NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, December 12, 2013
INCIDENTS
Intermountain Region
Parks Recovery From September Storms Continues
A storm system that moved slowly through the Rocky Mountain and Southwestern regions of the country in mid-September caused major flooding and damage in two national parks - Guadalupe Mountains and Rocky Mountain. Although three months have since passed, recovery operations continue in both areas.
Rocky Mountain NP
Damages to the historic Old Fall River Road have proven extensive, so the road will remain closed to vehicles through 2014. Due to its winding, narrow nature, the scenic 9.4-mile route is one-way only and normally opens from the fourth of July to early October. It follows the steep slope of Mount Chapin's south face.
It is unknown at this time whether hikers and bicyclists will be allowed on the road next year. Park staff are working with the Federal Highway Administration on assessments of the Alluvial Fan area and Old Fall River Road. Cost estimates and design concepts are still being determined.
Repair work has been completed in the Wild Basin parking lot and the Twin Sisters Road and it is nearing completion on the McGraw Ranch Bridge and the Aspenglen Bridge. Known damage to trails and pedestrian access are mainly in the Fall River, Lumpy Ridge, Bear Lake, Northfork, Twin Sisters and Wild Basin areas. Some trails remain closed to stock use.
Due to the flood, backcountry travelers are being advised that they may find missing foot bridges, missing trail segments, uneven trail surfaces, unstable slopes, falling trees due to soil moisture, rutted trails, damaged water bars and steps, difficult water crossings, and missing directional signs.
Guadalupe Mountains NP
Much of the park sustained rain and flood damage during September's storms and flashfloods, and most trails sustained damage, with many areas being washed out or covered with debris.
Park staff continues to stabilize and repair the damage from the storm and flashfloods. Approximately 97% of park trails have been stabilized to date and are now open. The park brought in 10 members of the elite Mexican firefighting crew, Los Diablos, which has enjoyed a strong relationship with the National Park Service for more than 20 years, to supplement park trail crews.
The park has reopened the Frijole Trail, Guadalupe Peak Horse Trail and Devil's Hall Trail, resulting in restored access to high country trails and most backcountry campgrounds. Water has also been restored to Frijole Ranch, including the public corrals.
Although many areas have reopened, closed trails and areas include:
El Capitan Trail (between the Salt Basin Overlook and Shumard Canyon)
Bear Canyon Trail
Williams Road (part of which remains under water) and the Salt Basin Dunes
Shumard Canyon Backcountry Campground
Trail stabilization and repairs continue. Equipment is being utilized outside of the park's wilderness area, on weekdays only, while hand crews work on trails throughout the park on weekdays and weekends. Park staff and other park volunteers are serving as flaggers to ensure that visitors are able to safely pass working trail crews and equipment.
[Karl Pierce, Guadalupe Mountains; Kyle Patterson, Rocky Mountain]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's InsideNPS. To see the full text, 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 Morning Report web page ( HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/" http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/):
Biological Resource Management Division - The NPS and US Fish and Wildlife Service have undertaken a new initiative that facilitates NPS access to USFWS experts in ecotoxicology and to contaminant program contract laboratory services.
Natural Resource Stewardship and Science - Dr. Raymond Sauvajot has been named deputy associate director of budget and policy for the Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Directorate. He will assume his new duties in Washington early next year.
Outer Banks Group - Ranger Warren Wrenn will retire on December 27th after nearly 37 years with the National Park Service. He has worked in Outer Banks Group parks since 1980.
Bandelier NM - On December 6th, former Bandelier ranger and current county deputy Robert Baron died of injuries suffered when a car slid off a highway and hit him during a snowstorm. Robert's wife Krysia was also an NPS ranger.
* * * *
The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
--- ### ---