemite Valley, Foresta, Hodgdon Meadow, Mariposa Grove, and Wawona.
59 • Three employees were funded to remove exotic plant species within the Ackerson fire. Many new exotic species and populations were found within the fire and within the Yosemite Wilderness, indicating a need to more closely watch for and control the invasion of these natural areas by harmful species. • A 5-person flood recovery crew worked in portions of El Portal and Yosemite Valley to eradicate high priority species. Primary concerns continue to be yellow star-thistle, bull thistle, common mullein, tumble-mustards, sweet-clovers, Himalayan blackberry, Jerusalem-oak, black locust and a new population of spotted knapweed in Foresta. • A technical assistance request to develop the compliance to eradicate spotted knapweed was ranked the highest IPM priority for the Region and forwarded to Washington. • Information on Yosemite's exotic species work was included in the CalWeed website (http://endeavor.des.ucdavis.edu/weeds/), which was developed in part to facilitate information sharing and a more consistent response to exotic species management across the state. • Publication: Fritzke, S. and P. Moore. 1998. Exotic Plant Management in California's National Parks. Fremontia. California Native Plant Society Volume 26, Issue 4.
Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitiat: Plant Species GPRA Annual Goal The annual goal for completing surveys in El Portal was not achieved due to overriding park priorities. However, Ackerson Fire BAER funding, El Portal Road construction (Flood Recovery funding), proposed Hetch Hetchy road construction (SF City funding), and proposed road construction from the park's South Entrance to the Mariposa Grove (FLHP funding) provided the opportunity to conduct evaluations of all State and Federally listed species and park species of concern within these project areas. Data were collected, mapped and entered into GIS to generate theme updates. Mitigation measures were developed for inclusion in the Hetch Hetchy and El Portal road EAs to avoid further impacts to these species. All updated information was also sent to the California Department of Fish and Game's Natural Diversity Database.
Tompkin's sedge (Carex tompkinsii) Fifty-five plants were salvaged prior to initiation of El Portal road construction. These plants are being increased for replanting once construction is completed. New Tompkin's sedge populations were discovered in the Tuolumne river corridor - a range extension from its known occurrences farther south. We are working with CDFG to determine an appropriate level of listing for this species in light of the population expansion.
Hetch Hetchy monkeyflower (Mimulus filicaulis) Significant expansion of the population post-fire. Prior to the fire this species was known from 6 discrete locations, 5 acres total. The fire uncovered approximately 5,000 acres of habitat and linked the discrete populations into a large swath across the Hetch Hetchy road down into the Tuolumne river drainage. We are working with CDFG to determine an appropriate level of listing for this species in light of the population expansion.
Round-leaved sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) The population at Swamp Lake was re-evaluated. As expected, fallen burned trees along the lake edge created additional habitat for this epiphytic species, and the population increased from about
60 100 individuals in 1985 to over 10,000 in 1998. We hope to conduct assessments in nearby lakes and ponds in 1999.
See 1998 accomplishment reports for Ackerson Fire Rehabilitation and South Entrance/Mariposa Grove FLHPforfurther detail.
Disturbed Lands GPRA Annual Goal
Ackerson Fire Rehabilitation
Fire suppression impacts on the Aspen Valley and Great Sierra Wagon Roads were rehabilitated with heavy equipment and hand labor. Eight miles of road in wilderness were restored to pre-fire condition and closed to vehicular access in November 1997. Nine pullouts and numerous safety zones between Evergreen Road and Aspen Valley were scarified and regraded to allow natural revegetation to occur.
Cooks Meadow
• Study design and monitoring established and underway. • Vegetation transects and shallow water table monitoring wells were established and baseline data were collected prior to project implementation. • Surface water (inundated low elevation portions of the meadow) areas continue to be mapped at frequent intervals using a survey quality Trimble Global Positioning System. Data overlays will be used to evaluate resource effect following project implementation • Project implementation followed the completion of the NEPA and NHPA Section 106 compliance. • Project work completed to date includes: seed collection, removing over 3,750 tons of fill material from the ox bows in the meadow, mechanical removal of a portion of the exotic Himalayan blackberry stand, removal of other exotic plants, salvage and replanting of 2,800 square meters of vegetation, and filling two of the four ditches identified for mitigation, When completed the project will enhance wetland function in 60 acres of meadow.
See 1998 Cooks Meadow progress reportforfurther detail.
Tenaya Lake Campground Removal/Revegetation
Over 300 cubic yards of asphalt and road fill were removed from the former campground. Trail realignments and new signs were developed to direct visitors through the restored area.
Glacier Point Sewerline/CIF
The slope was monitored for potential erosion following the removal of 1,200 feet of sewerline and regrading of slopes. Brush and leaf litter were scattered over exposed soil. The slope appeared stable following snow melt and passage of a growing season. The large concrete rebar reinforced holding tank (Imhoff tank) is still intact. The demolition of the tank has been delayed until 1999 due to over commitments in the park blaster's schedule
Mirror Lake
61 An additional line of fence was constructed between the restrooms and the interpretive trail to protect the revegetation area at the toe of the slope. Watering of plantings continued through the summer months. The new interpretive walkway through the project area has been a popular destination for valley visitors while allowing for the re-establishment of vegetation in areas previously subject to trampling. Volunteers spent 100 hours installing new fencing and maintaining plants. Construction of the bridge between the interpretive trail and the Mirror Lake loop trail is nearly complete. The final project report is due out in winter 98/99.
Washburn Point
Prior seasons revegetation was supported with bi-monthly watering during the summer. Vegetation survival was over 50%. Replanted another 130 plants that were surplus from the Glacier Point CIF Project. Species included: huckleberry oak, whitethorn ceanothus, pine, gooseberry, western raspberry, and keckiella. Vegetation cages were removed in October prior to the onset of autumn/early winter precipitation. Trampling impacts can still be observed inside of the fence. Volunteers spent 280 hours scarifying soils, spreading duff, and maintaining plants. See 1998 Washburn Pointfinal reportfor more information.
Wilderness Restoration
• High school SCA crew removed 1,000 pounds of garbage and ash from 25 campfire rings and then reduced their size at Merced Lake, Twin Bridges and Sunrise HSC. They also removed 70 campfire rings and restored the areas at Sunrise Lakes, Pluto Point, Echo Valley and Twin Bridges. • Trail crews restored several areas and rebuilt 11 campfire rings at Rancheria Falls, restored 12 sites in the Harden Lake vicinity and cleaned 3 fire rings of trash and excess ash. Additional sites were worked on at Morrison Creek. • Yosemite Association Volunteers spent 480 hours cleaning and rebuilding 23 campfire rings in the Yosemite Creek drainage and removed another 38 campfire rings which were poorly located. • Wilderness campsites which were restored in 1987, at Budd, Lower Cathedral and Elizabeth lakes were quantitatively reevaluated to assess long term plant re-establishment. Eight 10x10 meter plots were resurveyed for vegetation cover and establishment. Statistical analyses will be carried out to detect significance of observed changes. • Old Glen Aulin trail restoration work done between 1991 and 1995 was reevaluated to determine vegetative cover percentages and species diversity in the restored area. Eighty paired plots were installed. Over 60 species of plants were identified within the project area. Data indicate a marked increase in the density of vegetation cover in the restored trail sections following 5 years of growth. Volunteers spent 592 hours stabilizing eroded sections of Delaney Creek along the old trail corridor. • Chilnualna Creek, Chain Lakes, Royal Arch Lake, Johnson Lake, Ten Lakes and Sunrise Lakes all had photo points retaken and restoration sites evaluated qualitatively. The re-establishment of vegetation in the project areas appears to be progressing rapidly.
See the 1998 Wilderness Restoration Reportforfurther information.
