For A Virtual Reality Movie Of The Slide
  Ferguson Rock Slide
Exclusively On The Sierra Sun Times

 Ferguson Rockslide Photos

Alert:
Possibly the 140 will be open for travel on Wednesday.
I found a photo of the slide on the net from Chris Falkenstein a photographer and a resident of Yosemite since 1972 !!
Chris rode his bicycle on the old train roadbed down the river to get this shot.
After looking at the slide photo click on the link to his photo site. He takes very, very good
photo's !!

Here is the link to the slide photos:
viewsingleimage.html-mode=singleimage&handle=yosemiteclimber&num ber=43&album_id=21&thumbstart=0&gallery=#slideanchor


 

There will be a special meeting tonight in El Portal to discuss the impact the road closure is having on the citizens and visitors to El Portal.

5-30-06 
There will be a meeting this evening at 6:00 P.M. in the El Portal Community Hall to discuss issues facing El Portal residents due to the closure of Hwy. 140. Representatives from the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office, Cal Trans,  Fire Dept., County Board of Supervisors, National Park Service, and others will be there to discuss the status of the road, emergency medical services, community issues, etc. Everyone is encouraged to attend.
 

JUNE,2006
 

Could the 140 be closed for six months or more?
Will CalTrans have to build a bridge around the slide zone ?

That is what we are hearing, but before it gets into the Sierra Sun Times we will attend the special Board of Supervisors meeting tomorrow to hear official info on what CalTrans is planning.
Look for a late entry tomorrow for an update on the slide.
Remember you will hear about this meeting here before anywhere else !

6-02-06
7:30 PM Update:

Mariposa (CAO) Mike Coffield sent us an e-mail with the following information:
Additional info came in about PG&E  having additional generators brought into Indian Flat for use in points East.
El Portal,  Foresta, Yosemite West etc.. These generators could be of use if one of the power poles started to slide and power had to be cut off and also when they reroute the power.
 The road timeline is hoping to be cleared up by next week with CalTrans as more information is obtained and if nature will cooperate.


Updated information on the slide from 6-02-06 Board of Supervisors meeting:

The supervisor chambers was packed to overflowing as reps from different public agencies, government reps, business owners and  private citizens were in attendance.
We were told the slide has a total volume of 2.5 - 3 million yards of rock and soil.
County counsel said the governor of California is preparing the documents to declare a state of emergency and then for a presidential declaration for funding money. Counsel also gave a rundown on the financial impact this
 closure is having on the county.
A CalTrans rep. said they are looking for a temporary way to get to the other side of the river and then back over to the 140.
They are entertaining two scenarios, (1) If the whole slide comes down across the river (2) that the slide just keeps shifting down the hill. She mentioned a type of portable bridge but said the canyon was too steep for that type, but their is another type that may be possible.
As of right now they are flying a noted geologist in from Canada to help assist with the situation and that person will be on location later today.
Currently CalTrans is not doing any night monitoring of the slide but the county is keeping fire crews out there at night in case of an emergency situation.
The hill is currently moving nine inches a day displacing 18,000 - 25,000  cubic yards a day.

A spokesman from Mariposa County said blasting the hill away would require a tremendous amount of dynamite and then a fleet of trucks to haul it away.

Jim Allen, Sheriff of Mariposa County said there is a plan in place to warn upstream and downstream residents in case of an emergency situation. It consists of reverse 911 and deputies going house to house to warn people.
  Stand by generators would be a good idea for private residences to have just in case the slide crosses the river. Or the PG&E tower comes down.

PG&E is ready to install a permanent line across the water and then back over to the  main line bypassing a pole or two that could fall over as the slide keeps moving. They are ready to dig holes in the morning and then early next week shut power off for residents east of the slide for 8-12 hours, maybe less, as they rewire the line.

After this public meeting their was a private meeting at 1:30 and we are awaiting news from our supervisors as an e-mail was sent to each one of them to give us a possible update on any changes or additions that took place in that meeting .

We will  update as we hear of any changes.


 

Updated Slide info as of 9:05 PM

The slide now has a name: The Ferguson Rockslide named after the ridge above it.
The Forest Service has taken over monitoring of the site releasing Mariposa County Fire crews of this duty.

Before a plan to clean up the slide or build anything around it, the officials are waiting on what the mountain wants to do: either keep sliding slowly. stabilize or come down all at once. If it should come down fast, officials believe there would be time to alert and evacuate everyone upstream and downstream of the slide.

