Project Links
Carlon Riparian and Meadow Restoration
Yosemite National Park » Carlon Riparian and Meadow Restoration » Document List
The Carlon project area (3.5 acres) is on the border of Yosemite National Park
and Stanislaus National Forest near the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station, just inside the wilderness
boundary. Carlon is a popular destination for visitors. The area is an historic-era archeological site,
representing the remains of the Carl Inn and the historic Big Oak Flat park entrance road. Bottles,
pipes and other historic artifacts from the Carl Inn (1916-1939) lay above ground in the meadow.
Rangers in the area have observed probable cases of looting, such as holes dug in the meadow area
and social trails to artifact locations. The purpose of this project is to protect and document
archeological remains of the Carlon Inn and historic Big Oak Flat Road and restore natural hydrologic
processes of the riparian area and adjacent meadow. The project is funded, with a planned time span
of 2 years.
Remove 370 feet of gabions from the riverbank. Alder and cedar trees that are growing through
the gabions may be destabilized during removal of structures (approximately 10 trees, up to 18"
dbh).
Recontour bank to natural topography.
Revegetate and stabilize the bank using willows and other riparian vegetation found on site.
Remove abandoned utilities; fill material and at least 15 cubic yards of asphalt from the meadow.
Archeological soil probes will help determine the extent of these materials.
Decompact soil and recontour the meadow to natural topography after removal of asphalt, fill,
and utilities.
Remove non-native plants, encroaching conifer saplings and disperse native seed in the meadow
to help reestablish native plant communities and prevent encroachment by invasive plants.
Install temporary fence outside of the wilderness area to protect restoration efforts.
Monitor channel morphology and vegetation establishment pre and post restoration.
Complete archeological investigations to determine national register eligibility.
Install an interpretive sign outside wilderness explaining history of area and restoration efforts as
it is a population destination. The nearby Evergreen Lodge takes groups there to hike, swim and
fish. The trailhead sees about 30-40 visitors a day, with larger numbers on peak weekends.
and Stanislaus National Forest near the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station, just inside the wilderness
boundary. Carlon is a popular destination for visitors. The area is an historic-era archeological site,
representing the remains of the Carl Inn and the historic Big Oak Flat park entrance road. Bottles,
pipes and other historic artifacts from the Carl Inn (1916-1939) lay above ground in the meadow.
Rangers in the area have observed probable cases of looting, such as holes dug in the meadow area
and social trails to artifact locations. The purpose of this project is to protect and document
archeological remains of the Carlon Inn and historic Big Oak Flat Road and restore natural hydrologic
processes of the riparian area and adjacent meadow. The project is funded, with a planned time span
of 2 years.
Remove 370 feet of gabions from the riverbank. Alder and cedar trees that are growing through
the gabions may be destabilized during removal of structures (approximately 10 trees, up to 18"
dbh).
Recontour bank to natural topography.
Revegetate and stabilize the bank using willows and other riparian vegetation found on site.
Remove abandoned utilities; fill material and at least 15 cubic yards of asphalt from the meadow.
Archeological soil probes will help determine the extent of these materials.
Decompact soil and recontour the meadow to natural topography after removal of asphalt, fill,
and utilities.
Remove non-native plants, encroaching conifer saplings and disperse native seed in the meadow
to help reestablish native plant communities and prevent encroachment by invasive plants.
Install temporary fence outside of the wilderness area to protect restoration efforts.
Monitor channel morphology and vegetation establishment pre and post restoration.
Complete archeological investigations to determine national register eligibility.
Install an interpretive sign outside wilderness explaining history of area and restoration efforts as
it is a population destination. The nearby Evergreen Lodge takes groups there to hike, swim and
fish. The trailhead sees about 30-40 visitors a day, with larger numbers on peak weekends.