Yosemite Campground Resource Impact Evaluations
62 • Evaluated resource impacts in Yosemite Creek, Porcupine Flat, Tuolumne Meadows and Tamarack Flat Campgrounds • Prepared campsite inventories for approximately 70% of the sites within the campgrounds • Mitigated impacts to resource damage at Porcupine Flat by transplanting vegetation, redesigning site and fire ring/picnic table locations, and relocating 3 campsites away from the stream bank • Project work was accomplished with YF/Chevron volunteers (456 hours).
General Vegetation Management GPRA Annual Goal
Ackerson Fire Rehabilitation
Ten post fire effects vegetation plots were monitored to evaluate vegetation recovery in high intensity bum areas in Ponderosa Pine, White Fir, and Red Fir forest types.
South Entrance/Mariposa Grove
A vegetation survey and map for the South Entrance/Mariposa Grove federal highways project was completed. This will assist with future revegetation planning when the project is funded in 2001.
South Fork Bridge
The temporary bridge and bypass road installation was monitored for resources impacts. New road shoulders were scarified and covered with native mulch, and lupine seeds were scattered over the site to promote soil stabilization along the bypass road.
Black Oak Woodlands
The California black oak woodland project continued with the 10th year of seedling monitoring, site maintenance, and evaluation. Over 30% of the planted oak seedlings are viable and natural recmitment of oak seedlings is occurring within the protected project areas. Eighteen planted seedlings are now over two meters tall, and an additional thirty are over 1-meter tall. Data collection was completed for the oak woodland restoration project area and will be subject to statistical analysis. Oak seedlings were re-tagged, and most enclosures were replaced with three foot diameter cages. Volunteers spent 724 hours on this project. Final project report is scheduled to be released in winter 98/99.
Publication: Fritzke, S.L. 1998. A California Black Oak Restoration Project in Yosemite Valley (Proceedings of a Symposium on Oak Woodlands: Ecology, Management, and Urban Interface Issues, USFS, Pacific Southwest Research Station, General Technical Report PSW-GTR-160).
Tuolumne Visitor Center Revegetation
Volunteers and staff worked to complete revegetation of the denuded areas surrounding the new parking lots and restrooms. 400 volunteer hours were spent on this project.
Compliance
• The Cook's Meadow EA was completed and FONSI signed. Compliance with NHPA Section 106 and Memorandum of Agreement with the State Flistoric Preservation Officer and National Advisory Council prescribed mitigation for the impacts to the cultural resources.
63 Documentation and mitigation has been on going as project implementation proceeds to enhance wetland function. • Input into Hetch Hetchy EA • Input into Mirror Lake trail reroute EA • Input into Yosemite Falls EA
Presentations
• International Arboriculture Society (BW and SF) • California State Park photopoint monitoring (ET) • Television media interview with KCRA about meadow restoration (SF)
• Discovery Channel - sequoias (SF)
• BAER techniques training - Reno (SF) • San Jose State University (SF and BW) • Merced River habitat evaluations (BW) • Merced River flood report (SE)
GIS Program
Staff 1 Cartographer, Joe Meyer, GS-11 1 Term, Physical Science Specialist/GIS Specialist, GS-7 1 Term, Geographer/GIS Specialist, GS-7
Highlights
Established 254 ecological plots as a part of the first year of a 3 year vegetation mapping effort.