PG&E officials said the hookup of the first part of the new power line resulted in an outage of about 15 minutes or less and the second part should have been done earlier today.

The forest service has implemented a command team by the name of : South Central Sierra Interagency Incident Management Team.
It is comprised of 12 agencies as a team unit with communication between them.



Updated slide info as of 11:30 AM:

The geologist CalTrans flew in offered no new  information is his verbal report but CalTrans is awaiting his written report.

PG&E is in the process of moving the power lines and should finish
up today.

The Governor of California declared a State Of Emergency yesterday but  did not request a Presidential Declaration until more cost figures come in on repairing the slide damage.

 Finally, the US Forest Service took command yesterday as the lead agency over the slide


6-08-06
Slide Update from Debbie Santiago
Information Officer (661) 332-1754
Current Situation: The Ferguson Rockslide Incident is located on the Sierra National Forest in the Merced River Canyon. Observers are monitoring the slide mass 24 hours a day and communications are in place to report catastrophic movement. Currently all agencies involved are working together using their respective expertise to identify any and all hazards from the rockslide that completely blocked Highway 140 at Ferguson Ridge. The communities of Mariposa and El Portal are open for business as well as Yosemite National Park. Alternate routes of travel and many recreational opportunities remain available in the National Park.

Roads Closures and Special Orders: On June 5th, the Sierra National Forest, Bass Lake Ranger District, issued an emergency area closure along the Merced River. This order will remain in effect until the current rockslide hazard is declared secure. The closure begins along the Merced River known as the South Fork confluence to Ned’s Gulch. No rafting or recreating of any kind is allowed near or past this enormous slide that is unpredictable. Please do not attempt to enter this extremely hazardous area. Highway 140 to El Portal is closed with law enforcement personnel present.
An Incident Information office has been opened next door to the Mariposa Visitor Center. Our new numbers are 209-966-6174 and 966-6167. We are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For a map of the slide area:
Map


 

All info related to the slide would be greatly appreciated. Just post it here or e-mail it to us at
mailto:general@goldrushcam.com

We are trying to track down the 'officials ' who the news reporters quoted as saying the 140 will be closed for at least a year. If you know who said that please e-mail that info to us.

6-09-06       12:00 PM
Slide Update from Debbie Santiago
Information Officer (661) 332-1754
Rock fall is being reported throughout the day. We urge residents and the public to honor the closures and roadblocks as major safety issues and hazards have been identified. No mandatory evacuations are in place. Evacuation response planning efforts with Mariposa County Sheriff’s Department and all agencies are in progress. Electrical power to the National Park and El Portal is stable and PG&E has completed transfer of power lines and generators. Caltrans is currently working towards many options for access to highway.
State Highway is 140 closed for an extended period of time due to major safety concerns.

 

6-14-06        10:35 PM
Quick info on the Yosemite Bug slide meeting;
About 85 residents showed up, the restaurant was packed like sardines. 7:00 - 9:30 PM.
The USGS gave a report on scenarios of a rock slide dam with water flow facts. Main Facts: worst case - 100 foot dam and the water would overflow, 4,000 acre feet  backed up would not affect Lake McClure.
The Geologist said the middle part of the slide appears to not be moving. But needs precise instruments for monitoring. Could Stop Moving this summer. But winter rains or an earthquake could bring the slide down. He said "A lot of guessing" is being done. As they compare this slide to other slides.
The sheriff dept said it is concerned with El Portal citizens in the winter months for emergency services.
A spokesperson for Yosemite National Park  said  the park is doing everything it can for it's workers who are located outside of the park. From providing housing in  the park to people working in Mariposa.
CALtrans: plans are in place for a scenario for a bridge to cross the river and then back to the 140. If Slide stops moving a best case would be to have a bridge in place within 90 days.
More info tomorrow.
 

USGS specialists are scheduled to evaluate the slide area from the air on Tuesday, June 13, and will develop a debris dam breach scenario with the US Army Corps of Engineers and Forest Service Geologists during the remainder of the week. 

Additionally, all Mariposa, Midpines, El Portal and Yosemite National Park visitor and information centers, businesses, and accommodations are open for business. Commercial rafting companies remain open and continue to offer rafting trips seven days a week.

The rockslide can be seen via satellite link. The web address is: http://msmedia.dot.ca.gov/oasis4.

