YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–Park officials are announcing that the Merced Grove is closing for restoration. The closure will be for 2 months. Giant sequoias are adapted to frequent, low-intensity fire and depend on fire for reproduction. Frequent fires reduce fire intensity by thinning the forest of small and unhealthy trees and reducing the accumulation of dead branches and trees. But over the past century, fires were suppressed, and drought and insects killed millions of trees in Yosemite.
In the Merced Grove, there is limited sequoia regeneration and fuel loading has increased to dangerous levels. Currently, they cannot safely introduce fire without first mechanically removing fuels first. Since 2020, wildfires have killed almost 20% of mature giant sequoias across their range due to extreme fuel loading, and forestry aims to prevent that outcome in the Merced Grove. Therefore, they are removing small diameter conifers, trees posing a hazard to firefighters and containment lines, and dead and downed wood to reduce wildfire risk to the sequoias and firefighters as preparation for the first prescribed fire in and around the grove. More information is available here.
Glacier Point Road Delays
Wednesday, September 4th, crews will begin addressing drainage issues along the Glacier Point Road. Expect up to 15 min delays 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM, Monday thru Friday. This work will continue through Friday, September 20th. More information is available here.
Tioga Road Traffic Delays
Beginning August 26th, Mather Forestry will be working along the Tioga Road between White Wolf and Olmsted Point. Expect delays Mon – Thurs, 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The work will last for several weeks.
Road crews will be working on the Tioga Pass Road from Lembert dome parking area to the Tioga pass gate clearing drainages and roadside brushing. Expect 15 minute delays. This is an ongoing project.
Yosemite National Park is requiring reservations to drive into or thru the park on weekends & holidays through Oct 27th, 2024. More information regarding reservations in Yosemite National Park is available in our article here.
