The Morning Report

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

INCIDENTS

Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
Rangers Assist In Recovery Of Bodies From Rio Grande

On Wednesday, April 29th, rangers were asked to join a mutual aid response at the Amistad International Dam, where a construction accident had occurred.

Upon arrival, they found that a craned had overturned and was partially dangling over the edge of the dam on the US side. Witnesses confirmed that a large window washing-type basket containing two International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) employees had disconnected from the crane when it tipped over and plummeted into the Rio Grande River, approximately 300 feet below.

Over the next two days, park divers/rangers Drew McGahan and Patrick Reimann assisted in the SCUBA search and recovery operation and helped recover the two missing IBWC employees.

This was a multi-agency effort, managed under ICS. Also participating were personnel from the International Boundary Water Commission, U.S. Border Patrol, Val Verde County Sheriff's Office, Texas DPS, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and several other local agencies. The Val Verde County Sherriff's Office and OSHA are investigating.

[Submitted by Regina Klein Dissler, Chief Ranger]

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (PA)
Rangers Intervene In Suicide Attempt

On the afternoon of Friday, May 15th, park dispatch received a call from the Pike County 911 Center advising that the vehicle of 22-year-old woman, thought to be suicidal, had been found in the Milford Beach Parking Lot. Pike County 911 also advised that the woman's parents were in route to Milford Beach.

As rangers were responding, further information was obtained indicating that the woman had been found by friends, but the exact location was unknown. Rangers arrived on scene at Milford Beach shortly thereafter, approximately the same time as the parents.

After a brief search of the area, rangers were able to find the woman, who had cut her upper forearm with an Exacto knife, causing a three inch laceration. A friend of the woman had succeeded in taking the knife away from her prior to the rangers arrival and had thrown it into the river.

The woman cooperated with rangers and was transported to the hospital via ambulance for treatment and mental health evaluation.

[Submitted by Joe Hinkes, Law Enforcement Operations Supervisor]

NEWS AND NOTES

Crater Lake National Park (OR)
Trout Restoration Project Earns National Recognition

Twenty five years ago, Crater Lake National Park ecologist Mark Buktenica began working to restore a dwindling population of bull trout in Sun Creek. At the time, the park's only native fish faced probable extirpation.

Now, more than two decades later, the bull trout population has expanded dramatically, and the Sun Creek restoration project has grown into a watershed-scale partnership involving multiple state and federal agencies, conservation groups, and private landowners. The collaborative project earned recognition recently when the National Fish Habitat Partnership named Sun Creek one of ten "Waters to Watch" for 2015.

The National Fish Habitat Partnership is an organization of state and federal fish and wildlife agencies and professional groups committed to protecting, restoring, and enhancing the nation's fish and aquatic communities through partnerships. The group compiles its "Waters to Watch" list annually to highlight rivers, lakes, estuaries and other aquatic systems where diverse stakeholders are working together to benefit fish habitat and fish populations.

The recognition of Sun Creek comes as project partners begin work this year to rebuild a 3-mile segment of the stream through state forest and private cattle ranches downstream of the national park. This part of the stream was diverted for irrigation in the late 1800s, preventing bull trout and other native fish such as redband trout from moving between Sun Creek and the larger Wood River.

The project will reconstruct a natural channel through the area and improve the efficiency of irrigation, creating high quality trout habitat, increasing instream flow, and allowing the expanding bull trout population in Sun Creek to connect with the Wood River.

"This project extends the benefits of our native fish restoration work across the national park boundary to a larger landscape scale," said David Hering, park fisheries biologist. "Ultimately, we hope the habitat improvements will allow bull trout to move out of Sun Creek and colonize other historically occupied streams in the basin."

"It is extremely gratifying to see this exciting project realized," said Buktenica, who continues to oversee the NPS contributions to the project. "It is the final crescendo of a 25-year effort by project partners to recover this imperiled population."

Channel restoration efforts on private land are being led by the Klamath Basin Rangeland Trust, a regional non-profit conservation group. The organization is coordinating a diverse group of partners that includes the Western Native Trout Initiative, Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Crater Lake National Park, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Department of Forestry, Oregon Water Resources Department, The Klamath Tribes, and two private land owners.

[Submitted by Mac Brock, Mac_Brock@nps.gov, (541)594-3071]

More Information...

Cuyahoga Valley National Park (OH)
Passing Of Mark Woollams

Student Park Employee Mark Woollams passed away on May 5th of natural causes.

Mark was hired as a dispatcher in November 2005 and had worked for the park ever since. He was an English teacher with ECOT and was working on his PhD in education psychology at Kent State University.

Mark had a true love for Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the National Park Service and enjoyed walking the park trails with his dog.

For a complete obituary, click on the link below.

[Submitted by Mary Pat Doorley]

More Information...

Lake Mead National Recreation Area - NV, AZ
Park Staff Join Federal Bike Challenge

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is participating in National Bike Month by asking employees to join the Federal Bike Challenge.

The Challenge is a free, friendly competition between groups of federal employees that promotes bicycling to and from work as often as possible during the month of May.

