NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Monday, August 28, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1963, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his "I 
have a dream" speech from the Lincoln Memorial during the March on 
Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

INCIDENTS

99-758 - Redwood N&SP (CA) - Follow-up on Poaching Arrests

On Christmas Day last year, rangers Paige Ritterbusch and Dave 
Barland-Liles were notified of shots fired in the Bald Hills area of 
the park. A witness said that he saw an elk in the area before the 
shots were fired and described a suspect vehicle. When the rangers 
approached, two men - later identified as B.B. and J.M., 
both 19 and from Hoopa, California - fled in the vehicle, 
eluding rangers because a tire blew out on the patrol vehicle. The 
carcass of a large bull Roosevelt elk was found at the location where 
the shots were fired, and the men were subsequently found to have had 
rifles in their possession at the time of the incident. A joint 
investigation was conducted by rangers and California game wardens and 
sufficient evidence was found to bring B.B. and J.M. to court. 
B.B. was convicted of misdemeanor waste of game; he was sentenced 
to 60 days in jail and three years' probation, fined $1,350, and 
ordered to perform 150 hours of community service. J.M. was convicted 
on the same charge, sentenced to two years' probation, and also fined 
$1,350. [Bob Martin, CR, REDW, 8/22]

00-528 - Death Valley NP (CA) - Search 

Ranger Bill Fitzpatrick checked a vehicle that appeared to have been 
abandoned near Mahogany Flat campground on Friday, August 18th, and 
found that it was an overdue rental car. Rangers and Inyo County 
deputies investigated and a search was begun for Georgia resident 
C.M., 26. Navy, Army and California Highway Patrol 
helicopters were employed and Inyo County SAR team members assisted in 
the intensive search, which was conducted on Saturday and Sunday. On 
Monday, rangers scaled back the operation to a ground search in high 
probability areas. No sign of C.M. has been found. The park will 
continue to search areas for clues. The incident has been turned over 
to the Inyo County Sheriff's Office as a missing person investigation. 
Ranger Dan Dellinges was IC. [Nancy Wizner, ACR, DEVA, 8/22]

00-529 - Mojave NP (CA) - Counterfeiting

An employee for Omega Toilet, a company that services outhouses in the 
high desert area of the park, found a bundle of money inside at a 
portable toilet at Kelso Depot on August 10th. The money had become 
lodged in the suction hose he was using to clean the outhouse. He 
found that the square bundle he extricated from the hose had $20 bills 
wrapped in tape inside, and that all the bills had the same serial 
number. He called the San Bernadino County Sheriff's Office in Lucerne 
Valley and turned over the counterfeit bills to them. The bundle 
contained 163 complete and two partial $20 bills. The Secret Service 
was contacted and will lead in the investigation. [Chris Jefferson, 
ACR, MOJA, 8/23]

00-530 - Big South Fork NRRA (KY/TN) - Resource Violations

On August 19th, ranger Tom Barnes came upon a number of freshly cut 
poles at a campsite at the Alum Ford campground. He checked the site 
and discovered over 50 walking sticks in various stages of completion. 
The occupants of the camp - J.H. and R.C. - were 
traveling around the country, manufacturing and selling walking sticks 
in areas where hikers and campers congregate. Circumstances led Barnes 
to call for additional support, and he was joined at the scene by 
ranger Julie Parrish and Forest Service canine handler Gus Skinner. 
Neither J.H. nor R.C. was able to provide satisfactory 
identification, so both were arrested. They were charged with theft of 
government property, destruction of natural resources, possession of 
drug paraphernalia, and various motor vehicle violations. J.H. and 
R.C. had an 18-month-old child with them who was turned over to the 
Kentucky Department of Social Services. During the course of the 
investigation, rangers learned that R.C. had eight known aliases, 
that he had on occasion used six different social security numbers, 
and that he was a fugitive from Texas for parole violations associated 
with an aggravated robbery. Barnes was able to positively match 13 of 
the walking sticks with freshly cut tree stumps in the area around the 
campsite. On August 21st, R.C. and J.H. appeared before a federal 
magistrate and were found guilty of the charges. J.H. was sentenced to 
time served, a year's probation, and $300 in restitution and released; 
R.C. was sentenced to five days in jail and a year's probation and 
held for extradition to Texas. [Tim Grooms, Acting CR, BISO, 8/22]

00-531 - Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - Resource Violation

A resource management employee on fire patrol on August 20th noted 
damage to park property adjacent to railroad tracks that pass through 
the park. The area involved is habitat for the federally-listed 
endangered Karner Blue butterfly. Cable-laying work under contract by 
the railroad damaged or destroyed the lupine plants that are the sole 
source of food for the larval stage of the butterfly. Resource 
management and protection staff returned to the site the following day 
and contacted the crew doing the work . They confirmed that the crew 
was responsible for the damage and ordered them to stop work. FWS 
biologists and special agents were contacted. FWS was aware of the 
project and had informed the involved parties of the sensitive nature 
of the area. An environmental consulting firm hired by the railroad 
had provided the contractor with a map identifying the location of the 
lupine plants. It appears that the contractor changed the method 
employed for laying cable, which resulted in the damage. The case is 
being jointly investigated by the park and FWS. [Richard Littlefield, 
CR, INDU, 8/24]

00-532 - Haleakala NP (HI) - Falling Fatality

On Saturday, August 12th, visitors saw a naked man deliberately jump 
from the top of the 195-foot Makahiku Falls. They said that he 
surfaced once before sinking in the pool at the base of the falls. 
Local fire and EMS personnel assisted in locating the body, which was 
found 12 feet under the surface of the pool. The victim was identified 
as 23-year-old J.B. of Utah. Ranger Roger Mayo is 
investigating for the park. Suicide has been ruled out by evidence 
collected at the scene. [Greg Moss, HALE, 8/15]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level V

CURRENT SITUATION

A total of ten new large fires were reported yesterday; containment 
goals were met on six others. Initial attack was light to moderate in 
all areas, but large acreage gains occurred on some fires in the 
northern Rockies, Northwest and eastern Great Basin due to strong 
winds. Diminishing winds today should aid crews in making progress 
toward containment goals. The 1st' Battalion, 321st Artillery is 
traveling to Kalispell, Montana, today and will be deployed on the 
Troy South Fire in the Kootenai National Forest.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 725 crews (+ 16), 
7,140 overhead (+ 662), 1,292 engines (+ 75), and 251 helicopters 
(+ 14).

Very high to extreme fire danger indices were reported in 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 (62,000 acres, 5% containment, no 
estimated containment date, 724 FF/OH). Over 90% of the park has 
burned, but all structures have been protected, including those in the 
headquarters area and a historic log cabin. On three occasions, engine 
crews had to foam the building, which has a shake shingle roof, then 
had to leave to deal with other threats. Each time they returned, they 
found the building undamaged. The fire no longer threatens any park 
buildings. The prescribed fires and thinning projects conducted around 
the headquarters area buildings in 1996 and 1999 contributed greatly 
to the protection of those structures. This was an instance in which 
the resource being protected - the cave - proved to be an additional 
asset. Some of the valuable items in the park's administrative offices 
were placed inside the cave, 270 feet below the surface, to protect 
them while the fire was burning in the area.
 
Yellowstone NP (WY) - Spruce Complex (5,630 acres, 0% containment, no 
estimated containment date, 49 FF/OH). The complex consists of the 
Plateau, Moose, Unlucky, Boundary and several smaller fires. Winds 
have been blowing in the area; acreage increases are expected today. 
All entrances to the park are open. 

Grand Teton NP (WY) - Teton Complex (13,547 acres, 0% containment, no 
estimated containment date, Type II team, 443 FF/OH). Crews continue 
to make progress on the Glade Fire. Structural protection plans are in 
place for the Buffalo Valley and Pacific Creek areas, threatened by 
the Enos Fire; some fuel reduction operations are in progress. The 
Wilcox Fire continues to spot and advance slowly to the west and 
north. The weather has increased activity on all the fires.  Most 
roads, hotels, campgrounds, stores and trails in the park remain open, 
however, providing regular visitor services and recreational 
opportunities. Backcountry users should check on current restrictions 
at local ranger stations and visitor centers. Fire restrictions remain 
in effect: 

o       No open fires are permitted.  
o       Smoking is allowed only in an enclosed vehicle or building, in 
        developed recreation areas, or while stopped in a three foot 
        diameter area cleared of grass and brush. 
o       Chainsaws, generators, or other internal combustion engines 
        are allowed only with an approved and working spark arrestor. 
o       Due to a fire near Enos Lake, the Teton Wilderness is 
        currently closed. 

Theodore Roosevelt NP (ND) - Blacktail Complex (1,100 acres, 20% 
containment, full containment expected by August 31st, 70 FF/OH). 
Lightning started the four fires in the complex on August 26th. The 
fires are burning in badlands; steep terrain, limited access, and dry 
fuels are hindering containment efforts. The largest of the four fires 
is the Painted Canyon Fire. The Maahdaahhey Trail and Scenic Drive 
Loop in the South Unit of the park have been closed. 

