SUPERINTENDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK 1991 SUPERINTENDENT'S ANNUAL REPORT 1991

1991 HIGHLIGHTS

January o The year 1991 was the fifth year of o Feb. 18—Chad Austin Youngs, age 17, of drought. Davis, CA, was killed while scrambling above Sunnyside Campground. o Jan. 8~The announcement was made that the park concessioner YP&CCo. was sold o Feb. 19—Bear, mosquito, and to the National Park Foundation effective yellow jacket activity is noticed, all on Feb. 1. unseasonably early. o Jan. 16—Community Peace Project o Feb. 25—Foresta homeowners met with Against War in Gulf demonstrated in El NPS Director Ridenour, Secretary of the Portal and called their campaign "No Interior Lujan, and National Inholders Blood for Oil." Association President Cushman in Washington. o Jan. 20—Mariposa Grove closed for three weeks due to hazard-tree removal. o Feb. 28—March 5—A major storm brought relief to drought-stricken Sierra. On o Jan. 22—Western Regional Director March 4, 7.92" of rain was received. Stanley Albright decided to permit rebuilding in Foresta if landowners meet March all county sanitation codes. o March 21-Four special-use permit o Jan. 28~Badger Pass closed due to lack of holders in Foresta were given a 90-day snow. It reopened and closed again on notice to vacate the premises. Feb. 19. o March 27—A 40-ton boulder closed Big February Oak Flat Road from Crane Flat to the El Portal Road at the dam. o Chief Ranger Roger Rudolph transferred to Olympic National Park, and Chief of April Concessions Wayne Schulz retired from the park service and began working for o April 1-Ticketron outlets closed north of the Mariposa Chamber of Commerce. Ventura and Reno. Ticketmaster bought Ticketron.

1 o April 6-7--Senator Frank Murkowski (R o May 23—Tioga Road opened and then Alaska) visited the park. closed due to a road-surface problem. It opened again on May 24, and on May 26, o April 16~The announced their it closed and reopened due to a 50-100 ft. transportation plan recommendations. collapse that occurred at 4:30 p.m. CalTrans helped with reopening efforts. o April 22--A Foresta meeting was held in the park with National Inholders o May 24—The Glacier Point Road opened Association President Charles Cushman at noon. attending. o May 25—A major river rescue occurred o April 22— Interagency proposal for with car in river at Bridalveil. Two backcountry-use limiting numbers of children and one woman drowned in this people in groups from 25 to 15 was accident. announced. o May 26—The Traffic Management Plan May was implemented for two hours. o May l~The Sierra Club announced plans June for "Range of Light National Park." o June 4—A successful river rescue of two o May l-5~The Wilderness Society held girls, 12- and 13-years-old, occurred in El transportation workshops at Marriott's Portal. Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp. o June 5—Yosemite Newsletter changed o May 13~Immigration and Naturaliation publishing frequency from bi-monthly to Service dedication and naturalization monthly. ceremony for 100 new citizens was held in Yosemite Valley. o June 7—Yosemite Fund press conference with Exxon and Pac Bell was held. o May 13—A river rescue, a drowning, and a climbing fatality occurred in Yosemite o June 7-9—The Secretary of the Interior Valley today. announced free entrance days for military personnel and families in appreciation for o May 14—A major search for a 37-year-old Operation Desert Storm. female Stanford physicist was initiated. She was later found in good condition. o June 8—Two unrelated drownings occurred in Wawona. o May 20—Mono County plowed two miles into the park from Tioga at no cost to the o June 8-9-Congressman George Miller (D NPS. CA) and Jerry Brown visited the park. o May 20—Two building permits were o June 15-Trip Lease expired today. A issued to Foresta land-owners. grace period from June 16-July 31 was

2 given for buses. Beginning August all losses. buses without authorization will be denied access to the park. o Aug. 5-6—Secretary of Interior Lujan, his wife, and Press Secretary Steve Goldstein o June 24--The Inspector General issued a visited the park. report that YP&CCo. owes three million dollars on its trip lease. o Aug. 5-Letters requesting back-rent payment were mailed to employees. o June 26-A press conference was held to acknowledge the beginning of a park-wide o Aug. 12-15—Senator Wyche Fowler (D recycling program with DOW Chemical GA) visited the park. Company, Huntsman Chemical Corp, and the NPS. o Aug. 14-15—Neal Sigmon, staff member on the House Appropriations Committee July and Kevin Gergley visited the park and toured Yosemite Valley and El Portal. o July l~The amendment to the GMP for the concessions contract is announced in o Aug. 19-A major search began for 24- the Federal Register. year-old Mike Little from Pleasanton who became lost in the Cherry Lake/Lake o July 5—A 23-year-old woman slipped into Eleanor area. He was found on Aug. 21 the Merced River and drowned. This is in good shape. the seventh drowning this year. o Aug. 19-24~Senator Bennett Johnston (D o July 6~Oversite hearing at the Marriott on LA) visited the park as the guest of transportation and housing. Congressmen YP&CCo. President Ed Hardy. Richard Lehman, Bruce Vento, Bill Richardson, Ron deLugo, Jim Jontz, and September six staff members attended. o Sept. 4-16—Mark Wellman and Mike o July 8—Seven members of "Sierra Green" Corbett climbed Half Dome as a attempted to block construction of the new fundraiser for the Western Los Angeles housing being built at Hodgdon Meadow. County Council of the Boy Scouts of America and The Yosemite Association. o July ll~Werner Beinstingl, 29, Austrian researcher at University of - o Sept. 17—Senate approved $300,000 Santa Barbara, was swept over Yosemite transportation study for Yosemite, Fall. This was the eighth water-related Yellowstone, and Denali National Parks. fatality this year, the 12th fatality to date. o Sept. 20-YP&CCo. sale to the National August Park Foundation was signed. o Aug.—Melvin Belli initiated 21 tort claims o Sept. 24—MISTIX was awarded the against the NPS regarding the Foresta fire contract to operate Yosemite campground

3 reservations. November o Sept. 24—"ILL Fire" closed the Glacier o Nov. 2--An unidentified body of a white Point Road. Major fire suppression effort male was found at Glacier Point and was was conducted. Heavy smoke conditions recovered on Nov. 4. in Yosemite Valley, and the visitors were advised of possible health risks. The fire o Nov. ll~The Tioga Road reopened. was contained on Sept. 27 and controlled on Sept. 29. o Nov. 14~The Tioga Road closed due to ice on the road on the east side. o Sept. 26~The Hetch Hetchy Campground was dedicated. o Nov. 18~The Tioga and The Glacier Point Roads closed for the season. o Sept. 27-28~Sean Burchell, legislative liaison, visited the park. o Nov. 29—Yosemite Valley experienced 40 mph winds. Campgrounds, all tents, and October some two-story housing were evacuated for 15 hours. o Oct. l~The time-capsule was buried, marking the end to the centennial. December o Oct. 9-10—A search for an male English o Dec. 3l--Three-year legislated visitor missing in the Wawona area ended moratorium on 2,000 ft. above-the-rim with him found in good condition. restrictions on overflights ends. o A body was found near Bridalveil Meadow with a gunshot wound in the head, an apparent suicide. The victim's car had diplomatic plates from Mexico. o Oct. 25~The Tioga Road was closed due to snow.

o Oct. 26~The Glacier Point Road was closed.

o Oct. 27~There was a rescue on El Capitan of four climbers stranded from a sudden storm. An Air National Guard helicopter brought in Sacramento press to cover the event.

