As Congress works in the coming months to reach accord on legislation that would provide billions of dollars to address the National Park System's nearly $12 billion in maintenance work that's been put off for a year or longer, the backlog continues to inch higher and higher. If a funding mechanism is passed, then the National Park Service will have to craft a national priority list of projects that need to be tackled. While that list doesn't exist yet, here's a look at some possible top priorities.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Yosemite National Park's iconic valley will reopen to visitors Friday afternoon. Limited visitor services are expected to be available inside Yosemite Valley, including campgrounds, lodging, and food service operations.

Visitors and overnight guests to the iconic Yosemite Valley and the Wawona area of Yosemite National Park will have to leave those areas by noon on Wednesday, as they'll close due to impacts of the Ferguson Fire burning in the Sierra National Forest to the west of the park, park officials said.

A 4,000-acre fire burning to the west of Yosemite National Park brought smoke into the park and led to backups at the park's South and Big Oak Flat entrances, but otherwise the park was operating normally Sunday, according to staff.