02-536
Biscayne National Park (FL)
Follow-up on Columbus Day Weekend Incidents
Additional information has been received on the fatal boating
accidents first reported in the October 22 Morning Report and on other
incidents that occurred during the annual "party on the bay" (as it's
come to be known) on Columbus Day weekend. This year, there were several
boat collisions and near misses as people left the area on Saturday
night. One occurred when a good Samaritan stopped to help a boater who
was having engine problems. As he began towing the second boat, a third
boat hit it from behind. This caused the second boat to go airborne and
land on the stern of the first. The boat also landed on a passenger in
the rear of the boat, who died as a result of severe trauma. Three
others sustained serious injuries, and several more had to be pulled
from the water after their boat capsized. Later that evening, a 28-foot
Donzi "go-fast" boat hit a number of other boats while crossing the bay.
The Coast Guard received a call from the captain of one of them, who
said that his boat had been hit by the Donzi, that he'd been knocked
into the water, and that the Donzi had kept on going. The Florida Fish
and Wildlife Commission received a call from a visitor reporting that
the Donzi had hit their boat with a glancing blow, then kept going. On
Sunday morning, the Donzi was found onshore in a dense grove of
mangroves. It had created a 100-foot-long path through the shallow bay
bottom, then cut a 70-foot swath through the mangroves. The body of one
man was found on board, pinned under the console. Evidence indicated
that he'd tried to push the console off him. The identifications for
several other people were found on board, but only one other body was
located. Another was found in the middle of the bay on Monday. It's
believed that the driver of the Donzi was ejected into the bay in the
first collision and subsequently drowned. The boat then continued on, as
the passengers on board were unable to stop it. It then hit the second
boat before running full speed into the mangroves. Also occurring during
the weekend were 17 arrests for boating under the influence, five stolen
vessels (one of them recovered), two arrests for assault with a deadly
weapon, five other incidents involving weapons, one sinking, a boat fire
in which 30 people had to be rescued from the water, two assaults, 13
major vessel groundings with related damage to seagrass beds, three
search and rescue operations, one incident involving lewd and lascivious
behavior, three EMS incidents (including a woman who was run over by a
boat and cut by its propeller), 100 boating safety violations, and one
pursuit of a vessel that was smuggling 25 Cubans into the U.S. The
latter required the use of pepper spray to subdue three of the people on
board. The park continues to move this event toward traditional national
park activities. To that end, a visitor contact barge was introduced,
staffed by interpreters. It proved to be a rallying point for lost
swimmers. Maintenance staff marked the Featherbeds, a shallow seagrass
nursery, with 25 pencil buoys to keep visitors out of the shallow areas;
they also provided on-scene marine mechanical assistance. Resource
management and administrative staff guarded the Featherbeds to help
prevent damage to the area. Along with this concerted effort by all park
staff, Biscayne received help from rangers from Everglades, Big Cypress,
Glen Canyon, Yosemite, Gulf Islands, Christiansted, Shenandoah and
Assateague Island; they were also helped by Miami-Dade PD, Miami-Dade
Fire Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife, the Coast Guard, Customs, and
staff from area marinas. The event is an excellent example of a park
working cooperatively and successfully with other NPS units and area
partners.
[Submitted by Holly Rife, Chief Ranger ]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
Yosemite National Park (CA)
Park Fire Situation
The Gin Flat Rx Fire began on September 27. The importance of this burn cannot be overemphasized. There's virtually no record of any fires within the 7,300-acre burn unit over the last 50 years, so heavy fuel loads are present. Some prescribed burns were conducted in the area in the past, but they never penetrated the more thickly vegetated north aspects of the unit. Less than a half of the unit will be burned this year in order to mitigate smoke impacts. When burned, this unit will provide critical community protection and restore forest health by thinning small trees and clearing surface fuels. The area also lies between the park's natural fire zone and the more flammable forests at mid-elevations and will provide a natural fire break for future lightning fires in the high country. A total of 3,229 acres had been treated through Friday. About 30 park employees and interagency trainees from the Fire Use Training Academy in Albuquerque are working the fire. The trail between Lukens Lake and Harden Lake remains closed due to the presence of many fire-weakened trees. A number of lightning fires from the summer deemed beneficial to park resources continue to burn as well. The biggest of these is the 1,860-acre Wolf Fire, located north and west of the White Wolf developed area. The other six fires range in size from 38 to 175 acres. All are in the high country and are being regularly monitored.
[Submitted by Prescribed Fire Office]
Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Park Fire Situation
The park completed four prescribed fires during October:
- Rogers Springs Rx Fire (8 acres) - Near mile marker 40 on Northshore Road between Echo Bay and Overton Beach.
