Blog Posts

This year’s community meeting was held on September 19, 2023, at the Lee Vining Hess Park Solar Pavilion from 1:30 – 3:00pm, and the retreat in Mammoth. 

The meeting was coordinated and communicated locally by former YGP Board Director Gena Wood, and local resident Paul McFarland who was representing the Mono Lake Committee. 

ATTENDEES

In all, there were approximately 18 participants, plus many of the YGP Board.

Due to the last-minute nature of a looming partial government budget shutdown, we did not have an NPS representative present to take questions. We promised the attendees we’d convey their comments to NPS leadership.

Community organizations had unofficial and official representation from:

• The Mono Lake Committee

• Mono Basin Visitors Center

• Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association

• Inyo National Forest

• Mono County

• Friends of Inyo National Forest

• Mammoth Lakes Visitor Center

• Eastern Sierra Visitor Center

• Mono National Forest

• Community members from Bishop, Bridgeport, Lee Vining, Mammoth and June Lake.

SUMMARY

Communications Struggles

Attendees repeatedly expressed frustration with mounting difficulty obtaining information from YNP on a variety of fronts. Gateways are suffering without a Yosemite NPS presence/expertise and real-time information, especially in times of crisis and seasonal changes in weather and road conditions.

• Increasingly Frustrating Timing: gateway workers are routinely surprised by announcements on Social Media regarding crucial updates on road/park closures/openings and other crisis communications, leaving them completely unprepared to assist a very confused and angry general public with questions and concerns. Staff are fatigued.

  • NPS.gov does not meet the public’s need for timely information, and pushes undue pressure on gateway front line workers.

  • A real-time channel of communication is needed for gateways to prepare front line workers with talking points well ahead of Social Media announcements to the general public.

  • Need someone at YNP to call to answer staff questions.

• YNP Representation Needed in Gateway Visitor Centers. Majority of questions are YNP related in summer, and Gateway Visitor Centers are primarily trained to steward their local lands.

  • Is there a way to fund NPS staff in Visitor Centers as was done pre-pandemic?

  • Yosemite training is needed in Gateway Visitor Centers.

  • Could Yosemite Conservancy help with kiosks in Visitor Centers that mirror a YNP app that is kept current?

• Public Meetings: In the past, Mike Reynolds would hold public meetings in Mono/Inyo to provide information. Would like these to start again.

Tioga Pass

• Staffing at the Tioga Pass entrance station is inconsistent, sometimes 2, 4 or 6 people. Slows down traffic and increases wait times.

• Communication on opening/closure needs to be streamlined. Joe Meyer is so accommodating and forthcoming, but the group realized we could make his life better with a more organized approach on our end. 

Unintended Consequences

In the East Gateway, Tuolumne Meadows construction projects and reservation system pushed visitors back into the Gateway, National Forest and public lands, blowing out budgets for operations such as waste management, but no support from YNP. 

Regional Issues of Importance

• State of Economy, lack of housing, covid impacts on nature of visitation. Need to solve and improve community resiliency. The CERF work was mentioned via grants and SBC.

• Discussions on what topics would be good for YGP quarterly meetings.

• Discussions about improving responsible recreation, fire, and groups focused on education of the public, including tourism organizations.

• Public agencies are still hard hit by the whimsical nature of staffing. People accepting jobs after a vigorous vetting process, only to leave shortly after starting or not showing up because they decided on a different adventure that sounded more fun. (insert eye roll here)