In the latest phase of litigation regarding the Revised Merced River Plan,  the NPS took part in a hearing before Judge Anthony Ishii in US District Court in Fresno on Monday, October 16. During the 2-hour session, the NPS presented its case for being allowed to move forward with  projects that will protect and enhance the Merced River's unique values. Most of these projects involve routine maintenance and repair activities that occur in the river corridor, such as repair of the Valley Loop Trail, rehabilitation of the Valley Loop Road, and removal of the abandoned El Portal Wastewater Treatment Plant, among others. The request also included redevelopment and restoration at the Lodge, rerouting Northside Drive around that redevelopment and restoration, and campground construction and improvements in Curry Village.

The judge provided a ruling from the bench, allowing the culvert replacement on the Valley Loop Road project to proceed to take advantage of these weeks before major rains arrive. He will make a project-by-project ruling in the days to come. As part of that order, Judge Ishii will also propose a status conference date to discuss a timeline for the NPS to complete a new river management plan. He acknowledged that while it is important to have a river plan in place, it was his hope that in the future, the court would not have to weigh in "every time a shovel is brought out." To learn more about this case, you can view all legal documents on the park's planning web page at www.nps.gov/archive/yose/planning.

Yosemite Fire plans on starting the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Prescribed Fire starting today, conditions permitting. Ignitions will be over a one to two day period.

Trail closures will be in effect for the duration of this project. These closures will include trails through the Lower Grove and the Outer Loop Trail to the California Tunnel Tree.  Please see map attached. Trails in the Upper Grove will remain open. Daily tram tours and access to the Grizzly Giant (from the north and east via the tram road) will continue conditions permitting.