Tomorrow, January 19, NPS officials will host a public meeting on the topic of storm impacts and response at the Three Rivers Memorial Building at 6 p.m. The public meeting about Visitor Experience and Access has been postponed until February.
Announcements
Due to flood damage and landslides, the South Fork Road is closed in Sequoia National Park, as is the South Fork Campground. Hikers and day users are discouraged from exploring the area because of the hazards.
Due to flooding, Generals Highway is now closed at the Foothills Visitor Center, approximately one mile past the Sequoia National Park entrance station.
Most of the Generals Highway and Mineral King Road remain closed while crews address highest-priority issues and staff works to secure emergency funding for full repairs. People wanting to see the road damage are encouraged to avoid the risk.
Beginning as early as January 17 through the middle of February, fire personnel at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will be burning piles of cut wood and other vegetation in the Big Stump area of Grant Grove and the Lodgepole area of Giant Forest.
Due to the recent floods, the Mineral King Road is significantly damaged about 8.5 miles from the bottom, and the road is closed to vehicular traffic at the Sequoia National Park gate.
Due to the recent floods, the road between Hospital Rock and Giant Forest will need major repairs before it can reopen for public use. For the most current roads conditions, call (559) 565 3341, dial 1, and then dial 1 again.
BLM plans to conduct pile burn operations at Case Mountain Extensive Recreation Management Area starting as early as Thursday, Jan. 12 and continuing periodically until spring. Burning will take place only when weather and fuel moisture allow for safe and successful operations. Smoke may be visible in the Three Rivers area.
The bridge on South Fork Drive at Heidi Drive and the Baily Bridge on North Fork Drive at the post office have been re-opened for limited use. Please use this opportunity to either leave the area or gather additional supplies, such as food, water, medications, and fuel, as additional heavy precipitation is expected this weekend which may result in additional closure and/or damage to the bridges.
Crews should have the Bailey Bridge on North Fork passable before noon today. They have driven across already with equipment, but they have more work to do to make it ready.
South Fork Bridge is impassible; crews are actively working at location.
About 8.5 up the Mineral King Road, a quarter of the road has washed away for about 20 feet. The road has purportedly sustained considerable storm damage in Sequoia National Park, as well.