NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, August 10, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-437 - Chiricahua NM (AZ) - Flooding

Intense monsoon thunderstorms on August 8th dropped a half inch of hail and
three inches of rain in less than two hours and caused the flooding of
Rhyolite Canyon and the temporary closure of the park.  Thirty people were
evacuated from the visitor center to the employee housing area because the
road and visitor center parking lot were flooding and impassable.  Park staff
feared that a further rise in the water level would threaten the visitor
center.  Fifteen people were stranded in the campground.  Several park
employees whose homes are located in the Bonita Creek flood plain sought
alternative housing for the night.  No injuries have been reported. 
Comparisons are being made to the "500 year flood" that occurred in late
August of 1993.  The initial surge in that flood was followed by a greater
and more destructive second flood a couple of days later.  Saturation of the
ground from heavy July rains and predictions of continued rain could cause
more flooding.  Assessments are being made to determine resource impacts and
the extent of the road and trail damage.  [Suzanne Moody, PIO, CHIR, 8/8]

99-438 - John Day Fossil Beds NM (OR) - Rock Slide

A thunderstorm with strong lightning passed over the Sheep Rock Unit of the
park on August 5th.  Around 5:30 p.m., visitors reported that a rock slide
had closed Highway 26 on the Rock Creek side of Picture Gorge.  What made the
report unique was that the visitors had actually observed a bolt of lightning
striking the basalt cliff wall and blowing a section of it out and onto the
road.  Responding rangers found that travelers had opened a very small, one-
lane route through the slide.  They provided traffic control until the road
was cleared by Oregon Department of Transportation crews.  The road fully
reopened at 8 p.m.  [Scot McElveen, CR, JODA, 8/7]

99-439 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - Rescue

Blount County EMS received word of a man trapped in the water at the Sinks on
Little River just after 4 p.m. on August 1st.  Ranger Kevin Moses arrived
within ten minutes and found that the man was already being assisted by
bystanders.  His legs came free as rangers were rigging ropes for a technical
evacuation, but he became cyanotic and unresponsive only minutes later.  He
was flown to the University of Tennessee Hospital, where he remains in
critical condition.  Alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident.  The
victim has outstanding warrants against him in California for a violent
offender parole violation.  Extradition awaits him when he recovers.  [Jason
Houck, CR, GRSM, 8/5]

99-440 - Chattahoochee River NRA (GA) - Rescue

On July 31st, C.R. was hiking a trail in the Sandy Point area of the
West Palisades Unit when she fell to a ledge about five feet below,
fracturing her ankle.  Seasonal ranger Tom Byrnes was transported to the area
by boat, then climbed 40 feet to C.R. through rough terrain and brush to
provide medical aid.  Rangers joined with Cobb County firefighters in a
technical lowering evacuation and also ferried supplies and personnel to the
accident scene.  C.R. was lowered to the river, then taken by park boat to
a waiting ambulance.  [Kevin Tillman, PR, CHAT, 8/8]

99-441 - Gateway NRA (NY/NJ) - Assault

On the afternoon of July 25th, Park Police officers responded to a report of
police needing assistance at the beach at Riis Park.  Officer Jack Piccolo
arrived and found Kareem Bakiridden being held by an off-duty NYPD officer. 
Bakiridden had been firing a BB gun repeatedly into the crowd on the beach. 
One BB struck another off-duty NYPD officer in the hand, inflicting a flesh
wound.  Piccolo arrested Bakiridden, who was charged by the local district
attorney with second degree assault, reckless endangerment, and possession of
an air pistol.  [Det. Sgt. John Marigliano, GATE, 8/9] 

99-442 - Bighorn Canyon NRA (MT) - Drowning

The body of Kathryn Laird, 28, was found on the north shore of Afterbay
Reservoir on July 31st.  Rangers and FBI agents are investigating.  [Chris
Ryan, ACR, BICA, 8/5]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                      Sat      Sun   %   Est
State      Unit              Fire/Incident   IMT      8/7      8/8  Con  Con