"It's great to ride to work, and I think the bike challenge helps motivate people to try it out and continue riding," said Bruce Nyhuis, the LAKE Riders team captain. "I think most of our riders on the team commute to work by bicycle every day. I've been commuting by bicycle for about eight years. I believe it's the best way to get the workday started and even helps to end it, too."

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, along with communities and organizations across the nation, are doing this as part of nationwide effort to raise awareness about the benefits of bicycling. Bicycling has health benefits and reduces traffic congestion, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions associated with automobile use.

The Federal Bike Challenge started in the Pacific Northwest and has grown to a nationwide challenge with more than 2,100 riders representing 37 agencies. Last year, 890 Department of Interior riders logged more than 8,600 trips and 92,000 miles in the Challenge, saving the equivalent of more than 3,600 gallons of gasoline.

According to Nyhuis in 2013, LAKE Riders made 52 trips and rode 190.4 miles during the Federal Bike Challenge. The 2014 team members are Nyhuis, Heidie Grigg, Kevin Turner, Kerry Gaiz, Claire Stout, Wendy Foster and David Gundlach.

"Lake Mead National Recreation Area employees respect and enjoy our area, and joining the bike challenge is one way I can show support for our climate friendly park and reduce our environmental footprint in our fragile and beautiful desert Southwest," said Grigg. "The Lake Mead area area is conducive to bike riding since we usually have good weather and there is an awesome bike trail system connecting Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City."

There are many opportunities to enjoy bicycling in Southern Nevada. Las Vegas, Henderson and Mesquite have been recognized as bronze level bike friendly communities by bikeleague.org. To view bike routes in Southern Nevada, visit http://www.rtcsnv.com/cycling/bike-route-trails-map.

By highlighting this event Lake Mead NRA leaders hope to foster green living and benefit employees by helping everyone live healthier and happier lives.

[Submitted by Christie Vanover, Public Affairs Officer]

Geologic Resources Division
Courtney Schupp Joins NPS As Coastal Geologist

Courtney Schupp joined the Natural Resource Stewardship and Science directorate's Geologic Resources Division as a term coastal geologist last week. Her new position is also funded by the Climate Change Response Program and the Geologic Resources Inventory.

In her new position, Courtney will develop strategies related to coastal resource management and climate change adaptation planning, provide technical assistance to National Park System units regarding coastal geology issues, write and review Geologic Resources Inventory reports for parks with substantial coastal resources, evaluate geologic data, and create products for the coastal geology program.

Courtney received her MS in Geological Oceanography from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at The College of William and Mary, and her BS in Geology from Duke University. Her masters' thesis research quantified spatial and temporal relationships between nearshore geomorphology and short-term and long-term shoreline change along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She served as the coastal geologist at Assateague Island National Seashore for 10 years. She has also lived and worked in Samoa, where she collaborated with traditional landowners and the national government to develop ecosystem-based adaptation strategies for minimizing coastal erosion at specific sites, to establish monitoring protocols, and to create multiple communication products. She has completed many temporary detail assignments to NRSS over the past 10 years, presenting national webinars, writing climate change talking points for parks and regions, and developing marine mapping protocols.

Recent publications on which Courtney is a lead or co-author include the Assateague Island National Seashore: Geologic Resources Inventory Report, Inventory of coastal engineering projects within Assateague Island National Seashore, and Shoreline erosion and adaptation strategies for Peale Island Cabin, Yellowstone National Park.

Courtney will be based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and can be reached at Courtney_Schupp@nps.gov and 225-726-0558.

[Submitted by Rebecca Beavers, rebecca_beavers@nps.gov, 303-987-6945]

Intermountain Region
Wayne Prokopetz To Head Big Thicket National Preserve

Wayne Prokopetz, a 40-year veteran of federal government service, has been named superintendent of Big Thicket National Preserve in southeastern Texas. Prokopetz begins his new assignment effective immediately.

Prokopetz's federal government career includes 24 years with the National Park Service. He comes to Big Thicket from Dinosaur National Monument, where he served as chief of research and resources management, and cultural resources program manager.

"Wayne brings decades of experience in natural and cultural resource management to his new position," said Regional Director Sue Masica. "He will be a tremendous asset to the park and will work closely with local communities and stakeholders. I know Wayne will excel in managing the resources at Big Thicket National Preserve."

Prokopetz's previous leadership positions with the NPS include archeologist in the former Pacific Northwest Region Office (Seattle, WA), the former Southwest Region Office, (Santa Fe, NM) and the Southeast Archeological Center (Tallahassee, FL). Prokopetz's other federal government positions include regional archeologist for the Upper Colorado Region, Bureau of Reclamation (Salt Lake City) and archeologist for national forest lands (U.S. Forest Service) in Florida.

"I am honored to have been selected and am excited to work with the staff and world-class resources of Big Thicket," Prokopetz said. "I look forward to working closely with the southeast Texas communities that have worked so diligently to establish and protect the preserve. The preserve staff are planning great projects for next year's NPS Centennial and I am excited to work alongside them as we transition into a second century of stewardship and engagement."