The slide remains active throughout the day, although the last 24 hours have shown a decrease in large boulder activity. A team of geologists from USGS, USFS, NPS, Army Corps of Engineers, and Caltrans are on site, researching and monitoring both from the ground and using aerial reconnaissance to gain additional information on the movement of the rockslide. Preliminary geology reports should be out by the end of the week.
 

Anon,
No, No one was happy as this meeting.
Including business owners, residents, park workers
and others


6-15-06         12:15 PM
Slide Update from Debbie Santiago
Information Officer (661) 332-1754
Specialists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are on site, researching and monitoring the rockslide from the ground and by air. Preliminary findings show that the slide is not currently moving significantly, but large-scale movement may occur at any time. Initial recommendations to the Incident Management Team are for continued, accurate monitoring because of concerns for public safety in the canyon. These geologists will continue to advise the Incident Management Team on possible long-term scenarios.


  10:45 AM
Meeting tonight in El Portal:
The meeting in El Portal will be at the El Portal Community Center on Thursday night, June 15, 2006 at 6:00 p.m.

Inciweb.org has maps up showing:  Map Modeling Potential 100-foot Dam Scenario and 50 foot scenario
Links:
InciWeb: Map Modeling Potential 100-foot Dam Scenario

InciWeb: Map Modeling Potential 50-foot Dam Scenario

Also:
Slide Update from Debbie Santiago
Information Officer (661) 332-1754
USGS Specialists, continuing to assess potential for catastrophic rockslide. ACOE geologist is working on dam breach scenarios and reported that if a rockslide dam (50 foot or 100 foot) were to form and breach, the impact to Lake McClure would be negligible. Forest closure around the slide area restricts all public access, including river rafting, within ¼ mile of either side of the Merced River between the confluences of Ned Gulch and the South Fork of the Merced River. Caltrans road closure extends beyond the Forest Closure order.  
Interagency geologist review of the long-term response and communication plans continues. USGS specialists are assisting in the development of a debris dam breach scenario with the ACOE and FS geologists during the remainder of the week. 
 

Another Ferguson Slide meeting was held in El Portal yesterday.
KMPH was there with video cameras, here is their report:
http://www.kmph.com/home/3062636.html

Really no new info from the meeting at Midpines the day before it seems !



6-17-06
Slide Update from Debbie Santiago
Information Officer (661) 332-1754
Specialists from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) were on site this week, researching and monitoring the rockslide from the ground and by air. Preliminary findings show that the slide is not currently moving significantly, but large-scale movement may occur at any time. Initial recommendations to the Incident Management Team are for continued, accurate monitoring because of concerns for public safety in the canyon. These geologists will continue to advise the Incident Management Team on possible long-term scenarios. A full report is due next week.


 

6-18-06      12:35 PM
Slide Update from  Debbie Santiago (209) 966-6174

Pam Bierce new
Information officer   209-966-6174 or 209-966-6167
Allen Johnson’s team is completing their assignment and will return to their respective agencies tomorrow, Monday June 18th. The team thanks the communities and cooperating agencies for their strong support during this incident. The Sierra National Forest will resume command of the incident Monday morning and continued partnership with all the cooperating agencies. Denise Tolmie will be the new Incident Commander assigned.

Geological findings show that the rockslide is actively throwing large rocks. A large-scale movement may occur at any time. Initial recommendations of the Incident Management Team are for continued, accurate monitoring because of concerns for public safety in the canyon. Geologists will continue to advise the Incident Management Team on possible long-term scenarios. A full report is due this week.

Finalize Interagency long-term response and communication plans. FS geologist compiling reports from other agency geologists into a final geological overview and recommendation report. 

6-18-06       7:20 AM
Slide Update from Debbie Santiago
Information Officer (661) 332-1754

Allen Johnson’s team is completing their mission assignment and will return to their respective agencies. The Sierra National Forest will resume responsibility for the incident Monday with continued involvement by the cooperating agencies. Incident information will be disseminated from the information center currently established and with the phone numbers cited below.tion Officer (661) 332-1754

Additionally, all Mariposa, Midpines, El Portal and Yosemite National Park visitor and information centers, businesses, and accommodations are open for business. Commercial rafting companies remain open and continue to offer rafting trips seven days a week. The rockslide can be seen live via satellite link. The web address is: http://msmedia.dot.ca.gov/oasis4

 

6-23-06
From Caltrans:
(Mariposa County)  The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has authorized Teichert Construction to begin building two temporary bridges around the Ferguson Rock Slide on State Route 140 in Mariposa County. 