4 ADMINISTRATION DIVISION o Improved the ability to develop network and stand-alone database applications The Administrative Officer transferred to the locally. Southwest Regional Office in December. Prior to that time, he served as Acting o Completely redesigned the proposed El Assistant Superintendent and the Personnel Portal Maintenance complex information Officer served as Acting Administrative system and began planning for parkwide Officer from May through the balance of networking. 1991. o Provided more than 263 employee-hours BUDGET & FISCAL of formal training for 87 employees in 24 classes. Beginning October 1990 the Park Service converted to the Federal Financial System CONTRACTING OFFICE (FFS) which continues to be unresponsive to our needs. The financial reports generated o Denver Service Center projects included by this system are erroneous, difficult to the continuation of the Yosemite Valley read, and untimely. Electric Rehabilitation Project with Phases III & IV completed and Phases V and VI Park-wide funding for fiscal year 1991 was getting underway. as follows: ONPS Other FTE o The El Portal Housing, Phase II, got underway in November. Superintendent 289,390 28,327 4.6 Safety 132.083 0 2.0 o PacBell completed the removal of Concessions 180,209 0 5.2 telephone cable from along Southside Protection 3,494,654 797,382 140.3 Drive. They are continuing with removal Admin. 1,462,738 0 44.4 of cable along Highway 41. Resources 849,878 26,500 34.4 Interp. 1,108,210 170,100 39.9 o This was a record year for contracting. Maintenance 6,658,547 1,099,395 210.7 We issued 31 prime contracts (1990=14) and 126 complex purchase orders Total 14,175,709 2,121,703 481.5 (1991=56).

INFORMATION MANAGER o The major project was the testing of Yosemite's underground storage tanks and o Coordinated the purchase and installation the subsequent removal of 17 under¬ of 43 additional computers and associated ground storage tanks, along with soil peripherals (nearly a 50% increase) and remediation at selected sites. monitored more than $200,000 worth of computer-related spending. o Contracting issued 23 NPS-20 agreements (1990=8) plus a few modifications to o Doubled the size of the electronic mail existing agreements. One of these was the system. agreement to start charging for ambulance

5 runs. The funding from this agreement planning another fair for 1992. will go toward the Park's EMS training program. o There were approximately 63 vacant positions at the beginning of 1991. PROCUREMENT AND PROPERTY During the course of the year ap¬ MANAGEMENT proximately 55 positions were filled.

Property Management Classification o A park-wide inventory of all capitalized o The rewriting of the park's Position equipment was completed. Management Plan is still being completed.

Procurement o A number of back pay claims were filed with the park by employees and former o Implemented the "Third Party Draft" employees claiming pay differential for system for procuring supplies and services stand-by duty for the past six years. which resulted in the number of purchase orders issued cut in half. Employee Development o Trained six additional decentralized o This year Yosemite National Park parti¬ buyers in the outlying districts to procure cipated in the Servicewide Intake Program supplies up to $2,500.00 to improve the by appointing Bruce Phillips as park efficiency of the turn-around-time for ranger in June. requisitions. HOUSING Warehouse o The housing of government employees o Bar-code inventory was implemented throughout FY91 escalated with the hiring which allows tracking for quicker, more of more long-term temporary employees, efficient sales. filling lapsed vacancies on the permanent roster, and the advent of a longer PERSONNEL visitation year.

Staffing o Very little private rental housing in the county and townsite of Mariposa is o We had a Job Fair that was open to the available, and more and more employees public in which approximately 23 NPS need assignments in government-provided employees participated. These employees housing. Three additional single-family represented their occupational group (i.e., homes in the headquarters area were used mechanic, trails, building and grounds' to house up to twelve temporary employ¬ occupations, concessions, personnel, ees for six months. An El Portal house utilities' occupations, etc.), and they gave and four trailer sites were pressed into out information pertaining to their field. action for accommodating seasonal em¬ The fair was a great success, and we are ployees also. Up to twelve requests to

6 house VIPs and others were denied for INTERPRETATION DIVISION lack of available bed space during the summer season. o Members of the park interpretive staff and several VIPs participated in two Construction and rehabilitation of houses videotape productions, "Interpretive eliminated the use of eight units for Critiquing" by Bill Lewis and a VIP periods of time throughout the year (six recruitment/training video by WRO. months to one year). The loss of cabins and bed space in Foresta resulting from o Audiovisual Production Specialist Bob the 1990 fire cut drastically into the Roney completed a training video on the seasonal bed availability. peregrine falcon for the U.S. Navy. The production is intended to discourage Total income for permanent housing aircraft pilots from flying at low altitude totaled $581,909 while expenditures over the park by emphasizing the need to amounted to more than $753,800. protect this endangered species. Roney Seasonal housing income totaled $47,128 also completed a new taped slide program with expenditures totaling $85,805. on fire management, using the 1990 Housing initiative funds provided Yosemite fires as the focal point. amounted to $282,041. o The park signed a Memorandum of Site preparation, infrastructure, and the Understanding with two private com¬ construction of three, three-bedroom panies to produce a large-format film for houses, and two, two-bedroom duplexes the park and to remodel an existing began during the fiscal year. Rental rates auditorium as a theater to accommodate were adjusted from updated inventories as the production. Both the film and the a result of a new California survey. New theater would be donated to the NPS. rates resulted in slight increases and, in some instances, lowered rates (a reflec¬ o The Yosemite Association approved more tion of more accurate inventories of than $300,000 in financial aid-to-NPS in housing units' conditions). No rental 1991. change required incremental adjustments. o The park participated in Black History The collection of rents from May 1, Month with an exhibit and a special 1983, through June 21, 1986, by a court- program. EO Committee member Raye ordered injunction was initiated in late Santos, Interpretive Division secretary, July by the NPS under the direction of the also produced a special exhibit featuring Western Regional Office in cooperation Hispanic employees in the park. with the Accounting Operations Division, NPS. New bills of collection were issued o Chief Interpreter Len McKenzie headed to effected persons, changing an earlier two special task groups, one to develop a (1988-89) decision to allow installment drought contingency plan for the park and payments without interest (except on the other to evaluate the Tenaya Lake and default), to installment payments with Yosemite Creek campgrounds and formu¬ interest. late alternatives and recommendations for future use. temporary to PFT. Sylvia Martinez was placed in a PLTFT position after Six portable exhibits interpreting the completing the Cooperative Education Merced River restoration project and Program. fishery study were produced. VALLEY DISTRICT INTERPRETATION The interpretive staff cooperated with YP&CCo. in developing interpretive tray o Rewrote the "A Changing Yosemite" trail liners and drinking cups. The cartoons text and refurbished the numbered were provided by San Francisco markers along the route. Chronicle cartoonist Phil Frank ("Farley"). o Expanded the Deaf Services Program from one full-time sign language The interpretive staff worked with Bill interpreter to two, which allowed for Snodgrass of Dow Chemical Co. to coverage in the Valley Visitor Center promote the new recycling program seven days a week and sign language funded by Dow and to develop interpretive services in the Wawona and interpretive media and materials. Chief Mather districts. Interpreter Len McKenzie participated in a two-city media tour to launch the o Installed a "Valley Formation" video in program in June. A new exhibit, funded the visitor center, funded largely through by Dow, will be installed in the Valley the donation box. Visitor Center this spring. o Contributions to the Indian Cultural The giant sequoia round that was removed Exhibit donation box were so great in from the front of the Yosemite Museum 1991 that we hope to fund a seasonal when it was closed in 1967 was returned position in 1992 from those donations. to that location in July. o Mark Wellman and Mike Corbett com¬ Personnel changes in the Interpretive pleted "The Climb" of Half Dome, which Division included: Bruce Fincham, who was intended to be a fundraiser for the had been Valley District interpreter for Boy Scouts and the Yosemite Association. many years became division project manager, while Cherry Payne moved o Earth Day and 's birthday were from Mather District into his position. again celebrated with a Valley cleanup Roy Irving, Valley District field day involving visitors, a talk by Lee interpreter supervisor, transferred to Stetson as John Muir, and a bagpipe band GRCA. Sue Austin from Wawona from McLane High School in Fresno. District was selected as his successor. Mark Wellman resigned to pursue o The orientation slide program in the Olympic skiing and climbing activities. Valley Visitor Center was discontinued Valerie Pillsbury became the division's indefinitely beginning in November financial assistant. Research Librarian pending correction of some major Linda Eade was converted from electrical code violations.

8 o The Valley TIS was taken out of service MATHER DISTRICT INTERPRETATION in the fall when the phone cable that carried the recorded message from the o Porcelain-enamel interpretive signs were recording equipment in the visitor center produced for the Tuolumne Grove self- to the transmitter a mile away was guiding trail, frames were assembled, and removed. the displays were installed.

