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2008 GRAZING ADVISORY NUMBER 2 - May 5, 2008
(The following information is also available in a 43 KB pdf by clicking here.)
BACKGROUND
Each year, opening dates for grazing are established for the wilderness meadows of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Setting opening dates for the meadows allows the parks to protect biological and scenic resources from unacceptable impacts that may occur when the meadows are too wet.
As meadows are most susceptible to damage from stock when ground moisture levels are high, opening dates are established based on the amount of precipitation that the high country receives over the winter.
Recognizing that commercial outfitters, recreational users, and park operations need to be able to plan trips in advance, we issue these bulletins two times during the spring season as a service to keep all stock users informed. The bulletins update current conditions and anticipated opening dates. All bulletins are advisory only, the actual opening dates of specific meadows will be determined in the field. For final opening dates call the Wilderness Office prior to your trip at 559-565-3766.
Opening dates are anticipated based on the snowpack in the high country. The snowpack is the best indicator we have of the amount of moisture the meadows received. The park has a series of snow courses that are measured periodically through the winter, with the late April snowpack measurements giving the latest and last estimate of conditions.
According to the amount of moisture in the snowpack, we categorize the year as one of the following:
1) Dry (less than 50% of average snowpack)
2) Normal (51% to 150% of the average snowpack)
3) Wet (more than 150% of the average snowpack)
Opening dates in wet years are later than dry years.
CURRENT SITUATION
Snowpack measurements as of May 5 show that we have approximately 63% of average precipitation in the Kings River Drainage, 56% in the Kaweah River Drainage, and 48% in the Kern River Drainage. At this time, the parks are anticipating that 2008 will be categorized as a "Normal" year for purposes of setting preliminary opening dates in the Kings and Kaweah watersheds, and “Dry” in the Kern watershed. Up to date snowpack data are available on the internet at the Cooperative Snow Surveys website.
TENTATIVE OPENING DATES, 2008
The tables below show the opening dates for "Normal" years for each meadow in the Kings and Kaweah watersheds, and for “Dry” years in the Kern. The list is arranged by drainage and travel zone. These dates are only guidelines; changes in opening dates may be made as the season progresses depending on actual conditions.
Note that although the meadows in the Kern watershed are being characterized as dry, at 48% of average they are on the cusp between dry and normal conditions. This means that many of these meadows are likely to have their opening dates delayed depending on field conditions.
If you are planning a trip on or near the opening date for a particular area it is your responsibility to contact the parks' Wilderness Office at 559-565-3766 for the latest update on conditions. Note that the opening dates only restrict grazing, pack trips prior to the opening dates are permitted as long as all feed is packed in and stock remain tied up at all times.
South Fork San Joaquin River - Kings Canyon National Park
The table below shows opening dates for "Normal" years, the name of the meadow area, and the travel zone.These dates are only guidelines; changes in opening dates may be made as the season progresses depending on actual conditions.
| Opening Date |
Travel Zone |
Meadow Area |
| 7/15 |
28 |
South Fork San Joaquin River |
| NA |
33 |
Evolution Meadow (CLOSED TO GRAZING IN 2008) |
| 8/1 |
33 |
McClure, Colby, & Darwin Meadows (Darwin Meadow proper is closed to grazing. Stock users are required to use the "pocket meadows" in the forested area to the north and west of Darwin Meadow.) |
| 8/1 |
33 |
Lower McGee Canyon |
| 8/1 |
34 |
Evolution Basin |
Kings River Drainage - Kings Canyon National Park
The table below shows opening dates for "Normal" years, the name of the meadow area, and the travel zone. These dates are only guidelines; changes in opening dates may be made as the season progresses depending on actual conditions.
| Opening Date |
Travel Zone |
Meadow Area |
| 7/15 |
38 |
Blue Canyon |
| 7/15 |
39 |
LeConte Canyon & Palisade Creek (below lakes) |
| 7/15 |
42 |
Dusy Creek |
| 7/15 |
45 |
Palisade Lakes |
| 8/1 |
46 |
Upper S. Fork Kings River (above JMT crossing)
|
| 7/15 |
46 |
Upper S. Fork Kings River (JMT crossing & below)
46-3 Bench Lake/John Muir Trail Junction: Postponed to July 25.
