July 5, 2006

PROPOSED PUBLIC AGENCY SAFETY RADIO RELAY SITE IN FERGUSON RIDGE AREA

North Fork. . . . “The Sierra National Forest is planning to place a Public Agency Safety Radio Relay Site on Ferguson Ridge Road (3S04), within the area known as Ferguson Dump,” said Bass Lake District Ranger Dave Martin. “Because of the nature of the Merced River's steep canyon walls, existing ability for a constant and reliable communication link within the canyon during emergency and normal day-to-day operations varies from limited to non-existent. The placement of the Public Agency Safety Radio Relay Site will provide communications coverage for not only Sierra National Forest, but for the additional cooperating agencies of Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite National Park and California Highway Patrol that frequently provide public service in the Merced River Canyon,” said Martin.

The Ferguson Public Agency Safety Radio Relay Site includes the installation of a concrete radio vault with solar panels, a metal power vault for battery storage and a sixty foot communications tower with concrete footings. The location of the proposed site is in Township 3 South, Range 19 East, north-east ¼ of the south-east ¼ of Section 30 in of Mount Diablo Base and Meridian.

The fifteen acre Ferguson rockslide that is completely blocking State Highway 140 originated at noon, May 25, 2006, about 3.2 miles east of Briceburg. The communities of Mariposa and El Portal are open for business. There is a Forest closure around the slide area restricting all public access, including river rafting within 1/4 mile of either side of the Merced River between the confluences of Ned Gulch and the South Fork of the Merced River. A CHP/CALTRANS public access closure along Highway 140 extends beyond the Sierra National Forest closure area. The rockslide is monitored 24 hours a day and communications are in place to report any catastrophic movement. The Ferguson Rock Slide Multi-Agency Response Plan and Ferguson Rock Slide Geology Reports are available on line at: www.fs.fed.us/r5/sierra/conditions/.

For questions or comments about this radio relay site project, please contact the Bass Lake District Office in North Fork, 559- 877-2218 extension 3120.

Workers are forming the temporary abutments for the bridge that
will be placed across the Merced River. This abutment is on
the Highway 140 side of the river.





Congressman Radanovich visited the slide area on July 3 and
answers questions from the media regarding the Ferguson
Rockslide and efforts to get Highway 140 reopened.



Heavy equipment moving construction materials in place
along the Merced River.


Photo Credit: Sierra National Forest