WAWONA DISTRICT INTERPRETATION o Interpreter Carl Sharsmith returned to , and his 60-plus o Worked closely with the maintenance staff years continued to inspire the staff and and the Yosemite Fund to complete re¬ visitors. storation of the Degnan Bakery at the Pioneer Yosemite History Center o Draft text and design concepts were (PYHC), then opened the bakery and developed for new exhibits at Hetch incorporated it into the living history Hetchy. program. o New text was written for the Soda o Continued to offer ever-popular special Springs self-guiding trail. events such as star parties, Old-Fashioned Christmas in Wawona, Fourth of July parade, and barn dances. In addition, PROJECT MANAGER many 75th anniversary programs which dealt with natural and human history o Established the Project Management topics were offered. Branch and detailed Valley District Interpreter Bruce Fincham as project o Seasonal park rangers produced text and manager. Unfortunately, no funds exist art for ten new interpretive signs to be to continue the position in FY92. installed in 1992 in the Upper Mariposa Grove. o The project manager completed 94 proj¬ ects and initiated 63 others which are now o The Environmental Living Program at the in progress. Due to lack of funding for Pioneer Yosemite History Center served the project manager position, many of more than 700 students from throughout these ongoing projects will be seriously California. Demand for training resulted delayed. in an increase from one to two training weekends for teachers in the fall. o Designed and produced rafting informa¬ tion and a river management brochure. o Sue Austin worked with Concessions Management to provide a two-day o Coordinated the design and installation of training course to YP&CCo. transpor¬ Happy Isles Habitats artwork with inter¬ tation employees. pretive text panels by Larry Eifert. A popular attraction at Happy Isles Nature Center, the project was funded by the Yosemite Association.

9 Coordinated the design and installation of teachers' guide for the Mariposa Grove. two new interpretive waysides at Lower Yosemite Fall. A special dedication o Assisted with conference planning and ceremony was held on October 1 with the coordinated arrangements for presenta¬ Yosemite Fund and Union Bank, which tions with other agencies at the Third funded the project. Global Congress of Heritage Interpreta¬ tion International, 11/3-8/91, Honolulu, Coordinated 14 special events for the NPS Hawaii. Chief Interpreter Len McKenzie 75th anniversary, including five concerts presented a paper, "Yosemite: A Case by Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel on Study in Building Partnerships for and around August 25. About 3,500 Interpretation, Preservation, and the visitors attended these events. Travel Industry," at the Congress.

This was the most productive year yet for o Coordinated the design and production of the teacher intern program, funded by the four waysides, funded by AQD, to Yosemite Association. Five teachers interpret air quality. Production is in produced an outstanding variety of lesson progress through HFC. plans endorsed by Dr. Clifford Bee, UCSD, internationally recognized expert o Awarded a contract, funded by the in curriculum development. Yosemite Fund, and coordinated on-going planning efforts for exhibit rehabilitation Assisted Mariposa County Unified School at Happy Isles Nature Center. Expanded District with development plans for an the VIP exhibit crew to 14 to assist with outdoor education classroom. NPS part of exhibit rehab work.

Assisted Mariposa County Chamber of o Planned the Yosemite Centennial Time Commerce with development plans for Capsule ceremony October 1. Coor¬ improved information services for dinated the collection, inventory, registry, Yosemite-bound visitors. display, and packing of contents; site preparation; dedication ceremony; and Acquired a variety of resource training burial. materials for the promising start of a Park Employee Development Center. Funded PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER/ by the Yosemite Fund. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

Completed final base maps and o Produced more than 50 press releases and communicated designated addresses to all had more than 4,000 media contacts. valley residents for the Valley Street Names and Address Project. o Worked with the Tioga Pass Council on improving relations, mutually beneficial Arranged and coordinated a productive openings of the road, and improving three-month ranger exchange assignment communications. for Rod Atkins, Brisbane Forest Park, QNPWS, Australia. Rod produced a o Was the park contact for all coordination

10 of the Wellman/Corbett climb after the the new site-bulletin format. permit was approved. Became the park liaison with Wellman, the Boy Scouts, the o The PIO staff answered more than 35,000 media, other divisions, and YP&CCo. information calls and more than 10,000 Determined all aspects of media coverage written information requests. of the event and provided in-depth information and assistance to Ellyn CURATORIAL SERVICES BRANCH Windsor of the Boy Scouts in every aspect of the climb and its coverage by o Finished and reopened the new entryway the media. Public Affairs Officer Lisa to the Indian Garden behind the museum Dapprich received an award from the Boy building. A ceremony honoring Exxon for Scouts for her assistance. its donation to the project was held by the NPS and the Yosemite Fund in June. o Coordinated publicity for the May 13 Immigration and Naturalization Service o Started an inventory of photographic ma¬ dedication and naturalization ceremony terial in the Curry archives. and assisted with preparations for the event. o A total of 21 museum loans were made to other institutions, including 648 items lent o Coordinated all aspects of the July 6 for exhibit or research. Congressional hearing with Congressmen Vento, Miller, and Lehman, including o Acquired the Schwabacher collection of receptions, raft trips, and all other aspects baskets and ethnographic material. of their visit. o Completed Tradition and Innovation: A o Coordinated all aspects of Secretary Basket History of the Indians of the Lujan's visit to the park on August 5-6. Yosemite-Mono Lake Area. The book was funded by the Yosemite Fund and o Prepared a comprehensive media published by the Yosemite Association. strategy/events planning document for the USS Arizona Memorial 50th anniversary o Rehabilitated more than 600 specimens event. preserved in alcohol; replaced fluids, rebottled and relabeled specimens. o Was part of a special events team for the USS Arizona Memorial's 50th anniver¬ o Added 178 accessions to the collections sary event. during the fiscal year, up 14% from 1990. Public Information Office o Completed and submitted more than o Designed and developed the matrix and 4,400 catalog cards, documenting more text for the new Microlog automated than 4,600 objects, to the National attendant. Trouble-shot problems for Catalog. the new system. o Completed a disabled visitor's brochure in

11 Visuals Center extension of the interim storage agree¬ ment because the NPS does not yet have o Hung five exhibits in the Valley Visitor a storage facility to accommodate them. Center, including the Renaissance VII art exhibit. o Cataloged 200 newly copied oral history tape recordings. o Installed one exhibit in the Yosemite Museum gallery after the centennial o Accessioned five groups of new records exhibit was removed October 1. into the archives. o Provided 9,369 slides for 169 orders. o Compiled resource notes on eleven 7.5- minute topographic maps. o Accessioned 1,349 new slides. o Photographed and described three trails Research Library for nomination to the National Register with the Denver Service Center. o Purchased 136 volumes, including nine rare items. o Worked extensively with the Historic American Engineering Record on their o Accessioned 243 volumes. survey of historic roads and bridges in Yosemite. o Cataloged and processed 231 volumes. Wilderness Historic Resources Survey o Circulated 2,310 items, including 868 books, 493 periodicals, and 499 o Successfully completed the fourth season photographs. of the survey. o Public contacts averaged 212 visitors and o Printed and distributed the 1989 Season researchers and 112 phone calls per Report of the Wilderness Survey. month. o Surveyed the exposed floor of Hetch o Completed 31 photo orders using Hetchy Reservoir for historic resources negatives from the Research Library's and helped coordinate protection and collection. further survey of the area. o Assisted researchers for 16 major o Resources recorded by the Wilderness projects, including film and newspaper Historic Resources Survey include: research. 1991 Total Recorded Archives 170 blazes 902 blazes 2 buildings 15 buildings o Cataloged the Yosemite Park & Curry 18 structures 40 structures Co. archives. A calendar of the papers is 12 trails 47 trails forthcoming. The company granted an 1 other feature 6 other features

12 MAINTENANCE DIVISION of split rail fence in the Mariposa Grove and Pioneer History Center. This project MAINTENANCE was designed to protect natural resources MANAGEMENT SYSTEM and provide better visitor access. o Hodgdon Meadow contract (modular Obliteration of unused and misused trails units) completed; El Portal contract in the Upper Mariposa Grove. This work (modular units) completed; 12 months of was completed by the CCC with direc¬ MMS data collected and sent to WRO; El tional input from Interpretation. Portal maintenance plans and speci¬ Estimated close to two miles of trails fications are 75% completed. obliterated. o The division assisted the NPS Historic The Housing Initiative Program enabled American Engineering Record (HAER) us to reconstruct unsafe decks on four team during the summer with data houses, replace or improve 12 heating gathering for their study of Yosemite's systems, remodel two bathrooms, rewire roads and bridges and the subsequent five units and make structural repairs to publishing of a brochure, "Highways in four houses. Harmony, The Story of Yosemite's Road System." PG&E funded an Energy Conserva-tion Program that resulted in energy BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS improvements to 33 residences.