- Pine Valley Rx Fire (293 acres) - Five miles east of Mount Dellenbaugh.
- Green Springs East Rx Fire (265 acres) - Five miles southeast of Mount Dellenbaugh.
- Pleasant Valley East Rx Fire (146 acres) - Two miles west of Yellow John Mountain and immediately east of Pleasant Valley Meadow.
The goal of the Rogers Springs Fire was to eradicate tamarisk, a non-native plant that invades riverbanks and lands surrounding springs, and to permit native plants to replace them. The objectives of the other three fires were to reduce hazardous fuel concentrations and to promote increased plant diversity, particularly in native grasses. The burns were successful and met burn management objectives. Crews at Lake Mead were assisted by firefighters from BLM and from Zion, Grand Canyon and Great Basin National Parks.
[Submitted by Karla Norris, Public Affairs Officer]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Saguaro National Park (AZ)
GS-11 District Ranger
The park is currently recruiting for a GS-11 district ranger for its Rincon Mountain District (eastside) in Tucson, Arizona. The position is covered by 6c. The vacancy is currently advertised on USA jobs, and closes this Friday (November 8). The individual selected will manage a great traditional ranger program, including active front and backcountry operations and encompassing visitor use and recreation management planning, law enforcement, emergency medical services, search and rescue, wilderness use and management, wildland fire and aviation operations, resource impact monitoring and rehabilitation, and the management of emergency incidents and special events. This is an outstanding opportunity to work in a field-oriented district ranger position. For further information, contact soon-to-be chief ranger Bob Love at 970-586-1526 or acting chief ranger Chuck Scott at 520-733-5130.
[Bob Love, Soon-To-Be Chief Ranger]
[Submitted by Bob Love]
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine (MD)
GS-5 or GS-7 LE Ranger
The park is seeking applicants for a term GS-025-5 or GS-025-7 (depending on experience) LE ranger. The person hired will serve as the park's primary field law enforcement officer, providing law enforcement and emergency services for this busy, urban park located near downtown Baltimore. He/she will be responsible for security, counter-terrorism, event management, and the park's special use permit operation. There is no government housing; local rents range from $400 to $700. Prospective applicants should contact chief ranger Charlie Strickfaden at 410-962-4290 ext. 224.
[Submitted by Charles Strickfaden, Chief Ranger]
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail (IA,ID,IL,KS,MO,MT,ND,NE,OR,SD,WA)
Detail Opportunities
Dates: 11/01/2002 - 05/18/2003
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail staff is offering detail opportunities for NPS employees who are interested and available to tour with the Corps of Discovery II mobile exhibit. Multiple details will be filled in the areas of interpretation, education, law enforcement, maintenance/logistics and volunteer management. These details will be filled ASAP and will last up to six months. Extensive travel will be required.
Please submit your name and area of interest to Betty Boyko via email no later than 11/7/02. Betty will forward your interest on to the selecting official to begin interviews and supervisory clearances.
A one-page overview of the mobile exhibit is available via email request to candice_shockley@nps.gov
[Submitted by Betty Boyko, betty_boyko@nps.gov, 402-514-9311]
Great Basin National Park (NV)
Administrative Officer, GS-0341-9/11
Dates: 10/25/2002 - 11/15/2002
Great Basin National Park is recruiting for an Administrative Officer. Incumbent serves as the Administrative Officer with responsibility for planning, directing, and managing all administrative functions including budget formulation and execution, contracting and property management, personnel management, financial management, information management and telecommunications services, internal controls, housing and interagency and cooperative agreements. Provides administrative advice and assistance to the Superintendent and other division chiefs.
Great Basin National Park is an isolated park located in east central Nevada just off U.S.Highway 6 & 50 near the Utah border. Park elevation ranges from 5,500' to 13,063'. Summer temperatures may reach 100 degrees at the lower elevation and mid 80's in the higher elevations. Winter temperatures may reach -10 degrees in the higher elevations to mild conditions of 30-40's in the valley. Though the park is located in the middle of the Great Basin Desert, it is a mountain park with beautiful streams, lakes, and ancient bristlecones pine groves. Baker is a small town, population approximately 100, has two cafes/bars, two motels, two gas stations and small grocery store/deli, school (kindergarten through 6th grade in Baker, junior high and high school in EskDale, UT and Ely, NV), volunteer fire department and EMS. Ely, Nevada, located 60 miles to the west, has medical and dental facilities, churches, banks, airport, and other types of services. Government housing is available. Rental housing in the immediate area is available but very limited. Additional housing opportunities can be found in Ely.
This position is currently being advertised on USAJOBS.
[Submitted by Amy Williams, amy_williams@nps.gov, (775)234-7331 x.204]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.