2018 Spring/Summer Magazine – Yosemite Conservancy

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY

Yosemite’s Water World

INSIDE

A Fresh Look at Iconic Bridalveil Fall

Exploring Yosemite’s High Country Lakes

Expert Insights on Aquatic Species and Habitats

Q&A with Yosemite’s Park Geologist

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY COUNCIL MEMBERS

CHAIR

Bob Bennitt*

VICE CHAIR

Dana Dornsife*

COUNCIL

Hollis & Matt Adams*

Jeanne & Michael Adams

Gretchen Augustyn

Jenny Augustyn & Ali Meghdadi

Suzy & Bob Bennitt*

David Bowman & Gloria Miller

Marilyn & Allan Brown

Diane* & Steve Ciesinski

Kira & Craig Cooper

Hal Cranston & Vicki Baker

Carol & Manny Diaz

Leslie & John Dorman*

Dave* & Dana Dornsife*

Lisa & Craig Elliott

Jewell & Bob Engstrom

Kathy Fairbanks

Sandra & Bernard Fischbach

Cynthia & Bill Floyd*

Jim Freedman & Karine Joret

Susan & Don Fuhrer*

Bonnie Gregory

Rusty Gregory*

Karen & Steve Hanson

Laura Hattendorf & Andy Kau

Chuck & Christy Holloway

PRESIDENT & CEO

Frank Dean*

VICE PRESIDENT, CFO & COO

Jerry Edelbrock

Christina Hurn & Richard Tassone

Jennifer & Gregory Johnson

Walt Lemmermann

Melody & Bob Lind

Sam & Cindy Livermore

Anahita & Jim Lovelace

Mark Marion & Sheila Grether-Marion

Patsy & Tim Marshall

Kirsten & Dan Miks

Robyn & Joe Miller

Janet Napolitano

Dick Otter & Judy Wilbur

Sharon & Phil Pillsbury*

Bill Reller

Pam & Rod Rempt*

Frankie & Skip Rhodes*

Liz Robbins

Dave Rossetti & Jan Avent*

Lisa & Greg Stanger*

Jennifer & Russ Stanton*

Ann* & George Sundby

Clifford J. Walker*

Wally Wallner* & Jill Appenzeller

Jack Walston & Sue Estes

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Superintendent Michael Reynolds

*Indicates Board of Trustees

OUR MISSION

Yosemite Conservancy inspires people to support projects and programs that preserve Yosemite and enrich the visitor experience.

PRESIDENT’S NOTE

“Water, water everywhere.”

hough Samuel Coleridge’s timeless refrain technically refers to a seascape, it easily comes to mind when contemplating Yosemite’s terrain. Everywhere you look in the park, you see evidence of water at work: domes polished by glacial ice, wildflowers drinking from saturated soil, and of course, the world-famous waterfalls.

In this issue, you’ll find stories focused on Yosemite’s water resources, from show-stopping Bridalveil Fall to little-known alpine lakes. You’ll learn how, with your generous support, park biologists and restoration crews are protecting vital watersheds and reintroducing native wildlife to lakes and streams.

As you read, I hope you’ll be inspired to learn more about the park’s remarkable water-shaped landscape — on your own or with one of our naturalists, who can give you an insider’s look at waterfalls and lakes; lead you on a challenging trek to the last bastions of Yosemite’s glacial past; or guide you into the trails and history surrounding Hetch Hetchy, where the reservoir serves as a visual reminder of the 1913 decision to dam the Tuolumne River, a hotly contested issue then (and now) that helped spur the creation of the National Park Service.

Beyond the stories and adventure ideas captured on these pages, your gifts in 2018 are supporting Yosemite’s complex, critically important water system in other ways: by helping park experts study shrinking glaciers, use hightech tools to map natural resources, survey hydrologic conditions in Ackerson Meadow and much more.

Enjoy the magazine, and thank you for your support!

Frank Dean, President

Connect with us online!

Follow Yosemite Conservancy, and stay connected.

COVER PHOTO From the north side of Yosemite Valley, resting hikers watch a rainbow emerge in the spray of Bridalveil Fall, where a new project aims to improve the visitor experience while protecting one of the park’s most iconic features.

PHOTO: © YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY/KEITH WALKLET.

CONTENTS

SPRING.SUMMER 2018 VOLUME 09.ISSUE 01

ABOVE As water moves through Yosemite in rivers, lakes and waterfalls, it shapes the landscape, fuels a diverse web of life and creates stunning scenery.

IN THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS

04 BEHIND BRIDALVEIL’S BEAUTY

Learn about the site of an ambitious new restoration project, and gain a fresh perspective on one of Yosemite’s most iconic waterfalls.

08 EXPLORING YOSEMITE’S LAKE COUNTRY

Take a tour through high country to see the impact of donor support around Yosemite’s alpine lakes.

10 WHAT’S THAT WATERFALL?

Explore Yosemite’s lesser-known cascades to gain a deeper understanding of the Sierra Nevada water system.

12 EXPER T INSIGHTS

Aquatic biologist Rob Grasso shares how park scientists are restoring aquatic species in Yosemite Wilderness.

14 Q&A WITH A YOSEMITE INSIDER

Yosemite geologist Greg Stock explains how glaciers have been fundamental in shaping Yosemite.

16 GRANT UPDATES

Learn about trail restoration around Yosemite watersheds, and read swiftwater season safety tips from Yosemite’s Preventive Search and Rescue.