Wawona District Valley District Buildings and Grounds o Removal and site restoration of surveyed o Housing Initiative Rehab: property: Conducted major rehabilitation to three Williamson two-story house, Deed 351, valley residences. Tract 07-120 and Hodgkinson two-story house, Deed 259, Tract 01-121. Installed or replaced wood stoves and/or fireplace inserts to make heat systems o Handicap Improvements: more efficient and economical for eleven of the Valley quarters. A-Loop Wawona Campground established a handicap campsite now Major asbestos abatement to three of our designated as site 9. quarters and a four-plex apartment.

South Entrance to Mariposa Grove o Indian Gardens Accessibility Renovation: roadside picnic area—established a handicap vault toilet with paved walkways Construction of accessibility concrete and a handicap picnic site. walkway from existing museum to Indian Garden area. Includes bench seating Restoration and construction of 400 feet drain system, and landscaping.

13 o Museum Renovation at Valley District Opened the new Hetch-Hetchy back¬ Building: packers campground; remodeled the Mather ranger residence into a ranger Remodel interior portion of Museum area station office. to facilitate Indian Cultural Displays. Structural work, elec-trical, glazing, o Research facility improvements: painting, and floor coverings. Remodeled a garage into additional office o PG&E Weatherization Partnership space for research staff. Program: ROADS AND TRAILS BRANCH Completion of weather proofing and insulation to 47 of our 71 Valley o 90% of Park trails were cleared of logs. residences.

o 185 miles of trail maintenance was o Radon Mitigation: accomplished.

Radon proofing at VA00056 historical o Repaired badly damaged mortar in rock building referred to as the "Ranger Club" wall on the Vernal Fall Trail. in compliance of XXX and Radon Mitiga¬ tion. o Repaired major slide-damaged sections on Rancheria and Pate Valley trails. Mather/El Portal District Buildings and Grounds o Completed reconstruction of Donahue Pass Trail with CCC labor. o Housing Initiative Program: o Reconstructed Gravelly Ford Trail. Insulated the walls of 18 Mission 66 Houses in the Rancheria area and o Began reconstruction of May Lake/ refinished the stucco on six of them. Tenaya Lake Trail with YCC labor. Replaced the electrical heating and air conditioning systems on four Mission 66 o Completed construction of boardwalks in houses with gas heating/air conditioners. Sentinel Meadow, the Mariposa Grove, and Stoneman Meadow. PG&E Energy Improvements: o Constructed two new bridges and PG&E funded the insulation of residence redecked eight more. attics, crawl spaces and piping; caulked and weatherstripped doors and windows; PARK ROADS installed water heater blankets, low-flow shower-heads, and energy-efficient lamps o The Hodgdon Road crew worked from in all houses in the district. June through October on the road system for the new housing project at Hodgdon. o Hetch-Hetchy funded projects: Ten thousand cubic yards of material

14 were moved with 676 person-hours of from the landfill in the first six months of labor. the program. o The Tioga Road failed just west of the UTILITIES AND ENGINEERING east entrance within hours of spring opening. Three hundred feet of road High-Voltage Electric Shop collapsed causing crews from NPS, Mono County, and CalTrans to work for four In 1991 the electric shop oversaw the days before re-opening. Electric Rehabilitation Project in Yosemite Valley (473A-H) and oversaw and com¬ o Approximately eight miles of road on pleted electric service rehabilitation of Hwy. 120 and on Big Oak Flat Road approximately 20 electric service entrances were chip-sealed last season causing some belonging to the concessionaire that were delays which held up more than 750 cars failing or in violation of the National in one line of traffic for over 20 minutes. Electric Code because of age or the new Chip-sealing took place in August, construction. including Big Oak Flat Entrance, Crane Flat, one section of the Big Oak Flat Backcountry Utilities Road near Foresta, and a section of Northside Drive in Yosemite Valley. The Maintenance Management System was upgraded to accurately track where money o A 3800-ton/hr rotory was purchased for for personnel services was spent. By doing $356,000 to replace a 1967 Snowblast this we recorded time that was utilized rotary. performing work for the park conces¬ sionaire. The government was then capable o Construction of the new Sentinel Bridge of being reimbursed for services provided was delayed until 1992 because of which came to approximately 50 percent of contractural problems. the unit's budget. o The park forester and the forestry crew Backcountry Utilities designed and began were transferred from Resources Manage¬ construction of composting toilet facilities at ment to the Maintenance Division/Roads Little Yosemite Valley and Nevada Fall. and Trails Branch effective October 1, The use of these new facilities will be more 1991. environmentally sound and will replace chemical toilets now in service.

RECYCLE PROGRAM Valley Utilities o In a partnership with the Dow Chemical o The Ticketron office in Yosemite Valley Company and Huntsman Chemical Cor¬ was winterized. poration, the National Park Service has placed over 300 recycling containers o The infrastructure for the new houses at throughout the park. Nearly 100 tons of Hodgdon Meadow was completed. recyclables were collected and diverted

15 El Portal Utilities there is much less wear and tear on the equipment and fewer leaks which makes The main accomplishments of the El Portal it much safer to work with fire apparatus. Utilities Branch beyond normal operation and maintenance for 1991 were: o Installation of Lift Station #7 enables seven residences to abandon their septic o Removal of old liner and installation of and leachfield systems and tie into the new liner at the upper pond in Tuolumne Wawona collection system. These resi¬ Meadows. This $165,000 job was dences are located along the South Fork necessary because of failure of the old of the Merced River which has been liner and subsequent leakage of the pond designated as a Wild and Scenic River. to the Tuolumne River. The project had to be accomplished quickly during a small DIVISION OF window of time between spring opening CONCESSIONS MANAGEMENT and fall winterization and coordinated with regular disposal of normal summer o The Yosemite Park and Curry Co., a flows. subsidiary of MCA, Inc., was sold to Matsushita Electrical, Inc., a Japanese o Denver Service Center sludge alternatives firm. Subsequently, the YP&CCo. was study on the El Portal Wastewater Treat¬ sold to the National Park Foundation. ment Plant. Assisted the DSC with formulating sludge management alterna¬ o Numerous projects relating to the tives in view of construction of the new development of a new concession contract maintenance/warehouse facility. Several to replace the Yosemite Park and Curry tests and experiments were performed for Co. were either initiated or carried over the DSC by testing of existing sludge from the previous year. These projects treatment operations and experimentation include building assessment conducted by with different possibilities for thickening, an architecture and engineering firm of all clarification and disposal. structures operated by the concessioner, development of the Concession Services Wawona Utilities Plan, development of a draft Operating Plan, and development of a draft Main¬ o The installation of the Muffin Monster at tenance Agreement. the Wawona Wastewater Treatment Plant on the suction side of the digester pumps o As a result of the sale of the Yosemite saves approximately $300 per week in Park and Curry Co., the "trip lease" costs of maintenance. It also saves wear program was abolished effective June 16, and tear on the pumps themselves. Large 1991. The Division of Concessions particles can no longer scrape and deteri¬ Management issued approximately 1,600 orate rotor and stator. individual pieces of corres-pondence to commercial transportation providers o Installation of a new pressure reducing regarding the termination of the trip lease station at Glacier Point has lowered the program. The Conces-sions Management pressure from 200 psi to 75 psi. Now staff fielded approximately 500 telephone

16 calls on this subject. Approximately 500 o The Concessions Management staff Letters of Authorization have been issued issued/renewed approximately 15 to transportation providers. Commercial Use Licenses during 1991. Superintendent Michael Finley issued a The staff conducted approximately 20 rate moratorium prohibiting the issuance of studies in response to concessioner's additional commercial authorizations requests to increase prices for goods and effective October 24, 1991. services. o The Division of Concessions Management Pat Quinn reviewed the Loss Control hosted approximately 25 official foreign programs in place at the Ansel Adams visitors during 1991. Gallery and Yosemite Park and Curry Co. He initiated the development of Loss o The staff issued approximately 40 permits Control programs with the El Portal for commercial filming during the year. Market, El Portal Chevron, and Yosemite Medical Clinic. DIVISION OF VISITOR PROTECTION

The park began negotiating with potential FIRE MANAGEMENT supplies of "clean burning fuel" vending machines. The staff reviewed proposed Park fire battalions responded to fires (24), composite fuels and a prototype vending motor vehicle accidents (24), public machine. This project will be carried assistance calls (10), SARs (39), hazardous over until the spring of 1992 for final situations or HAZ MAT (11), air operations selection of a vendor to provide wood (76), false alarms (36), and dumpster fires vending in the valley auto campgrounds. (23) for a total of 243 calls.

