|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Thursday, December 13, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Olympic NP Storm Damage Keeps Hurricane Ridge Road Closed Damage to Hurricane Ridge Road increased this week as the slope beneath the road continued to erode following last week's record-breaking storm. The road will remain closed this weekend as crews install Jersey barriers and traffic safety signs and continue monitoring the stability of the road and the slope beneath it. Initial assessments made last week revealed damage to the road shoulder; an inspection on Tuesday showed that the road itself is being undercut. The most heavily damaged site is located just above the Switchback Trailhead, about two miles below Hurricane Ridge. A total of three sites along the road have been reduced to one lane. The damage was initially caused by a major slide near the Switchback Trail that brought mud and debris onto the road. The slide caused water to overflow the road, leading to extensive erosion and slumping along the downhill edge. A road engineer from the Federal Highways Administration was to join park maintenance officials on Wednesday to inspect the three areas of slope failure and road damage and develop a strategy for repair. Other Olympic National Park roads are also closed due to storm damage. A summary follows: Sol Duc Valley - The Sol Duc Road remains closed due to a mudslide about a half-mile south of Salmon Cascades, along with downed trees. Hoh Road - The Hoh Road is closed at milepost 7.8 within Jefferson County (outside the park boundary), where one lane of the road was washed out. Minor damage has also occurred within the park. Queets - The Queets Road is closed due to water damage and downed trees. The park road crew is working this week to restore access to the Queets. Quinault Valley - The North Shore Road is open from the Highway 101 intersection to just past the Clark Spur Road. Beyond that point the road is closed to all traffic due to downed trees and other damage. The South Shore Quinault Road is closed at the park boundary; 400 feet of roadway were washed away by the December 3rd flooding and many trees are down. The Graves Creek Road is closed with severe damage at six locations, including areas where the road is completely gone. The North Fork Road is littered with downed trees and remains closed. Staircase - While the Staircase area is closed for the winter season, park crews have made an initial damage assessment. The Staircase access road outside the park boundary is covered with gravel and debris as a result of last week's storm and flooding. Within the park, both the Staircase Road and Staircase Campground sustained damage from flooding along the North Fork Skokomish River. Elwha, Lake Crescent, Mora and Ozette Areas - These areas remain open. Visitors are urged to use caution when traveling through the park, though, and to come prepared for a variety of weather conditions. They're also advised to be prepared for damaged trails and downed trees. Groups and individuals interested in volunteering to help the park with storm recovery are urged to check the park's website. Once damage assessments are complete, volunteer opportunities will be posted on the park's volunteer page at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/olym" http://www.nps.gov/olym. For current road information, people should call the Olympic National Park recorded road and weather information line at 360-565-3131. An online photo gallery of storm damage is posted at HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/current-closures.htm" http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/current-closures.htm . [Barb Maynes, Public Affairs Officer] Little River Canyon NP Body Found In Canyon While patrolling the rim road on the evening of December 6th, seasonal ranger Jeston Fisher saw a fire in the canyon and asked for assistance in investigating it from Desoto State Park ranger Josh Hughes (the state park abuts Little River). As they got close to the scene, they heard shots and also saw what appeared to be a body burning. They moved to a safer area and contacted chief ranger Kim Kirk. Ranger Jimmy Dunn was called out to handle the investigation. A search of the scene by an Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) crime lab investigator led to the discovery of a .25 caliber handgun where the victim had been lying. The body was found a few feet from the fire, which evidence indicated the victim built. No positive identification had yet been made at the time of the report - an autopsy has been conducted, but the cause of death has not yet been released. Investigating are the ABI, the FBI and Cherokee County. [Kimberly Kirk, Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external): Rocky Mountain NP - The park's final elk and vegetation management plan and environmental impact statement was released on Tuesday, capping seven years of research followed by four years of planning. It addresses the problem of elk overpopulation and overgrazing, which deprives other wildlife of the important habitat they need. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6064" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6064 Cultural Resources - The 2006 cultural resources report, entitled Preserving Our Heritage: In America's Communities and National Parks, has been released and is now available. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6065" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6065 Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - Chip Davis, special agent with the WASO Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, has announced his retirement, effective January 3rd. Chip worked for 30 years with the NPS and for a total of 35 years in state and federal parks. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1764" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1764 Heritage Preservation Assistance Program - Ed W. Clark, deputy chief ranger at Shenandoah, will be serving on a detail as the national coordinator for national heritage areas, providing budget, legislative and policy support to the 37 congressionally designated heritage areas. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1759" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1759 NPS Alumni - Henry Illenberger, a veteran park ranger who worked in 16 NPS areas, passed away on December 2nd. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1763" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1763 * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828). --- ### --- |