Rocky Mountain National Park (CO) Rescuers Save Life Of Injured Climber

On Wednesday, August 8th, park staff rescued a seriously injured climber in the Lumpy Ridge Area of the park.  Just before noon, a 36-year-old visitor from Boston suffered a serious injury to one of his legs in a rock fall in the descent gully between Batman Pinnacle and Batman Rock. Rangers, including a park medic, [...]

Death Valley Current Conditions

Death Valley National Park Morning Report — Monday, August 13, 2007Weather Forecast Today — Mostly sunny with a light wind becoming south winds 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. High around 118.Tonight — Mostly clear with south winds around 10 mph becoming light. Low in the mid 90s.Tomorrow — Partly cloudy with a [...]

Operating Under the Influence (OUI) Checkpoint at Lake Mead on August 25, 2007 40-07

On Saturday, August 25, 2007, NPS Rangers, will conduct an OUI (commonly referred to as a DUI - driving while under the influence) Checkpoint at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The NPS Rangers will be assisted by Nevada Department of Wildlife Wardens, STOP DUI Volunteers and other law enforcement partners.Operations like OUI checkpoints, for both [...]

2007-08 Grand Canyon South Rim Artist in Residence Applications Due Sept. 15

The Artist-in Residence Program at Grand Canyon National Park offers professional artists (writers, composers, visual and performing artists) the opportunity to spend three weeks on the South Rim of Grand Canyon. Fall and winter on the South Rim feature fewer visitors, changing seasons, abundant wildlife, and a landscape accented with snow. This area offers unparalleled [...]

The National Park Service managing the Roosevelt Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon, Ariz. - The National Park Service (NPS) is currently managing a Wildland Fire Use Fire on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park to accomplish resource objectives.The Roosevelt Fire, a lightning-cause fire discovered July 19 on the Walhalla Plateau, is approximately 7 miles east of the North Rim developed area. Although the [...]

Carlsbad Caverns Returns to Regular Hours after Labor Day Weekend

CARLSBAD CAVERN REGULAR HOURS: After Labor Day until Memorial Day weekend, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours are available 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Last entry into cave via natural entrance is 2:00. Last entry into cave via elevator is 3:30.Source: NPS

Rare Bird Sightings Reported in Big Bend NP

Two review species were reported during the June/July period. Two individual white-eared hummingbird females were observed in the high Chisos by Lyon and Emanuel in mid-July, echoing last year’s single record in late June (Mittermeier 6/25/06). A dusky-capped flycatcher was reported in Boot Canyon on 6/01, continuing a string of observations in the same area [...]

U.S. and Mexico Agree to Discuss Joint Cooperative Actions Related to the Colorado River

As a result of high-level bilateral consultations, U.S. and Mexican federal authorities have agreed to discuss a number of issues of mutual concern to both nations related to the Colorado River.The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Reclamation, is responsible for the domestic management of the Colorado River, the waters of which are [...]

National Fire Activity - Preparedness Level 5 - Aug 13th Report

National Preparedness Level 5 (On a scale from 1 to 5)August 13, 2007Large fire activity continues to increase, especially in Montana and Idaho, where 31 large fires are burning more than 780,000 acres. Fire managers are concerned about sustained winds of 15-20 miles per hour throughout the Great Basin and Northern Rockies.Weather Discussion: Winds decreasing [...]

Meteor Showers Due this Weekend

While you are stargazing you can also see the meteor showers this weekend. Good views are predicted from Joshua Tree and Anza Borrego. Be aware it is the desert, and it will be  hot during the daytime. Bring plenty of water along with you.The best viewing is usually about one hour before sunrise.Source: DesertUSA

Single Tree Smoldering Atop Inyo Mountains under Watchful Eyes

A single tree fire, ignited by lightening last week is smoldering in a remote area of the Inyo Mountain Wilderness northeast of Lone Pine.BLM Bishop and Inyo National Forest interagency fire staff discovered and sized up the fire from the air today.  Firefighters found a single, pine tree smoldering southwest of Keynot Peak in the [...]

Fort Davis Frontier Day Saturday Sept. 1st

Tentative Schedule of Events8:00 am Fort Opens10:00 am Posting of the Colors: Flag Raising and firing of the Morning Gun10am - 3pm: Domestic Chores at the Restored Officer’s Kitchen - cooking, washing, ironingHistoric kids’ games and activities on the Parade GroundFrontier Medicine and Health exhibit/presentation at the Post HospitalSidesaddle horseback riding demonstration on the [...]

Death Valley Current Conditions

Death Valley National Park Morning Report — Friday, August 10, 2007Weather Forecast Today — Sunny with a light wind becoming south 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around 25 mph in the afternoon. High around 114.Tonight — Clear with a south wind 10 to 15 mph in the evening, becoming light. Low in [...]

National Fire Activity - Preparedness Level 5 - Aug 10th Report

National Preparedness Level 5 (On a scale from 1 to 5)August 10, 2007Wildland fire activity picked up in Montana after some thunderstorms passed through yesterday. Six new large fires were reported. Windy conditions are predicted to increase fire activity in Montana and Idaho today.Weather Discussion: Dry and windy conditions with some thunderstorms are predicted for [...]

Willow Fire in Sequoia NP

Sequoia - Kings Canyon NPs - Fire managers are anticipating that the 165-acre Willow Fire, located in the wilderness of Sequoia National Park, may see significant growth in the upcoming weeks. The fire, discovered on July 21st, is located two miles southwest of Big Arroyo in the southern part of the park and is burning [...]

Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (CA) Follow-up On Operation Weed Free

Additional information has been received on the Lake Canyon Incident, which is the most recent chapter in Operation Weed Free, this summer’s pre-planned marijuana plantation detection and eradication operation. Lake Canyon began on Tuesday in the East Fork drainage of the Kaweah River with the removal of 5,432 marijuana plants valued at about $14 million. [...]

Invasive Mussels Detected in Lake Powell

New test results indicate the presence of an extremely small number of individual, larval quagga or zebra mussels in Lake Powell.  Two cooperative research and monitoring efforts, conducted on July 19th and 30th by the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Park Service, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, detected three individual mussel larvae at [...]

Tree Deaths in California Sierra Nevada Increase as Temperatures Rise

Life is increasingly uncertain for trees in California’s Sierra Nevada. A new study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reports a rising death rate for trees in this mountain range, paralleling increasing summer drought due to warming temperatures.“Our findings suggest Sierran forests, and potentially other forests of dry climates, may be sensitive to temperature - [...]

LA Times Reports Scientist Makes Dire Earthquake Prediction

Lucy Jones, seismologist at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and member of the California Seismic Safety Commission, said a powerful quake in the Coachella Valley is 300 years overdue, and could topple buildings as far away as Los Angeles.Read the article here.The USGS is in the process  of creating a plausible earthquake scenario for Southern [...]

BLM Intends to Revise South Coast Management Plan and Associated Environmental Impact Statement

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office officials say they intend to revise the 1994 South Coast Resource Management Plan (RMP) and prepare an associated environmental impact statement (EIS) to replace the current plan.  The announcement is the start of the scoping process, which invites public participation, and schedules public scoping meetings.The [...]