Pat Quinn facilitated a review of the Helicopter Use Wawona Golf Course by the United States Golf Association. The Park helicopter made 40 flights for initial attack and 75 flights in support of Mary Risser began negotiating with the other park operations. A second pad at California Energy Commission and Crane Flat was installed improving safety. Pacific Gas and Electric to test a prototype electric vehicle in the park. Wildland Fire

Shuttle transportation service was There were 72 numbers issued for wildland extended to the Tuolumne Meadows area. fires. Eleven support actions and three mutual-aid responses occurred off-park. The Concessions Management staff The park received severity funding to completed annual contract compliance supplement its staff including a second reports for all five concessioners. helicopter due to the drought. The main Approximately 350 periodic evaluations portion of the fire season turned out to be were completed for concessioner services. cool with burning indices ten points below average.

17 Prescribed Fire and Prosecution: Hazard Fuel Management The Yosemite Paralegal staff prosecuted Prescribed fires burned 112.6 acres. approximately 1200 cases in the local Numerous hazard fuel projects in developed Magistrate's Court in 1991. These cases areas were completed in Wawona and El consisted of: Portal. For the first time private residences were inspected and fire safe standards 949 petty offenses enforced. Approx. 300 Class A misdemeanors 12 Felonies PRESCRIBED NATURAL FIRE 5,202 CVB violations

There were 20 prescribed natural fire Criminal Investigations: numbers issued and 1,304 acres burned. Two fires had to be converted to wildfires Law Enforcement Office Investigators due to smoke management considerations conducted 68 investigations in 1991. Ten of and suppression costs were approximately which were considered major, long-term $1,700,000. investigations consisting of interagency operations in the investigation of con-tinuing TOTAL ACREAGE BURNED criminal enterprise. Several arrests are pending in the first quarter of this year in A total of 7,225 acres burned within the conjunction with these investigations. Park in 1991. All fires were of relatively low intensity, and there were only In the major investigations five felony occasional areas which burned as crown fire arrests were made to date, with convictions or had high scorch heights. in each of those cases.

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE Major NPS/U.S. Army interdiction campaign was conducted to locate and Jail Operations: eradicate marijuana gardens. Four sites were rehabilitated in conjunction with this For the second year in a row the Yosemite operation. Holding Facility established a new all time record for in-custody prisoners with 794 Tort Investigations: arrests. The arrest total was 3.7% greater than the old mark of 766 established in In 1991 the Law Enforcement received, 1990, and a 41% increase since the 561 investigated, and processed 51 tort claims arrests in 1987. against the U.S. government. A substantial amount of time and effort has gone into the New all-time monthly arrest records were processing of the Foresta fire claims. established in January, August, October, November, and December of 1991. Internal Investigations:

18 The Law Enforcement Office conducted Additional activities this season included approximately six internal investigations completion of 32 snow surveys, organizing involving weapons, employee misconduct and hosting the second Interagency and theft in 1991. Wilderness Training Academy, participation in USFS National Wilderness Management WILDERNESS DISTRICT for Line Officers training program, and hosting six special wilderness trips. Wilderness use increased about 10% in 1991 Wilderness staff served on a interagency to approximately 68,000 overnight users and wilderness education committee, made 600,000 day users. A summer staff of 24 (2 presentations at interagency meetings, and permanent, 1 subject to furlough, 12 worked cooperatively with 15 other seasonals, and 9 volunteers) and a winter wilderness areas to formulate and adopt, staff of 6 (2 permanent, 1 STF, and 3 VIPs) through the Federal Register process, a comprised the backcountry unit. consistent maximum group size of 15 people/25 head of stock. A climbing Daily Activities: management program was started late in the year. Patrol MATHER DISTRICT o More than 8,000 miles patrolled (foot/horse & mule/ski), Bob Johnson was reassigned to Yosemite o More than 66,000 visitors contacted in the Valley in April after 11 years as the Mather wilderness, District Ranger. During January and o 1,414 hours spent in restoration/ February, three of the permanent fee rehabilitation, personnel transferred or left the service. o More than 1,000 pounds of trash were Personnel changes forced the district to removed from the wilderness, place many of the permanents and long-time o 221 hours were spent on SARs. seasonals into acting positions. o There were 71 emergency medicals, o There were 175 law enforcement Statistics incidents. Arrests 90 MVA's 130 Wilderness Permit Staff Ambulance Runs 94 SAR's 42 o Maintained the quota system for 96 Bear Incidents 173 + trailheads. Fatalities 2 o Number of groups educated at stations: Money Collected $2,437,406 (up 11%) 16,500 o Number of people issued permits at stations: 47,000 o Permit reservations made: 2,214 o Phone calls answered: More than 10,000 Significant Events Additional Activities:

19 Fee Collection: o Watershed Rangers increased the number of miles hiked and ridden during 1991. o Opened the new Hetch Hetchy Additional site rehabilitation projects Backpackers Campground in August completed.

o Tenaya Lake remained closed this season VALLEY DISTRICT due to a water problem. Fee Collection Canyon Ranch: Arch Rock Entrance Station

o Little Search at Lake Eleanor - a two-day joint effort by the park and Tuolumne This record year included 373,619 vehicle County. Little was found by park entries with 1,180,000 million persons and helicopter. $808,865 collected. Over 46.7% of the bus traffic entering the park entered through this o Low levels of water in the Hetch Hetchy entrance and approximately 33 % of the total Reservoir uncovered several major Park's visitor entries. The workload was archeological sites near the headwaters. increased significantly due to the change in the Trip Lease agreements. Excessive o Rangers assisted with dispute over water carbon monoxide levels were discovered at distribution to Evergreen Lodge and this and other entrances this year with Camp Mather (ongoing). mitigation circumstances under review.

Big Oak Flat: Valley Campgrounds o Central Sierra Green demonstrated against Yosemite Valley hosted some 648,558 the building of the new homes in camper nights in 1991. The Campground Hodgdon. One person was arrested. Reservations contract was awarded to MISTIX in December. o Assisted with the multi-park investigation of pipe safe break-ins, suspects were Law Enforcement/SAR/EMS caught outside the park. The valley district accounted for 613 (77%) o Two rescues on sugar pine hill required of the park's record 794 arrests. The technical rescues. largest percentages of these were drug- and/or alcohol-related. This was the most Tuolumne Meadows: violent summer ever, except perhaps for the 1970 riot. Five rangers were assaulted. o Fourteen-year-old girl committed suicide Over 1000 case incident cards were pulled. at Lower Lyell Base Camp while on a A major cooperative effort was made (twice) pack trip. with the CHP to inspect buses entering the park. This resulted in the discovery of o Solo free climber fell to his death on numerous violations, the correction of which Fairview Dome. should help to prevent major bus accidents/

