The Morning Report

Thursday, July 16, 2015

INCIDENTS


Fire and Aviation Management
NPS and Interagency Partners Aid Canadian Firefighting Efforts

With Canada experiencing an intense 2015 summer fire season, the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC) requested international assistance through federal agreements from the United States to assist with fire suppression operations. Five wildland fire suppression crews and 30 fireline management personnel were mobilized this past weekend through the National Interagency Coordination Center in Boise, Idaho.

The Alpine Interagency Hotshot Crew, stationed in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, was one of the five crews sent to fight fires in Edmonton, Alberta and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

"It's great to be in a position to support Canada; they have provided resources to the United States on numerous occasions. By sending the NPS crew and other resources, we hope that the assistance will help the Canadians get a handle on what has been a very challenging season so far," stated Acting Wildland Fire Branch Chief, Mark Koontz.

As of yesterday, Alberta and Saskatchewan had experienced over 2000 fires that have burned nearly 4,000,000 acres.

[Submitted by Tina Boehle, tina_boehle@nps.gov, 208.387.5875]

More Information...


Zion National Park (UT)
Canyoneer Dies Following Heaps Canyon Fall

Zion National Park was alerted to an injured canyoneer in Heaps Canyon mid-day on Saturday, July 12th. The 24-year-old Las Vegas man had apparently taken a 100-200 foot un-roped fall into a side canyon at approximately 7 p.m. the previous day. Three companions descended to him; one stayed with the injured man while the other two members of the party continued on through Heaps Canyon to get help.

Heaps Canyon is a strenuous, challenging technical canyon with an approximate 3000-foot descent. It usually takes 12 to 20 hours to complete, consists of a number of rappels into cold water, and ends with a final 280-foot rappel to the Upper Emerald Pool area.

Rescue efforts started early Sunday. With assistance from Grand Canyon National Park, a short-haul helicopter was sent to assist. Two Zion search and rescue team members were short-hauled into the canyon above. When they rappelled down they found the man deceased.

[Submitted by Cindy J. Purcell, Chief Ranger]


Redwood National and State Parks (CA)
Identity Theft Operation Uncovered

On Wednesday, July 8th, rangers from Redwood National and State Parks served a search warrant, in the nearby town of Fields Landing, pursuant to a month-long investigation of multiple car burglaries within the park. Rangers had established probable cause for an arrest warrant of one suspect allegedly involved with the burglaries.

The warrant was served without incident and multiple people were detained. A subsequent search of the premises and an associated vehicle yielded numerous items from the burglaries. In addition to items from the burglaries, rangers discovered an elaborate identity theft operation, including numerous fraudulent checks, social security cards, and other forms of personal identifying information.

The suspects were immediately taken into custody and booked on state felony charges. Following the arrests, numerous local law enforcement agencies have been inquiring for information linking the suspects to additional property crimes in the area. The investigation is ongoing with more charges expected.

[Submitted by Robert Toler]


FIRE MANAGEMENT


NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire/Incident Situation Highlights

National Fire Activity

NIFC is at PL 2. Initial attack was light on Tuesday, with two new large fires reported. Seven uncontained large fires are burning nationwide. Current resource commitments are as follows, with changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses:

  • 6 incident management teams (same)
  • 147 crews (minus 29)
  • 5,586 firefighters and overhead (minus 757)
  • 192 engines (minus 20)
  • 70 helicopters (minus 5)

Three wildland fire suppression crews and seven fire line management personnel are assigned to support large fires in Alberta, Canada. Two wildland fire suppression crews and twenty-three fire line management personnel are assigned to support large fires in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Fire Weather Forecast

Breezy to windy conditions are expected today over portions of the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies and across the western slopes of the central Rockies. Monsoon moisture in the southern Rockies and desert Southwest should produce showers and thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms can also be expected today from the upper Mid-west to the Great Lakes as well as Florida.

A NOAA map of today's critical fire weather areas can be found at: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy1.html

A NIFC webpage showing the current national significant wildland fire outlook is available at: http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/outlooks/outlooks.htm

NPS Fire Summaries

Olympic NP — The Paradise Fire has burned 1,598 acres (holding steady from yesterday) and is 21% contained. For more information on this fire, go to:

Denali NP&Preserve —There are currently 12 fires burning in Denali National Park & Preserve. For more information on these fires, go to:

Gates of the Arctic NP&Preserve —The Lockwood Fire is currently burning in Gates of the Arctic National Park & Preserve. For more information on this fire, go to:

Lake Clark NP&Pres -There are currently two fires burning in Lake Lark National Park and Preserve. For more information on these fires, go to:

Wrangell-St. Elias NP&Pres- The Chisana River 2 Fire is burning in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve. For more information on this fire, go to:

Yukon-Charley Rivers NPres -There are currently two fires burning in Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve. For more information on these fires, go to:

Additional Information

For additional information on all fires, check the following web sites:


NEWS AND NOTES


WORLD RANGER CONGRESS
Presenters Sought for World Ranger Congress

The World Ranger Congress Organizing Committee is soliciting proposals for oral presentations and poster displays for the 8th World Ranger Congress to be held May 21st-27th, 2016 in Estes Park, Colorado. Deadline for proposals is September 15th.

