2015 Spring/Summer Magazine – Yosemite Conservancy

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY

Celebrating 125 Years with Yosemite National Park

INSIDE

Scientists Research Fire in Yosemite

Expert Insights Review 125 Years of Change

Yosemite Goes Global

Q&A with Yosemite Museum’s Chief Curator

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY COUNCIL MEMBERS

CHAIR

Philip L. Pillsbury, Jr.*

VICE CHAIR

Bob Bennitt*

COUNCIL

Hollis & Matt Adams

Jeanne & Michael Adams

Gretchen Augustyn

Susan & Bill Baribault

Meg & Bob Beck

Suzy & Bob Bennitt*

David Bowman & Gloria Miller

Tori & Bob Brant*

Marilyn & Allan Brown

Steve & Diane Ciesinski*

Sandy & Bob Comstock

Marilyn & Don R. Conlan

Hal Cranston*

Carol & Manny Diaz

Leslie* & John Dorman*

Dave & Dana Dornsife*

Lisa & Craig Elliott

Kathy Fairbanks*

Sandra & Bernard Fischbach

Cynthia & Bill Floyd*

Jim Freedman

Susan & Don Fuhrer*

Bonnie & Rusty Gregory*

Karen & Steve Hanson

Christy & Chuck Holloway

Suzanne & Dan Jensen*

Jennifer & Gregory Johnson*

PRESIDENT & CEO

Frank Dean*

VICE PRESIDENT, CFO & COO

Jerry Edelbrock

Jean Lane

Walt Lemmermann*

Melody & Bob Lind

Sam & Cindy Livermore

Anahita & Jim Lovelace

Lillian Lovelace

Mark Marion & Sheila Grether-Marion

Patsy & Tim Marshall

Kirsten & Dan Miks

Robyn & Joe Miller

Janet Napolitano

Dick Otter

Sharon & Phil Pillsbury*

Bill Reller

Frankie & Skip Rhodes*

Liz & Royal Robbins

Dave Rossetti & Jan Avent*

Lisa & Greg Stanger*

Jennifer & Russ Stanton*

Ann & George Sundby

Susan & Bill Urick

Clifford J. Walker*

Wally Wallner* & Jill Appenzeller

Jack Walston & Sue Estes

Phyllis Weber* & Art Baggett

Ward & Polly Wolff

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Superintendent Don Neubacher

*Indicates Board of Trustees

MISSION

Providing for Yosemite’s future is our passion. We inspire people to support projects and programs that preserve and protect Yosemite National Park’s resources and enrich the visitor experience.

PRESIDENT’S NOTE

Yosemite’s 125th Anniversary

reetings! I am delighted to introduce my first magazine as president of Yosemite Conservancy. It’s an exciting time to join the organization, as we celebrate Yosemite National Park’s 125th anniversary. Through the years, Yosemite Conservancy’s partnership with Yosemite National Park has provided vital support for conservation efforts and enhancements to visitor services — thanks to gifts from donors such as you. In my college years, a visit to Yosemite inspired a lifetime of conservation work. I look forward to hearing about your passion for Yosemite, as we work together to preserve the park.

Yosemite’s protected status has spawned robust scientific research and conservation-management programs. Throughout this issue, we provide a glimpse into how new research in Yosemite is leading to improved restoration plans, and we highlight your role in making this possible. For example, your donations are funding fire-research projects that lend insight into giant sequoia growth and protect rare wildlife, such as the Sierra Nevada red fox.

In this issue, Expert Insider Bob Roney reflects on Yosemite’s anniversary and shares milestones in the park’s history. Read about Yosemite’s partnerships with international “sister” parks, and dive into the Yosemite Museum’s collections with curator Barbara Beroza for a glimpse of photos, art and artifacts from Yosemite’s rich natural and cultural history.

By giving to the Conservancy, you help protect Yosemite’s natural resources. Your gifts today fund projects that define conservation management and visitor engagement in Yosemite and around the world.

Thanks for all you do for Yosemite!

Frank Dean, President

COVER PHOTO A park ranger poses in front of Upper Yosemite Fall in a 1967 publicity image.

We are now on Pinterest! Follow our Yosemite Conservancy boards, and stay connected to the park.

CONTENTS

SPRING.SUMMER 2015 VOLUME 06.ISSUE 01

IN THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS

05 YOSEMITE AS A LIVING LABORATORY

In the wake of the Rim Fire, scientists employ cutting-edge research to understand the role of fire in the Sierra ecosystem.

08 YOSEMITE GOES GLOBAL

Yosemite park rangers foster an international exchange of knowledge and goodwill through partnerships with “sister-parks.”

10 YOSEMITE THROUGH THE AGES

Take a peek into 125 years of Yosemite history through the Yosemite Museum’s collections of art, photographs, natural specimens and artifacts.

13 EXPER T INSIGHTS

Ranger naturalist Bob Roney examines Yosemite’s shifting policies to protect the park and welcome visitors.

16 Q&A WITH A YOSEMITE INSIDER

Barbara Beroza, chief curator of the Yosemite Museum, shares a behind-thescenes glimpse into her role as caretaker for the collection.

18 PRO JECT UPDATES

Protecting giant sequoias in Merced and Tuolumne groves, Yosemite Nature Notes, tracking Yosemite’s bats, restoring high country watersheds, and protecting Yosemite’s rare mammals.

23 PROGRAM UPDATES

Watch the park come to life at Yosemite Theater, and connect to the park’s art legacy with a workshop at Yosemite Art Center.

34 READER PHOTOS

Yosemite Conservancy supporters share their special Yosemite memories. ABOVE A glass case from the Yosemite Museum contains specimens of the orange sulphur butterfly (Colias eurytheme).

