NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Monday, February 7, 1994

Broadcast: By 0900 ET

INCIDENTS

94-49 - Death Valley (California) - MVA with Fatality

On the morning of January 31st, H.W., 48, and her husband,
Gary, were each driving their Harley-Davidson motorcycles through Jubilee
Pass on Highway 178 when Herlinda lost control of her bike in the narrow
curves, hit an embankment, was thrown about 20 feet, and landed on her head. 
Although she was wearing a helmet, she suffered severe injuries.  Rangers
provided advanced life support measures until a helicopter could transport
her to Las Vegas.  H.W. subsequently died of her injuries.  (Dispatch,
DEVA, 2/4]

94-50 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Fatality

Rangers responding to a visitor's report on February 3rd found the body of
A.B., 39, of Yuma, Arizona, inside a burned-out vehicle in Gypsum
Wash.  The cause of death is unknown.  Las Vegas Metro officers are
investigating the death.  [Dispatch, LAME, 2/4]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (D.C./Maryland/West Virginia) - Rare Species

Late last summer, a National Capital Region biological technician
documenting the presence of noxious agricultural weeds discovered an unusual
plant in a field recently abandoned from agricultural use under a special
use permit.  In October, Maryland Natural Heritage Program biologists
confirmed that the plant was the auricled gerardia (Tomanthera auriculatia),
a candidate species for federal listing, which is ranked as G2 (globally
rare) in the Nature Conservancy's system for ranking rare organisms.  The
species was last recorded in the park in 1936 and has not been seen in
Maryland for at least 40 years.  It is semi-parasitic on several other
plants commonly associated with old fields and recent population discoveries
have been in disturbed habitats.  Ironically, the state's 1994 endangered
species calendar, which went to press before the discovery, pictured the
plant and documented it as a species no longer extant in Maryland.  At least
100 plants were found in the recently discovered population.  Although
better known for its preservation of the historical Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal, the park also possesses one of the highest levels of animal and
vascular plant diversity within the National Park System.  Its more than 200
state rare species is believed to be second only to the much
larger Great Smokies among eastern non-tropical NPS units.  The 180-mile
long riparian corridor along the Potomac provides great diversity of
habitat, including several rare natural community types.  [Chris Lea, RMS,
CHOH]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Handgun Transition - A detailed update on the Servicewide transition to
semi-automatic handguns will be sent via cc:Mail later today to all regional
and park chief rangers and regional law enforcement specialists.  It will
answer many questions that have arisen during the transition process.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
SkyPager:  Emergencies ONLY: 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843