NPS Photo
Tuolumne River at Tuolumne Meadows, April 8, 2004.
April Snow Survey Results
With the record breaking warm temperatures in March, there is a lot of interest in how the snow pack survived. The April 1st courses are generally thought to be the most representative of the year's snow pack. Here are the results for the Yosemite’s Tuolumne and Merced drainages. The high densities are normally not seen until
May, and may trigger a faster run-off this spring. Remember that the depth and water content averages were well above average last month, so this does not necessarily indicate a dry year.
The following figures are the real time amount of snow left on the ground (“stored water”) as of April 1, 2004.
| Tuolumne Drainage |
| Location |
Elevation (feet) |
Snow Depth (inches) |
Water Content (inches) |
Density |
Average |
|
| Dana Meadows |
9,800 |
57.0 |
27.4 |
48% |
88% |
|
| Rafferty Meadows |
9,400 |
60.6 |
29.5 |
49% |
90% |
|
| New Grace Meadow |
8,900 |
91.9 |
44.7 |
49% |
93% |
|
| Tuolumne Meadows |
8,600 |
39.9 |
19.4 |
49% |
85% |
|
| Wilma Lake |
8,000 |
85.5 |
41.9 |
49% |
97% |
|
| Vernon Lake |
6,700 |
38.6 |
18.1 |
47% |
81% |
|
| Beehive Meadow |
6,500 |
41.4 |
19.5 |
47% |
83% |
|
| Basin Average Percent of April 1: |
83% |
|
| Merced Drainage |
| Location |
Elevation (feet) |
Snow Depth (inches) |
Water Content (inches) |
Density |
Average |
|
| Snow Flat |
8,700 |
70.8 |
45.3 |
64% |
102% |
|
| Ostrander Lake |
8,200 |
55.7 |
25.2 |
45% |
77% |
|
| Tenaya Lake |
8,150 |
60.0 |
26.5 |
44% |
79% |
|
| Gin Flat |
7,000 |
59.0 |
28.0 |
47% |
88% |
|
| Peregoy Meadows |
7,000 |
55.1 |
22.1 |
40% |
75% |
|
| Basin Average Percent of April 1: |
84% |
|
State Average Percent of April 1: 82%
User Capacity Program for the Merced River Corridor
The National Park Service recently released the User Capacity Program for the Merced Wild and Scenic River Corridor. This document presents a detailed look at the park’s efforts to address user capacity throughout the 81 miles of the Merced River that flow through Yosemite National Park. It takes a network of mechanism and methods to assist park managers in making decisions relating to use. From guiding legislation to systems that have been in place for decades to the latest park efforts, the program provides an elaborate system of protection for the Merced River’s Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs).
One tool used in the program is the Visitor Experience and Research Protection (VERP) framework, as called for in the Merced Wild and Scenic River Comprehensive Management Plan. VERP serves as a report card to measure how well the park is protecting and enhancing the river’s ORVs. Through VERP, the park has adopted a set of indicators and standard which identify and quantify the kinds and levels of use that are appropriate, as well as where and when such uses should occur. The results of this first year of monitoring will be presented to the public at the end of the year.
Upcoming Events
Open House
April 22, 2:00 pm-6:00 pm
Valley Visitor Center East Auditorium
Learn about park improvements efforts. Project managers and part staff will be on hand to provide updates on a number of projects, including improvements at Lower Yosemite Fall, the redevelopment at Yosemite Lodge, continued restoration at the site of the Cascades Diversion Dam, and more. See the schedule of future open houses…
Yosemite Forum
May 11 at Noon
Valley Visitor Center Theater
Spend a fascinating hour with a researcher for an interactive lecture on topics relating to our evolving knowledge of Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. The next presentation will feature Amy Scott from the Autry National Center who will discuss Yosemite: Art of an American Icon. In 2006, an exhibit of this same name will be on display at the Autry National Center Museum of American West in Los Angeles.
Future Schedule
June 8: Fire history
July 13: Causes of amphibian decline in Yosemite
August 10: Local and regional air quality
September 14: Water and atmospherically-deposited pollutants
October 12: How climate change affects the Sierra snow pack.