Welcoming Our New President

Frank Dean Returns to His Roots with Yosemite

Conservancy

n March, Yosemite Conservancy welcomed National Park Service (NPS) veteran Frank Dean as our new president and CEO. After nearly six successful years as superintendent of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and a career of top-level NPS positions, Dean is thrilled to return to his roots.

“During my first visit to Yosemite while in college, I had a moment of realization. I was inspired to spend my life dedicated to conservation,” says Dean, who later served in Yosemite National Park as a park ranger. “I worked in Yosemite for eight years, and from 1990–1995, I was privileged to lead the National Park Service team that worked with Yosemite Conservancy on project grants, including the rehabilitation at Glacier Point.”

From 2009 to February 2015, Dean directed operations at the highly regarded GGNRA in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the largest national parks in an urban area. Working hand-inhand with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and the Presidio Trust, Dean led projects that provided modern visitor facilities at the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, initiated a multiagency partnership to enhance the Mt. Tamalpais ecosystem, and established a major capital program to preserve facilities on Alcatraz. Prior to serving at GGNRA, he was superintendent of Saratoga National Historical Park and assistant superintendent at Point Reyes National Seashore.

Please join us in welcoming Frank Dean, as he sets a course for Yosemite Conservancy’s continued success.

TOP From his time as a ranger in Yosemite National Park, Dean has fond memories of working with Yosemite Conservancy to “make a lasting difference.” MIDDLE Frank Dean and his family (wife, Diane; son, Parker; and daughter, Taylor) have an annual tradition: a one-week family vacation in Yosemite Valley with everybody in his and his wife’s families. BOTTOM Dean treasures memories of skiing across the Sierra, including one trip where he got stranded during a blizzard.

YOSEMITE AS A

Living Laboratory the Nature of Fire

CUTTING-EDGE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH INTO

A park researcher conducts a habitat survey in a meadow burned during the 2013 Rim Fire.

osemite National Park is best known for its beautiful waterfalls, deep valleys and ancient giant sequoias — all protected for the public good. This protected status makes Yosemite perfectly suited to be a “living laboratory,” where scientists employ cutting-edge scientific research that informs conservation strategies for the entire national park system.

As Yosemite approaches its 125th anniversary in October 2015, park scientists are developing the best management plans to ensure its long-term health, including a series of projects that deepen our understanding of fire and its role in the Sierra ecosystem.

In the aftermath of several large and well-publicized fires, scientists and park rangers are exploring the effects of fire in Yosemite. The Rim Fire in August 2013 burned more than 250,000 acres in and around Yosemite National Park, damaging structures, altering habitat and severely disrupting tourism. Due to fire-management techniques within Yosemite, the Rim Fire didn’t burn as hot or create the same lasting damage on park lands as it did outside the park. Intense media coverage highlighted the fire’s negative consequences. However, the Rim Fire also stimulated growth and rebirth throughout many of the park’s natural ecosystems — and scientists are eager to investigate these changes.

Although it’s now understood that periodic fires are essential to sustaining healthy ecosystems, fire historically was seen as a negative force. Early fire-suppression strategies unintentionally led to overgrown and unhealthy forests, allowed trees to encroach on meadows and degraded habitat for wildlife.

Fire management has since shifted to embrace the role of periodic fire and its many benefits for plants and animals. Fire thins the forest canopy, letting sunlight through and allowing trees to regenerate. Nutrients are recycled back into the soil to sustain the regrowth of new plants, shrubs and trees. Large accumulations of combustible dead, woody debris are cleared out, allowing plants and animals to thrive.

“Many species need fire in order to survive and flourish,” says Alison Colwell, a botanist for Yosemite National Park. “Scientific research into the role of fire will demonstrate to the public how fire functions to support Yosemite’s ecosystems and biodiversity.”

LEFT A great gray owl can be seen nesting in a tree in a burned forest. Scientists are trying to determine suitable nesting habitat in the path of the Rim Fire.

RIGHT The ordinarily rare pansy monkeyflower (Mimulus pulchellus) bloomed in massive numbers next to Hetch Hetchy Road after the Rim Fire.

This year, Conservancy donors are providing funding for park scientists to examine the lasting effects of the Rim Fire on Yosemite’s ecosystems. For example, native rare plants, such as the pansy monkeyflower, slender stemmed monkeyflower and Small’s southern clarkia, are blooming in the fire’s footprint. These plants are known as “firefollowers” because they germinate in large numbers in the years following a fire before going dormant again.

“We are taking advantage of an unusual opportunity to document these species,” Colwell says. “These rare plants reveal an important part of the complex story of fire in creating the diverse Sierra Nevada floral tapestry.”

Giant sequoias, an emblem of the National Park Service, are heavily dependent on periodic fire for seedling germination. In the wake of the Rim Fire, there is a rare window of opportunity to study how increased clearing and understory burning can lead to new giant sequoia growth. Data collected in the Merced and Tuolumne groves will inform new fire-management strategies to ensure the longevity of these iconic trees.

Large forest fires have affected many wildlife species, especially those that make their home in the forest. Conservancy donors are funding a project to assess how the great gray owl and the spotted owl, two of the park’s flagship bird species, have survived habitat loss. Preliminary results reveal that the Rim Fire eliminated some important breeding habitat and displaced owls from their long-term breeding areas. However, the results also suggest that owls may be more resilient to fire than was previously thought.

“This fire research informs how the park might tailor future fire management to give owls the best possible chance of persisting and thriving in Yosemite’s fire-prone forests,” says Sarah Stock, a wildlife biologist for Yosemite National Park.

As a Yosemite Conservancy donor, you are behind these important projects that provide insight into the nature of fire in the park. Your continued support means scientists can translate data into practical management strategies to ensure Yosemite’s natural wonders endure into the future.

Learn more about fire management in the Rim Fire video: yosemiteconservancy.org/rim-fire

FIRE’S ROLE IN A SEQUOIA GROVE

Sequoia groves include giant sequoias, sugar pines, white firs and incense cedars. In this mixed-conifer forest, fire plays an important role in maintaining balance between the giant sequoias and their faster-growing neighbors.

TIGHTLY CLOSED GIANT SEQUOIA CONES ARE OPENED BY INTENSE HEAT

TINY SEQUOIA SEEDS — EACH THE SIZE OF AN OATMEAL FLAKE — LAND ON CLEARED SOIL TO SPROUT

FIBROUS BARK — UP TO 3 FEET THICK — PROTECTS FULL-GROWN SEQUOIAS FROM FIRE TREES ALREADY WEAKENED BY INSECTS AND DISEASE ARE REMOVED

THINNER FOREST CANOPY LETS SUNSHINE REACH NEW SEEDLINGS

DEAD WOOD AND LEAF LITTER ARE RECYCLED BACK INTO THE SOIL AS NUTRIENTS

YOSEMITE’S STEWARDSHIP INSPIRES THE WORLD

SisterParks

ince officially becoming a national park 125 years ago, Yosemite’s stewardship of the nation’s most precious natural resources has inspired protected areas, not just in this country, but around the world. While Americans generally take it for granted that the country’s most beautiful places will exist for future generations, this idea is not a given in many other nations.

Yosemite has partnered with “sister” parks around the world to foster understanding and education for land conservation, national park management, and preservation of cultural and natural resources. This year, Conservancy donors are helping Yosemite build stronger relationships with its existing sister parks while cultivating new relationships.

Yosemite has sister-park relationships with Berchtesgaden in Germany, Jiuzhaigou National Park in China, Huangshan National Park in China and Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Yosemite has hosted delegations from China, Mongolia and Jordan. Yosemite has also sent rangers abroad to help create visitor and interpretive programs. Two trail-crew members also travelled to Torres del Paine to share their technical expertise in building a bridge across a steep canyon.

“Parks are no longer isolated islands,” says Mike Gauthier, chief of staff for Yosemite National Park. “Building sisterpark relationships provides a powerful opportunity for Yosemite to participate in the global dialogue of park management.”

ABOVE Delegates from China’s Huangshan National Park and representatives from Yosemite National Park met at The Ahwahnee to commemorate their sister-park arrangement.

Yosemite is widely recognized as a leader in the international conservation community and is well-positioned to engage in productive relationships with protected areas around the world. The quality of Yosemite’s trails, interpretive programs, wildlife management and visitor services is a model for other national parks and protected areas. Yosemite also benefits from sharing information and learning how different countries manage their most treasured landscapes.

Through park ranger staff exchanges and visiting delegations, the important lessons of successful sustainable management are being shared among countries. Park staff exchange ideas for a variety of projects that span divisional boundaries and share insights about conservation and improving the visitor experience on a global scale. This year, Yosemite is planning to work with Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania on wildlifepoaching issues, with Torres del Paine on a trail or bridge project, and with Mongolian parks on interpretive services.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK’S

“SISTERS”

AROUND THE WORLD

“Yosemite continues to work with our sister parks on projects that benefit each park,” Gauthier says. “The lasting effect on the surrounding communities, park partners, park employees and visitors will last lifetimes.”

These international relationships and exchanges also serve as a portal into Yosemite’s local communities. By forming relationships with different cultures, the park is empowered to extend its reach and relevance into the diverse communities at its doorstep.

What happens in parks around the world affects the future of Yosemite. Environmental threats do not stop at national borders, making it imperative to strengthen ties and increase interaction with other parks. By establishing sister-park relationships, Yosemite is expanding the important legacy of national parks around the world, ensuring future generations have the same opportunities as we do to marvel at the world’s most spectacular landscapes.

Our existing sister-park relationships have provided a great exchange of knowledge and international goodwill. This year, Yosemite National Park Rangers are reaching out to create additional sister-park relationships.

ESTABLISHED IN THE WORKS

CHILE

Torres del Paine

Ngorongoro Crater

TANZANIA

UNITED STATES

Berchtesgaden

GERMANY

MONGOLIA

Jiuzhaigou National Park

Huangshan National Park

CHINA

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite through the Ages

s one of the first national parks, Yosemite has served as both leader and testing ground for a bold experiment in the art of balance: conserving a place of natural beauty while maintaining visitor access. The Yosemite Museum’s extensive collections reflect this rich history, preserving and exhibiting natural specimens, art and artifacts. In honor of Yosemite’s 125th anniversary as a national park, this small glimpse into the museum’s holdings highlights key moments in park history and spotlights our continuing efforts to preserve and share the rich cultural and natural stories of Yosemite.

In the 1950s, Yosemite and other national parks experienced a massive boost in visitors, thanks to post-war prosperity and a sense of national pride. Airstream trailers parked in Yosemite Valley attested to the popularity of sightseeing by car.

A popular souvenir after World War II, View-Masters allowed travelers to take home 3-D replicas of their favorite Yosemite vistas. This Model B Sawyer, circa 1948, is similar to models used by the military to train soldiers to recognize enemy aircraft.

THE VIEW-MASTER

THE ‘50s BOOM

CRADLEBASKET & DOLL

In 1915, Stephen T. Mather, (who would become the

Extensive biological collections allow for the study of these populations over time, and include animal skins, mounted insects and pressed plants. This black oak branch, collected in 1934, represents a species that has been in decline, but is now being restored through revegetation projects, thanks to park scientists, Conservancy donors and volunteers.

The Yosemite Museum, completed in 1925, was the first museum built in the national park system, serving as an educational model for parks nationwide. The Yosemite Museum Association was the first partnership between a nonprofit and a national park, and the forerunner of the Yosemite Conservancy.

POSTCARDS

A selection of postcard books from the mid-1960s includes an image of a car driving through the Wawona Tunnel Tree. After the tree toppled in a 1969 snowstorm, it was renamed the Fallen Tunnel Tree.

TIOGA ROAD

BIOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS

THE YOSEMITE MUSEUM

Thomas Moran, a major 19th-century American painter, was one of the earliest artists to document Yosemite in sketches, such as this 1872 ink drawing of North Dome. Moran’s later artwork was influential in the creation of the national park system.

The Yosemite Artists-in-Residence program was created by the National Park Service in the 1980s and became a program of the independent nonprofit Yosemite Renaissance in 1996. As a result of this program, the Yosemite Museum collection has received numerous contributions of contemporary art from participating artists-in-residence, including this 2014 painting, “Sentinel Rock,” by Joan Hoffmann.

Collectible souvenirs offer reminders of Yosemite visits. Mid-century salt and pepper shakers include a catchy poem. A silver spoon (circa 1910) depicts a person in a stereotypical “native costume,” illustrating the complicated and sometimes exploitive relationship between commercial enterprise and the American Indians of Yosemite.

Lucy Telles, an influential native basket-weaver, sold this innovative lidded piece at Nelson Salter’s Yosemite Store around 1912. Other inventive weavers included modern elements in their creations, such as fluffy acrylic yarn.

Superintendent Colonel C.G. Thomson drove the first car through Wawona Tunnel on January 28, 1932. The tunnel and viewing platform at Tunnel View (then called Inspiration Point) opened to traffic in 1933 and were restored through a partnership with the Conservancy in 2008.

THOMAS MORAN

SOUVENIRS

WAWONA TUNNEL

125 YEARS OF CHANGE

SHIFTING POLICIES PROTECT YOSEMITE & WELCOME VISITORS

BY BOB RONEY, RANGER NATURALIST, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

n October 1, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison established Yosemite as the nation’s third national park. During the course of the past 125 years, the park has undergone many changes. Thanks to the hard work of conservationist John Muir and many others, as well as the stewardship ideals they inspired, Yosemite has adjusted policies through the years to address increases in visitation while protecting fragile habitats.

Yosemite National Park’s original borders encompassed more than 1,500 square miles, but the area was full of holes due to private land patents, some of which held logging claims for timberland. Through the years, the government purchased these lands or traded them for land outside the park. Two significant additions include the acquisition of White Wolf in the 1950s and the purchase of Soda Springs in Tuolumne Meadows from the Sierra Club in 1973. The boundaries have changed many times, and now Yosemite acreage covers 1,269 square miles of vast high-elevation meadows, rivers, majestic mountains and deep valleys in the heart of the High Sierra.

By 1925, visitation to Yosemite reached 209,166 people. The next year, Hwy. 140 — the “All-Year Highway” — opened, and annual visitation more than doubled.

Accessible boardwalks, such as this one in Cook’s Meadow, have been built through a partnership between Yosemite National Park and Yosemite Conservancy. The walkways protect fragile meadow ecosystems and welcome visitors.

PHOTO: © KEITH WALKLET.

On October 1, 1890, President Benjamin Harrison established Yosemite as the nation’s third national park.

125 Years of Change continued

When record crowds showed up in Yosemite Valley during Memorial Day weekend of 1927, managers were overwhelmed. Lines formed at Arch Rock Entrance Station, restaurants and stores. People camped anywhere they could find space. Determined to see for himself, National Park Service Director Stephen T. Mather visited the park on the next holiday, the Fourth of July weekend. Based on this visit, Mather helped create an advisory board to address crowding problems in Yosemite. Newly delineated campground boundaries prevented people from setting up camp in sensitive meadows.

After World War II, visitation numbers increased rapidly to 1 million in 1954, 2 million in 1967, 3 million in 1987 and 4 million in 1996. Since then, annual visitation has plateaued, hovering between 3.5 million and 4 million. To accommodate an increasing number of cars in the park, Yosemite

PHOTOS:

LEFT With the opening of Hwy. 140 in 1926, “car-camping” became a popular activity, crowding spots such as Stoneman Meadow, pictured here in 1927.

MIDDLE John Muir demanded that Yosemite receive protection as a national park after he saw how domesticated sheep, which he referred to as “hoofed locusts,” were destroying meadow habitat, such as this one, in 1880.

Habitat restoration programs protect native flora and fauna. Scientific surveys indicate that alpine gold (Hulsea algida, pictured) and other high-alpine plants will support the reintroduction of Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep.

currently offers free shuttle service within the Valley and has created oneway traffic loops.

The National Park Service, with the help of partners such as Yosemite Conservancy, continues to protect and repair native ecosystems and improve the visitor experience. As we look to the future of Yosemite, we are proud the work we’re doing together will preserve this amazing place for millions more to enjoy.

After World War II, visitation numbers increased rapidly to 1

million in 1954, 2 million in 1967, 3 million in 1987 and 4 million in 1996.

BOB RONEY first came to Yosemite in 1967 as a high-school senior. The following year, he started a career that lasted more than 40 years. He first worked as a firefighter, then moved to a job as a park ranger. An avid photographer and hiker, he wrote the 2013 Road Guide to Yosemite. Newly retired in January 2015, Roney continues to study the natural and cultural history of his beloved park.

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY has partnered with Yosemite National Park for more than 90 years to help preserve and protect Yosemite. Originally known as the Yosemite Museum Association in 1923, its creation as the first cooperating organization established an early model for many of today’s national park nonprofit partners.

PHOTO: (RIGHT) © COURTESY OF NPS.

RIGHT

“The Yosemite Museum’s collections are distinctive. (They) encompass collections of art, science and history.”