 Teichert has been given notice to proceed today and will begin to mobilize equipment and bridge parts into the canyon.  However, no actual work in the river can begin until concurrence from the resource agencies is received.  “The Department has full confidence that all resource agencies will be providing their full cooperation” says Kome Ajise, District 10 Director.
This project will require additional logistics to complete. "The situation is dynamic and requires much coordination" says Ajise.
Cost estimates and completion dates are currently under development.  Caltrans is committed to providing information on the project cost and schedule as the information becomes available.

6-24-06

Slide information:
Pam Bierce is the Incident Information Officer.
209-966-6174

Current Situation: The Ferguson Rockslide Incident is located on the Sierra National Forest in the Merced River Canyon. Field observers remain monitoring the slide mass 24 hours a day and emergency response communications are in place to report any catastrophic movement or river inundation.

Geological findings show that the rockslide continues to be active. A large-scale movement could occur at any time. Per recommendations of the Incident Management Team, accurate monitoring will continue because of concerns for public safety in the canyon. Geologists will continue to advise the Sierra National Forest on possible long-term scenarios

A Caltrans team of specialists are working on a safe temporary solution to opening Highway 140. At this time focus is on the logistics of a two bridge crossing that would cross the river on either side of the slide. However, this has not been presented as the final solution. Caltrans hopes to have a solution in place within 60 days.

6-26-06

Cal Trans will be hosting a public meeting today at the El Portal Community Center.
Place: El Portal Community Center
Date: Monday, June 26, 2006
Time: 6:00pm
For more information contact the Ferguson Rockslide Information Center at: (209) 966-6174

New Slide Information Officer:
Glenn Bell is the new information officer for the Ferguson Slide.
Same phone number  (209) 966-6174


6-27-06

Update: 6:55 PM
Caltrans is getting ready a temporary one way bridge to cross the Merced River and then fixing the old railroad grade on that side of the river for about six miles to the Foresta Bridge and then back over to the 140. No tour busses or other vehicles that will be over a certain size ( Still being discussed) will be allowed. The long school busses also will not be on this route but the small ones might be.
Opening date if all turns out as expected, meaning permits are signed on time, the report from the geologist is positive, will be about July 15th. The road will be closed at night to traffic.
While that bridge is operating Caltrans will be constructing another bridge closer to the slide so there will only be about a half a mile of driving on the other side of the river before coming back over the river to get back on the 140.
More later !

 

JULY,2006

7-01-06
The Ferguson Rock Slide geology report and multi-agency response plan are now available online.
Ferguson Rock Slide Geology Report
U.S. Geological Survey Findings
Ferguson Rock Slide Multi-Agency Response Plan

Teichert Construction is getting ready to bring in Bailey Bridges to cross the Merced River at the Ferguson Slide. Core samples are being drilled and footings are being readied
What is a Bailey Bridge ?
Bailey bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Donald's Bailey Bridge
Bailey bridge: Definition and Much More From Answers.com
A Bailey Bridge near Wawona:
South Fork Merced River Bridge Replacement Project


JULY 5 News And Photos

July 14 News and Photos

July 20 News

 

The 140 is soon to be open !

July 28 News
 

Outgoing Mariposa CAO Mike Coffield told the AP that
"it is a slam dunk" that the funding from FEMA would be reapproved for Mariposa.

Let me see, when was the last time I heard that slam dunk phrase, oh, yes, now I remember, it was a little over three years ago when George Tenet ( Remember him, he received a medal for something or other) said it was a "slam dunk" for finding WMD's.
Very scary words you selected to use, Mr. Coffield !



July 31 News - An Open Letter To Mariposa County From Glen Bell,
Former Incident Information Officer For The Ferguson Rock Slide

AUGUST 2006

8-02-06
Ferguson Rock Slide Temporary Bridge photos are up.

Caltrans did another road test on the 120 the other day to see if the larger busses can get into Yosemite from that direction.
Makes up wonder about Caltrans long term solution for the 140,
 if there is one !

8-04 News

 

Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 12:13 pm:

SEPTEMBER, 2006

 

Posted on Friday, September 01, 2006 - 10:55 am: