Restoration efforts continue at Pothole Thumb Meadow in Yosemite
Pothole Thumb Meadow, a 5.65-acre groundwater-supported wetland located at the westernmost end of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite, is undergoing restoration efforts. Yosemite’s wilderness restoration team took action during the fall of 2022 to address a significant issue—a large gully that had been impacting the meadow’s health. The origins of this gully date back to the late 1800s and can be attributed to various human activities, including non-native sheep grazing, ditching, road building, horseback riding, and camping. Initially, a small nick point formed, and as water flowed over it, it gained speed, eroding the soil. Over time, continuous erosion caused the nick point to migrate upstream, resulting in a gully that is now up to 5 feet deep and 15 feet wide.