— BARBARA BEROZA Chief Curator, Yosemite Museum

Q&A

WITH A YOSEMITE INSIDER

arbara Beroza has been caring for the Yosemite Museum collections for more than 30 years. Her job title may be chief curator, but as caretaker for a diverse collection, Beroza is involved in research, exhibits, acquisitions, facility design, planning and more. She started her career as an undergraduate student working with archeological collections, and she developed a true passion for museum work as a graduate student at University of California, Los Angeles. After receiving a work-study grant to work at the Fowler Museum at UCLA, Beroza says, “I was hooked!”

Q :: What makes the Yosemite Museum special?

A :: The Yosemite Museum’s collections are distinctive, because they focus on material specifically related to the park, and encompass collections of art, science and history.

Q :: What do you love about working as a curator in Yosemite National Park?

A :: The collection reflects the dedication and contributions of many people who have assembled and cared for these artifacts. I love being a part of that history. I work in a unique

historic building in Yosemite Valley that was meant to be a model for museums throughout the National Park Service. What could be better?

Q

:: How big is the Yosemite Museum collection?

A

:: We have more than 5 million items. The vast majority is composed of archival documents and archeological materials. The museum also cares for American-Indian basketry, historic objects, paintings, photographs, textiles, geological and paleontological specimens, animal specimens, books and historic vehicles.

Q :: What is your favorite piece, and why?

A :: I find that this changes all the time. It might be one of the mammoth photographs, or a watercolor sketch by artist Thomas Moran, or one of the wonderful souvenir strings used by visitors to measure trees in Mariposa Grove, or a big traditional [American-Indian] cooking basket.

Q :: How do Conservancy donors support the Yosemite Museum?

A :: In addition to funding exhibits, Conservancy support allows us to digitize historic film footage and images, publish brochures and conserve objects. We also depend on Yosemite Conservancy and private donations to acquire new pieces.

Beroza finds it hard to pick one favorite object, but she admits a fondness for the designs on the traditional American-Indian baskets.

Q :: How can the public see the collections?

A :: The Indian Cultural Exhibit in the museum is open all year. With the support of the Conservancy, we create a series of rotating summer exhibits in the gallery, sharing collection highlights.

Select materials are posted online, both on research sites and on Yosemite National Park’s website. Researchers can access the collection by appointment. You may have seen items from our collection on loan at the National Gallery of Art, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Oakland Museum of California, the Autry Museum, the California Academy of Sciences, the Smithsonian Institution or the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Beroza shared many more hidden gems from the collection! Learn more, and view collections online yosemiteconservancy.org

Donning protective white gloves, Beroza offers a glimpse of the detailed native beadwork in the museum’s climatecontrolled storage.

“We have more than 5 million items.”

the enclosed envelope, or visit us online at yosemiteconservancy.org/monthly Your small gift each month can make a big impact in Yosemite. Monthly donors provide a reliable source of funding the park can count on throughout the year. Join the Sequoia Society today.

New Projects for 2015*

CULTURAL & HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Preserve Yosemite’s Horse & Mule Tradition

Connecting with International Parks

HABITAT RESTORATION

Enhance Protection of Yosemite’s Old-Growth Forests

Restore Yosemite’s Wilderness with Youth Conservationists

Restore Habitat at Vernal Fall

Restore the Trail to Bridalveil Fall

Remove Invasives from High Country Meadows

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Citizen Scientists Listen in on Yosemite’s Bats

Monitor Yosemite’s Snowpack & Water Resources

Protect Songbirds & Inspire Visitors

Protect Yosemite’s Giant Sequoia Groves

Survey Yosemite’s Rare Flora after Rim Fire

$50,900

$15,000

$24,567

$199,982

$51,980

$169,860

$47,358

$29,810

$67,216

$50,578

$53,800

$62,548

TRAIL REHABILITATION & ACCESS

Build Youth Stewardship for Public Lands

Improve John Muir Trail & Meadow

Habitat in Lyell Canyon

Trail Rehabilitation by CCC Crews: Benson Lake & Lyell Fork

Restore Legendary Valley Trails

Restore Popular Climber-Access Trails

$169,704

$236,781

$558,462

$382,968

$90,300

Restore the Trail at Tenaya Lake: North Shore to Murphy Creek Trailhead $156,161

VISITOR SERVICES & EDUCATION

Ask a Climber

Connect the Class of 2016 to Yosemite

$40,000

$34,366

Create Young Leaders through the Yosemite Leadership Program (YLP) $120,676

Expand the Preventive Search and Rescue Program

New Signage in Yosemite Valley

Focus Youth on Nature: Parks in Focus

Inspire Kids: Junior Ranger Program

Leadership through Adventure: Youth Development

Parsons Memorial Lodge Summer Series

Replace Search & Rescue Tent Housing

Restore the “Happy” in Happy Isles Nature Center Exhibits

Improve Access to Scenic Vistas

Teens Connect to Yosemite through WildLink

New Information Hub in Yosemite Valley

Wilderness Education Center at UC Merced

WildLink Alumni Explore Yosemite Careers

Yosemite Nature Notes Videos

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Protect the American Pika

Protect Yosemite’s Owls

Return Bighorn Sheep to the Heart of Yosemite’s Wilderness

Survey Yosemite’s Rare Mammals

Use Cutting-Edge Technology to Protect Frogs

$17,000

$80,000

$18,000

$167,505

$95,000

$37,000

$13,374

$161,950

$40,000

$30,000

$251,166

$120,400

$18,584

$52,500

$10,000

$76,441

$106,756

$29,804

$16,500

TOTAL $3,984,997

*Color represents 2015 Youth in Yosemite Programs.