Cultural Resources Management Program
Staff 1 Supv. Archeologist, Laura Laird, GS-12 1 Term, Archeologist, GS-7 3 Term, Archeological Technicians, GS-7 2 Seasonals, Archeological Technicians, GS-5 2 Volunteers, 80 hours 1 Lapsed Branch Chief, Cultural Resources. GS-13 1 Lapsed Park Historical Architect, GS-11
Highlights Section 106 review: National Historic Preservation Act Compliance Determinations of No Effect: File reviews and Archeological Clearance Report (25) xxx reports, in-house review under Nationwide Programmatic Agreement (12) • Wawona Hotel Kitchen Floor Replacement • Wawona Hotel Washburn Cottage Refurbishing • Wawona Hotel Pool Repair • Ahwahnee Hotel Balcony Resurfacing • Ahwahnee Hotel Primestar Satellite Dish Installation • Ahwahnee Hotel Kitchen Wall Repair and Painting • Ahwahnee Hotel Gift Shop Ceiling Repair • Ahwahnee Dorm Foundation Repair and Bath Remodel • Yosemite Medical Clinic Emergency Room Remodel • Residence #49 Office Retrofit • Pioneer History Center Structures Preservation • Ahwahnee Hotel Exploratory Demolition
XXX reports, No Adverse Effect, SHPO consultation (8) • Yosemite Medical Clinic Nurse's Dorm Remodel • Ranger's Club Accessibility Modifications • Wawona Hotel Boiler Addition and Back Dock Rehabilitation • Ahwahnee Hotel Hydronic System, Ice/Snow Melt • Wawona Hotel Washburn Cottage Soundproofing • Hetch Hetchy Road Reconstruction • Yosemite Lodge Sewerline Replacement • El Portal Road Reconstruction
Adverse Effect, SHPO and Advisory Council Consultation (1) - Cook's Meadow Restoration (Memorandum of Agreement on file)
Consultations under Section 106 are also in progress for The Plan for Yosemite Valley (formerly the Valley Implementation Plan, and the Yosemite Valley Housing Plan). Actions specified in this plan, as well as all other planning, design, construction, and operations undertaken at Yosemite, are the subject of a draft Programmatic Agreement between the National Park Service, the State Historic Preservation Officer, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, seven American Indian tribes, and the National Tmst for Historic Preservation.
Published reports
• Carpenter, Scott L. 1997 The Merced Canyon Travel Corridor, Yosemite National Park, California, A Determination of Eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Prepared by VOLPE National Transportation Systems Center for USDI National Park Service, Yosemite National Park. • Davis-King, Shelly 1998 Johnny Wilson's Place: Investigations at CA-MRP-362/H and CA- MRP-363H Within the El Portal Archaeological District, Mariposa County, Yosemite National Park, California. Submitted to USDI, NPS. Yosemite National Park. • Fox, Gregory L., and Chester Shaw 1998 A Section 110 Inventory and Post Flood Damage Assessment of the Yosemite Valley, and Mirror Lake, Loop Trails (P-22-272), Yosemite National Park, Mariposa County, California, Western Archeological and Conservation Center, DOI/NPS, Tucson, Arizona. • Hull, Kathleen L., Mark Hale, Russell Bevill. and W. G. Spaulding 1998 Archeological Subsurface Survey and Test Excavations at Yosemite Lodge, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite
65 National Park, California. Yosemite Research Center Publications in Anthropology No. 20, Yosemite National Park, California. • Kelly, Michael S., and Kathleen L. Hull 1998 Historic Resource Recording at Wawona Meadow, Yosemite National Park, California. Submitted to USDI National Park Service, Yosemite National Park. • Montague, Suzanna T. 1996 The Dana Meadows Archeological Testing Project, Yosemite National Park, Tuolumne County, California. Yosemite Research Center Publications in Anthropology No. 19, Yosemite National Park, California. • Vittands, John 1998 Archeological Inventory and Flood Damage Assessments for Selected Backcountry Drainages, Yosemite National Park, California. Yosemite Research Center Technical Report No. 4, Yosemite National Park, California.
Draft reports
• Gassaway, Linn 1997 Project Summary: Aspen Valley Prescribed Burn Site Documentation (YOSE 19970). Draft report on file, Yosemite Research Center, Yosemite National Park. • Allen, Corey 1998 Post Flood Archeological Treatments at CA-MRP-181/H, Mariposa County, California. Draft report on file, Yosemite Research Center, Yosemite National Park. • National Park Service 1998 Determination of Eligibility: Yosemite Valley Cultural Landscape. Draft report on file, Yosemite Research Center, Yosemite National Park. • Keefe, Timothy M., Bruce M. Kahl, and Suzanna T. Montague 1998 The Ackerson Post-Fire Archeological Project, Yosemite National Park, California. Volumes 1 and 2. Draft report on file, Yosemite Research Center, Yosemite National Park.