NV    Winnemucca FO          Dun Glenn Cx     T2  350,126  361,658  UNK  UNK
                             Jungo Cx         T2  125,480   83,939  100  CND
                             Eden Valley      --    1,000    1,000  100  CND
                             Eugene           --    3,000    3,000  100  CND
                             Ozgood           --    1,000    1,000  100  CND
                             Corridor Cx      --  150,000  171,442  100  CND
                           * First Creek      --        -    1,000  100  CND
      Battle Mtn. FO         Battle Mtn. Cx   T2  208,031  159,889   40  UNK
                             Eureka Cx        --   20,000   53,000   20  UNK
      Elko FO                Sadler Cx        T1  180,000  180,000   65  8/11
                             Rose             --   50,000   48,480  100  CND
                             Dry Canyon       --      400      350  100  CND
      Carson City FO         New Pass Cx      T2   74,500   74,900   40  UNK
      Humboldt NF            Baxter           --    2,000    1,691  100  CND
   
WA    Wenatchee NF           Lk. Wenatchee Cx T2       80       80   60  UNK

ID    Salmon/Challis NF      Soldier         FUM    2,394    2,394    0  -  
      Lower Snake District   Deer Creek       --    2,000    2,000   85  8/8

                                  Heading Notes

Unit        Agency or Area Office = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA
            state resource or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; FO =
            BLM field office; District = BLM district; NWR = USFWS wildlife
            refuge
Fire        * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex; LSS =
            limited suppression strategy; CSS = containment suppression
            strategy
IMT         T1 = Type I Team; T2 = Type II Team; T3 = Type III Team; ST =
            State Team; FUM = Fire Use Management Team
% Con       Percent of fire contained; UNK = unknown; NR = no report
Est Con     Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
            containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report

NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FOUR DAY TREND)

                    NPS    BIA      BLM     FWS    States   USFS     Total

Thursday, 8/5       16      8        77       1      208    212       522
Friday, 8/6          4     98        30       1       96    153       382
Saturday, 8/7        7     11        20       0       55    117       210
Sunday, 8/8          4      6        20       0       71    102       203

TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FOUR DAY TREND) 

                  Crews     Engines    Helicopters    Airtankers   Overhead

Thursday, 8/5      266        429          96            10         1,284
Friday, 8/6         74        129          21             4           436
Saturday, 8/7      174        393          68             1           748
Sunday, 8/8        190        338          71             1           805

CURRENT SITUATION

Large fires continued to burn on Sunday in the western Great Basin, but
initial attack moderated.  Initial attack continued in the northern Rockies,
Northwest, California and eastern Great Basin.

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in 10 states - Oregon,
Washington, California, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and North and
South Dakota.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/9]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Rocky Mountain NP (CO) - Raptor Management

In a program that dates back to 1988, rangers again successfully implemented
and managed closures this year at six popular rock climbing features to
protect raptors during the spring nesting season.  Local climbers, rangers
and resource specialists joined in a cooperative effort to close the areas,
thereby ensuring breeding success for four species of cliff-nesting raptors. 
The nests on Lumpy Ridge and Sheep Mountain together produced one golden
eagle, three prairie falcons, two red tailed hawks, and three peregrine
falcons this year.  The success of this program has depended largely upon
proactive educational contacts with independent climbers, climbing
organizations, outdoor retailers, and climbing guide services in the local
area.  Rangers have also continued to enforce closures, issuing citations
when necessary.  [Scott Wanek, North Fork Area Ranger, ROMO]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Ruling on Water Jurisdiction Case - On July 28th, a panel of three judges
from the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court ruling
in the water jurisdictional case of U.S. vs Carl Brown and Harold Armstrong.  
The case centered around Brown and Armstrong's commercial operations without
a permit on the waters within Voyageurs National Park.  Brown, a U.S.
citizen, and Armstrong, a Canadian citizen, had both contested the authority
and jurisdiction of DOI on international waters within the park's boundaries.
Their actions were based on their interpretation of the 1909 Root-Bryce
Treaty Act and the lack of jurisdictional cession by the state of Minnesota
to the Unites States.  The panel said that legislation passed by the
Minnesota legislature, which made its lands available for Voyageurs National
Park, and Senate Report 91-1513, which placed the state on notice that the
Secretary's authority would have to be recognized, were instrumental in their
findings.  The court also ruled that "Congress did have the power under the
Commerce and Property Clauses of the Constitution to authorize the NPS to
promulgate and enforce regulations."  The judges' parting words in their
ruling stated that Brown could seek a permit to operate commercially but that
he "will have to do something he does not want to do - recognize the
jurisdiction of the NPS."  Brown and Armstrong are expected to appeal their
case to the U.S. Supreme Court.  [CR, VOYA]

