State Agencies Issue Recommendations to New Mexicans Visiting State Waters Containing Blue-Green Algae

SANTA FE - New Mexico State Parks, a division of the Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) and the New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) are advising visitors who swim in any New Mexico body of water to be aware of possible health risks associated with exposure to blue-green [...]

Fire restrictions to be lifted on BLM-managed lands (in northeastern California)

With the onset of cooler autumn weather, fire restrictions will be lifted Saturday, Sept. 29, on public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management’s northeast California field offices and the Modoc National Forest. The easing of restrictions affects lands managed by the BLM’s Alturas, Eagle Lake and Surprise field offices in Modoc, Lassen, Sierra, [...]

BLM Issues Emergency Closure of Fort Ord Public Lands to New Geocaches

To protect the safety of public land visitors, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued an emergency closure of public lands at Fort Ord to the establishment of new geocaches effective immediately. This closure will remain in place until the BLM has crafted a suitable long-term policy governing the geocaching sport on BLM-administered lands [...]

BLM’s Summer Project: Dumont Water Crossing

Ever wonder who would go out to Dumont Dunes in the middle of August, during the day when temperatures are well over 100 degrees? Its not the duners: they ride at night during the summer because of the heat! Its BLM’s operation crew! Because of their hard work, visitors to Dumont Dunes [...]

BLM Bishop Proposes Hot Springs Meadow Restoration Project

The Bureau of Land Management Bishop Field Office proposes to restore and protect important meadow habitat and provide sustainable recreation access near the hot springs at Hill Top Tub, Long Valley. The proposed project is just north of the Benton Crossing Road in Mono County.“The BLM welcomes public use of this area, but impacts to [...]

STILL TIME TO VOLUNTEER: National Public Lands Day

In California there are 16 events to commemorate National Public Lands Day, the largest hands-on volunteer effort to preserve America’s lands. Join one of the events near you for the 14th annual National Public Lands Day and help us care for your land. Many of these are being held Saturday, Sept. 29 (Barstow’s is being [...]

Old Town San Diego Celebrates National Public Lands Day Sept 29th

JOIN local staff and volunteers from the Bureau of Land Management and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park as they reenact the exploration and surveys of public lands in recognition of National Public Lands Day.SEE authentic 19th century survey instruments and learn about the General Land Office, the Homestead Act, and other important milestones [...]

BLM Mustangs on The Fearful Crossing

Dry, dusty, with no potable water and very little game, “The Forty-Mile Desert” was the most deadly and feared stretch of the Old California Trail. Historians estimate that for every 17 feet of this 65-mile stretch of trail, there is one buried human or horse, mule, or ox. (It is called the Forty-Mile Desert, [...]

Current Activities and Upcoming Events at Arizona State Museum

Friday, October 5, 2007Opening Celebration: El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, 6:30 p.m.Come celebrate our newest temporary exhibition featuring the photography of Mexican artist Eniac Martinez and the soundscape of historian and radio producer Jack Loeffler. Panel discussion at Center for English as a Second Language (one building to the east of ASM’s north [...]

Joshua Tree Ranger Progams thru Sept 30th

Daily11 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 Oasis Visitor Center.Saturday Evening Campground Programs at Jumbo Rocks Campground have been cancelled due to a bee infestation in the campground. They will resume when the campground is [...]

Southeast Utah Parks to Waive Entrance Fees on National Public Lands Day, Sept 29th

All National Park Service sites, including Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument and Hovenweep National Monument, will offer free visitor admission on September 29, 2007 for National Public Lands Day. In addition to waiving entrance fees, the parks will host the following special programs:Arches National Park 9:30-11:30 a.m.: Porch Talks on [...]

Current Medano Creek Conditions at Great Sand Dunes CO as of September 2007

Medano Creek dried up completely at the Dunes Parking area as usual in early July. Visitors may still find a little flowing water by hiking up the creekbed about 1 mile (2 km), by hiking down 3/4 mile from Point of No Return, or by driving with a high clearance 4WD vehicle to the Castle [...]

Great Basin National Park Current Conditions

RoadsWheeler Peak Scenic Drive: Open to Wheeler Peak CampgroundBaker Creek Road: Open to Baker Lake TrailheadLexington Arch Road: Dry and firm to the trailheadSnake Creek Road: Dry and firm to the trailhead*Note:  In the spring and fall, roads may be closed temporarily due to snow.CampgroundsLower Lehman Creek: OpenUpper Lehman Creek: OpenBaker Creek: OpenWheeler Peak: OpenRV [...]

National Parks Documentary on NPS on Course for 2009 Release

A twelve-hour-long documentary on the national parks and the National Park Service by famed filmmaker Ken Burns is currently in preparation and scheduled for release some time in 2009.The documentary, entitled “America’s Best Idea: Our National Parks,” will consist of six, two-hour-long episodes, beginning with the first discussions about the idea of national parks in [...]

Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY) Park and Gallatin NF Lift Emergency Closures

Effective yesterday, the park and the Gallatin National Forest lifted emergency area closures temporarily put in place north of Gardiner in the Reese Creek area of the park and the Beattie Gulch area of the national forest. The emergency closures were put into effect on Friday, September 14th, to address human safety concerns after a [...]

Alberts Tarantella Halloween Arts Festival at Red Barn Art Center on Oct 20th

Rhyolite, NV - Goldwell Open Air Museum announces a Halloween-themed arts festival to celebrate the opening of its new Red Barn Art Center near the Museum site at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 20, 2007. The event’s admission is $20.00 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at www.goldwellmuseum.org/events/tarantella.html.Albert’s Tarantella is an [...]

Monument Valley Plans Balloon Rally for Dec. 2007

A three day event will be planned for December 2007. The event will be co-produced with a local balloon company that offers a unique marketing program, which will ensure a successful annual event. A combined advertisement campaign will commence one year in advance with sponsors and the production logistics will commence in summer of 2007. [...]

National Fire Activity - Preparedness Level 3 - Sept 19th Report

National Preparedness Level 3 (On a scale from 1 to 5)September 19, 2007Initial attack was again light yesterday. So far this year, there have been 70,546 fires, which have burned 8,064,011 acres. The ten year averages for those two categories are, respectively, 65,962 fires and 5,908,532 acres.Precipitation continues to help firefighters in the West. Only [...]

Climber Rescued From Half Dome at Yosemite NP

Park dispatch received a 911 call from a climber at the base of the Northwest Face of Half Dome around 10 p.m. on September 4th. He told the dispatcher that he’d been in contact with a climber from another team who was experiencing a medical problem of unknown origin that caused him to suddenly collapse [...]

Zion National Park Asks for Comments on an Environmental Assessment

Zion National Park is seeking comments on an Environmental Assessment (EA) that assesses the impacts of the aerial application of herbicide on the area burned in the Dakota Hill Complex Fire. The lightning caused fires started on July 15, 2007 and burned 5,858 acres within the park. The EA also analyzes the impacts of an [...]