American Indian Consultation
Eight meetings were held with the American Indian Council of Mariposa County, Consultation Committee. Most of the consultation was undertaken to satisfy the park's Section 106 compliance for undertakings. These included the park's large-scale planning efforts (Valley Implementation Plan, Yosemite Valley Housing Plan, Yosemite Lodge Redevelopment), Flood Recovery projects, environmental restoration projects (Cook's Meadow Restoration, Wilderness Restoration), the park's prescribed burning program, small-scale projects. Other aspects of consultation included American Indian traditional park uses, the recent Traditional Uses agreement, discovery of human remains, NAGPRA repatriation, and petitioning for tribal recognition.
NAGPRA incidents
Inadvertent Discovery: During excavations for special research purposes, archeologist Kathleen Hull uncovered human skeletal remains at site CA-MRP-288 in Yosemite Valley. Consultations under the Native Graves Protection and Repatriation Act were immediately initiated with the American Indian Council of Mariposa County, Inc., the cultural group most closely affiliated with Yosemite Valley. At the request of the tribe, the remains were exhumed and analyzed by Physical Anthropologist Dr. Roger LaJeunesse, of California State University at Fresno. The remains were identified as the cranium, partial mandible, and several teeth from an adult American Indian female. No objects were found in direct association with the remains, although several formed tools were recovered from the excavation unit. At the request of the tribe, the remains and all formed tools were reinterred in the same location. A brief report of discovery was filed, with copies sent to the American Indian Council of Mariposa County, Inc., the Tuolumne Me-Wuk
66 Cultural and Historic Preservation Committee NAGPRA Project, and the Mono Lake Indian Community.
Public contacts
Archeology program staff participated in several interpretive events and programs. An extensive Archeology Week program was held at the El Portal Elementary School, and included a slide show, an "identify that thing" workshop, and visits to local archeological sites. A slide show was presented for the Interpretation Division Brown-Bag Seminar Series and the YA Spring Forum. Archeology Office staff also participated in the Valley Implementation Plan public involvement program, offering bus tours. Cultural Resources Management staff met with National Trust for Historic Preservation to discuss the park's draft Programmatic Agreement and resources management program.
Attendance at meetings
• Pacific Rim Anthropologist's Meeting, January 1998, Death Valley, CA; • Society for California Archeology Meetings. April 1998, • NPS Archeologist's meeting, March 1998, Seattle, WA
Cultural Resources Management Projects
• Two Cultural Landscape work sessions were held, headed by Cathy Gilbert from the NPS Seattle SSO, to evaluate the existing information in the draft Yosemite Valley Cultural Landscape Report and make progress towards a National Register nomination. The group included such notables in the Cultural Landscape field as Ethan Carr from NPS Denver Service Center, and Bob Page from NPS Washington Office, Cultural Landscape Program. The group drafted a "Determination of Eligibility" document for the entire valley, spanning the period of known prehistory through the 1940s. The proposed new Yosemite Valley Historic District includes the entire valley, from rim to rim. and extends from Inspiration Point to the Snow Creek switchbacks. It recognizes the national (and most likely international) historical significance of Yosemite Valley in the landscape character areas of views and vistas, vegetation patterning, traditional uses, cultural responses to natural features, archeology, historic circulation systems, and historic structures. The DOE will be finalized in 1999, and a "level II" cultural landscape inventory will be undertaken for the proposed district.
• Draft List of Classified Structures was reviewed and finalized and submitted to the Washington office for final publication.
• Four formal Determinations of Eligibility were prepared and submitted to the California SHPO for review. These included evaluations at Camp 4 in Yosemite Valley, the Hetch Hetchy Road, Historic Properties in the El Portal Administrative Site, and the Redwood Cabins area of Yosemite Lodge. The SHPO concurred in non-eligibility for both Camp 4 and the Lodge Redwood Cabins, although a special-interest group filed an objection under Section 106 and ultimately received a Determination of Eligibility for Camp 4 as a National Register Historic Site from the Keeper of the National Register. The SHPO has concurred, or is in the process of reviewing additional information, for the other two potential historic properties.
