NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Friday, January 13, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-06 - California Parks - Follow-up on Winter Storm Impacts

More reports have been received from California parks regarding the storms that
struck the area this week:

* John Muir - Franklin Canyon Creek has overflowed its banks, depositing
trash, timber and cement pieces in the park's historic orchards.  Oak
trees on Mt. Wanda fell and are currently blocking fire and access roads. 
Soil erosion of roads and trails continues to imperil access to the area. 
Clean up crews are not available due to staff shortages.  A 100-year-old
historic cedar has fallen near the visitor center.

* Whiskeytown - Although high winds have subsided, heavy rains continue to
fall throughout the area.  The park remains closed.  Boat docks at Brandy
Creek and Oak Bottom have been torn from their anchors; other docks are
either partially or completely under water; launch ramps are clogged with
debris.  A 100-foot section of South Shore Drive was washed away
yesterday, leaving a gaping hole about 50 feet deep.  Remarkably, only
two structures have been damaged by falling trees.  Lake waters are about
18 inches over the rim of the drain.

* Lassen Volcanic - Two buildings in the Manzanita Lake area - the Loomis
Garage, a historic structure, and a warehouse storing three GSA
vehicles - collapsed yesterday as the result of heavy rains on top of an
unusually heavy snow pack.  Emergency crews have been hired to shovel the
roofs of historic and flat-roofed structures in the area.  The snow depth
yesterday was 50 inches, and it's estimated to have a 50% moisture
content, making its weight even greater than during the snow emergency of
1993.  There's 13 feet of snow on the ground at the Chalet.

A significant storm is forecast for much of the state this weekend. 
[Superintendent, JOMU; Larry Carr, CR, WHIS; Betty Knight, PAO, LAVO - all
reports, 1/12]

95-10 - Saguaro (Arizona) - Multiple Poaching Incidents

Park rangers in both districts apprehended six deer poachers in four incidents
over the last two weeks.  All suspects were given mandatory appearances with
fines totaling $1,200.  All weapons were confiscated as evidence; the Arizona
Game and Fish Department was notified and will also prosecute the poachers.  In
the most recent incident, Arthur Costa camped illegally at a trailhead, then
entered a private guest ranch adjoining the park, where he shot and killed a
buck.  He then dragged the deer back to his vehicle through the park.  Rangers
and Arizona Game and Fish agents contacted Costa at his residence, where the
deer was hanging in the front yard.  He was issued multiple citations by both
agencies.  [Paula Rooney, CR, SAGU, 1/11]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Yellowstone (Wyoming) - Wolf Reintroduction

U.S. District Judge William Downes has denied a request for an injunction to
block the return of wolves to the park and central Idaho.  The judge said that
the American Farm Bureau Federation and Mountain States Legal Foundation failed
to prove that ranchers around the park will be irreparably harmed by the return
of wolves.  The park accordingly went ahead with the planned reintroduction.  A
number of wolves captured in Canada arrived in the park yesterday and were
placed in acclimation pens in the Lamar area.  They will be held at these pens
for six to eight weeks before being released into the park.  The penning of the
animals is intended to discourage immediate long-distance dispersal away from
the desired reintroduction area.  [Marsha Karle, PAO, YELL}

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Proposed Regulatory Moratorium - On January 9th, the Regulatory Transition
Act of 1995 was introduced into the House of Representatives.  This proposed
bill would establish a moratorium period for any federal agency rulemaking
action from November 9, 1994, through June 30, 1995.  The moratorium would
apply to rulemakings required under any Federal statute, regulation or court
order.  A hearing on this proposed bill is scheduled for next Thursday.  We
will keep you posted on developments.  [Dennis Burnett, RAD/WASO]

2) Mojave Ecosystem/Park Staffing - Although the Morning Report does not
normally carry job listings because of the sheer volume of them, we are passing
along the following because of the priority placed on preparing the Mojave
ecosystem plan as soon as possible.  Three vacancies have been posted on AVADS
for NPS members to an interagency team which will be developing a management
plan for the 11.5 million acre Northern and Eastern Mojave Ecosystem.  This
ecosystem includes Mojave National Preserve, the expanded Death Valley National
Park and part of Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and straddles the
California - Nevada border.  The three vacancies are: GS-13 team manager, GS-
11/12 natural resource specialist, and GS-11/12 community planner.  The
ecosystem plan will be produced as part of a National Performance Review
Management Innovation Laboratory to guide implementation of the California
Desert Protection Act of 1994.  This planning effort will be unprecedented,
complex, politically sensitive, challenging, and highly visible.  The vacancies
will be filled on a permanent or term basis for four years.  As the plan is
completed some team members will be reassigned and some will transition -
into the Mojave National Preserve management team.  Headquarters for the team and
the preserve will be in Barstow, California.  If you are interested, or know of
someone who would be, contact Ray Murray at (415) 744-3968 or Mary Martin or
Jerry McHugh at (702) 293-8920.  [Ray Murray, WRO]

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
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