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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Tuesday, October 3, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Point Reyes NS Rangers Extirpate 17,000 Marijuana Plants Over the three-day period from September 18th to September 20th, rangers and Marin County deputies, working in conjunction with an NPS special agent, the California National Guard, and the Marin Municipal Water District, conducted further marijuana investigation and eradication operations in the park's Bolinas Ridge area. Three plantations were entered and approximately 17,000 female plants were removed. Harvesting had begun in several of the sites, and some processed marijuana was also discovered and seized. So far this year, rangers and officers have discovered and removed over 43,000 female plants and 35,000 male plants at a dozen different locations. Some significant leads have also been developed and pursued regarding the growers. The areas under cultivation suffered extensive resource damage from the growing operations. Growers are killing wildlife, diverting streams that contain threatened species of fish, using harmful pesticides and other poisons, and cutting down trees and other vegetation to allow greater sunlight into the marijuana plantations. Weapons and ammunition have been found in many of the sites, including .357 ammo and bullets for an AK-47. A comprehensive resource assessment is being conducted, which will be forwarded to the US Attorney's Office for use when suspects are identified and prosecuted. [Colin Smith, Chief Ranger] Great Smoky Mountains NP Contractor ATV Accident With Four Injuries Four Motorola employees who were installing the park's new digital radio system were riding a Polaris Ranger ATV up the Sterling Gap trail on the morning of September 14th when it slid off the trail onto the soft, muddy shoulder. Three of them were seated on a bench seat in the front and the fourth was riding in the bed (the machine is designed to safely carry just two people on the bench seat). All four remained on the ATV while the driver attempted to back the machine onto the trail. The ATV went about ten feet, then slid further over the edge and rolled over an embankment. The person in the bed was ejected almost immediately near the top of the slope; the remaining three people were ejected at different points as the ATV repeatedly rolled over down the next 100 feet down the slope. It then continued rolling down the embankment, finally coming to rest about 360 feet down the slope from the trail. All four were injured to varying degrees and the ATV was extensively damaged. None of the riders was wearing a helmet or seatbelt at the time of the accident. The park's radio technician was at the repeater site, about a mile from the scene of the accident, and advised dispatch after receiving a radio call from the contractors reporting what had happened to them. Rangers, members of a nearby park trail crew, and Haywood County and Fines Creek rescue squad volunteers responded. The driver and front right passenger were in the worst shape, with possible head, neck and internal injuries. They were treated, assisted up the slope with the aid of a 3:1 mechanical advantage haul system, placed in litters on ATV's, and taken to an ambulance waiting at the trailhead. They were then taken to a landing zone about five miles away, transferred to a helicopter, and flown to Asheville Regional Hospital. Both were admitted, treated and released the next day. The other two contractors were treated and released. The injuries consisted of sprains, contusions, abrasions and bruising of varying types and degrees. [Rick Brown, Acting Chief Ranger] MEDIA Channel Islands NP - To the dismay of environmentalists and a local congresswoman, private hunting of deer and elk will continue indefinitely on Santa Rosa Island - closing off the scenic isle to the public for several months a year - under a last-minute addition to a defense-spending bill passed Friday by the House of Representatives and poised for Senate approval. HYPERLINK "http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2006/09/30/news/centralcoast/news10.txt" http://www.santamariatimes.com/articles/2006/09/30/news/centralcoast/news10.txt NEWS WASO - The FY07 ordering period for uniforms began on October 1st. A number of new items have been added to the program over the last few months. These and other items can now be ordered. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=4818" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=4818 Great Sand Dunes NP/Yosemite NP - Naturalization ceremonies were held in both parks in late September. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=4824" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=4824 HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=4822" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=4822 PEOPLE National Trails System - The Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association (KCAHTA) recently presented its award of merit to John Conoboy, chief of interpretation and resource management for the National Trails System - Santa Fe. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1332" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1332 * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |