NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Monday, April 23, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-155 - Effigy Mounds NM (IA) - Flooding; Closure

Due to a river level of over 23 feet and flooding of local roads, the 
park has been closed to both staff and visitors since last Thursday. 
The state highway leading to the park was closed to vehicles by the 
Iowa National Guard and by the county sheriff a half mile north and 
three miles south of the park's entrance and visitor center. The 
Mississippi River at that point normally flows at between eight and 
ten feet. It was expected to crest at 23.7 feet sometime on Saturday, 
exceeding the highest river level during the 1993 flood. The park will 
remain closed until highway access is restored. [Ken Block, EFMO, 
4/19]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

No new information. Please check the NPS Fire Management Program 
Center web page (www.fire.nps.gov) for further information on fire 
plan projects.

Park Fires

Everglades NP (FL) - A large fire started east of the park on the 
afternoon of Saturday, April 21st. High winds and low relative 
humidity caused a rapid spread toward the park, so the park's fire 
crew was called out. A firing operation was begun to consume fuels 
between the main fire and the park's boundary, which at that location 
consisted of a north-south canal. While the firing operation was 
conducted on the canal's east side, a fire engine and crew were 
positioned on the west side within the park to monitor any spotting. 
Large amounts of dust, smoke and burning embers were carried into the 
park by winds, but no ignitions occurred. Severe fire behavior was 
observed when melaluca trees growing along the canal caught fire. 
Crews worked through the night and yesterday to ensure that the fire 
stayed out of the park. The cause of the fire and total acreage were 
unknown at the time of the report.

Park Fire Danger

Very High       Carlsbad Caverns NP, Guadalupe Mountains NP
High            Hawaii Volcanoes NP, Everglades NP

[NPS Situation Summary Report, 4/22]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Mesa Verde NP (CO) - Rovilla Ellis, the executive director of the Mesa 
Verde Museum Association, will be retiring on May 5th. Rovilla began 
her career with the association in 1972 as a part-time bookkeeper and 
moved up through the ranks to become executive director. During her 
years with MVMA, association revenues grew from $54,000 to well over 
$900,000 annually. She has worked for five park superintendents during 
her years at Mesa Verde. A retirement party will be held at 6 p.m. on 
May 5th at the Anasazi Restaurant. If you plan on attending, please 
RSVP to either Shirley Jones or Tracey Hobson at 970-529-4445. [Nancie 
Ames, MEVE]

Biscayne NP (FL) - The park has announced an opening for a GS-12 chief 
ranger. Biscayne has an active LE and protection program, with a high 
level of cooperation with other LE agencies and the U.S. Attorney's 
Office. Because 95% of the park is water, most patrols are done by 
boat. The park also has an extensive dive program. The job is 
advertised under merit promotion (BISC-01-04) and is open Servicewide 
until May 22nd. For more information, contact either superintendent 
Linda Canzanelli or assistant superintendent Monika Mayr via cc:Mail 
or at 305-230-1144 ext 3002. [Linda Canzanelli, BISC]

ADDITIONAL SECTIONS

Regular sections not appearing today but available at all times for 
submissions:

o       Natural/Cultural Resource Management - Significant 
        developments in these fields.
o       Interpretation/Visitor Services - Significant developments in 
        these fields.
o       Operational Notes - Any information of consequence to the 
        field on operational matters.
o       Memoranda - Memoranda from WASO to the field on all 
        operational matters.
o       Interchange - Requests or offers from any park or office for 
        materials, information or any other operational needs.
o       Hot Links - Web addresses for NPS-related sites.
o       Film at 11 - Reports on current or upcoming print or 
        electronic media stories on the NPS.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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.

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