Prokopetz is a graduate of the Department of the Interior's Department Managers Development Program. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees in anthropology from Florida State University and is "ABD" (all but dissertation) in history at the University of Utah.

As superintendent of Big Thicket, Prokopetz will oversee a workforce of 22 employees and an annual operating budget of more than $2.4 million.

Prokopetz and his wife Mary, enjoy all water sports and compete in Western and English horse shows.

[Submitted by Patricia Turley, patricia_turley@nps.gov, 303-969-2701]

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Washington Office
ES-0340-99 Regional Director

The Washington Office has issued an announcement for a regional director for Pacific West Region.

Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties, area information, and procedures for applying.

It closes on June 17th.
More Information...

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
GL-0025-9 Protection Rangers (Laterals)

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking candidates to fill two full-time protection ranger positions — one in Cades Cove, Tennessee, and the other in the South District in North Carolina.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the system with over 9 million visitors annually. It presents not only a tremendous resource for backcountry and resource protection operations, but also has an intensive highway enforcement program within its boundaries. Rangers participate in the full spectrum of front country and backcountry emergency services operations, including law enforcement, SAR, EMS and wildland fire. The park offers outstanding opportunities to develop and maintain a broad set of traditional ranger skills. There may be opportunities for advanced training, including participation in the FTEP program.

Local communities offer affordable housing and low cost of living. There are an abundance of schools, churches, groceries and national retail stores as well as a wide variety of entertainment opportunities. Knoxville, TN and Asheville, NC are each within an hour's drive of the Park and offer even more amenities consistent with a large city.

Only candidates who already possess a type I or type II NPS law enforcement commission are eligible to apply.

You may apply either electronically or by standard mail. Please provide the following documents:

OF-612, Optional Application for Employment; resume; or equivalent
Copy of most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action
Verification of valid NPS Law Enforcement Commission
Copy of most recent performance appraisal
A list of professional and personal references, including contact information

The deadline to apply is COB on May 30th.

To be considered for the Cades Cove position, please send your information to Supervisory Park Ranger Steve Spanyer at steve_spanyer@nps.gov or 10042 Campground Circle, Townsend, TN 37882.

To be considered for the South District position, please send your information to Supervisory Park Ranger Mike Scheid at mike_scheid@nps.gov or 60 Enloe Floyd Bottoms Road, Cherokee, NC 28719.

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (GA)
GS-1640-11 Supervisory Facility Operations Specialist

Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is seeking candidates for a position as supervisory facility operations specialist.

Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties, area information, and procedures for applying.

It closes on May 27th.
More Information...

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
GS-0025-12/13 Deputy Chief Of Interpretation (Detail)

Grand Canyon National Park is seeking applications for a detail of 90 to 120 days as the park's deputy chief of interpretation.

The deputy chief is responsible for the planning and oversight of Grand Canyon's interpretive and education program including the South Rim, Desert View, North Rim and Inner Canyon operations. Working with the division chief, the person selected will assist with the division's administrative operation, including payroll, travel, purchasing, hiring, and division wide budget management. She/he will also be directly responsible for the park wide interpretive operation, and will supervise a staff of four GS-025-11 supervisory park rangers and share supervision of a secondary staff of over 85 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees in the GS grades of GS-1 through GS-13 who carry out the daily operations of interpretive and educational programming and facility operations. In addition the person selected will be a key player on the division's management team and assist in planning efforts for the FY 16 budget and a future organizational structure.

During this detail, salary will continue to be paid by the selectee's home park. Travel and per diem will be paid by the receiving park. Government housing is available for this assignment. This is a detail opportunity, not a temporary promotion. Selectee's salary will remain the same.

Interested individuals should discuss the opportunity with their first-line supervisors and obtain concurrence from their superintendents or managers prior to applying. Once approval is gained, interested individuals should submit a one-page resume detailing work history, educational background, and any special qualifications they might possess.

Resumes should be submitted by electronic mail to: Donna Richardson, Chief of Interpretation and Resource Education at Donna_Richardson@nps.gov no later than May 29th.

Please contact Donna Richardson, Chief of Interpretation and Resource Education with additional questions about the detail opportunity.

Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
GS-0025-11 Supervisory Interpretive Ranger (Detail)

Grand Canyon National Park is seeking applications for a detail of 90 to 120 days as a supervisory interpretive ranger on the North Rim.

The primary purpose of this position is to provide leadership and direction to the interpretive program for the North Rim. Responsibilities include oversight and management of daily operations, design and implementation of interpretive programs, on site and off site presentations, exhibits, publications, visitor center operations, cooperating association operations (GCA), volunteer programs and regional partnerships and outreach activities. In addition this position assists with North Rim public affairs in coordination with the park public information officer (PIO), and directly supervises the North Rim Administrative Support Assistant who serves the whole North Rim operation.

Resumes should be submitted by electronic mail to: Donna Richardson, Chief of Interpretation and Resource Education at Donna_Richardson@nps.gov no later than May 29th.

Please contact Donna Richardson, Chief of Interpretation and Resource Education with additional questions about the detail opportunity.