67 Archeological Projects
Many archeological an/or cultural resources inventory, evaluation, mitigation, and construction monitoring projects were undertaken in 1998. All of these were conducted in support of park planning, design, and construction projects for purposes of Section 106 compliance. These projects resulted in a total of approximately 1145 acres of archeological inventory, formal recording of 90 new and 37 previously-discovered historic resources, mostly archeological sites; a small number of linear historic resources is included in this total figure. Auger-testing was conducted at three archeological sites, systematic excavations were undertaken at eleven archeological sites, and archeological monitoring was conducted during 13 construction projects to protect known resources and deal with any inadvertent discovery of resources.
Large-scale and notable archeological projects
Backcountrv Trails: Archeological inventory was conducted in several locations in the backcountry (YOSE 1998N), including Pate Valley, Harden Lake, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Tiltill Valley, Alder Creek, Bridalveil Creek, Chilnualna Falls, Stubblefield Canyon, Snow Creek, and small sections of the Tuolumne River canyon. Thirteen newly discovered sites were documented, and 11 previously-known sites were re-recorded. Survey acreage figures are not available at this time. The purpose of the project was to inventory areas proposed for new trail work or facilities, such as trail re-routes, borrow areas, new bridge construction, and new and "traditional" trail crew camp sites. As part of the project, several educational programs were presented to the trail crew staff and special work crews.
Wilderness Restoration: As part of the park's wilderness restoration, archeological inventory (YOSE 1998P) was conducted in several areas planned for campsite removal, trail restoration, and campsite delineation. These areas included Merced Lake, May Lake, Vogelsang, and Sunrise High Sierra Camps, Yosemite Creek, Cathedral Lakes, and Tiltill Valley. Although survey acreage figures are not yet available, 31 newly-discovered and 13 previously known archeological sites were fully documented, and 33 surface artifacts were collected for cataloging and special analysis. Informal educational programs were provided to wilderness restoration staff and volunteer work crews.
Special research: Ms. Kathleen Hull, Ph.D. Candidate at University of California at Berkeley, received a Federal Antiquities permit to conduct excavations in Yosemite Valley (YOSE 1998QQ) as part of her dissertation research. She is proposing to reconstruct population trends based on obsidian analysis, and hopes to focus later stages of her research on late-prehistoric era sites with intact cultural features, to describe the cultural responses to large-scale population losses through disease. During her first excavation, she uncovered a partial human burial (described under Inadvertent Discoveries above). The remainder of her excavations, at six sites, was relatively uneventful. In addition to collections from new excavation, she will be conducting analyses using existing archeological collections from Yosemite Valley.
Fire-support Inventory and Site Protection: An archeological technician position was dedicated to support for the park's fire program, funded through Firepro. This was the first year of closely- coordinated planning, and resulted in many instances of site protection. Through this program, all known cultural resources were identified in burn units, and each resource was assessed for potential to be affected by fire, and protection needs. Areas of high resource sensitivity, where inventory
68 coverage was missing or inadequate, were surveyed. All fire facility locations (handlines, helispots, spike camps, etc.) were also inventoried for resource protection needs. A total of 105 archeological sites and historic resources were located and assessed for protection needs. Fifty-four of these were previously known sites, and 48 of these were newly-identified sites which were formally documented through this process. A total of 1105 acres were inventoried for resources. Twenty-nine resources were burned over, in situations where burning would not affect significant values of these places. Protection measures were instituted at 27 sites in order to prevent fire- related damage. Other aspects of fire management, such as mop-up activities, were modified where appropriate to prevent unnecessary archeological resource damage. As part of planning for each bum, traditionally-used plant resources were identified in bum units. Local Indian people were consulted during the process, and notified of bum schedules so that particular plants could be harvested prior to burning.
69