Habitat Restoration in Yosemite

Mariposa Grove Restoration

Preserving an ancient species for future generations.

Irreplaceable Trees

The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, along with Yosemite Valley, was the first federally protected scenic area in the country (1864).

Yosemite Conservancy has begun an ambitious multi-year project to protect these magnificent giants for the future. Restoring Mariposa Grove aims at reversing over 146 years of development by balancing visitor needs with ecological protection. It identifies the best strategies for protecting the grove while creating a peaceful and tranquil visitor experience.

Today park scientists are closely monitoring animal populations that live within the grove’s special ecosystem, including pacific fishers and the only known breeding female in the park who has her pups in and near the grove. Scientists are collecting data on grove hydrology, as roads, trails and underground facilities have dramatically changed the water flow that these trees depend on. The park is also analyzing vehicle and pedestrian circulation patterns to help craft an improved model that will protect the fragile root systems of these trees.

Learning from the Past

Yosemite's Wawona Tree became a famous tourist attraction in 1881 when a tunnel was cut into it, allowing cars to drive through. It fell in the winter of 1968-69. The tunnel, among other factors, contributed to toppling this 2100 year old giant.

Restoration Benefits Grove and Visitors

Both sequoias and visitors will benefit as a result of the project work.

Restoration efforts focused on areas where giant sequoia habitat has been disturbed
Improved grove ecology based on protecting the fragile root systems of these giant sequoias
Reinforcing the majesty, dignity and importance of these monarchs from the past will help visitors have a higher quality experience in the grove

1,000 to 3,000 Years to Grow a Similar Tree

With your continued support we can help prevent these trees from falling. It is hard to comprehend, but if one of these trees topples, it would take between 1,000 and 3,000 years to grow a similar tree in its place.

Partnering with Yosemite National Park

Check out our Mariposa Grove Snowshoe Trek

Snowshoes & Sequoias: Explore Mariposa Grove in Winter

Nature Notes Video Series: ‘Big Trees’

Tenaya Lake Restoration: East Beach

Restoration efforts underway to protect lake's integrity and beauty.

This autumn we will celebrate completion of the restoration of East Beach shoreline and wetlands at Tenaya Lake. This picture-perfect High Sierra lake is surrounded by striking granites domes and vast wilderness. It is Yosemite’s largest front country lake and one of the park’s most popular summer destinations.

Celebrating Tenaya East Beach Restoration

A new ecologically friendly and accessible trail is being installed, and re-routed away from sensitive wetland areas. This year work includes planting wetland willows and sedges along the now heavily eroded shoreline area. The goal is to return this wetland area to its natural state, while allowing visitors to enjoy an unspoiled and serene setting. Visitors will follow the new trail out to the sandy beach where picnic facilities are available, and new exhibits will provide information on surrounding ecology as well as the Tenaya Lake loop trail system.

Thank you for your support, together we are protecting this magnificent lake and providing you with an enjoyable Yosemite experience.

Follow our progress when you are in the park or sign-up to our newsletter to get all the latest project updates.

Partnering with Yosemite National Park

Removing Invasive Plants from Yosemite

Visitors and volunteers help eradicate invasive plants.

No one wants to see weeds instead of wildflowers when they visit Yosemite. Yet non-native invasive plants are the single largest threat to Yosemite plant life.

These invasive plants replace native species and disrupt ecosystems, including birds and animals that depend on native plants for food and shelter. Every year brings new invaders, with over 200 currently identified—30 in the past three years alone.

This project is the first comprehensive mapping of invasive species in the Park. Websites and iPod Touch GPS units will help coordinate efforts between staff, volunteers and encourage ‘Citizen Scientists’.

Using the survey data, invasive plants can be quickly identified and eliminated. This information also helps visitor resources, for example, by developing a podcast that teaches visitors about the negative impact of bringing outside firewood (and invasive weeds) into the Park.

Working together we can protect Yosemite’s beautiful wildflowers.

Partnering with Yosemite National Park

Join us on an Outdoor Adventure that explores botany in the park:

Spring Canyon Flowers

Staff Pick: Buds, Blooms, Bliss

Hites Cove- Buds, Blooms, Bliss

Wilderness Restoration with SCA Crews

Youth restore wilderness areas

In 2012 Student Conservation Association crews will again work alongside National Park Service teams during a 35 day program to remove non-native invasive plants, restore abandoned or ‘social’ trails (informal trails created by hikers) and remove inappropriate campsites from Yosemite’s vast wilderness. Social trails encourage hikers to trample delicate ecosystems and inappropriate campsites detract from the wilderness landscape and often contribute to ecosystem damage.

24,000 acres of wilderness area will be surveyed throughout the summer. The work crews plan to remove 12,000 non-native invasive plants from the park, rehabilitate over 400 inappropriate campsites and restore at least 3,000 feet of social trails. Their work will restore natural processes, preserve ecosystems while restoring wilderness character to the park, and provide stewardship opportunities for youth this summer.

Thank you for helping protect this magnificent landscape and keeping the ‘wild’ in wilderness.

Partnering with Yosemite National Park and Student Conservation Association

Join us on an Outdoor Adventures in Tuolumne that explores such subjects as painting, wildflowers and hiking.

Outdoor Adventures

Nature Notes Video Series: ‘Wilderness’

Yosemite Conservancy

Our Work