|
| 8/1 |
47 |
Cartridge & Cataract Creeks |
| 7/15 |
51 |
Middle Fk Kings Rvr. (Simpson Mdw & below) |
| 7/15 |
52 |
Kennedy & Lewis Creeks |
| 8/1 |
53 |
Dougherty & Horseshoe Creeks |
| 8/15 |
53-7 |
Shorty's Meadow |
| 7/7 |
54 |
Granite & Copper Creeks |
| 7/15 |
56 |
Twin Lakes & Pinchot Pass Area
56-1 High Meadows South of Pinchot Pass and 56-2 Twin Lakes Area: Postponed to July 25
|
| 8/1 |
57 |
Woods Lake Basin |
| 7/15 |
58 |
Castle Domes Meadow |
| 7/21 |
58 |
Woods Creek Crossing |
| 7/21 |
58 |
Baxter Creek Drift Fence Meadow |
| NA |
61 |
Sixty Lakes Basin (CLOSED TO GRAZING) |
| 7/15 |
63 |
Charlotte Creek |
| 7/15 |
65 |
Upper Bubbs Creek (above Vidette Meadow) Upper Vidette Meadow is closed to grazing in 2008. |
| 7/15 |
66 |
Lower Bubbs Creek (Junction Mdw): July 15 is a two week postponement from the tenative date. |
| 7/10 |
67 |
East Creek |
| 7/1 |
68 |
Sphinx Creek |
| 6/25 |
69 |
Roaring River Ranger Station Area |
| 7/1 |
70 |
Cloud Canyon (Brewer Creek and above) |
| 7/1 |
71 |
Deadman Canyon (Austin Camp and above) |
| 7/1 |
72 |
Sugarloaf & Ferguson Creek Drainages |
| 7/1 |
73 |
Ball Dome Area |
Kern River Drainage - Sequoia National Park
The table below shows opening dates for "Dry" years, the name of the meadow area, and the travel zone. These dates are only guidelines. Changes in opening dates may be made as the season progresses depending on actual conditions.
| Opening Date |
Travel Zone |
Meadow Area |
| 7/1 |
79 |
Cold Springs, Milestone, Kern-Kaweah River |
| 6/20 |
80 |
Upper Kern Basin & Tyndall Creek |
| 6/20 |
81 |
Wright Creek |
| 7/11 |
81 |
Wallace Creek Waterfall |
| 6/25 |
82 |
Upper Kern Canyon (above Hot Springs to Jct Mdw) |
| 6/20 |
83 |
Whitney & Crabtree Creeks |
| 7/5 |
83-4 |
Upper Crabtree Meadow |
| NA |
83-5 |
Lower Crabtree Meadow (CLOSED TO GRAZING in 2008) |
| 6/20 |
84 |
Siberian Pass Creek |
| 6/20 |
84 |
Lower Rock Creek (below Nathan's Meadow) |
| 7/22 |
85-4 |
Penned-up Meadow. July 15 is a three week postponement from the tenative date. |
| 7/15 |
85-8 |
Rock Creek Lake. July 15 is a two week postponement from the tenative date. |
| 7/1 |
85 |
Upper Rock Creek (Nathan's Meadow & above) |
| 6/1 |
86 |
Lower Kern Canyon (Hot Springs to Kern R.S.) Special regulations are in place to prevent the spread of velvet grass, an invasive weed, on the floor of the Kern River Canyon. Click here for more details (opens a 66KB pdf). |
| 7/1 |
87 |
Big Arroyo & Chagoopa Plateau
87-5/87-6 Chagoopa Plateau Meadows #1 & #2: Postponed to July 17
|
| 7/15 |
88 |
Little Five Lakes: July 15 is a two-week postponement from the tenative date. |
| 7/22 |
88 |
Big Five Lakes |
| 6/30 |
89-13 |
Coyote Creek: June 30 is a 15 day postponement from the tenative date. |
| 6/15 |
89 |
Soda & Lost Creeks |
| 6/15 |
89 |
Lower Rattlesnake Canyon (Cow Camp area) |
| 7/1 |
89 |
Upper Rattlesnake Canyon (above Cow Camp). Forester Lake Meadow is closed to grazing in 2008. |
Kaweah River Drainage - Sequoia National Park
The table below shows opening dates for "Normal" years, the name of the meadow area, and the travel zone.These dates are only guidelines. Changes in opening dates may be made as the season progresses depending on actual conditions.
| Opening Date |
Travel Zone |
Meadow Area |
| 7/1 |
74 |
Clover & Silliman Creeks |
| 7/15 |
75 |
Lone Pine Creek
75-1 Lone Pine Meadows: postponed to July 25.
|
| 7/1 |
77 |
Bearpaw Mdw to River Valley |
| 7/1 |
77 |
Cliff Creek & Pinto Lake |
| 6/27 |
90 |
Hockett Plateau. June 27 is a one week postponement from the tenative date.
Green Meadow. July 31 is a six week postponement from the tentative date.
Summit Lake Meadow and South Fork Meadow (Rock Camp) are closed to grazing in 2008. |
| 3/15 |
91 |
South Fork Kaweah River |
| 7/15 |
92 |
Monarch & Franklin Creeks |
| 7/15 |
93 |
White Chief, Eagle & Mosquito Cr. |
| 7/15 |
94 |
Mineral Creek |
| 3/15 |
96 |
North Fork Kaweah River |
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