National Fire Activity - Preparedness Level 5 - Aug 8th NFIC Report

National Preparedness Level 5 (On a scale from 1 to 5)August 8, 2007Wildland fire activity has lightened up throughout the western states. A total of 40 large fires in the West have burned 835,539 acres.Weather Discussion: Windy conditions are predicted again for northern Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. Thunderstorms are also expected for Montana. Warm and [...]

International World Ranger Day A Great Success

World Ranger Day was celebrated around the earth on Tuesday, July 31st, and reports indicate that it was a truly global event, with thousands of people attending events held in the U.S. and more than 50 other nations.World Ranger Day is an event that was conceived and advanced by the International Ranger Federation (IRF), [...]

Great Sand Dunes NM (CO) Storm-Damaged Road Temporarily Closed

The Medano Pass primitive road has been temporarily closed. Torrential rain mixed with hail fell in Medano Canyon and the nearby drainages last Saturday afternoon, causing numerous washouts between the beginning of the road near Pinyon Flats Campground and mile five. Maintenance crews are currently working on repairs, and hope to have the road reopened [...]

USGS Finds Elevated Polonium-210 Levels in Wells Near Fallon, Nevada

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is making data available to state and local officials that documents the occurrence of elevated polonium - 210 (Po-210) levels in 17 wells in Lahontan Valley, near the town of Fallon, Churchill County, Nevada.The study covers a rural area centered around the town of Fallon. Most of the 25 wells [...]

Critical Habitat Proposed for Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep

On July 25, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published a proposed rule to designate approximately 417,577 acres as critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the federally endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana). Areas proposed include portions of Tuolumne, Mono, Fresno, Inyo and Tulare counties in California.The acreage includes open [...]

Saddle-Trained Horses Aug 18 - Reno Livestock Events Center; Mare Filly Special through Sept at Palomino Valley Wild Horse Center

Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo Saddle-Trained Horse Adoption Reno Livestock Events Center- August 18, 2007see below for Mare Filly Adoption Information Preview Horses 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Competitive-BidAdoption Begins - 1:00 p.m.Bids start at $150.Adopters must meet qualifications to bid.Directions to Reno Livestock Events Center: From I-80 in Reno, exit at N. Wells [...]

Joint Geothermal Sale Will be Held at the Nevada State Office on Aug 14th

When and where will the sale take place?When: The competitive oral sale will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 14, 2007. The sale room will open at 8:00 am for registration and assignment of bidder numbers.Where: We will hold the sale at the Bureau of Land Management’s Nevada State Office, 1340 Financial Blvd, Reno, [...]

The Narrows Reopened in Zion National Park

Starting today, Zion National Park will reopen most of the backcountry areas in the park including The Narrows and Orderville Canyon. Park officials issued an emergency closure of all its backcountry areas on July 18 for visitor safety due to the danger from wildfires burning in the park. These fires are now contained [...]

Yosemite Hiker Still Missing - Request for Info from Public

Did you hike south of Tuolumne Meadows or east of Merced Lake since July 30? If so, please call 209/372-0778.Ottorrina “Terrina” Bonaventura80 year old female5 feet tall112 poundsShort, dyed blond hair/brown eyesLast seen 7/30/07 in the vicinity of Vogelsang High Sierra Camp.If you hiked in the Yosemite backcountry east of Merced Lake or south of [...]

East Entrance Traffic Leads Yellowstone Visitation Increase

Visitation to Yellowstone National Park continued at a near double-digit pace in July. Parkwide visitation was up 9.4 percent in July compared to year-ago levels. Visitation year-to-date is up 8.8 percent compared to the same period in 2006.The greatest percentage increase in visitation has been recorded at the park’s East Entrance, where visitation through July [...]

August Dates in Tombstone History

August 13, 1881 Newman “Old Man” Clanton was camped out alongside six other cowboys in Guadalupe Canyon just inside the U.S. border with Mexico. The cattle they had been herding towards Tombstone were believed to have been rustled from Sonora. An ambush occurred in the middle of the night, and five of the seven cowboys [...]

Road and Trail Construction At Wupatki

Road construction at Wupatki and Sunset Crater. Periodic trail closures near Wupatki Visitor Center. Lava Flow Trail at Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument closed July 30-mid-September.Source: NPS

Hikes and Talks at Wupatki, Sunset Crater and Walnut Canyon National Monuments

Wed., Aug 8    “Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Trail Walk.” Hwy 180, 20 miles north of Flagstaff. Meet in the parking lot. 9:00 - 10:30 am. Join USFS interpretive ranger Jane Jackson for an easy 1.5 mile walk through a unique setting. Animal life, forest and grassland vegetation, tremendous views, and stories of fires and the [...]

Death Valley Current Conditions

Death Valley National Park Morning Report — Monday, August 6, 2007Weather Forecast Today — Sunny with a light wind becoming south winds around 10 mph with gusts to around 30 mph in the afternoon. High around 116.Tonight — Clear with south winds 10 to 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph in the evening [...]

Boating Conditions at New Mexico State Parks

Bluewater LakeBoating ConditionsFair [1,350 surface acres down to 400 surface acres]Ramp ConditionsLas Tusas Ramp ClosedStone Ridge Ramp (main) ClosedStone Ridge Ramp (west) ClosedBoating and Ramp details as of: 7/30/2007Elephant Butte LakeBoating ConditionsGood [12,859 surface acres down to 8,711 surface acres]Ramp ConditionsDam Site Boat Ramp OpenMarina Del Sur Boat Ramp OpenMonticello Boat Ramp OpenRock Canyon Boat [...]

Wild Horse Gather Scheduled for Little Book Cliffs CO

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The Bureau of Land Management Grand Junction Field Office (GJFO) plans to remove approximately 75 horses from the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range, located north of Grand Junction, starting Sept. 15, 2007.  The Friends of the Mustangs (FOM), a local wild horse volunteer group, will assist BLM with the gather [...]

Grand Staircase-Escalante August Walks and Talks

Around Escalante, Cannonville, and BoulderWish Upon a StarSunday, August 129 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.Place: Calf Creek CampgroundGaze up into the dark night sky with BLM naturalist Edd Franz, and bring your wishes with you, as we (hopefully) watch 50-80 meteors an hour rain down from the heavens during the Perseid meteor shower.Skull SkillsWednesday, August 159 [...]

Pirates at Lake Mead Convicted

In September of 2004, Cottonwood Marina personnel reported that the houseboat Jumpin’ Jack Splash had been stolen from its moorings in the marina. Later in the evening, a responding ranger found the vessel abandoned and adrift in the channel. After talking to surrounding boaters, rangers were able to determine that the “pirates” were camped in [...]

Mountain Lion Kittens Tagged and an Integral Part of Research at Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon, Ariz. - Last week, three five-week old mountain lion kittens were captured and tagged within Grand Canyon National Park by park researchers. The litter of three females was found by mapping GPS locations of their radio-collared mother.An attempt will be made in a year to recapture these kittens after they have grown large [...]

Fatality on Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon, Ariz. - A 52-year-old man died two miles down the Bright Angel Trail at Grand Canyon National Park this morning. The Bright Angel Trail is a popular inner canyon trail that starts from the Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim. The man has been identified as Scott Smith of Lancaster, California.Early indications [...]