SAVE OUR SEQUOIAS

PROTECTING THE MERCED & TUOLUMNE GROVES

s a living symbol of Yosemite National Park, giant sequoias appear mighty, yet they remain vulnerable to environmental and human threats. Building on past research in Tuolumne and Merced groves, park scientists are working to protect these amazing trees.

Giant sequoias often bear the scars of curious visitors, with many individual trees showing signs of graffiti and root-trampling. As part of this project, informational signage and natural barriers will be installed to protect the giant sequoias in both groves. The goal is to achieve a balance between protecting the sequoias and allowing visitors to appreciate their majesty.

With your help, we are contributing to a better understanding of healthy giant sequoia ecosystems, ensuring these symbols of Yosemite endure for ages.

Barriers, similar to this fence in Mariposa Grove, will protect sensitive tree roots.

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES

View the entire series — more than 20 videos — on YouTube. Watch the series at youtube.com/ yosemitenationalpark.com

Explore Yosemite’s awe-inspiring beauty through a growing collection of short videos.

osemite’s stunning landscapes have always inspired storytelling. Today, more people than ever can share the wonders of Yosemite, thanks to the Web video series funded by Conservancy donors: Yosemite Nature Notes.

Carrying on the tradition of an early Yosemite Association publication, the series features park rangers, scientists, historians and park visitors exploring Yosemite’s fascinating natural wonders and cultural history. Each episode covers a different aspect of Yosemite, with high-definition footage, narrated by experts. Find out how Half Dome was formed, get a rare peek into capturing a “moonbow,” learn about the unique phenomenon of frazil ice, or watch a beautiful time-lapse of Yosemite’s night skies.

This one-of-a-kind video series has captivated more than 7 million people worldwide and continues to inspire connections to Yosemite every day. While storytelling continues to evolve, Yosemite’s stories continue to inspire. Your gifts make it possible for visitors and enthusiasts around the world to connect with the park.

YOSEMITE INSPIRES THROUGH VIDEO

Insights from park rangers and other experts enliven the Yosemite Nature Notes series.

TRACKING BATS

CITIZEN SCIENTISTS LISTEN IN ON YOSEMITE’S BATS

ext time you’re in Yosemite after dark, look up, and you might see the erratic flutter of wings. You may have just spotted a bat! Despite the fearsome image typically associated with bats, they are an important part of Yosemite’s ecosystem. As a predator dependent on macroinvertebrates (small spineless creatures such as insects and spiders) for food, bats are considered an “indicator species.” By tracking the diversity and population of bat species over time, wildlife biologists can determine the overall health of an ecosystem.

Ranger-led bat walks will start in June. Check the Yosemite Guide for listings.

This year, it’s not just park scientists who are having all the fun. YOU are invited to listen in on Yosemite’s bats, too! Join a guided walk with park rangers, who will show you how to use a new acoustic monitoring device to record bat echo-location calls. In the process, you’ll collect baseline data for certain bat species, learn about the park’s nighttime ecosystem and help protect the park’s wildlife.

TOP Yosemite is home to 17 bat species, including the hoary bat, pictured. BOTTOM Scientists use stationary and hand-held equipment to monitor bat movement.

YOUTH CREWS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY

RESTORING MERCED AND TUOLUMNE WATERSHEDS

his summer, California Conservation Corps (CCC) crews are assisting park rangers with repairs to Yosemite’s popular backcountry trails near Isberg Pass and Benson Lake. Sections of trail within the Merced and Tuolumne watersheds are in disrepair, making hiking difficult. Unkempt trails can threaten ecosystem health, leading to erosion and disruption of natural water flow.

TOP CCC crews remove large rocks, create terraced steps and clearly delineate trails over varied terrain.

BOTTOM Repaired trails in Lyell Fork will protect sensitive habitat from damage due to erosion and water runoff.

Throughout the summer, CCC crews will restore approximately 50 miles — or one-half — of the Lyell Fork area wilderness trail and four miles of the Pacific Crest Wilderness Trail around Benson Lake. These young adults learn practical skills, including teamwork, leadership and conservation ethics, as they receive on-the-job training restoring the park’s natural resources. The team will install erosion-check bars and drains, create terraced trails and repair tread on much-used trails. When work is completed, visitors can hike on a restored trail and enjoy the sight of flowing water and plants thriving in a healthy environment.

YOSEMITE’S RARE MAMMALS

SEARCHING FOR THE SIERRA NEVADA RED FOX & PACIFIC FISHER

ABOVE The Sierra Nevada red fox is one of the rarest mammals in North America, with a likely population of fewer than 50. This motion-capture image, taken in December 2014, confirms their presence in Yosemite.

LEFT The Pacific Fisher is a candidate for the endangered species list.

hen you think of Yosemite wildlife, do you think of black bears? You probably don’t conjure up visions of the Sierra Nevada red fox or the Pacific fisher. That’s because these are two of Yosemite’s rarest mammals and are seldom seen by anyone — even the park scientists who are actively looking for them.

This year, Conservancy donor gifts will help protect Yosemite’s most elusive carnivores. The Pacific fisher is a medium-size mammal that has disappeared from more than half of its former range in California. The Sierra Nevada red fox is one of only two native fox species in Yosemite. These solitary and nocturnal creatures are difficult to track and study. However, motion-sensitive cameras have confirmed the first sighting of a Sierra Nevada red fox in Yosemite in more than 100 years!

Wildlife biologists are monitoring these rarely seen animals using remote cameras to collect valuable images that will inform management plans and protect these creatures.

YOSEMITE THEATER

NEW SHOWS BRING YOSEMITE TO LIFE

new season brings a new lineup of live shows to Yosemite Theater! After a day of exploration, take in a performance that offers informative and entertaining insights into Yosemite’s fascinating cultural and natural history. Watch the park’s wonders come alive through interactive and lively performances, featuring park rangers, naturalists, musicians and others — it’s fun for the entire family!

