Rockfalls have helped shape the Yosemite Valley we know today, yet we don’t know their age and cause. For example, what is the age of the Mirror Lake rock avalanche that buried Tenaya Canyon and dammed the creek to form Mirror Lake? Were these huge rockfalls shaken down by earthquakes or did they occur gradually over time?
Yosemite Conservancy is funding scientific research that will shed new light on these questions.
By better understanding these rockfalls, park staff can plan for increased visitor safety based around how and when these rockfall triggers are likely to occur.
This funding will help uncover new scientific information about one of the world’s most unique and continually evolving geological places. Findings will be shared with both visitors and park staff.