NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Saturday, August 26, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1992, President George Bush signed legislation 
creating the Marsh-Billings National Historical Park in Woodstock, 
Vermont.  The estate of pioneer conservationist George Perkins Marsh 
was reforested and scientifically farmed by Frederick Billings 
following Marsh's principles after 1869.  Billings' granddaughter, 
Mary, and her husband, Laurance S. Rockefeller, donated the property 
to the NPS.

INCIDENTS

00-523 - Denali NP (AK) - Rescue

A search for missing backcountry hiker R.S., 25, of Grand 
Canyon, Arizona, ended successfully late on the morning of August 
20th. R.S. was expected to return from her trip into backcountry on 
Friday, August 18th, and was last seen at Eielson Visitor Center two 
days before that. She planned to hike over Thorofare Mountain to the 
saddle between Mt. Galen and Thorofare, then return to the park road 
via Little Stony Creek. The weather at the time of her hike was mostly 
cloudy with scattered showers and snow at the 4,000-foot elevation. 
Friends contacted rangers Saturday night to tell them R.S. was 
overdue from her backcountry hike. Rangers began a ground and air 
search early on the 20th. R.S. was spotted from a Firepro 
helicopter at noon and was picked up and flown back to park 
headquarters. She was in good shape. She said that she'd become lost 
in poor visibility and ended up hiking into the wrong drainage. Once 
she realized she had strayed from her route, she stopped and stayed 
put until found. Tod Levesh was IC. [Jane Tranel, PIO, DENA, 8/20]

00-524 - Guilford Courthouse NMP (NC) - Storm Damage

On the afternoon of Friday, August 18th, the park was hit by a sudden 
and severe thunderstorm which produced heavy rain, hail, and wind 
gusts in excess of 70 mph. About 100 trees were downed, including a 
number of hardwoods over a century old. The park tour road, service 
roads and most trails were blocked by downed and leaning trees, 
resulting in closure of the park. The superintendent's quarters and 
maintenance building - both historic structures - suffered minor roof 
damage. Power was lost to the visitor center and administrative 
offices, but was restored by 7:30 the following morning. The visitor 
center was reopened three hours later. At the time of the report, most 
of the park's tour road and trails were still closed to the public. 
[Steve Ware, CVS, GUCO, 8/20]

                  [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level V

CURRENT SITUATION

There was heavy initial attack in the northern Rockies yesterday, but 
only moderate activity elsewhere. Seven new fires were reported; nine 
were contained. Winds are forecast to blow up to 40 mph today in 
Oregon, Idaho and Montana.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 679 crews (+ 20), 
6,010 overhead (+ 303), 1,238 engines (+ 37), and 244 helicopters (+ 
10).

Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in North 
Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas and all eleven Western states.

For more national fire news, go to www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html, 
which also provides links to web sites for specific fires.

NPS AND NPS-RELATED FIRES

Jewel Cave NM (SD) - Jasper Fire (1,800 acres, 5% containment, no 
estimated containment date, 247 FF/OH). Highway 16 remains closed to 
through traffic. Fire behavior includes crowning, spotting and running 
in rough broken canyons. Fire spread is quickly overwhelming 
containment efforts. Current threats are to homes and to the park.

Yellowstone NP (WY) - Spruce Complex (5,070 acres, 0% containment, no 
estimated containment date, 44 FF/OH). Significant heat is present in 
the fires, but spread has been limited due to higher relative 
humidities. Field observers have moved into Buffalo Cabin to provide 
structure protection and to better observe the Plateau Fire.

Grand Teton NP (WY) - Teton Complex (13,006 acres, 0% containment, no 
estimated containment date, Type II team, 540 FF/OH). Developed areas 
in Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park remain a 
primary concern. Most fires within the complex continue to torch and 
spot.

For a listing of all fires, see www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.html. 

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for gusty winds and low relative 
humidity for most of central and western Montana (scattered dry 
thunderstorms are also forecast for the eastern slope of the Rockies) 
and two FIRE WEATHER WATCHES - one for gusty winds and low relative 
humidity for extreme southeastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho, the 
other for strong winds and low relative humidity for south central 
Montana and parts of northern Wyoming.

An approaching Pacific trough will bring increased southwest winds to 
the northwest states. Gusts in excess of 30 mph are possible. 
Elsewhere, monsoon moisture will remain to the south. This will bring 
more wet thunderstorms to the southwest states. 

Ridge top winds will be southwest at 15 to 25 mph with gusts between 
30 and 40 mph in Oregon, Idaho and Montana. Further south, winds will 
be upslope or southwest at speeds under 20 mph, with higher gusts near 
thunderstorms.

Temperatures will be in the 70's to mid 80's in the mountains, and the 
mid 80's to 90's at lower elevations. Desert areas will see 
temperatures from 100 to 110. Minimum relative humidity will be in the 
teens and 20's, with some single digit readings occurring in the 
driest areas.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 8/26]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Lyndon B. Johnson NHP (TX) - Historic Elm Tree Propagation

Over the past 15 years, the park's staff has attempted to prolong the 
life of the "Johnson Family Elm." This important feature of the 
cultural and scenic landscape at the birth site of the 36th president 
of the United States has suffered through recurring infestations of 
exotic elm beetle (Calligrapha scalaris) and damaging assaults by 
tornadic winds and ice storms.  Until this summer, the tree hung on, a 
remnant of the formerly stately tree with spreading branches that 
provided young Lyndon Johnson shade for resting and branches for 
climbing.  After losing the remaining limbs on one side, the 
dangerously unbalanced tree was finally removed, bringing to an end an 
aggressive integrated pest management and vegetative propagation 
effort to ensure that the tree lived long enough to produce a 
genetically identical heir.  A younger elm tree found growing 30 yards 
from the mature tree and presumed to be a descendent was transplanted 
to a site adjacent to the older tree, and is the focus of monitoring 
and treatment efforts.  One root cutting from two years of attempts to 
graft or root a successor still remains in viable condition in the 
park greenhouse.  The area around the stump of the old tree will be 
monitored for any root sprouting that might occur. The grounds around 
the reconstructed birthplace also contain many landscape features that 
were added by Lady Bird Johnson during her husband's presidency, 
including magnolia seedlings from Mount Vernon and from The Elms, the 
family's residence during Johnson's vice-presidency. (Brian Carey, 
Acting CR, LYJO)

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Water Filtration System Problem - Recovery Engineering, Inc. makes of 
PUR water filtration systems, is advising consumers of a potential 
problem with the StopTop carbon cartridge sold as an accessory with 
its Voyageur, Scout and Explorer microbiological water purifiers. The 
StopTop acts as a water bottle adapter and reduces the product's 
purification agent (iodine) from treated water, thereby improving the 
taste. Recent testing has revealed variations in the carbon used in 
the StopTop that could interfere with the purifier's ability to fully 
eliminate viruses in untreated water - but does not affect the 
purifier's ability to remove cysts and bacteria. In order to insure 
full anti-virus effectiveness, remove the StopTop and follow the use 
instructions for handling difficult or extreme water conditions in the 
use and care manual:

o       Disconnect the StopTop carbon filter and pump water into a 
        temporary container at a rate of less than 10 strokes per 
        minute.
o       Remove the inlet hose from the water source and pump the 
        purifier until air comes out of the output hose.
o       Place the inlet hose into the temporary container and pump 
        water into your water bottle or canteen at a rate of fewer 
        than ten strokes per minute.
o       Let the water stand for 20 minutes before consumption.

For more information, call 1-800-319-7753 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 
CDT. [Public Health Service]

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

San Antonio Missions NHP (TX) - The park is seeking applicants for its 
vacant GS-12 chief of interpretation positions. The vacancy is posted 
on USAJobs and closes on September 13th. Please contact personnel 
management specialist Karen Steed or superintendent Steve Whitesell at 
210-534-8833 with any questions. 

Aztec Ruins NM (NM) - Superintendent Barry Cooper will retired from 
the Service on December 31st. Barry began working in the parks as a 
concession employee at Mesa Verde in 1958 while a student at Colorado 
state University. He began his career at that park in September, 1966, 
then worked at Petrified Forest NP, Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP, Platt NP 
(now part of Chickasaw NRA), Scotts Bluff NM, Haleakala NP, Hubbell 
Trading Post NHS, and Aztec Ruins (since 1986). His wife, Martha, also 
worked in several parks, including Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP, C&O Canal 
NHP and Platt NP. They plan on remaining in the Aztec area. A 
retirement celebration will be held at 2 p.m. on October 7th at Aztec 
Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. For further information on the 
event or details on making contributions toward a retirement gift, 
please contact either Gayle Lopes at 505-334-6174 or Charlene Yazzie 
at 505-334-6174. They need to hear from you by September 15th. 

                            *  *  *  *  *

Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed 
by park, office and/or regional cc:Mail hub coordinators.  Please 
address requests pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your 
servicing hub coordinator.  The Morning Report is also available on 
the web at http://www.nps.gov/morningreport

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

                             --- ### ---