20 incidents within the park. There were over the back-to-back storms causing numerous 225 SARs with the last two weeks in May power outages (six days at one time), road tallying 13 rescues, including river and big closures, and damage to residences. wall incidents, and six fatalities for the District alone. The district totalled some 17 The "Miracle March" snowbase caused high fatalities. The ILL FIRE caused the runoff flows in the South Fork of the helicopter evacuation of some 80 people Merced river with over 1,500 cfs at the from Little Yosemite Valley. We spent peak. Unusually high-water flow, compared $6,500 on a wind emergency in December. to the past five years levels, was instrumental in the occurrence of two The Mariposa County-Yosemite Fire drownings on the same day in May. Department in El Portal was reorganized this year with El Portal rangers being Preliminary work began on the FHWA/DSC integrated into the unit. There were three reconstruction project for Chinquapin fatalities in the El Portal Subdistrict, 362 intersection and the removal of the old Gas case incidents, seven arrests, 37 EMS Station facility. incidents, ten SARs, and 102 MVAs. Substantially upgraded the district SAR An emphasis was placed on the removal of cache and negotiated use of the Wawona abandoned and unlicensed vehicles in the El Volunteer Fire House for storage of the new Portal area. Over 20 vehicles have been NPS ambulance. removed. In addition, several citations were issued for non-compliance of fire debris Traffic congestion and vehicle grid-lock clearance regulations. continued to be a daily occurrence at the Mariposa Grove and South Entrance inter¬ The DARE program was initiated and was section from mid-May through September. successful with Chris Cruz taking the lead. Management of this operation required Classes were conducted at the Yosemite and extensive involvement of both the fee El Portal schools, with the initiation of a collection and law enforcement staff. program at the Wawona school. SEARCH AND RESCUE WAWONA DISTRICT This year was a record-setting year for Winter drought conditions greatly impacted Search and Rescue in Yosemite National the Badger Pass ski operations with low Park in all areas, disciplines, and districts. snow accumulations causing the periodic Park personnel responded to 225 incidents in opening and closing of alpine and nordic 1991, as compared to 181 in 1990, and a services. previous record of 208 in 1986. The busy season began with a river incident in mid- The district experienced substantial snowfall May and continued at a record pace during the month of March where Badger throughout the summer, culminating with Pass went from a tract to over 100 inches of three multi-day searches in September/ snowfall. In Section 35, over three hundred October, and a dual rescue off El Capitan in trees fell and/or their tops broke-out during late October.

21 ANNUAL REPORT OF SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS

CY 1991

REGION: WESTERN REGION PARK: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

SAR CONTACT: KELLY MCCLOSKEY

Type 4* Incidents # Ini/111 Fatals # Notl/I/F

Hiking 150 107 7 50

Skiing 10 5 0 5

Climbing 23 13 1 19

Boating 4 3 1 8

Swimming 3 2 1 0

Scuba 0 0 9 0

Vehicle 6 7 3 0

Aircraft 0 0 0 0

Stock 5 5 0 0

Mutual Aid 7 3 0 2

Unfounded 9 0 0 0

Other 8 5 2 0

TOTAL 225 150 15 84

SAVES 63 38 25

TIME/COST SUMMARY

NPS programmed time 4 - 525.0 hrs costs $ 47,480 NPS unprogrammed time 11.930.0 hrs costs $ 383.610 Non-NPS time 4.316.0 hrs costs $ 45.025

Total 20.771.0 hrs Total $ 476.115

Military F/W time 0.0 hrs costs $ 0 Military rotary time 17.4 hrs costs $ 14.000 Non-military F/w time 0.0 hrs costs $ 0 Non-military rotary time 146.0 hrs costs $ 142.751

Total 163.4 hrs Total $ 156.751 Climbing Management Yosemite Valley that are still without bear- proof food storage lockers. Considerable In 1991 both National and Regional NPS time was expended by the wildlife staff Directives were issued in regard to climbing writing proposals to obtain funding for these management. These indicated that park lockers, but none is forthcoming. Work areas with climbing activity were to address continued toward mitigation of human/bear climbing management. conflicts with minimal staff and funding (.4 FTE). This included 26 captures of bears, In late 1991 a meeting with the ACCESS 15 of which were translocated from FUND, a climber-interest group, resulted in developed areas of the park. No bears were increased management interest in the killed in management actions although project. In December of 1991 the formation several were candidates due to increasingly of a Park Climbing Management Committee aggressive behavior. No law enforcement began. This group, to represent all campground patrols occurred. Wildlife divisions, and to include various points of personnel obtained funding and designed a view, has since been formed, and includes new Bear Exhibit for the Valley Visitor representatives from Wilderness, SAR, Center. Backcountry human/bear conflicts Visitor Protection, Interpretation, Resources, continued at a high level, with at least one and Maintenance. The Wilderness Unit is in seven of backpackers losing food and spear heading the project. Initial plans property to bears. Wildlife personnel include defining types of resource impacts, initiated work on a backcountry canister testing mitigation options, contacting rental/permit system. climbers, and a variety of other data gathering techniques. An open dialogue FISHERIES MANAGEMENT with park users, including climbers as well as conservationists, is intended as part of the Wildlife Management personnel coordinated information-gathering process. Timeline for and provided logistical support for U.S. Fish completion of a Climbing Management Plan and Wildlife Service and California will be in 1993. Department of Fish and Game projects to evaluate fish populations and their habitats DIVISION OF in the Merced River. This included RESOURCES MANAGEMENT maintaining communication among agencies, coordination of projects, administrative NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT support, arranging accommodations, volunteer coordination, developing HUMAN/BEAR MANAGEMENT interpretive displays, and crowd control during data collection. Supervisory Wildlife In 1991, 601 human/bear incidents were Biologist coordinated an Aquatics Scoping reported, with $186,289 in property Session in Fresno on December 5 with damage; increases of 33% and 64%, excellent input from state and federal respectively, over 1990 levels. Vehicle agencies, private citizens, and local Fly damage ($170,000) accounted for over 90% Fishing Clubs. Evaluated data and wrote of all damage occurring primarily in recommendations for fishing regulation vehicles located in the 500 campsites in changes for Yosemite for the 1992-1994

22 state regulations including a catch-and- additional pairs of peregrine falcons, but release policy for rainbow trout in the found none. A possible future nest site on Merced River and no bait fishing. Wawona Dome was enhanced to decrease water accumulation. THREATENED, ENDANGERED, SENSITIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT WILDLIFE DATA MANAGEMENT

Supervisory wildlife biologist met with state In 1991, a total of approximately 2,500 and federal wildlife agencies and heritage historical wildlife observations and 200 new program personnel to review their wildlife additions were added to the park wildlife data management networks and to obtain data base for a total of nearly 5,000 current TES state and federal listings. observations. An additional 600 bear/human Updated Yosemite National Park TES list incident records were received and added to both in April and again in November for a the bear management data base. The in- total of 43 TES animal species including office reference library was expanded by a aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, fish, dozen volumes and a complete set of 7.5- amphibians, one reptile species, birds, small minute topographic maps of the park were and large mammals, and seven plant species. obtained for the TES species program. Began pursuing funding sources and obtaining references for the establishment of MERCED RIVER RESTORATION a comprehensive long-term TES inventory and monitoring program for Yosemite. Sections of stream bank along the Merced Provided updated TES list to park River at Lower River Campground and El management staff, interpretive division, Capitan Picnic Area Dump were restored. research scientist, and cooperating Photo documentation was completed, then associations. riprap was removed, 1,000 yds of dump material was excavated, banks were PEREGRINE FALCON MANAGEMENT recontoured, followed by replanting with thousands of willow and cottonwood cuttings A total of four pairs of peregrine falcons and seeds from native grasses and forbs, and were monitored in 1991. Of these, 1,500 feet of temporary protective fenceline however, only two initiated nests and laid was constructed. eggs; one at El Capitan and another at Hetch Hetchy. Eggshells collected from the El BLACK OAK Capitan site in 1990 indicated that critical WOODLAND RESTORATION thinning was still occurring. Therefore, climbers were sent to this site in 1991 to A ten-year restoration project plan was exchange the eggs for captive-hatched submitted and approved by the NEPA young. Only one intact egg, however, was committee. The majority of field work was collected from the site, and even this egg completed by Chevron Corporation proved to be inviable. The fostered young volunteers consisting of work in four oak successfully fledged. The Hetch Hetchy woodland areas of Yosemite Valley. Work pair fledged three young without assistance. included asphalt removal, eradication of A survey team searched the park for social trails, seeding, planting and mulching,

