Valmir Nunes of Brazil Wins Badwater Ultramarathon Race, Lisa Bliss of Spokane, WA Wins Womens Field

Lone Pine, Calif. (July 24, 2007)  - The two year-old course record for the Kiehl’s Badwater Ultramarathon was smashed by the rookie runner Valmir Nunes, 43, of Brazil, who came back from third place to take a hard-earned race win after an eventful night. His finishing time of 22:51:29 was a long way inside the [...]

Portions of Zion Backcountry Reopened

Due to reduced fire activity on the Dakota Hill Fire Complex Superintendent Jock Whitworth will reopen many of the backcountry areas in Zion National Park on Tuesday morning, July 24.  The park issued an emergency closure of all its backcountry areas on July 18 for visitor safety due to extreme fire behavior from the two [...]

Competitive Interactions Between a Non-native Annual Grass and Mojave Desert Perennials

Competition between native and non-native species can change the composition and structure of plant communities, but in deserts, the highly variable timing of winter and spring rainfall also influences non-native plant establishment, thus modulating their effects on native species. Much research has focused on the dramatic impact that the non-native annual grass red brome (Bromus [...]

National Fire Information Center Report: East Zone Complex

Daily Update for July 25, 2007Incident: East Zone ComplexEast Zone Complex: Loon Lake, Raines, Zena Creek FiresTHIS WILL BE THE LAST FIRE INFORMATION UPDATE FROM THE HEINTZ IMTEVERY MEMBER OF THIS TEAM GENUINELY THANKS THE COMMUNITIES WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FOR THE COOPERATION AND HOSPITALITY WE HAVE EXPERIENCED ON THIS GROUP OF FIRES– THANK [...]

Tombstone July Dates in History

July 25, 1888- Tombstone was struck by its strongest earthquake on record. It measured a Level VI on the Modified Mercalli intensity chart. That equates to roughly a 5.2 on the Richter Scale.July 27, 1880- Wyatt Earp was appointed Deputy Sheriff for the Tombstone district of Pima County under Sheriff Charles Shibell.Source: Tombstone Chamber of [...]

Two Wildland Fire Use Burns Monitored

Last Update: July 25, 8:00 A.M. MDSTARIZONA - RADIO WILDLAND FIRE USE (175 acres) is burning on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest, approximately 3 miles north of I-40 in Pittman Valley. The Radio WFU was started by lightning on July 16th. Smoke is visible from State Highway 64 and I-40. For [...]

Kiehl’s Badwater UltraMarathon Continuing Today through July 25th

Runners Challenging 135 Miles from Death Valley to Mt. Whitney AdventureCORPS, Inc., an event production firm specializing in ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, will host the 30th Anniversary Kiehl’s Badwater Ultramarathon on July 23-25, 2007. A true “challenge of the champions,” this legendary foot race pits up to 90 of the world’s toughest athletes [...]

National Fire Activity - Preparedness Level 5 - July 24th NFIC Report

Initial attack activity increased yesterday with 317 new fires reported. Despite all these starts, only four new large fires were reported. Firefighters continue to make good progress on line construction and six large fires were contained yesterday.Weather Discussion: Thunderstorm activity will increase and become wetter over the next couple days. The number and coverage of [...]

New Mexico State Parks Boating Conditions and Water Level Report

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: 7/16/2007Elephant 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 [...]

White Sands Dunes Drive Closure Information

Wednesday, July 25:  The Dunes Drive will not open until 9:00 a.m. No backcountry camping will be allowed on Tuesday, July 24.Friday, July 27:  The Dunes Drive will not open until 9:00 a.m.No backcountry camping will be allowed on Thursday, July 26.The Visitor Center remains open during road closures.  Closures are subject to change without [...]

Las Vegas Sun Reports Feds make Nevada priority as hundreds of square miles burn

RENO, Nev. (AP) - Cooler temperatures, calmer winds and federal help allowed firefighters in Nevada to make progress Thursday on dozens of blazes that have burned hundreds of square miles of rangeland and timber.With 18 large fires still burning uncontained and out of control, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management put Nevada on the top [...]

Grand Canyon National Park is Managing Several Fires

Grand Canyon, AZ - July 20, 2007 - There are currently four lightning-caused fires being managed on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.The Imperial Fire was discovered July 17. It is located approximately three-quarters of a mile northwest of Point Imperial. This fire has been approved for Wildland Fire Use. The Imperial Fire [...]

Death Valley Current Conditions

Death Valley National Park Morning Report — Monday, July 23, 2007Weather Forecast Today — Partly cloudy with a 20% chance of isolated thunderstorms in the late morning and afternoon. Light wind. High around 112.Tonight  — Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. 20% chance of isolated thunderstorms. Southeast wind around 10 mph in [...]

Big Bend National Park Current Conditions

Daily Report - Monday, July 23, 2007Weather ForecastToday — Partly cloudy with isolated afternoon showers and thunderstorms. Winds will be fromthe east around 10 mph. Mountain highs upper 70s; river highs lower 90s.Tonight — Partly cloudy with winds from the east around 10 mph. Lows 62-67.Tomorrow — Partly cloudy with a 20% chance [...]

National Fire Activity – Preparedness Level 5

Initial attack was moderate on Sunday, with 203 new fires reported. There are now 47 uncontained large fires burning nationwide. Thirty-four incident management teams are committed. Fires in the Dakota Hill Complex at Zion have burned nearly 9,000 acres. The Owl Fire in Yellowstone has burned 400 acres. A Type 2 team is managing the [...]

Glen Canyon NRA Firefighters Help Extinguish Gas Station Blaze; Explosive Devices Found in Park by Visitors Safely Detonated

Park dispatch received a request for assistance at a structural fire in a gas station in Page on the afternoon of July 18th. Eight NPS firefighters responded with the park’s Wahweap-based engine. When they arrived, they found heavy black smoke emanating from the back of the store. Page Fire Department was on scene and had [...]

Badwater Ultramarathon Begins Monday, July 23rd in Death Valley

The 30th Kiehl’s Badwater Ultramarathon July 23-25, 2007 starts in Badwater, Death Valley. It is sponsored this year by AdventureCorps. The annual 135 mile extreme endurance race begins at the lowest point in the United States, Badwater, and ends at roughly 8,000 feet, after a grueling ascent on Mt. Whitney.More information can be found at [...]

Ranger Programs at Joshua Tree NP through July 31st

Daily8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - America’s Best Idea A photographic exhibit of our nation’s national parks will be on exhibit through June, 2007 at Joshua Tree Visitor Center.11 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Joshua Tree National Park (30 minutes) A video tour of some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. Meet at the [...]

Upcoming Programs at Great Sand Dunes NP

Saturday, July 21:10:30 a.m. Nature Walk “Water, Wind and Wildlife.”   Learn about the geological processes and their relationship to people and animals.  Dunes Parking Lot.  45 minutes.1:30 p.m. Kids’ Program,  Fun, hands-on activities.  Parents welcome.  Dunes Parking Lot.  45 minutes.7:00 p.m. Sunset Program “Fossils:  Stories in the Sand.”  Touch and hold real fossils, from [...]

Junior Ranger Day at Fort Davis Aug 3rd

*Learn what it was like to be a soldier *Dress up in old-time clothes *Play games, do crafts, and learn dances & songs from the 1800s *Hike the mountain trail *Learn how ladies ride sidesaddle *Do laundry on a washboard and iron with a ?sad iron? *Learn how to churn butter or pull taffy *How [...]