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2022/2023 Scenic Vista Management Work Plan
Yosemite National Park » 2022/2023 Scenic Vista Management Work Plan » Document List
The 2022 Scenic Vista Management work plan is tiered off the 2011 Finding of No Significance for the Scenic Vista Management Plan/EA (SVMP) (PEPC 23811), the 2014 Record of Decision for the Merced River Plan/EIS (MRP) (PEPC 18982) and the 2014 Record of Decision for the Tuolumne River Plan/EIS (TRP) (PEPC 14043).
All locations included were identified previously in these planning documents. This year we are proposing to work on several sites in Yosemite Valley, along Big Oak Flat Road, and Wawona Road between August and March. We do not anticipate completing all proposed vistas. More vistas are presented than can be completed to provide flexibility around concerns such as traffic, nesting season, resource availability, and fire danger. Several of the vistas will require removing additional trees to achieve full prescription than prescribed in the Merced River Plan; these are Leidig Meadow and Sentinel Boardwalk. We are taking a staged approach and will clear portions of the larger vistas, but will spread the work over several years to gradually restore them. The workplan is spread over two years because work primarily occurs from autumn to early spring to avoid damage to sensitive vegetation and soils, and disrupt sensitive nesting and denning seasons in the spring and early summer.
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS COMMON TO ALL SITES
The following proposed site-specific work plans are within all guidelines set out in the Scenic Vista Management Plan environmental assessment Finding of No Significant Impact. Areas for tree removals are kept to a minimum and are within all set limits. There are numerous mitigations and protections to ensure effects of tree removal are minimized or eliminated. (See Resource Considerations, Implementation Considerations, Implementation, and Restoration below)
SAFETY
Employee and visitor safety will be the highest priority during vista clearing operations. Tree felling operations will occur under the direction of the project manager and will follow all park safety protocols.
REVIEW
Park subject matter specialists review the annual work plan to ensure any potential adverse impacts are avoided, and appropriate mitigation measures are implemented.
TIMING
Work is scheduled to minimize potential impacts on bird, plant, pacific fisher, and bat species. In general, August through March would be the best estimated time for vista clearing to take place, subject to site-specific conditions.All work that generates noise levels above 76 decibels near residential or visitor use areas will be performed between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Temporary road closures will generally not exceed 15 minutes. Road closures will be scheduled in periods of low visitation when possible. Workers with signs will direct closures.
RESOURCE CONSIDERATIONS
Features with obvious high value to wildlife, such as snags (particularly those with evidence of wildlife use), very large diameter trees, oak trees, large diameter logs, and decaying wood will be preserved in place where possible. Work in pacific fisher habitat will only occur outside of the limited operating period and will follow guidance from biological opinion. Work in red-legged frog habitat will be avoided after periods of heavy rain (1/2" in 24 hours). Pile construction will be avoided to the extent possible to prevent creation of sink habitat. Special-status plant species habitat will be flagged and avoided. Equipment will be inspected before clearing activities commenced to ensure that machinery is clean and free of weed seed and propagules. Within riparian corridors white alder trees (Alnus rhombifolia) will not be removed unless critical to restoring a vista of high or medium value. No removal of species in the willow family (Salix), including black cottonwood trees (Populus balsamifera) will occur. None of these species are proposed to be removed in, however, several trees may be trimmed. Several vista sites in the work plan are near riverbanks, but trees overhanging the water's edge will not be removed. No removal of in-stream, downed large wood will occur. Old growth trees and trees older than the establishment date of a vista will not be removed. Cultural resource staff reviewed the work plan to avoid impacts to cultural resources from operations such as log or slash removal/disposal. An archeologist will direct crews away from archeological sites or will provide site specific mitigation measures to avoid disturbance
.
IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Biomass may be used or disposed of in any way that will not require additional compliance. This could be traditional cultural use, historic preservation projects, lop and scatter, onsite mulch, chip and haul, pile and burn, haul to woodlot, or contracted timber removal. Noise levels near residential or visitor use areas will be minimized. Work crews will avoid soil compaction or disturbance when operating trucks or heavy equipment in wet or compactable soils by distributing machinery weight with military landing mats, snow, heavy plywood, or alternatives. Operators will move tracked equipment straight in and out of work sites and avoid turning while off pavement. Disturbed soils will be rehabilitated by restoring slope contour and using other best practices.
Specific vegetation that is a critical component of a cultural landscape will not be removed, including black oak. Vehicles will contain equipment for the prevention and cleanup of spills. Any necessary temporary fuel storage and staging areas will be flagged, signed, and monitored. Work crews will use safe and environmentally friendly fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluid, and other fluids.
IMPLEMENTATION
Stumps will be ground down, or flush cut, ground down or buried with debris to hide the obvious cut appearance. Larger stumps may have habitat value, and some may be retained as long as the stump does not appear to be cut and is in keeping with the surrounding area. Chip woody debris and disperse as mulch on site at a rate of no more than 1 inch deep. Scatter all large woody debris left on site from the newly cut trees to reduce visual impacts.
RESTORATION ACTIONS
Mitigate all impacts associated with the cutting and removal of targeted trees by scarifying compacted soils and mulching disturbed areas with native forest litter except in culturally sensitive areas. Collect native grass and forb seed in late summer and early fall, as appropriate by species. Reseed any impacted areas upon completion of all forestry management actions.