In addition to perennial favorites, this year’s new programs include a journey led by ranger Erik Westerlund to discover the sights and sounds of Yosemite through the whimsical art of renowned artist Charley Harper. Meet Galen Clark, portrayed by Yosemite Conservancy’s resident naturalist, Pete Devine, and enjoy the stories of Yosemite’s first guardian. Singer-songwriter Gail Dreifus leads a live performance — featuring storytelling, music and songs — that will have your whole family singing along.

This summer, visit Yosemite Theater, where the park’s natural and cultural history comes to life before your eyes, seven nights a week, from April to early November.

View the full calendar of theater programs online at yosemiteconservancy.org/ yosemite-theater

“The Sierra Range,” by artist Charley Harper, is the focus of Creative Fusion, a live, interactive storytelling show that debuts this year at Yosemite Theater.

ART INSPIRES CONSERVATION

A STORIED TRADITION OF ARTS IN YOSEMITE

ong before the digital revolution made images of Yosemite accessible to anyone with an Internet connection, the park’s spectacular scenery was largely the domain of artists. The magnificent paintings and sketches of Thomas Ayres, Albert Bierstadt, Gunnar Widforss and other artists captivated the public’s imagination and spurred the early park-preservation movement that led to the creation of Yosemite as a national park 125 years ago.

Artwork continues to inspire conservation today. Visitors can tap into this creativity by joining a Yosemite Conservancy art workshop led by the best of Yosemite’s modern-day artists.

“My goal is to invite people to take the time to observe what is happening

LEFT This watercolor by George H. Burgess (circa 1863) likely inspired its owner, businessman Israel Ward Raymond, to champion legislation to preserve Yosemite before even setting foot on its soil. MIDDLE El Capitan provides artistic inspiration.

“Art is the universal language to connect and encourage the world to work toward the goal of conservation.”

— JOANN FORMIA Yosemite Conservancy Volunteer Artist

all around them and to paint what they see,” says Steve Curl, a Yosemite Conservancy volunteer artist.

Through art, visitors can continue the legacy of sharing their unique and personal Yosemite experience with a wider audience. “Art is the universal language to connect and encourage the world to work toward the goal of conservation,” says JoAnn Formia, a Yosemite Conservancy volunteer artist.

Yosemite Conservancy provides summertime workshops for beginners and veterans of all ages. Visitors can choose from a range of media, including watercolor, silk painting, ink and more. Join the lasting legacy of art in Yosemite!

View the full calendar of arts activities online at yosemiteconservancy.org/yosemite-art-center

Explore Yosemite with the help of books, maps and field guides from Yosemite experts.

Each purchase benefits the park — just one more way for you to show your support for Yosemite. Shop now at yosemiteconservancy.org

“For me, [Yosemite] is as close to going home as any place can be.”

— NANCY WESTON Yosemite Conservancy Supporter

For the Love of Yosemite: A Legacy Gift to the Grove

e all love Yosemite, but has it ever brought you to tears? Nancy Weston, a longtime supporter of Yosemite Conservancy and extensive backcountry hiker, wrote in her 2008 journal, “It was my 41st trip to Yosemite since 1950 … Had I known this would be my last trip, I would have wept all the way home.” Diagnosed with emphysema soon after, she was told never to go to high altitude again. But Yosemite was never far from her mind. When she passed away in 2011, Nancy left a generous bequest to Yosemite Conservancy, which has supported the Mariposa Grove Restoration Project.

“Of course, it means a great deal to our family that Nancy’s final gift supports the Grove,” says Juliette Weston Suhr, Nancy’s older sister. “But it also makes a huge difference to every other person who gets to enjoy it. Many, many people will get to enjoy the sequoias.”

LEFT On Nancy Weston’s final visit to Yosemite, she celebrated the opening of newly renovated Olmsted Point, a project she generously supported.

Nancy loved to share her passion for Yosemite, bringing friends and family — including her niece and nephew — on backpacking trips. Nancy grew up in the Santa Clara Valley, part of a farming family with deep ties to Yosemite. Her grandparents signed the Yosemite Valley visitor registry in 1892.

In a 1997 journal, Nancy mused that her love of the park may have been in her blood: “For me, [Yosemite] is as close to going home as any place can be … the great meadows, familiar peaks, meandering river and inviting trails, the clear skies and twinkling stars at night never fail to move me deeply. Perhaps it is because my first trip was a few months before I was born.”

The Weston family is delighted to know Nancy’s gift makes a meaningful difference to Yosemite, ensuring “one of the great views of the world” will be available for all to enjoy for many years to come.

BELOW Nancy’s generous gift to Mariposa Grove earns her recognition as a member of the Mariposa Grove Society, a group of extraordinary donors to the Conservancy.

enjoyed traveling with friends, both new and old. This group, pictured in 1957, would return to Yosemite many times during the next 50 years.

ABOVE Nancy

MIDDLE Nancy (right) enjoyed extensive backcountry excursions with friends. She is pictured here at Cathedral Lake in 1957.

Bidding a Fond Farewell

The Legacy of Past President Mike Tollefson

fter six successful years as president and CEO of Yosemite Conservancy, Mike Tollefson has stepped down, leaving the Conservancy stronger than ever. Under his leadership, the Conservancy increased support to Yosemite National Park in 2015 to $16.6 million, which funds youth programs, wildlife conservation and habitat restoration, and provides visitor services.

