RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:  Thursday, December 23, 1993

Broadcast: By 0900 EDT

INCIDENTS

93-855 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Marijuana Eradication

When rangers and the DEA agent/pilot who eradicated the 14,000 plants in
Royal Gardens on December 14th returned there on the 21st to clean up the
site, they found that the growers had gotten back before them and had moved
the remaining seedlings and small plants.  Several small growing operations
were located near a suspected grower's house, and another 2,400 plants up to
14 inches tall were removed.  Other suspicious areas were noted as they flew
from the area.  Investigation and eradication efforts will continue.  [Jim
Martin, CR, HAVO, 12/22]

93-863 - Acadia (Maine) - Winter Storm

A powerful, fast-moving storm which swept through the park between mid-
morning on Tuesday, December 21st, and the early hours of Wednesday,
December 22nd, knocked down hundreds of trees, interrupted power, and
damaged park facilities.  Heavy rains driven by gusting winds saturated the
already soaked ground, causing swelling of small streams and some road and
beach erosion.  Wind gusts of over 60 mph were recorded in the park, and a
Coast Guard cutter in Somes Sound reported a peak gust of 82 mph.  About 150
trees fell in and around the Seawall campground, the area hardest hit by the
storm.  The ranger residence there is without power and water.  A large
hardwood fell on the drive adjacent to the Sieur de Monts nature center, and
a 50-foot fir tree was uprooted and fell on the building housing the
interpretation division and winter visitor center at park headquarters at
McFarland Hill.  Damage was limited, however, because the tree's fall was
partially broken by some smaller yellow birch trees.  From 12 to 20 trees
fell along the park road in the Schoodic Peninsula unit, and another dozen
or so were reported down in the Blackwoods campground.  Road crews had to
cut away about 20 trees from the park's loop road to make it passable again. 
Numerous trees are also down on the carriage road system throughout the
park, but it won't be possible to determine how many until the dirt road
surfaces freeze again and can be traveled on.  Further damage reports will
appear as they come in.  [Mike Healy, ACAD, 12/22]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Hagerman Fossil Beds (Idaho) - Fossil Log Discovery

Scientists recently discovered a fossil log estimated to be about three
million years old in the sediments at Fossil Beds.  The log was likely
deposited in a flood of an ancient river flowing into Lake Idaho, which once
covered most of southwestern Idaho.  This find is extraordinary because much
of the wood is unaltered and it still retains its original organic
structure.  This is unusual because most fossils become mineralized over
their long periods of burial.  Although fossil vertebrate remains have been
well-documented in the park, knowledge of vegetation is limited and based
mostly on pollen.  The unfossilized fibers of the newly discovered log will
permit DNA analysis and a detailed study of plant composition and provide
clues about the ecosystem at the time it was a growing tree.  Examination of
the growth rings may provide additional information about climate and
seasonal growth changes.  To prevent deterioration over the winter, the log
has been removed from the place where it was discovered and placed in the
park's collection for further study.  [HAFO, 12/21]

NOTES

1) BOR Detail - The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking a detailee to work in
their offices in Washington for the next three to six months on the
following projects:

draft law enforcement authority legislation
draft internal law enforcement policies, using NPS-9 as a model; and
draft general resource and visitor use regulations, using 36 CFR as a
model.

The Bureau of Reclamation will pay all travel, per diem and base costs.  If
you're interested, please contact Bob Marriott in WASO Ranger Activities. 
[Jim Brady, RAD/WASO]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Sisto and Marriott on AL (12/20-
12/23); Dickerhoof on AL (12/23).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Clark on AL (12/23-12/30); Cook on AL (12/22-
12/30).


Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: Branch of R&VP - 202-208-4874
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5572
Telefax:   Branch of R&VP - 202-208-6756
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5977
cc:Mail:   Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation
SkyPager:  Emergencies ONLY (numeric message) - 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843