In both the 95% of Yosemite that is designated "wilderness" and the remaining 5% that is considered "developed," degraded natural areas need restoration. In Yosemite Valley, meadows, oak woodlands and stream banks undergo extensive re-landscaping to return them to natural conditions and curtail future damage. In wilderness areas illegal campsites are erased, trails relocated and thousands of native species replanted. Signs, barriers and access corridors are installed to direct traffic away from fragile areas toward designated areas that can withstand Yosemite's heavy visitation.
Current Projects
FUNDING NEEDED: $1,306,473
Carlon Meadow Restoration
Carlon Meadow (off the Hetch-Hetchy Road just inside the western boundary of the Park) was once part of an extensive lodging complex including the Carlon Inn. All that is left today are bits of foundation, eroding asphalt and extensive earthworks that interrupt the natural drainage of what was once a beautiful meadow. This project will undertake an extensive natural ecosystem restoration and cultural documentation of the site. Once completed, visitors to this popular area will be able to enjoy functioning river and meadow ecosystems.
Crane Flat Habitat Restoration
This project will restore meadow and forest habitat to its natural condition for sensitive wildlife species. Working with volunteer groups, the National Park Service (NPS) will remove asphalt along an old railroad grade between Tuolumne Grove and Big Oak Flat Road, improving habitat for wildlife and eliminating a human footprint from the Park. Additionally, the NPS will restore 400 feet of precious wetland habitat in Crane Flat Meadow by removing old culverts and fill material. These actions will help restore the natural water flow in the Crane Flat meadow which is vital to the overall health of the ecosystem.
Harden Lake Road Removal
This project will remove 1.5 miles of abandoned road near Harden Lake, located at 7,600 feet just a few miles from White Wolf on the old Tioga Road. This project complements the 2009 Yosemite Fund project which removed 1/4 mile of old road on the lakeshore and converted it to a single track trail. Combined, these two projects will re-establish natural topography, improve water flow, and improve the wilderness experience of visitors hiking around the White Wolf area. Successful completion of this project will allow the Park to consider recommending all 38 acres be elevated to Wilderness status.
Upper Cathedral Meadow Restoration
Nic Fiore Memorial Project
Upper Cathedral Meadow is often wet and is bisected by the very popular John Muir/High Sierra Camp Loop Trail. Hikers avoid walking in water by stepping alongside the muddy trail, creating a new parallel trail. Also, animal stock regularly travels this trail, further contributing to trail ruts. In 2009, trail work began to re-route the trail to the forest and out of the meadow. In 2010, this ecological restoration project will remove the meadow trail and adjacent ruts and restore the topography, natural conditions and wilderness character to Upper Cathedral Meadow.
At the family’s request, gifts in memory of famed Yosemite ski instructor and High Sierra Camps Director Nic Fiore are being applied to this project.
Velvet Grass Removal
Yosemite’s meadows play an important role in ecosystems throughout the Park and are often invaded by non-native species such as velvet grass. These invasive plants can reproduce quickly and alter ecosystems with a direct effect on local wildlife which rely on native plants for their nourishment. This project will help fund the inventory of meadows with a high probability of velvet grass, as well as help eradicate velvet grass from these high priority sites throughout the Park. Additionally this project will evaluate the effectiveness of a range of manual and herbicide efforts to better suppress non-native plants in the future.
Wawona Meadow Restoration
Wawona Meadow has long been a popular spot for visitors and it now shows the signs of decades of overuse. It is also one of the largest mid-montane meadows in the Sierra Nevada and is habitat for two threatened bird species (Willow Flycatcher and Great Gray Owl). This project will provide for comprehensive restoration and protection of Wawona Meadow including a self guided trail that will be developed along the hiking trail that encircles the meadow to educate visitors about the natural and cultural history of the place and restoration activities.
Wilderness Restoration
Student Conservation Association interns will work alongside National Park Service employees on this restoration project to repair and maintain the wild character of Yosemite’s Wilderness. Teams will remove several trails which fragment meadow habitats and alter water flow; eliminate inappropriate campsites which result in vegetation loss and compacted soils; and remove non-native plants which negatively impact native plants’ diversity and alter ecosystems. This project helps Yosemite achieve its goals for wilderness areas which include managing for ecosystem integrity, preserving native biodiversity, reducing the impact of human actions and allowing natural processes to prevail.
Completed Projects
Major projects at Happy Isles Wetland, Glacier Point, Washburn Point, Mirror Lake, Tenaya Lake, Stoneman and Cook's Meadows and along the Merced River in Yosemite Valley. Wilderness restoration throughout the backcountry focused on removal and revegetation of out-of-bounds campsites, relocation of trails from sensitive areas and renovation of appropriate wilderness camps.