Biomass Removal and Thinning- Yosemite Valley, Wawona, and Yosemite West

This project reduces post-drought and post-fire fuels to protect Yosemite Valley, the communities of Yosemite West and Wawona, significant Pacific fisher and great grey owl habitat, archeological sites, and improves safety for the public and first responders. Immediate actions are needed to protect these areas from high severity fire. The goals are reached by thinning conifers <20" diameter at breast height (dbh), standing dead trees, and removing dead and down trees that died after the 2012-2016 drought. Biomass are either removed and hauled offsite or piled and burned. This project occurs at three locations, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite West and 11-mile road, and Wawona. The community of Yosemite West is outside of the park's jurisdictional boundary and is not considered as part of this NEPA document, but is included as part of the larger project.
This project follows the 2004 Fire Management Plan EIS (FMP), Merced River Plan EIS (MRP), and Scenic Vista Management Plan, with several additions. Actions are described for those that adhere directly to these overarching documents and then those actions that expand and tier to them. Tiered actions are specifically called out with an explanation how they differ from the core document.