23 and protective fence construction. Photo During the 1991 ecological restoration documentation was initiated and continued season, many volunteer groups assisted the on all projects, and the status of oak restoration staff with implementing projects. seedlings and planted-areas were recorded Over 12,008 person-hours were worked by and added to a dBase tracking program. 748 volunteers - the equivalent of six FTEs. The projects were located in the Cathedral WILDERNESS IMPACTS Lakes Basin, Vogelsang area, May Lake, MITIGATION AND MANAGEMENT the Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River, Pothole Dome, Soda Springs area, and Thirty-three impacted campsites with forty- Lembert Dome. In addition, The Yosemite fire rings were restored, approximately 1.0 Valley Oak Woodland and Merced River mile of unmaintained trail was backfilled Restoration projects and the Non-Native and planted with native plant materials, and Plant Eradication Projects were a priority an additional 0.5 mile of partially-restored for the volunteers. The Sierra Club, Student trail was maintained. Nearly 4000 trans¬ Conservation Association, Sousson plants and propagules were planted on re¬ Foundation, Yosemite Association, Yosemite stored sites, and 3700 plants and a large Institute, Boy Scouts of America, Chevron, quantity of seeds were collected for future and NPS personnel donated their time and use. Site surveys were conducted at three efforts. locations targeted for restoration in 1992. All projects were completed with NPS NON-WILDERNESS restoration staff supervision of volunteer MEADOW RESTORATION groups from the Sousson Foundation, Sierra Club, Boy Scouts of America, Yosemite Post-restoration photo documentation was Association, Student Conservation completed at two meadows to assess the Association, and general park staff. success of experimental trail obliteration techniques utilized in 1990. A 700-foot ABANDONED ROAD OBLITERATION long boardwalk was constructed in Stoneman Meadow to restore natural surface drainage A one-half mile section of the old Glacier patterns. Approximately 125 acres were Point Road was removed by ripping through weeded in an effort to reduce populations of and mixing in old asphalt, recontouring the invasive non-native plant species. slope, excavating stream channels, and replanting and mulching newly exposed bare SEQUOIA GROVE RESTORATION ground. Work was accomplished using NPS resource management and maintenance A 400-foot long split-rail fence was workers, heavy equipment, and an 11-person reconstructed and an additional 30 feet of Student Conservation Association inter-city fence was constructed along the interpretive work group. Photo documentation points trail in the Tuolumne Grove using a were established to monitor regrowth along Yosemite Association volunteer group. the old road corridor. Technical advise was given to a Youth Conservation Corps group working on VOLUNTEER PARTICIPATION eliminating use trails and delineating planned trails in the Mariposa Grove.

24 FIRELINE RESTORATION fication of the Yosemite Valley apple and pear tree varieties were made using fruit and Ten miles of fire handline remaining from tree characteristics. Contacts were made the 1990 fires were restored by a Student with groups interested in preserving historic Conservation Association work crew with varieties of fruit trees. supervision by NPS restoration staff. A Yosemite Institute class did final work. FEDERALHIGHWAYS REVEGETATION

Another 1.0 mile of dozer-built fireline was obliterated using NPS heavy equipment with 1) The Sentinel Bridge construction plan and the remaining 5.5 miles scheduled to be schedule were reviewed, and a slope completed during the summer of 1992. All stabilization and vegetation plan for plant fireline photopoints were retaken to assess salvage and planting adjacent to the new the success of rehabilitation methods and to bridge and in the old bridge site was provide visual documentation for a developed. A Yosemite Association preliminary fireline obliteration report to be volunteer work group salvaged 600+ written in the winter of 1992-93. An perennial plants from the bridge site. Photo additional 5.0 miles of handline was documentation points were set up to monitor obliterated on the 111 and Frog fires from progress of the construction project and 1991. rehabilitation work. 2) The Glacier Point Road project area was surveyed to identify RARE AND SENSITIVE native plant species and to develop a PLANT MANAGEMENT revegetation strategy. Seeds from nine native plant species and 700 cuttings were The Resource Management Division collected to be propagated by the Soil continued to review all projects with a Conservation Service for revegetating potential for affecting sensitive plant species. disturbed areas after road construction. 3) A number of park projects were modified The Big Oak Flat Road project was due to concerns about sensitive plants. One reviewed and corrections prescribed to solve park plant species became a candidate for the original problems of inadequate federal listing as a sensitive plant species, outsloping, over-mulching, and application and the 1988 population surveys were of non-photodegradable excelsior mesh over reviewed for this species. the cut slopes.

NON-NATIVE PLANT CONTROL VIDEO TAPING DOCUMENTATION

A draft proposal for an "Integrated Non- This season's restoration projects have been native Plant Removal Program" was written. video-documented. A member of the restor¬ Bull thistle and common mullein populations ation staff spent two weeks with a BLM were removed from approximately 85% of video crew receiving training in video Yosemite Valley with the help of volunteer planning, camera techniques, "field groups and Yosemite employees. Resprout- shooting," editing, and equipment ing black locust and elm trees were pruned maintenance, and production of a video on back in an effort to kill the root systems wilderness road removal and Merced River without causing soil disturbances. Identi¬ Restoration has been started.

25 FORESTRY ADMINISTRATION CONTAMINATED GROUNDWATER/S OILSREMEDIATION A total of approximately 8,300 hazardous AND CLEANUP trees were removed through contracted tree removal services and the park forestry crew. The park has confirmed groundwater and One contract removed about 3,900 trees soils contamination from leaking from the 1989 Foresta burn area, and about underground fuel storage tanks. The NPS, 3,100 trees were removed by contract due to the park concessioner, Pacific Bell, and the drought/insect mortality. City of San Francisco (Hetch Hetchy) have documented contamination. The NPS and The forestry crew also assisted with the the other entities will be continuing to Interagency ozone study conducted by the remediate contamination. The NPS has also U.S. Forest Service by climbing and completed preliminary assessment of three measuring the heights of several trees over other hazardous materials contaminated 190 feet tall. sites. These include the Yosemite Valley school yard storm drain, the El Portal The Forestry Hazardous Tree Removal Barium Mine tailings, and suspected PCB Program was transferred to the maintenance contamination in Yosemite Valley. division in September. UNDERGROUND STORAGE TANK AIR QUALITY MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT A total of 22 underground storage tanks Air quality data was collected but marginally were removed from several locations. The analyzed. Visible ozone injury has been specific number of tanks removed at each found on 29% of the Ponderosa and Jeffrey location were Tuolumne Meadows, five pines surveyed in the park. Acid deposition tanks; Chinquapin, nine tanks; Yosemite continues to be recorded; half the rainwater Valley, six tanks; Wawona, one tank; and sampled has had pH values more acid than El Portal, one tank. The number of active the normal precipitation range expected. underground storage tanks is now 23. The Serious visibility impairment occurs on 90% NPS is continuing to reduce its underground of summer days from external and internal storage tank inventory and thus reduce the human sources. associated risk of soil and groundwater contamination. Ozone bioeffects study was started with USFS and California Air Resources Board WATER RESOURCES INVENTORY (CARB). The first permanent air quality AND MONITORING technician was hired. Air Quality wayside exhibits were designed. PM-10 data filters Wawona water resources study was started were weighed in park for preliminary data. by USGS. The USGS also conducted field Staff participated in California's Sierra studies of the Merced River Basin which is Summit and Federal Clean Air Partnership. a part of the National Hydro-Benchmark Network. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory conducted isotopic analysis of

26 well waters. Memphis State University Yosemite Valley was undertaken in support completed a study investigating amoeba of Phase VI of the Electrical Rehabilitation presence in park waters. Project. The research design and fieldwork (involving excavation of seven units and a FLOODPLAIN STUDIES series of auger bores and shovel test units) have been completed. A fieldwork Preliminary floodplain maps of Yosemite summary, data analysis, and the final report Valley were completed by Army Corps of are scheduled for FY 92: additional funds Engineering. are required.