CONTINUED MAINTENANCE
Evaluate and maintain site vistas every three years. Maintenance may include felling trees up to 6" dbh.
All locations included were identified previously in these planning documents. This year we are proposing to work on several sites in Yosemite Valley, along Big Oak Flat Road, and Wawona Road between August and March. We do not anticipate completing all proposed vistas. More vistas are presented than can be completed to provide flexibility around concerns such as traffic, nesting season, resource availability, and fire danger. Several of the vistas will require removing additional trees to achieve full prescription than prescribed in the Merced River Plan; these are Leidig Meadow and Sentinel Boardwalk. We are taking a staged approach and will clear portions of the larger vistas, but will spread the work over several years to gradually restore them. The workplan is spread over two years because work primarily occurs from autumn to early spring to avoid damage to sensitive vegetation and soils, and disrupt sensitive nesting and denning seasons in the spring and early summer.
MANAGEMENT ACTIONS COMMON TO ALL SITES
The following proposed site-specific work plans are within all guidelines set out in the Scenic Vista Management Plan environmental assessment Finding of No Significant Impact. Areas for tree removals are kept to a minimum and are within all set limits. There are numerous mitigations and protections to ensure effects of tree removal are minimized or eliminated. (See Resource Considerations, Implementation Considerations, Implementation, and Restoration below)
SAFETY
Employee and visitor safety will be the highest priority during vista clearing operations. Tree felling operations will occur under the direction of the project manager and will follow all park safety protocols.
REVIEW
Park subject matter specialists review the annual work plan to ensure any potential adverse impacts are avoided, and appropriate mitigation measures are implemented.
TIMING
Work is scheduled to minimize potential impacts on bird, plant, pacific fisher, and bat species. In general, August through March would be the best estimated time for vista clearing to take place, subject to site-specific conditions.All work that generates noise levels above 76 decibels near residential or visitor use areas will be performed between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Temporary road closures will generally not exceed 15 minutes. Road closures will be scheduled in periods of low visitation when possible. Workers with signs will direct closures.
RESOURCE CONSIDERATIONS
Features with obvious high value to wildlife, such as snags (particularly those with evidence of wildlife use), very large diameter trees, oak trees, large diameter logs, and decaying wood will be preserved in place where possible. Work in pacific fisher habitat will only occur outside of the limited operating period and will follow guidance from biological opinion. Work in red-legged frog habitat will be avoided after periods of heavy rain (1/2" in 24 hours). Pile construction will be avoided to the extent possible to prevent creation of sink habitat. Special-status plant species habitat will be flagged and avoided. Equipment will be inspected before clearing activities commenced to ensure that machinery is clean and free of weed seed and propagules. Within riparian corridors white alder trees (Alnus rhombifolia) will not be removed unless critical to restoring a vista of high or medium value. No removal of species in the willow family (Salix), including black cottonwood trees (Populus balsamifera) will occur. None of these species are proposed to be removed in, however, several trees may be trimmed. Several vista sites in the work plan are near riverbanks, but trees overhanging the water's edge will not be removed. No removal of in-stream, downed large wood will occur. Old growth trees and trees older than the establishment date of a vista will not be removed. Cultural resource staff reviewed the work plan to avoid impacts to cultural resources from operations such as log or slash removal/disposal. An archeologist will direct crews away from archeological sites or will provide site specific mitigation measures to avoid disturbance
.
IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Biomass may be used or disposed of in any way that will not require additional compliance. This could be traditional cultural use, historic preservation projects, lop and scatter, onsite mulch, chip and haul, pile and burn, haul to woodlot, or contracted timber removal. Noise levels near residential or visitor use areas will be minimized. Work crews will avoid soil compaction or disturbance when operating trucks or heavy equipment in wet or compactable soils by distributing machinery weight with military landing mats, snow, heavy plywood, or alternatives. Operators will move tracked equipment straight in and out of work sites and avoid turning while off pavement. Disturbed soils will be rehabilitated by restoring slope contour and using other best practices.
Specific vegetation that is a critical component of a cultural landscape will not be removed, including black oak. Vehicles will contain equipment for the prevention and cleanup of spills. Any necessary temporary fuel storage and staging areas will be flagged, signed, and monitored. Work crews will use safe and environmentally friendly fuels, lubricants, hydraulic fluid, and other fluids.
IMPLEMENTATION
Stumps will be ground down, or flush cut, ground down or buried with debris to hide the obvious cut appearance. Larger stumps may have habitat value, and some may be retained as long as the stump does not appear to be cut and is in keeping with the surrounding area. Chip woody debris and disperse as mulch on site at a rate of no more than 1 inch deep. Scatter all large woody debris left on site from the newly cut trees to reduce visual impacts.
RESTORATION ACTIONS
Mitigate all impacts associated with the cutting and removal of targeted trees by scarifying compacted soils and mulching disturbed areas with native forest litter except in culturally sensitive areas. Collect native grass and forb seed in late summer and early fall, as appropriate by species. Reseed any impacted areas upon completion of all forestry management actions.
CONTINUED MAINTENANCE
Evaluate and maintain site vistas every three years. Maintenance may include felling trees up to 6" dbh.