The Congress theme is: "Connecting Parks, Rangers, and Communities." Presentations, in English or in Spanish, on this theme or any issue that is important to the protection of parks, wildlife, and cultural sites around the world is welcome.

US National Park Service programs and staff interested in being part of this exciting event are encouraged to submit proposals even if they do not expect to attend the Congress as a delegate. If your proposal is accepted, and you are not a delegate, you are welcome to attend other sessions on the day of your presentation and to interact with rangers and park managers from the 40+ countries expected to participate.

The registration fee for those who are giving presentations but are not delegates will be $30, payable after you are notified that your proposal has been accepted. Notifications will go out by early November 2015.

To submit a proposal for an oral presentation or for displaying a poster, complete the form accessible from the "Program" page of the Congress website, or use the following link: http://www.georgewright.org/wrcproposal

For more information about the program and your presentation, send an email to Meg.WRC8@gmail.com. For general questions about the World Ranger Congress, send an email to WRC8.USA@gmail.com.


Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division
Listen Up: Noise Levels Can Impact Wildlife

Scientists with the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, in partnership with Colorado State University, recently published a review on what is known about the impacts of noise on wildlife. The paper was published in the journal Biological Reviews.

Global increases in environmental noise levels—arising from expansion of human populations, transportation networks, and resource extraction—have raised concerns about impacts on wildlife. The result has been a recent surge of noise impact research. Authors reviewed and synthesized results from more than 240 papers published since 1990. Most of these studies, 86 per cent, documented significant effects.

Noise impacts a wide variety of species—ranging from hermit crabs to blue whales. It is clear from these studies that noise presents diverse threats to species and ecosystems in both marine and terrestrial habitats.

Documented effects of noise include changes in vocal behavior to mitigate masking, reduced abundance in noisy habitats, changes in vigilance and foraging behaviors, and impacts on individual fitness and the structure of ecological communities. The majority of the papers, 55 per cent, were published in just the past few years. Some recent studies documented wildlife responses to noise at levels below thresholds for human annoyance. Conservation planners should therefore incorporate the most recent literature when setting thresholds for impact.

The study highlights the utility of existing scientific information regarding the effects of noise on wildlife to predict potential outcomes of noise exposure and identifies important directions for future research. Such predictions can assist scientists, natural resource managers, industry, and policy makers in both predicting potential outcomes of noise exposure as well as implementing meaningful thresholds and mitigation measures.

Please contact Megan McKenna (megan_f_mckenna@nps.gov) with any questions or to receive an electronic copy of the study.

[Submitted by Megan McKenna, megan_f_mckenna@nps.gov, 970-267-2123]

More Information...


Little River Canyon National Preserve (AL)
Spanish Conquistador's Alabama Adventures Chronicled

Hernando DeSoto's entry into Alabama 475 years ago was the topic of a special program by Florence, Alabama City Archaeologist and DeSoto researcher, Charles Moore. Fifty-one people attended "Hernando DeSoto's Expedition Through Alabama." The program introduced DeSoto as coming from a war torn part of the world that had been fighting for 600 years. The adventurer became wealthy through Central and South American conquests, and returned to "La Florida" to find a passage to China, Christianize the local populations, and find gold.

Moore spoke about DeSoto's amazing adventures and his arrival at the province of "Coosa" and beyond in Alabama. DeSoto explored Alabama's Coosa region from July 16 to August 20, 1540. "This will be a landmark event," Moore said of the program taking place where DeSoto explored 475 years ago. Moore brought with him a helmet illustrating the style that might have been worn from the period, and a halberd reportedly discovered in west Alabama.

Hernando DeSoto landed in North America 476 years ago on May 25, 1539. DeSoto brought the end of prehistory and the beginning of recorded history in the Little River Canyon area. DeSoto's soldiers later recorded a mountain that stretched from horizon to horizon with waterfalls; suspected to be Lookout Mountain, thus DeSoto State Park's and DeSoto Fall's namesake.

Some of the educational reproduction items bought for school and public programs were on exhibit that day. Park Ranger Larry Beane said, "I am so excited to be able to do DeSoto programs as part of our school activities. The children get more interested in the story when they get to touch something, and learn of an extraordinary adventure." The program shared an inspiring story of facing great adversity from viewpoints of both DeSoto's expedition and the Native American communities he encountered.

[Submitted by Larry Beane]


Southeast Region
Tamara Whittington Named New Superintendent of Big Cypress

Southeast Regional Director Stan Austin announced that Tamara "Tammy" Whittington has been selected to be superintendent of Big Cypress National Preserve in Ochopee, Fla. Whittington has served as the associate regional director of resource stewardship and science, for the National Park Service Intermountain Region in Denver since 2011. She will begin her new assignment on October 4th.