ACID DEPOSITION MONITORING Yosemite Valley Electric Mitigation: Data recovery at CA-MRP-825 in Yosemite Continued the Acid Deposition Monitoring Valley was undertaken in support of Phase program pursuant to an agreement with VII of the Electrical Rehabilitation Project. California Air Resources Board (CARB). The research design and fieldwork (involving excavation of five units and a CULTURAL RESOURCES series of auger bores and shovel test units) MANAGEMENT have been completed. Completion of a fieldwork summary, data analysis, and the Foresta Survey: Contracted with Dames & final report will occur in FY 92: additional Moore for a documented survey, re-record- funds are required. ing, and surface evaluation of a 1,650 acre parcel in the Foresta-Big Meadow area. Hetch Hetchy Survey: Surface survey of Twenty-six prehistoric sites, three historic approximately two miles of the exposed sites, and seven sites containing both Hetch Hetchy reservoir bed yielded nine prehistoric and historic components were prehistoric site two contained historic identified. The impetus for the work was components as .veil. The purpose of the the 1990 A-Rock fire and related fire work was to identify archeological resources suppression activities, as well as planned on the drought-exposed reservoir floor and, hazard tree removal and revegetation subsequently, provide protection for the sites measures. until the water level rose to normal levels.

El Portal Well Mitigation: Excavation at Wawona Road Survey: Inventory of CA-MRP-358 in El Portal was undertaken to cultural resources along the Wawona Road mitigate the effects of utilities development, corridor continued in support of road as directed by the Yosemite GMP. The improvement projects. Approximately 1,355 research design, fieldwork (involving acres were surveyed, including Phase I— excavation of 14 units), and a document Chinquapin to Wawona; Phase II— Wawona summarizing the fieldwork results have been to the South Entrance; and a small section of completed. Data analysis and the final Phase III— Chinquapin to one mile south of report will be completed in FY 92. Grouse Creek. One historic and two prehistoric sites were recorded. Additional Yosemite Valley Electric Mitigation: Data funds will be required to complete the recovery at site CA-MRP-240/303 in project.

27 Little Yosemite Valley Subsurface Survey: occurred regarding avoidance of previously Auger testing at CA-MRP-89 was recorded cultural resources. implemented for park clearance of an initial phase of the Little Yosemite Valley Pate Valley Pictograph Documentation: campground relocation project. Metric photogrammetic documentation of the Pate Valley pictographs was begun, with the Monitoring of ground disturbance for project to continue for two years. Products installation of a Clivus Multrum toilet was will include digitized Autocad files of the also completed. images, as well as a full range of photographic documentation. Additional Yosemite Valley Timber Sale Monitoring funds are required to complete the project. and Continuation of 1990 Large-Scale Timber Sale Monitoring: Extensive hazard Archeological Clearance Program: Fifty- tree removal occurred this year on the two archeological clearance surveys, data Wawona Road, the Glacier Point Road, the review, and consultations were completed Tioga Road, and in Yosemite Valley. for park projects; 17 archeological clearance Cultural resource avoidance procedures were survey reports were completed for filing employed (i.e., archeological sites were with the Western Archeological and flagged and tree felling was closely Conservation Center for park projects; monitored by an archeologist in the vicinity categorical exclusions (NEPA) were of sites). provided with cultural resources management (CRM) consultations; and three El Capitan Dump Excavation and Environmental Assessments were provided Monitoring: Data recovery and monitoring with CRM consultations. at the historic El Capitan Dump was undertaken in support of the Merced River Archeological Dating Correction Research: Restoration Project. Four excavation units This project involves collection of soil and 14 shovel test units were completed. temperature and soil moisture data for Additional funds are required to complete application to obsidian hydration dating the data analysis and final report in FY 92. correction. Two hundred, forty cells were buried on 35 archeological sites distributed Frog Fire Survey: Survey of areas planned between 2,000 and 11,500 ft in elevation. for fire line construction was completed This is the first year of a two year project. during the Frog Fire, with no new sites Additional funds are required to complete discovered. Consultation with fire crew the project. bosses also occurred regarding avoidance of previously recorded cultural resources. PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS

Illilouette Fire Survey: Survey of areas Final Reports Published: planned for fire line construction and fire lines already constructed was completed The 1985 and 1986 Generals Highway during and after the fire. One new site was Archeological Survey, Sequoia National located in Little Yosemite Valley. Park, California, by W. Joseph Mundy. Consultation with fire crew bosses also Yosemite Research Center Publications in

28 Anthropology No. 10. Parks.

FLAKES in the Central Sierra: Federal Land Data Recovery Excavations at CA-MRP- Agencies Keep Exploring the Sierra, by 358, YOSE 1991B, El Portal, by Suzanna Suzanna Montague and Lisa Hanson, a Montague. paper presented at the 1991 Northern California Data Sharing Meeting of the Archeological Research Designs Prepared: Society for California Archeology. Archeological Data Recovery at CA-MRP- Draft Reports Prepared: 358, by Laura Laird and Suzanna Montague.

Report of Archeological Data Recovery Archeological Data Recovery Excavations at Excavations at CA-MRP-382, Mariposa CA-MRP-240/303, Yosemite Valley, by W. County, California, by Kathleen L. Hull. Joseph Mundy.

Flat Notes: Excavations at Crane Flat and Archeological Data Recovery Excavations at Tamarack Flat, Yosemite National Park, by CA-MRP-825, Yosemite Valley, by W. Kathleen L. Hull. Joseph Mundy.

Data Recovery Excavation at Sentinel Data Recovery at the El Capitan Dump: Bridge, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National CA-MRP-1196H in Yosemite Valley, by Park, by Suzanna Montague. Suzanna Montague.

The Red Fir Archeological Investigations, Sequoia National Park, by W. Joseph RESEARCH SCIENTIST Mundy. During 1991, the Research Office continued Fieldwork Summary Reports Prepared: data collection on the vegetation analysis and fuel dynamics studies, initiated projects YOSE 1990A and 1990C Housing Study and on global climate change and mid-sized Road Corridor Surveys, by Lisa Hanson. carnivores, and completed the bighorn sheep study. In addition, one Park Service Itching to Dig: Subsurface Survey at CA- contract study on bull thistle ecology was TUL-72, Sequoia National Park, by Suzanna completed, and final reports are expected for Montague. the contract study on great gray owls, and for the giant sequoia paleoecology, fire Limited Subsurface Survey at CA-TUO-236, history, and ethnobotany studies. Hodgdon Meadow, by Lisa Hanson. The vegetation analysis project is designed Surface and Subsurface Survey at CA-TUO- to develop type and cover maps for the park 214, Mather, by Lisa Hanson. using satellite imagery, GIS technology and field verification. The two field crews were Archeological Survey of Proposed Timber able to establish 58 plots this past summer, Sale Areas, YOSE 1990J, by Virginia bringing the total to 200 plots. Extensive

29 use was made of global positioning devices size. to find plots in remote backcountry locations. The thistle ecology project was concluded with publication of the final report. As a Work on the fuel dynamics study continued result of this study, control techniques for to be directed toward determining the alien bull thistle were developed which accumulation rates for conifer could be used in concert with prescribed species. The 26 fuel plots destroyed by the burning of meadows. 1990 fires were reestablished and fall and spring fuel collections were made from all Final reports are in the preparation stage for 112 plots. Fuels were sorted by size and the great gray owl study and will include species and then dried and weighed. visitor impacts, winter ecology, and status and distribution. Reports are also expected Initial steps were taken to establish from the three giant sequoia studies. Pollen permanent plots for the global climate and charcoal dating over 10,000 years old change study. These one-hectare plots are have been found in sediment cores and fire designed to chronicle long-term ecological scars have occurred throughout the 4,000- change. One plot was established near year tree ring record. Burning for basketry Hodgdon Meadow and over 3,000 trees materials was the primary cultural use of were mapped and measured. fire.

Reconnaissance of potential treeline sites for the second plot was conducted in the Tioga Pass area.

Funding for the mid-sized carnivore study was obtained from the Yosemite Fund, and the research proposal and study plan were written. This study will determine the status and distribution of the fisher, red fox, and wolverine, all recent candidates for listing as federal threatened species.

The bighorn sheep project was completed this fall after five years of investigation. The herd reached an estimated maximum of 62 sheep although only 49 sheep actually were seen during 1991. Mountain lions were the single largest source of mortality during the study with 10 confirmed sheep killed by lions. Management recommendations include continued monitoring of the herd and predator reduction until the herd reaches a viable

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