MEMORANDA

"Park Roads and Parkways Program - National Interagency Meeting," sent on
July 20th to all regional directors, ARD's for operations, and FLHP
coordinators.  The text follows:

"An interagency meeting between the National Park Service (NPS) and the
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) regarding the administration of the
Park Roads and Parkways (PRP) Program in the 21st century will be held in
Leesburg, Virginia, September 22-23, 1999.  The location will be the Holiday
Inn at Historic Carrodoc Hall, 1500 East Market Street, Leesburg, Virginia...

"The primary topic of the meeting will be Servicewide administration of the
PRP Program for FY 2000 and beyond.  Co-chairs of the meeting are Lou
DeLorme, NPS and Butch Wlaschin, FHWA...

"We encourage participation by your Associate Regional Director for
Operations, your Regional Federal Lands Highway Coordinator, and other staff
as you deem appropriate. If you have questions, please call Lou DeLorme at
202/565-1254."

INTERCHANGE

No entries.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

No entries.

UPCOMING IN CONGRESS

The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks
on matters pertaining to the National Park Service or kindred agencies.  For
inquiries regarding legislation pertaining to the NPS, please contact the
main office at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be forwarded to the appropriate
legislative specialist.

HEARINGS/MARK-UPS

Tuesday, August 10

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Murkowski): Oversight hearing
on the interpretation and implementation of the Alaska National Interest
Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).  Hearing to be held at 8 a.m. at an
unspecified location in Anchorage, Alaska.

Tuesday, August 17

House Resources Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands (Hansen):
Oversight field hearing on the importance of preventive maintenance, historic
preservation and facilities improvements to maintain the integrity of Glacier
National Park and its relation to the local economy.  Hearing to be held at 9
a.m. in the Many Glacier Hotel in Glacier National Park.

LEGISLATION INTRODUCED

The following bills either directly or indirectly pertaining to the NPS have
been introduced since the last Morning Report listing of new legislation
(August 3rd):

o     H.R. 2737 (Costello, IL), a bill to authorize the Secretary of the
      Interior to convey to the State of Illinois certain Federal land
      associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail to be used
      as an historic and interpretive site along the trail. 
o     H.R. 2773 (McCollum, FL), a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers
      Act to designate the Wekiva River and its tributaries of Rock Springs
      Run and Black Water Creek in the State of Florida as components of the
      national wild and scenic rivers system.
o     H.R. 2778 (Moakley, MA), a bill to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
      to designate segments of the Taunton River in the Commonwealth of
      Massachusetts for study for potential addition to the National Wild and
      Scenic Rivers System, and for other purposes. 
o     H.R. 2804 (Young, AK), a bill to expand Alaska Native contracting of
      Federal land management functions and activities and promote hiring of
      Alaska Natives by the Federal Government within the State of Alaska,
      and for other purposes. 
o     S. 1486 (Gorton, WA), a bill to establish a Take Pride in America
      program.
o     S. 1531 (Moynihan, NY), a bill to amend the Act establishing Women's
      Rights National Historical Park to permit the Secretary of the Interior
      to acquire title in fee simple to the Hunt House located in Waterloo,
      New York.  
     
NEW LAWS

The following bills have passed Congress and been signed into law: 

No new laws.

                                *  *  *  *  *

Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
office and/or field area cc:Mail hub coordinators.  Please address requests
pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub
coordinator.

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

                                 --- ### ---