SAN FRANCISCO — In recognition of California Wildfire Awareness Week (May 7-10), PG&E announced it will provide $2 million to local Fire Safe Councils in 23 counties for 30 projects that reduce wildfire risk and help keep communities safe. The funds will pay for fuel reduction, emergency access and defensible space projects, as well as chipper days in local communities. ...

YOSEMITE — The Half Dome Cables in Yosemite National Park will be in place for visitor use on Friday, May 11. The trail will be wet and icy in places, say officials, and visitors planning to ascend Half Dome are encouraged to be prepared for wet and cool hiking conditions. There is a daily lottery for a limited number of ...

SACRAMENTO — California’s wet winter created a sizable crop of new growth grass, but don’t let the wet weather fool you as the abundant grass dries into fuel-ripe tinder. Now is the time to act to prevent wildfires. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. declared May 6-12 “Wildfire Awareness Week” to urge homeowners that Fire Defense is Self Defense, Get Ready ...

YOSEMITE – A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 4,336,889 visitors to Yosemite National Park in 2017 spent $451,782,000 in communities near the park. That spending supported 6,666 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $589,343,700. “Yosemite National Park welcomes visitors from across the country and around the world,” said ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park has announced that the Glacier Point Road will open to all vehicular traffic at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Apr. 28. There will be limited visitor services available at Glacier Point. There is no projected opening date for the Glacier Point store or the Bridalveil Creek Campground. The Four Mile Trail is open from Yosemite Valley ...

CALIFORNIA — The numbers are in for the 2018 “California Clean-Up”, and they’re quite impressive, according to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Crews and volunteers in the counties of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern picked up over 411 cubic yards of litter during the one-day event. That’s enough to fill 2,877 orange trash bags or 26 full-size trash ...

YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park is launching a pilot program to address traffic congestion. The program will be tested on the Highway 140 corridor on Thursday, April 26 to Sunday, April 29 and on Thursday, May 3 to Sunday, May 6, 2018. This pilot is an initiative to test a new way to pace and send vehicles to the Arch ...

YOSEMITE – The National Park Service (NPS) has announced that Yosemite National Park will modify its entrance fees beginning June 2018 to provide additional funding for infrastructure and maintenance needs that enhance the visitor experience. Effective June 2018 the park entrance fee will be $35 per vehicle or $20 per motorcycle. An annual park pass will cost $70. The NPS ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite Valley will open to all vehicles and visitors at noon today, say park officials. Yosemite Valley has been closed to the public since Friday due to anticipated impacts to roads and infrastructure from high water. Water levels in the Merced River crested at 13.73 feet at Pohono Bridge, which is approximately 4 feet over flood stage. Park ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite National Park experienced significant impacts from a strong storm that came in from the Pacific, including two to four feet of water on roads within Yosemite Valley, impacts to the electrical system and to water systems. As water levels recede, the park will assess conditions throughout this evening and into tomorrow morning. If conditions permit, all roads ...