After 36 years with the National Park Service, Tollefson joined the Yosemite Fund as president in January 2009. The next year, he guided the merger of the Fund and Yosemite Association, forming Yosemite Conservancy, a unified nonprofit that drew on the strengths of its predecessors. During his National Park Service career, Tollefson worked in

nine parks, spanning from Alaska to the U.S. Virgin Islands, including six years as superintendent of Yosemite. After arriving in Yosemite, he knew he had found his favorite park. As Tollefson departs for his next adventure, we wish him well, knowing there will always be a piece of his heart devoted to Yosemite.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

As I look back upon my tenure at Yosemite Conservancy, I am humbled by what we have accomplished together. I have had the pleasure of working with a dedicated group of volunteer leaders. I have guided Yosemite Conservancy’s talented and devoted staff, who work hand-in-hand with our partners in the park to deliver in-park programs, complete project grants and create award-winning publications for sale in Conservancy bookstores. None of this could have been accomplished without the support of generous donors such as you.

I remain deeply committed to the mission and success of Yosemite Conservancy. I know Frank Dean will provide energy and ideas to enable the Conservancy to continue providing crucial support for the park. Each of you, through your commitment, remains essential to Yosemite’s successful conservation.

Thank you for all your service to Yosemite!

Mike Tollefson

Three leaders met to celebrate Yosemite in 2014: (left to right) National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis, Yosemite Conservancy President and CEO Mike Tollefson and Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher.

Tollefson and wife Patricia look forward to a new chapter together.

YOSEMITE THROUGH YOUR LENS

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY

Magazine of Yosemite Conservancy, published twice a year.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Jennifer Miller

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Claire F. Meyler

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Barbara Beroza

Frank Dean

Claire F. Meyler

Bob Roney Michelle Slocombe Mike Tollefson

STAFF :: San Francisco

Frank Dean, President & CEO

Jerry Edelbrock, Vice President, CFO & COO

Darlene Bellucci, Associate Director of Major & Planned Gifts

Kim Coull, Development Director

Edin Draper-Beard, Executive Affairs Manager

Jamie Henion, Events Manager

Debra Holcomb, Strategic Technology Director

Holly Kuehn, Development & Donor Services Assistant

Isabelle Luebbers, Annual Giving Manager

Claire F. Meyler, Communications Manager & Webmaster

Jennifer Miller, Marketing & Communications Director

Anastasia Pryor, Institutional Giving Officer

Gretchen Roecker, Communications & Social Media Manager

Amanda Roque, Data Entry Assistant

Rachel Stone, Campaign & Development Projects Manager

Kit Thomas, Controller

Christina Yu, Donor & Data Services Assistant

STAFF :: Yosemite

Adonia Ripple, General Manager Yosemite Operations

Aline Allen, Art Center Coordinator

Greg Archer, Valley Sales Supervisor

Nicole Brocchini, Museum Store Supervisor

Kylie Chappell, Outdoor Adventures Coordinator

Pete Devine, Resident Naturalist

Teresa Ellis, Sales Information Assistant

Rachel Gibbons, Retail Operations Manager

Schuyler Greenleaf, Projects Director

Suzy Hasty, Volunteer Program Manager

Cory Jacobs, Inventory Coordinator

Michelle Kuchta, Accounting Assistant

Olotumi Laizer, Valley Complex Supervisor

Belinda Lantz, Retail & Publishing Director

Denise Ludington, Accounting Supervisor

Katie Manion, Outreach & Wholesale Coordinator

Michael Ross, Naturalist

John Samples, Warehouse Coordinator

Angela Sberna, Accounting Director

Shelly Stephens, Inventory Manager

Laurie Stowe, Wilderness Programs Manager

STAFF :: Southern California

Patti Johns Eisenberg, Major Gifts Officer

Spring.Summer 2015 :: Volume 06 Issue 01 ©2015

Federal Tax Identification No. 94-3058041

Ways to Give

THERE ARE MANY WAYS you and your organization can support the meaningful work of Yosemite Conservancy. We look forward to exploring these philanthropic opportunities with you.

CONTACT US

Visit yosemiteconservancy.org

Email info@yosemiteconservancy.org

Phone

800-469-7275

INDIVIDUAL GIVING

Development Director

Kim Coull

kcoull@yosemiteconservancy.org

800-469-7275 x324

Annual Giving

Isabelle Luebbers

iluebbers@yosemiteconservancy.org

800-469-7275 x313

Major Gifts – Northern California

Darlene Bellucci

dbellucci@yosemiteconservancy.org

800-469-7275 x318

Major Gifts – Southern California

Patti Johns Eisenberg

peisenberg@yosemiteconservancy.org 626-792-9626

FOUNDATIONS

& CORPORATIONS

Anastasia Pryor

apryor@yosemiteconservancy.org

800-469-7275 x328

PLANNED GIVING & BEQUESTS

Darlene Bellucci

dbellucci@yosemiteconservancy.org

800-469-7275 x318

Mail

Yosemite Conservancy 101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1700 San Francisco, CA 94104

Fax

415-434-0745

HONOR & MEMORIAL GIFTS

Isabelle Luebbers iluebbers@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x313

GIFTS OF STOCK

Rachel Stone rstone@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x326

SEQUOIA SOCIETY MONTHLY GIVING

Isabelle Luebbers iluebbers@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x313

MATCHING GIFTS

Isabelle Luebbers iluebbers@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x313

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Suzy Hasty

shasty@yosemiteconservancy.org 209-379-2317

yosemiteconservancy.org/volunteer

101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1700

San Francisco, CA 94104

Yosemite’s natural wonders are not only our inheritance, but also our responsibility. Your legacy gift to Yosemite Conservancy makes a lasting impact beyond your lifetime, commemorating your special connection to Yosemite while ensuring the park remains a beloved treasure for future generations to enjoy.

To find out how you can leave your legacy to Yosemite, contact Darlene Bellucci at dbellucci@yosemiteconservancy.org or 415-434-8446 x318.

yosemiteconservancy.org