"We are very pleased that Tammy is taking on the job of superintendent at Big Cypress," Austin said. "She has a tremendous background in resource preservation, and experience in managing high profile stewardship planning projects across the Service. Her leadership experience, success in collaboration, and commitment to the National Park Service mission will serve the preserve and region well."

Whittington has a 27-year career of service to the public with both the NPS and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. She began her career as a supervisory engineer and project manager with the FWS in Denver in 1987. In 1997 she transitioned to the NPS as a restoration program manager, also in Denver. In 2007 she became the deputy chief of the NPS Environmental Quality Division, located in Denver. She became the chief of EQD in 2009 and served in that capacity until 2011, when she joined the Intermountain Region.

Whittington was born and raised in Colorado, and holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo. Her hobbies include scuba diving, hiking, biking, tennis, kayaking, wildlife watching, and photography.

"I am extremely honored to be selected to serve as superintendent of Big Cypress National Preserve," Whittington said. "The uniqueness of the Preserve's resources and the issues therein will prove to be challenging and exciting. I am inspired by the NPS Centennial goal of 'connecting with and creating the next generation of park visitors, supporters, and advocates.' I will work with the Preserve's exceptional staff and partners to make that goal our compass towards success."

[Submitted by Bill Reynolds ]


Washington Administrative Program Center
Uniform Wear Survey Underway

The Department of the Interior is conducting a uniform wear survey to solicit your feedback on the form, fit, and function of uniform articles currently provided by the multi-agency uniform contract.

The purpose of the survey is to request specific feedback on how current clothing, accessories, and customer service meet the form, fit, and function needs of uniform wearers. The information will be used by the NPS Washington Contracting Office, as it moves forward with the acquisition for future uniform program requirements.

The survey is available now and will remain open for 10 business days. The final date and time to complete the survey will be Wednesday July 29th by 11:59 pm.

The survey can be accessed via this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/P8PMQ75. The link will direct you to a single-use survey and will provide a confirmation page once you have successfully completed the process. Please follow the prompts within the survey to access bureau specific questions.

If you have technical questions accessing the survey, or if you encounter technical problems while completing the survey, please review the information provided here for initial assistance: http://help.surveymonkey.com/articles/en_US/kb/How-do-I-enable-cookies-on-my-computer.

Feedback from personnel who wear the uniforms is an essential part of the market research process and informs decision making about the acquisition of these goods and services. Your participation is encouraged, and your input is appreciated.

[Submitted by Ramie Lynch]


CAREER OPPORTUNITIES


Pinnacles National Park (CA)
GS-0025-11 Supervisory Protection Ranger

Pinnacles National Park is recruiting for a GS-11 supervisory protection ranger. The announcement closes on July 23rd.

Click on the link below to view and print the vacancy announcement:
More Information...


Canyonlands National Park (UT)
GS-1712-9 Training Specialist (Lateral)

This position in located in the Division of Interpretation and Visitor Services.

Canyonlands National Park is seeking candidates interested in a lateral reassignment into a GS-1712-09 training specialist position who has experience in managing a curriculum-based formal education program (K through 6th grade). Employee must be capable of successfully carrying out their duties with a high degree of independence, and work well with other employees, community members, school officials, students, and parents in a positive and respective manner.

Incumbent coordinates, plans, schedules, and delivers both on-site and in-class programs for elementary school students in several schools located in small towns and on Native American reservations in the geographically large, rural country of southeast Utah. Employee will carry out all supervisory duties for two, seasonal GS-1702-05 education technicians and two SCA interns per season (autumn and spring).

AREA INFORMATION:
The office for this position is located in Monticello, Utah, a community of approximately 2,000. All basic services are available including schools through high school. Housing for purchase is available and moderately priced. Rental properties are somewhat limited. Complete services are available in Moab, Utah (50 miles distant, population 6,000 — location of park headquarters), Cortez, Colorado (60 miles distant, population 8,500) and Grand Junction, Colorado (169 miles distant, population 43,000).

Canyonlands National Park preserves a wilderness of rock at the heart of the Colorado Plateau.Water and gravity have been prime architects of this land, cutting flat layers of sedimentary rockinto hundreds of canyons, mesa, buttes, fins, arches, and spires. At center stage are two canyonscarved by the Green and Colorado Rivers.

Government housing is not available. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses are authorized. The position is permanent, subject-to-furlough.

To be considered, submit the following to Kim Hardy, Human Resources Specialist, by the close of business on Friday, July 24, 2015:

  • An OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment, or a resume/application that includes the information identified in the Resume Builder area of USAJOBS.
  • A copy of your most current performance appraisal.
  • A current SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, documenting permanent competitive civil service status.

Application materials may be mailed, faxed, or emailed directly to Kim Hardy's attention.

Mailing Address:

National Park Service, