Pile Burning Near Valley School Field

Fire Management plans on burning the piles near the Yosemite Elementary school next week, May 3-6, 2022. Burn days will be determined by the best smoke dispersion and weather parameters. The piles were constructed by the Calaveras Healthy Impact Product Solutions (CHIPS) crew composed of local tribal members in an effort to restore California black oak groves in Yosemite Valley. Black oak is a cultural keystone species for the park's seven affiliated tribes: North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California, Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians, Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians, Kutzadika’a Mono Lake Indian Community, Bridgeport Paiute Indian Colony, Bishop Paiute Tribe and the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation. Groves in Yosemite Valley were planted, tended, burned, and harvested by tribal members for centuries. Tribal members have been invited to help burn the piles.