20 PROGRAM UPDATES

Discover aquatic adventures with Yosemite’s expert guides, and enjoy art along the river.

23 THANKING OUR DONORS

Your generosity makes a difference in Yosemite.

28 WHY I GIVE

Conservancy donors share their stories of inspiration and passion.

30 READER PHOTOS

Yosemite Conservancy supporters share their special Yosemite memories.

Bridalveil’s

BEHIND BEAUTY

A fresh look at one of Yosemite’s most iconic waterfalls

aterfalls are almost synonymous with Yosemite National Park. Perennial wonders, such as Nevada Fall, impress in any season, while transient cascades, such as Sentinel Falls, spring to life after winter and fade as summer saps the snowmelt.

Whether steadfast or fleeting, the mesmerizing displays created by water dancing down Yosemite’s rock walls are understandably popular attractions — and, in turn, vulnerable to the impact of a steady stream of visitors. Donor-funded projects have helped restore habitat and improve environmentally sustainable access around iconic features, such as Lower Yosemite Fall and Vernal Fall.

Now, an ambitious project is restoring and protecting the area around another famous fall: Bridalveil.

Framed by Leaning Tower and Cathedral Rocks, Bridalveil Fall glistens at the west end of Yosemite Valley. The 620-foot single-drop fall is a favorite among photographers, but when you look beyond its majestic

LEFT Bridalveil Fall, framed by Cathedral Rocks and Leaning Tower, leaps from the south rim of Yosemite Valley and drops to the floor in plumes of mist. A new restoration project will make much-needed improvements to the area around the fall’s base.

“A revelation in landscape affairs that enriches one’s life forever.”

— JOHN MUIR

cloak, you’ll find an intricate watershed, habitat for elusive creatures, and the echoes of human and natural history stretching back thousands of years.

Starting at Ostrander Lake, Bridalveil Creek flows about 10 miles northwest toward Yosemite Valley. As it nears the edge, the creek flows through a “hanging valley.” The glaciers that shaped Yosemite Valley created a U-shaped channel with steep walls, and left the Bridalveil Creek tributary “hanging” hundreds of feet up the wall. Water leaps over the rim, drops down to boulders below, splashes and sprays its way into a series of streams, and finally joins the Merced River.

As it dances down the Valley’s south wall, Bridalveil Fall encapsulates the power and vitality of a critical natural resource: Water, cached in snow, lakes and meadows, releases into the ecosystem to support a complex web of life. Mount Lyell salamanders, endemic to the Sierra Nevada, have carved

LEFT Bridalveil Fall’s modern name, coined in the 1860s, befits the icon’s characteristic mist, which calls to mind gossamer lace. ABOVE Mount Lyell salamanders live in the damp rocky habitat around Bridalveil Fall.

PHOTOS: (LEFT) © YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY/KEITH WALKLET. (ABOVE) © GARY NAFIS.

Bridalveil Fall

out a niche among the damp rocks at the fall’s base. Black swifts and peregrine falcons nest on the damp cliffs. Specialstatus plants grow in the spray zone beside Bridalveil Fall, and uncommon flora, including wild ginger and bleeding hearts, bloom beside the braided stream below.

Whether you’re watching Bridalveil Fall from Tunnel View or standing in the spray at its base, it’s easy to see why this impressive, important feature has captivated the human imagination for generations. For millennia, American Indians, who knew the waterfall as “Pohono,” shared stories about its origins and powers. In the 1800s, the fall featured prominently in artistic depictions of Yosemite that drew attention and tourists to this sliver of the Sierra Nevada and, in turn, inspired legislation to protect the landscape.

Today, the legacy of public lands preservation that first took root in Yosemite persists in the National Park Service’s mission to protect natural and cultural resources — and in your generous support for projects to restore trails, improve habitat, and create high-quality, sustainable visitor experiences.

Over the years, our donors have helped fund efforts to restore iconic places in and around Yosemite Valley, from

Tunnel View and Glacier Point, to Yosemite Falls. Thanks to a new effort, Bridalveil Fall, one of the park’s most visited features, is now the focal point of the same muchneeded attention.

If you visit Bridalveil Fall today, you’ll find uneven walkways, obscured views, rundown restrooms, and a flood-prone parking area with inefficient traffic flow. In the coming years, crews will transform the zone around the waterfall with a new trail system, a redesigned parking area, improved facilities, revived riparian habitat and informational signs. Meanwhile, another donor-funded project is restoring the view of Bridalveil from Valley View, a historical vista point on the north side of the Merced River.

More than a century ago, John Muir mused that seeing Bridalveil Fall as you enter Yosemite Valley is “a revelation in landscape affairs that enriches one’s life forever.” His words ring true today: A glimpse of Bridalveil Fall, whether roaring in a stark white streak or floating gently as rainbow-laced mist, will etch itself into your memory and deepen your connection with the park. Now, thanks to your support, this world-renowned waterfall will continue to inspire people for centuries to come, in a setting worthy of a natural wonder.

LEFT This Thomas Hill painting of Bridalveil Fall ended up in the White House collection after Theodore Roosevelt’s 1903 Yosemite camping trip with John Muir; in 1906, inspired in part by the beauty he’d seen with Muir, Roosevelt incorporated the Valley — and Bridalveil — into Yosemite National Park.

RIGHT A much newer depiction of the Bridalveil area shows the current trail system, which offers few options for visitors to experience the iconic waterfall.

WAWONA

DESTINATION:

LAKE COUNTRY

EXPLORING YOUR GIFTS AT WORK AROUND YOSEMITE’S HIGH COUNTRY LAKES

hile waterfalls make a scenic splash in Yosemite Valley, lakes are the aquatic stars of the high country. More than 2,000 lakes glitter at the base of the park’s granite peaks, nestle in tree-lined bowls and dot subalpine meadows.

Yosemite lakes of all sizes and splendor hold high ecological value. Fed by rain, snow and melting glacial ice, they temper deluges, recharge groundwater, and provide habitat for diverse plants and animals. Their tranquil beauty and often-secluded settings invite quiet moments of reflection and deep connections with the natural world.

Yosemite’s high country lakes are undeniably important and inspiring, but they’re not immune to natural and human-caused impacts — that’s where your support comes in. Join us on a high-elevation journey to see how your gifts have helped restore and protect lake ecosystems.

SHORT HIKES

For a quick adventure, stop by one of these high-elevation gems, all located less than 1.5 miles from Tioga Road:

At Tenaya Lake, you’ll find evidence of several years of donor-funded restoration work. Look for an accessible path and picnic area at the eastern beach, a scenic trail along the south shore, a boardwalk at the west end and wetland plants flourishing along the edges. Swim, paddle or lounge on the sand, and know your 2018 gifts are supporting a final phase of restoration to close the hiking loop around the lake’s north bank.

Dog Lake’s serene, forested basin offers glimpses of distant domes and a quiet setting just 1.4 miles from Tioga Road. While you won’t find any canines, you might spot endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frogs, which were restored to the lake in 2016 as part of a continuing grant-supported effort to restore populations of the once-common amphibian.

Take a short, steep hike over the ridge beside the Tioga Pass Entrance to access Gaylor Lakes Basin. Pause at the top to gaze out at peaks Dana, Mammoth and Gibbs, then drop down into the basin, home to multiple lakes, an old silver mine and spectacular views of the Cathedral Range. As you follow the trail, restored in 2013, thanks to a donor-funded project, listen for the cheep cheep of pikas in the rocky lakeside talus fields.

LONGER HIKES

Many of Yosemite’s high country lakes are located far from roads and trailheads — but these wilderness treasures are worth the trek:

Take an 8-mile round-trip hike south from Tuolumne Meadows to Cathedral Lakes, a pair of mirrored pools surrounded by soaring peaks. Here, evidence of donor-supported work will be in what you don’t see: Until recently, the trail near the upper lake cut through a wetland and sensitive meadows. Up higher, informal paths crisscrossed Cathedral Peak, a popular climbing destination. Grant-funded projects rerouted the trail into a forested area, restored the rutted meadow, and delineated formal approach and descent routes for the peak.

Want to explore more Yosemite Wilderness? On the 14-mile trek north from Tioga Road along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) to McCabe Lakes, you’ll tread terrain that donor-supported California Conservancy Corps (CCC) crews have made more hiker- and habitatfriendly. From there, follow the PCT another 14 miles west to Benson Lake, the sandy-beached “Riviera of the Sierra” that sometimes serves as a seasonal CCC base camp.

LEFT

Some of Yosemite’s best-kept secrets are on the outskirts. Navigate to Many Island Lake on the park’s northwest edge, or to Chain Lakes in the southeast corner; at both locations, donor-supported Keep It Wild crews recently restored habitat and erased impacts from informal campsites. Or head to northeastern Onion Lake, where botanists identified two notable plant species — tall draba and moonwort fern — as part of a grant-funded study to document aquatic flora.

Adventurers explore Gaylor Lakes Basin, where donor-supported crews restored trails and habitat to protect the lakeshore ecosystem and create a more pleasant hiking experience.

ABOVE The hike to Upper Cathedral Lake offers abundant opportunities to immerse in breathtaking high country scenery and see the results of donor-funded trail work.

What’s That Waterfall?

A LOOK AT YOSEMITE’S LESS-FAMOUS FALLS

ome Yosemite waterfalls have achieved celebrity status. You can probably conjure up images of those famous features, the paragons of the cascading world: Vernal Fall dousing Mist Trail hikers; Bridalveil Fall captivating Tunnel View tourists; the park’s eponymous three-tiered titan, Yosemite Falls, thundering into the Valley.

Beyond such superstars, however, many other waterfalls await. Some are ephemeral, spilling over cliffs for brief periods in the spring. Others flow year-round but are tucked in lightly traveled parts of the park. Each offers a dazzling glimpse into the Sierra Nevada water system — and each is worth your time to find.

Illilouette

Illilouette Fall

LOCATION: Yosemite Valley

DROPS: 370 feet

FLOWS: Year-round

FED BY: Illilouette Creek, a tributary of the Merced River near Nevada and Vernal falls

VISIBLE FROM: The Panorama and Mist trails, Glacier Point, and Washburn Point

White Cascade

LOCATION: High Country

DROPS: 40–50 feet

FLOWS: Year-round

FED BY: Tuolumne River

VISIBLE FROM: Near Glen Aulin

High Sierra Camp (a 5.3-mile hike northwest from Tuolumne Meadows)

Wapama Falls

LOCATION: Hetch Hetchy

DROPS: 1,400 feet

FLOWS: Year-round

FED BY: Sentinel Creek, a snowmelt stream west of Sentinel Rock

VISIBLE FROM: O’Shaughnessy Dam or the trail along the reservoir (where the falls sometimes flood the footbridge)

Sentinel Falls

LOCATION: Yosemite Valley

DROPS: 1,920 feet

FLOWS: March–June

FED BY: Illilouette Creek, a tributary of the Merced River, near Nevada and Vernal falls

VISIBLE FROM: Central Yosemite Valley, including near the Four Mile Trailhead

Chilnualna Falls

LOCATION: Wawona

DROPS: 2,200 feet

FLOWS: Year-round

FED BY: Chilnualna Creek, before it joins the South Fork of the Merced River

VISIBLE FROM: Chilnualna Falls Trail, a switchback-heavy hike with glimpses of the cascading water

Wapama Falls

Sentinel Falls

White Cascade

Chilnualna Falls

LEFT Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog populations plummeted in the 1900s. Now, thanks to your support, the species is regaining its place in the Yosemite high country.

MIDDLE Years of donor-supported restoration work in Lyell Canyon has helped revitalize a rutted meadow into healthy habitat for a variety of species, including the endangered Yosemite toad.

RIGHT With your support, Rob Grasso and his team have released hundreds of California red-legged frogs in Yosemite Valley, as part of ongoing efforts to restore this threatened amphibian in the park.

WETLAND WILDLIFE

PROTECTING AQUATIC SPECIES AND HABITATS

BY ROB GRASSO, AQUATIC BIOLOGIST, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

lthough they account for just a 10th of the terrain in the Sierra Nevada, wetlands provide essential ecosystem services to Yosemite National Park and beyond. As park aquatic biologist, I focus on the role these water-saturated areas play as crucial wildlife habitat.

In the past 125 years, Yosemite’s wetlands have faced serious challenges. On top of natural factors, such as droughts, human actions have disrupted water flow and retention. During this time, some wetlands were drained for livestock grazing, while others have been fragmented by infrastructure and trails. The resulting habitat loss, combined with competition from invasive animals, has prompted a sharp population decline for native aquatic wildlife. But thanks to support from Yosemite Conservancy, we are giving vulnerable wetland species a new lease on life.

Several years ago, Conservancy donors funded research on the threatened Yosemite toad. Since then, my colleagues and I have been restoring the toad’s wetland

habitat in places such as Lyell Canyon, a beautiful subalpine meadow south of Tuolumne. Last year, restoration crews found Yosemite toads in Tuolumne Meadows, where the species hadn’t been seen for four decades.

“Restoring wetland ecosystem is a high priority in Yosemite. The longer a wetland can retain water, the more benefit it will provide to wildlife.”

Elsewhere in the park, we have been introducing populations of native amphibians, such as the endangered Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog, to suitable habitat. During the course of the past century, this frog was decimated by disease and non-native predatory fish. To save the species, we’ve used environmental DNA to find optimal high country wetland homes for hundreds of genetically diverse frogs moved from source populations. Now, Yosemite’s yellow-legged frog numbers are increasing by 10 percent annually!

In the Valley, we’re working to bring back the California red-legged frog, which was driven to near-extinction by wetland degradation, a culinary taste for frog legs and the introduction of invasive bullfrogs. In partnership with the San Francisco Zoo, we created a rearing facility where we can “head start” amphibians to give them the best possible chance at survival. In the past two years, we have released more than 2,500 red-legged frogs and tadpoles along the Merced River, a repopulation effort coinciding with a project to restore another long-gone aquatic species in the Valley: the western pond turtle.

These Conservancy-funded efforts are breaking ground in efforts to protect and repopulate wetland ecosystems, and they will inform species restoration well beyond the park.

Aquatic Biologist, Yosemite National Park

As Yosemite’s aquatic biologist, Rob Grasso oversees the park’s aquatic species restoration program. After developing an early interest in protecting wetlands and wildlife while growing up in New Jersey, Grasso focused his undergraduate and graduate studies on marine and conservation biology. He has volunteered and worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S. Forest Service; he joined the National Park Service in Yosemite in 2014.

ROB GRASSO

“Yosemite contains some of the most spectacular geology anywhere on the planet, and I get to study it!”

— GREG STOCK Geologist

at Yosemite National Park

Q&A

WITH A YOSEMITE INSIDER

hile growing up in the Sierra foothills on Yosemite’s doorstep, Greg Stock often visited Yosemite, where he was fascinated by the granite walls. His early interest in earth science led to jobs in Sequoia-Kings Canyon and Hawaii Volcanoes national parks, and later to graduate school. As he was digging into postdoctoral research, Stock heard about a first-ever geology position in Yosemite. He shifted his career path from academia to public lands, and he has served as park geologist since 2005.

Q :: What do you most enjoy about working as a geologist in Yosemite?

A :: Yosemite contains some of the most spectacular geology anywhere on the planet, and I get to study it! From its skyscraping granite peaks to its time-honored glaciers and rumbling rockfalls, the geology of Yosemite is fascinating and dynamic. And of course, I love that I have the opportunity to spend so much of my time outside in the park. My job can be difficult at times, especially when there are rockfalls, but I love the challenge.

Q :: Tell us about the history of Yosemite’s glaciers.

A :: Glaciers have been fundamental in shaping Yosemite. They have come and gone from Yosemite’s landscape for thousands of years, but the two remaining glaciers, Lyell and Maclure, have experienced a drastically accelerated rate of retreat in recent decades. For example, during the 2012–2015 California droughts, low snowfall and warm temperatures had an undeniable effect: Lyell Glacier’s surface area has retreated 78 percent since 1883, but more than 10 percent of that loss occurred during the drought. If present trends continue, these glaciers will disappear within a decade or two.

Q :: How are you and other park scientists measuring glacial melt in Yosemite and its effect on ecosystems?

A :: The Lyell and Maclure glaciers form the headwaters of the Tuolumne River, so their loss also affects the river and ecosystems that depend on it. As they melt, resulting water sustains base flows of the Tuolumne River in the late summer and fall. Our preliminary work suggests that during the 2012–2015 droughts, glacial meltwater may have contributed up to 90 percent of the flow in Tuolumne Meadows. As part of a new project funded by the Conservancy, we are partnering with NASA scientists to use airborne laser-scanning data that precisely records changes in glacier ice volume.

ABOVE Whether he’s climbing rock walls or crouching in ice caves, geologist Greg Stock gets to explore and study the park’s amazing natural features.

Q :: How will research on glacial melt inform strategies for managing natural resources in a potentially ice-free Yosemite in the future?

A :: Plants, animals and even humans depend on stable river base flows. Understanding the role of glacial meltwater in sustaining Tuolumne River base flows will help us anticipate changes to river flows and temperatures, as well as the resulting impacts to aquatic and riparian ecosystems.

Q :: How have Conservancy donors helped protect Yosemite’s glaciers?

A :: Donor support has helped us maintain critical glacier research through the tradition of annual surveys, and allowed us to gain unique insights from new tools and technologies. While we may not be able to stop glacier retreat, we can document these changes and try to understand the long-term effects of glacier loss on other aspects of Yosemite.

Glacier, on Yosemite’s eastern boundary, is the park’s last “living” glacier. RIGHT For years, Stock has studied the now-stagnant glacier on Mount Lyell, which backpackers can learn about on a Yosemite Conservancy Outdoor Adventure.

From books to apparel, the Yosemite Conservancy Bookstore has great finds for the Yosemite-lover in your life.

Each purchase benefits the park — just one more way for you to show your support for Yosemite.

Shop now at yosemiteconservancy.org

ABOVE Maclure

New Grants for 2018

TRAIL

REHABILITATION & ACCESS

Building Historical Connections: Washburn Trail

$171,872

CCC Crews Restore Trails: Merced River Watershed $225,000

CCC Crews Restore Trails: Tuolumne River Watershed

Improve the Tenaya Lake Trail System

Link to the Past:

Restore a Pioneer History Center Trail

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Give Wildlife a Brake

Protect Pollinators: Alpine Butterfly Research

Restore Native Frogs and Turtles

HABITAT RESTORATION

Ackerson Meadow: Science and Stewardship

$225,000

$210,800

$28,440

$52,698

$41,527

$225,815

$125,000

Keep It Wild: Restore Yosemite’s Wilderness $198,723

Repair Wetlands Near Royal Arches $125,000

Restore Lyell Canyon: Meadow Habitat and John Muir Trail

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Study Songbirds in Yosemite Meadows

Vanishing Ice: Study Glacier Loss in Yosemite

$186,582

$60,000

$38,331

Yosemite in 3-D: Map Resources for Modern Stewardship $187,000

CULTURAL & HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Create an Online Cultural Exhibit

$34,352

Keep Horses at the Heart of Yosemite $40,000

Restore Yosemite Valley Vistas $89,103

Share Park History: Photos From Yosemite’s Past

VISITOR SERVICES & EDUCATION

Adventure Risk Challenge: Youth Build Skills in Yosemite

Ask a Climber

Develop a Yosemite App

$68,704

$80,000

$50,700

$75,000

Improve Visitor Experiences: Day Use Study $93,900

Inspire New Stewards at UC Merced

Junior Ranger Programs

Keep Visitors Safe With Preventive Search and Rescue

$95,000

$129,120

$50,000

No Limits: Wheelchair Athletes in Yosemite $21,460

Parks in Focus: Kids Explore Nature Through Photography

Parsons Memorial Lodge Summer Series

Renovate the Tuolumne Search and Rescue Base Camp

$25,000

$15,000

$15,000

Support Veterans: Yosemite Seminar $14,080

Sustainable Visitor Access

WildLink: Teens Connect to the Natural World

Yosemite Climbing Stewardship Program

Yosemite Leadership Program Summer Internships

$250,000

$45,000

$75,900

$95,000

Yosemite Valley Bike-Share Program $27,970

TOTAL $3,492,077

Color represents Youth in Yosemite Programs.

WORKING THE WATERSHEDS

THE CCC KEEPS TRAILS — AND WATER RESOURCES — IN TOP SHAPE

hether tracing lakeshores or rising toward summits, trails can have a significant impact on watershed well-being. Well-designed trails not only help people navigate over or around streams and wetlands; they also prevent erosion and sedimentation, which can degrade water quality and disrupt aquatic wildlife.

For more than 20 years, Conservancy donors have supported Yosemite’s California Conservation Corps (CCC) trail program. Each year, CCC participants in their late teens and early 20s spend a season restoring trails in the Merced and Tuolumne watersheds. After a few weeks of frontcountry work in the Valley and Hetch Hetchy, they follow rivers and tributaries into the wilderness.

CCC crews have improved thousands of miles of trails, often focusing on ways to limit erosion and help water flow across the terrain, while creating safe, enjoyable hiking conditions. In 2017, corps members built and repaired elevated causeways and bridges, placed riprap (loose stones) to prevent erosion, and restored ruts — all important steps to support healthy hydrology of landscapes traversed by trails.

This summer, another two CCC crews will strike out for the backcountry, following Merced waterways south toward Chain Lakes, and working on Tuolumne watershed trails near Laurel Lake and along Frog Creek. Like their predecessors, participants will spend their days working on trails and honing skills with experts; in the evening, they’ll learn about wilderness ethics and the environment they’re working to protect.

As CCC participants shape trails that promote watershed health and improve access to Yosemite’s lakes and waterfalls, they’re also shaping their futures — thanks to your support.

California Conservation Corps crews restore trails that provide access to Yosemite’s scenic water features, such as this lake in the Vogelsang area, and benefit hikers and resources alike.

STAYING SAFE IN SWIFTWATER

TOP Spring snowmelt captivates onlookers as it surges Yosemite’s rivers and streams, but it can create hazardous conditions. The donorsupported Preventive Search and Rescue program reminds people to stick to dry, stable ground.

BOTTOM Yosemite Search and Rescue team members practice technical skills in the Valley during an annual

ach spring, snowmelt and rain fill Yosemite’s falls, creeks and rivers with cold, fast-moving water. The rushing flow makes for mesmerizing scenery, but getting a closer look can be hazardous: Most water-related accidents in the park occur when people are wading, crossing creeks or scrambling on slippery rocks.

As water dashes through the Valley, Yosemite’s Preventive Search and Rescue (PSAR) program dives into its busy season. With your support, PSAR interns and volunteers keep visitors safe by preventing potentially dangerous situations. In spring, they focus on sharing swiftwater safety messages online, in visitor centers and on moveable signs, and they patrol places prone to water-related incidents, such as the spray-soaked Mist Trail.

PSAR serves a critical role in a collaborative effort to protect visitors from water hazards. The Search and Rescue team hosts an annual May event to train rangers on river-rescue techniques and educate the public about swiftwater safety. Wilderness rangers provide updates on creek crossings and bridge conditions, and law-enforcement rangers ensure people use required flotation devices.

You can play a part in swiftwater safety, too. Avoid swimming or wading in closed areas, stay on the safe side of railings, and wear protective gear when rafting or paddling. If you need to ford a river or creek, remember that trails don’t necessarily lead to the best crossing; scout out your options, and when in doubt, stick to the shore. And if you have a safety question, take advantage of your gifts at work: Talk to a PSAR volunteer!

For more tips on staying safe in Yosemite in any season, read our blog: http://bit.ly/fieldnotes-psar

HOW PSAR PROTECTS PEOPLE WHEN WATERS RISE

swiftwater safety event.

REVIVING A VALLEY WETLAND

RESTORATION CREWS AT WORK IN ROYAL ARCHES MEADOW

he layered granite curves of Royal Arches carve out an eye-catching scene in eastern Yosemite Valley. At the base of the iconic feature, however, you’ll find a less majestic setting: an imperiled wetland where conifers are overtaking meadow plants, as long-abandoned infrastructure, including clay pipes, culverts and road segments, disrupts the natural water system.

Meadows represent just 3 percent of Yosemite’s total land area, but they provide outsize ecosystem functions. With your support, crews are working to restore this small, critical patch of habitat by loosening tamped-down soil, planting native vegetation, and using radar to locate and remove buried structures.

The effort comes at a key moment. Thanks to another donor-funded project, populations of California red-legged frogs and western pond turtles, long absent from the park, are establishing a foothold in the Valley. Restoring Royal Arches Meadow will help expand and preserve potential healthy habitat where those two species and other aquatic animals can thrive.

The next time you visit the Valley, follow the Merced River east toward Royal Arches, and observe the riparian ecosystem that branches out from the banks — an intricate web of water, soil and life growing ever more resilient, thanks to your support.

TOP Thanks to your support, restoration crews are revitalizing wetland habitat near Royal Arches, in eastern Yosemite Valley.

BOTTOM As part of the Royal Arches Meadow restoration, scientists will assess the area’s potential as habitat for California red-legged frogs and other riparian species.

AQUATIC ADVENTURES

ivers, lakes and waterfalls often take center stage in Outdoor Adventures.

This year’s lineup offers ample opportunity to discover the wonders of water with our expert guides.

Take a weekend wander.

Enjoy day hikes to Yosemite Valley waterfalls and Gaylor Lakes Basin, dive into fly fishing and riparian ecology, or get the whole family outside in Tuolumne Meadows, where kids (and grandparents!) can search for aquatic life.

LEFT During Yosemite Conservancy’s moonbow photography workshops, participants learn to capture lunar rainbows on camera. RIGHT Hikers follow their Conservancy naturalist guide to Gaylor Lakes, a picture-perfect place to learn about alpine ecology, while listening for pikas and songbirds.

HIT THE H2O TRAIL WITH OUR GUIDES

Catch an evening phenomenon.

Join a professional photographer for two nights of expert instruction and starlit scenery, as you learn to capture moonbows at Lower Yosemite Fall.

Sleep under the stars.

Master backpacking basics and wilderness ethics during easy-paced excursions: Watch the sunset from Ostrander Lake, venture along Yosemite Creek, or relax by May Lake before climbing Mount Hoffmann.

Go to the source.

Join fellow advanced adventurers for rigorous treks to mounts Lyell and Maclure, the headwaters of the Tuolumne River and last vestiges of Yosemite’s glacial past.

2018 OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

HIGHLIGHTS

MAY 29–30

Photographing the Moonbow: Double Your Chances

JUNE 9–10

World-Famous Waterfalls and Hidden Gems

JUNE 29–JULY 1

Casual Backpack: Sunset Hike to Ostrander Lake

JULY 12–15

Backpack to Glen Aulin: Waterwheel Falls

JULY 19–22

Casual Backpack: Yosemite Creek and Eagle Peak

JULY 28–29

All Angles of Angling: Fly Fishing and Aquatic Life

AUGUST 2–5

Glacier Expedition: Backpack to Mount Lyell

AUGUST 11–12

Yosemite Across Generations: Tuolumne Meadows Family Weekend

AUGUST 23–26

Glacier Expedition: Backpack to Mount Maclure

AUGUST 30–SEPTEMBER 2

Casual Backpack: Saddlebag & the Twenty Lakes Basin

SEPTEMBER 6–9

Casual Backpack: May Lake & Mount Hoffmann

Visit us online at yosemiteconservancy.org/ outdoor-adventures to browse and sign up for 2018 Outdoor Adventures. Water you waiting for?

PHOTOS: (OPPOSITE) © SCOTT AHLES. (ABOVE) © ROBERT MCDUFF.

ART ALONG THE RIVER

ater features prominently in famous Yosemite artwork, from Albert Bierstadt’s gleaming rivers to Ansel Adams’ black-andwhite photographs of swirling currents. If you’re eager to dip your own toes into creative expression in the park, head to the new home of Yosemite Conservancy’s art programs: Happy Isles Art and Nature Center.

At the historic Happy Isles building, located on the Merced River in eastern Yosemite Valley, you’ll find plentiful natural light, a high-ceilinged art studio and an exhibit hall (recently renovated, thanks to your support) full of fascinating displays to spark your imagination.

In addition to offering drop-in crafts and children’s classes, we’re continuing our tradition of connecting you with professional artists who can help you create a Yosemite masterpiece. Take an expert-led four-hour class, or join our new multiday programs that combine camping and creativity. With Happy Isles as your base, you might sketch stone bridges or wetland flora, or branch out into the Valley to paint waterfalls and glacier-carved cliffs.

Wherever you go, you’ll use new skills to capture the same majestic water-sculpted landscape that captivated the likes of Bierstadt and Adams — and you’ll end up with a personal piece to remember your time in the park.

To view and register for art programs, visit yosemiteconservancy.org/happy-isles-artand-nature-center

ABOVE During the Conservancy’s art classes, now based at Happy Isles Art and Nature Center, visitors immerse in Valley scenery, while learning from expert artists and creating personal sketches or paintings.

GETTING CREATIVE AT HAPPY ISLES

PHOTO: © KATY BERNHEIM.

Donor Events & Activities

THE JOHN MUIR HERITAGE SOCIETY is a community of generous Conservancy donors who demonstrate a strong commitment to protecting and preserving Yosemite with annual gifts of $1,000 and more. Throughout the year, JMHS members receive invitations to join National Park Service and Yosemite Conservancy leadership on expert-led project tours and naturalist hikes, at private receptions and dinners, and at other special events both inside and outside the park. These gatherings provide an opportunity for members to connect with other like-minded individuals who are passionate about making a difference in Yosemite.

For more information about the John Muir Heritage Society or events, please contact Kim Coull at kcoull@yosemiteconservancy.org or 415-434-8446 x324.

Tuolumne Meadows

Crystal & David Hoffman

Fall Colors Fall Colors

Bridalveil Fall tour with NPS Project Manager Brad Lewis

Beth Bangert & Jill Appenzeller

Tuolumne Meadows

Spring Colors

Amy Wicks, Kay Sharp & Wendy Kashaefi

Sheila Grether-Marion & Mark Marion

Ackerson Meadow with Dan Webster, naturalist Bracebridge Bracebridge

Elizabeth Falls hike with Naturalist Pete Devine

Jessica Chen with Acting Superintendent Chip Jenkins

Fall Colors

Capital Group: A Quarter-Century of Giving

From a leader’s love of Yosemite, an enduring philanthropic legacy

or the past quarter-century, money management firm Capital Group has supported Yosemite Conservancy through its charitable arm — and the company’s philanthropic connection to the park stretches back even further.

An avid hiker, longtime Capital Group leader Jon Lovelace spent abundant time on Yosemite’s trails. Jon and his wife, Lillian, made their first contribution to the Conservancy in 1987. In the ensuing years, they provided more than $2 million to help

ABOVE Greg Johnson, senior vice president at Capital Group, and his wife, Jennifer WalstonJohnson, serve on Yosemite Conservancy’s Council; they co-chaired the fundraising campaign for the restoration of Mariposa Grove.

PHOTO: © YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY/NANCY ROBBINS.

restore iconic areas, such as Lower Yosemite Fall, Red Peak Pass and Tunnel View, and served as councilmembers.

Jon passed away in 2011, but his charitable legacy lives on in many ways, including at Capital Group. During his time at the corporate helm, his enthusiasm for Yosemite permeated the company, which has made grants to fund projects at places such as Glacier Point, Happy Isles and Tenaya Lake.

LEFT Longtime Capital Group leader Jon Lovelace and his wife, Lillian, donated more than $2 million to support projects in Yosemite. Today, Jon’s philanthropic legacy lives on through Capital Group’s charitable efforts and through the familyrun JL Foundation. Their son Jim has served on the Conservancy’s Council since 1999.

Capital Group employees play a key role in preserving Yosemite, too. Many support the park through a matching program, and some have followed in Jon’s footsteps to take on leadership roles with the Conservancy. Hundreds of staff members have participated in the Conservancy’s corporate volunteer program, donating time in Valley meadows, among giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove, along the shores of Tenaya Lake, and more.

Capital Group’s gifts have made a positive impact all over Yosemite. You’ll see evidence of their support in restored habitat, preserved historic buildings and top-notch trails, all anchored in a deep-rooted legacy and made possible by the generous Capital Group team.

CENTER Capital Group employees have volunteered their time to restore and protect habitat throughout Yosemite, including in Mariposa Grove, where they played an important role in ensuring the long-term health of the giant sequoias. ABOVE Capital Group has supported major projects throughout the park, including the landmark restoration of the area around Lower Yosemite Fall.

PHOTOS:

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY

Magazine of Yosemite Conservancy, published twice a year.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Jennifer Miller

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Alexa Ward

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Frank Dean Gretchen Roecker

Rob Grasso Alexa Ward

DESIGN PRINT PRODUCTION

Eric Ball Design TradeMark Graphics, Inc.

STAFF :: San Francisco

Frank Dean, President & CEO

Jerry Edelbrock, Vice President, CFO & COO

Caitlin Allard, Major Gifts Officer – Northen California

Kim Coull, Development Director

Alison Dombroski, Campaign & Development Projects Manager

Edin Draper-Beard, Executive Affairs Manager

Laura Garland, Senior Accountant

Kevin Gay, Finance Director

Debra Holcomb, Planned Giving & Data Services Director

Sara Jones, Institutional Giving Officer

Pongphat Kimpol, Data Services Assistant

Holly Kuehn, Development & Donor Services Assistant

Isabelle Luebbers, Annual Giving Director

Kelda McKinney, Events Manager

Jennifer Miller, Marketing & Communications Director

Eryn Roberts, Data Services Coordinator

Gretchen Roecker, Communications & Social Media Manager

Alexa Ward, Communications & Website Manager

STAFF :: Yosemite

Adonia Ripple, Director of Yosemite Operations

Kristen Anderson, Art Center Coordinator

Greg Archer, Retail Accounting Coordinator

Nicole Brocchini, Museum Store Supervisor

Kylie Chappell, Outdoor Programs Manager

Katie Coit, Retail Operations Manager

Pete Devine, Resident Naturalist

Teresa Ellis, Sales Information Assistant

Schuyler Greenleaf, Projects Director

Cory Jacobs, Warehouse Coordinator

Ryan Kelly, Projects Manager

Olotumi Laizer, Valley Sales Supervisor

Mark Marschall, Volunteer Program Manager

Cassie May, Outreach Coordinator

Mark Scrimenti, Lead Wilderness Reservation Assistant

Madison Smith, Retail & Wholesale Coordinator

Laura Spielman, Art Center Assistant

Shelly Stephens, Inventory Manager

Laurie Stowe, Wilderness Programs Manager

STAFF :: Pasadena

Patti Johns Eisenberg, Senior Major Gifts Officer

– Southern California & National

Spring.Summer 2018 :: Volume 09. Issue 01 ©2018

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 415-434-1782

INDIVIDUAL GIVING

Development Director

Kim Coull kcoull@yosemiteconservancy.org 415-434-8446 x324

Annual Giving

Isabelle Luebbers iluebbers@yosemiteconservancy.org 415-434-8446 x313

Major Gifts – Northern California Caitlin Allard callard@yosemiteconservancy.org 415-434-8446 x318

Major Gifts – Southern California Patti Johns Eisenberg peisenberg@yosemiteconservancy.org 626-390-1503

FOUNDATIONS & CORPORATIONS

Sara Jones sjones@yosemiteconservancy.org 415-434-8446 x328

PLANNED GIVING & BEQUESTS

Debra Holcomb dholcomb@yosemiteconservancy.org 415-434-8446 x319

Mail

Yosemite Conservancy 101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1700 San Francisco, CA 94104 Fax 415-434-0745

HONOR & MEMORIAL GIFTS

Isabelle Luebbers iluebbers@yosemiteconservancy.org 415-434-8446 x313

GIFTS OF STOCK

Eryn Roberts stock@yosemiteconservancy.org 415-434-8446 x330

SEQUOIA SOCIETY MONTHLY GIVING

Isabelle Luebbers iluebbers@yosemiteconservancy.org 415-434-8446 x313

MATCHING GIFTS

Isabelle Luebbers iluebbers@yosemiteconservancy.org 415-434-8446 x313

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Suzy Hasty shasty@yosemiteconservancy.org 209-379-2317 yosemiteconservancy.org/volunteer

Yosemite Conservancy

101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1700

San Francisco, CA 94104

How Will You Remember Yosemite?

Once you fall in love with Yosemite, your connection to the park never fades. By remembering Yosemite in your estate plan, you can ensure future visitors will have the chance to create their own lasting memories of the park. When you make a gift to Yosemite Conservancy through your will, trust or retirement plan, you’ll be joining the Legacy Society, a group of thoughtful donors whose planned gifts help preserve this treasured place for generations to come.

To learn how you can leave your legacy to Yosemite, contact Debra Holcomb at dholcomb@yosemiteconservancy.org or 415-434-8446 x319.