NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

INCIDENTS

Hawaii Volcanoes NP

USGS, Park Staff Mobilize In Response To Continuing Eruption

The eruption that began last Saturday continues on the east rift of Kilauea Volcano. Lava spatters sporadically to heights of 80 feet from a series of fissures that extend more than a mile between Napau Crater and Pu‘u ‘O‘o. Around the vents, the ground trembles and molten rock puddles. In response to the change in volcanic conditions, nearly 30 park personnel have rallied to support this major incident, meeting and planning for the first time in the park's new Visitor Emergency Operations Center. Rangers remain vigilant. Seismicity is ongoing, the volcano's summit continues to deflate, and magma migrates underground beneath roads, trails, and campsites. Most of the park remains open, but temporary closures help ensure that hikers and cars don't get trapped on the ‘wrong side' of an outbreak. USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists have seized this opportunity to collect lava samples, map a changing landscape, and measure surface deformation. Instruments record sulfur dioxide gas emissions - a breathtaking 7,000 tons a day. Firefighters gauge the threat of lava-ignited wildfires. Nearly 200 acres have been burned and buried. Fortunately for now, drenching rains offer a reprieve from potential flare-ups in native rain forest. Public and media interest has been keen and visitation is up. Because the eruption is remote and inaccessible, rangers post the latest information, photos, and videos at Kilauea Visitor Center and Jaggar Museum. A HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/NCcam/" webcam view is also available online. It's a phenomenal time, and for some, déjà vu. The volcanic event is located where it all began 28 years ago. On January 3, 1983, Kilauea's ongoing east rift eruption opened in this very spot. For further information, click on these links:

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/activity/kilaueastatus.php" eruption updates

Hawaiian Volcano Observatory HYPERLINK "http://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/cams/" volcano webcams

Hawaii Volcanoes NP HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm" closure information

[Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer]

Lake Meredith NRA

Rangers Deal With Major Annual Gathering

During the weekend of February 25th, the 38th Annual Canadian River Mud Bogs took place on adjacent state lands just outside of the park's Rosita Flats OHV area, one of two designated off-road areas within Lake Meredith NRA. This event draws close to 14,000 people annually, with a large number of them recreating in Rosita Flats. This year, the park stepped up law enforcement in an effort to decrease visitor injuries during the event. As a result, only two visitors were transported to the hospital after a rollover accident. A total of 95 class C citations were issued during the weekend, the majority of them alcohol offenses. There were also numerous Class B charges for possession of marijuana and one felony charge for possession of cocaine. Rangers also dealt with a domestic assault and a 10-acre wildfire that damaged a fifth wheel recreational vehicle. NPS rangers were assisted by two BLM rangers and the park's fire staff, whose quick actions prevented the spread of the fast moving wildfire on a day that saw over 75,000 acres burned within the surrounding area. [Dale Culver, Operations Chief]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):

Office of Communications - On February 23rd, Secretary Salazar and Director Jarvis officially kicked off the NPS commemoration of the Civil War Sesquicentennial with an event at the Ford's Theatre Museum in Washington. Details of the Service's program were also announced.

Park Cultural Resources - Projects in Parks, a series that highlights archeological research in national parks, has posted a new report entitled “Making Prehistoric Music: Musical Instruments from Ancestral Puebloan Sites.” Photo.

Independence NHP - A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on March 14th for Ranger Julie Weir, who was killed on February 24th in a motor vehicle collision. Photo.

National Parks of New York Harbor - The National Park Service has selected Shirley McKinney as the new superintendent for African Burial Ground National Monument in lower Manhattan. McKinney follows Tara Morrison, the park's first superintendent, who is leaving to manage Rock Creek Park.

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of Communications and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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