Glacier NP (MT) - Parke Peak Fire (2,100 acres, 75% containment, full 
containment expected by October 15th, four FF/OH). Fire activity has 
increased due to higher winds. Some spotting is occurring along Kintla 
Creek. Open flames are visible up to the glacier.

Glacier NP (MT) - Sharon Fire (450 acres, 0% containment, no estimated 
containment date, 10 FF/OH). The fire started on August 25th and 
burned about 30 acres that day. High winds pushed the fire in all 
directions on the 26th, expanding it to the current acreage. 
Protection measures have been taken at three backcountry cabin sites.

Great Basin NP (NV) - Phillips Ranch Fire [2,600 acres, 0% 
containment, no estimated containment date, 70 FF/OH). Crews mopped up 
along the west side of the blaze as the fire continued to smolder in 
stumps and duff.

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

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for gusty winds, low relative 
humidity and dry fuels for western Wyoming. 

A Pacific trough moving along the Canadian border near Montana will 
move eastward, and winds should subside today. However, dry conditions 
and a tighter pressure gradient will cause afternoon gustiness along 
ridge tops in the northern mountains. Monsoon moisture will remain 
over the southwestern desert states and the east and central Great 
Basin, bringing wet thunderstorms to those areas.

Ridge top winds will be west to southwest at 10 to 20 mph with gusts 
to 30 mph in the northwestern United States. Further south, winds will 
be upslope or southwest at speeds under 20 mph, with stronger gusts 
near thunderstorms.

Temperatures will be in the 70's to mid 80's in the mountains, mid 
80's to 90's in the lower elevations, and 100 to 110 in the hottest 
deserts.

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, 8/28; Bill Gabbert, FMO, 
WICA, 8/27; Bruce Kaye, PIO, THRO, 8/27]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

St. Croix NSR (WI) - Zebra Mussels

Reproducing zebra mussels have been found within the lower six miles 
of the river following eight years of successful prevention through 
the efforts of an interagency task force. The zebra mussel, a 
black-and-white striped bivalve mollusk, came to North American waters 
from Europe in international shipping ballast water. Since first 
discovered in Lake St. Clair in June, 1988, the zebra mussel has 
spread rapidly throughout the Great Lakes and the Arkansas, 
Cumberland, Hudson, Illinois, Mississippi, Mohawk, Niagara, Ohio, St. 
Lawrence, and Tennessee Rivers. The mussel is expected to spread to 
other freshwater bodies and waterways throughout North America in the 
next several decades. The zebra mussel is clogging power plant, 
industrial and public drinking water intakes, fouling boat hulls, and 
disrupting aquatic ecosystems throughout its range. Economic impacts 
of the zebra mussel in North America over the next decade are expected 
to be in the billions of dollars. Zebra mussels are fingernail-size 
clams with yellowish or brownish shells marked with wavy bands. Their 
larvae are too small to be seen, but live for weeks in any water left 
in boats. As zebra mussels grow, they form clumps that damage boats, 
kill native clams, foul beaches with stinky razor-sharp shells, and 
clog water intake pipes. The Fish and Wildlife Service found juvenile 
zebra mussels in a sample taken near Prescott in July; in August, 
juveniles in small numbers were found on all but two of the 14 samples 
taken between Bayport Marina and Prescott. In mid-August, park and FWS 
divers searched the river bottom, native mussel beds, bridge piers, 
docks and boats from Stillwater to Prescott. Virtually all of the 
1,100 boats at six marinas were checked for zebra mussels. Three had 
them attached to their hulls. A subsequent dive between Kinnickinnic 
Narrows and Prescott turned up juvenile zebra mussels on rocks, trash 
and native mussels. All measured a quarter inch or less in length, 
indicating that they were young from this year and that they were 
produced in the river. The estimated density at one location at 
Prescott was about 100 per square yard. Additional surveys will be 
conducted during the first week of September; a primary objective will 
be to determine how far upstream reproduction has occurred.  [Byron 
Karns, SACN, with supplemental information on the mussel from "Canyon 
Country Gazette," GLCA]

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - The park has a vacancy announcement out 
for a permanent GS-5/7/9 law enforcement ranger. All citizens of the 
U.S. may apply. The position requires fluency in Spanish, current 
First Responder certification, and the ability to obtain an NPS level 
II commission upon appointment. It closes on September 12th. See USA 
Jobs for details. [Karl Pearson, ORPI]

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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.

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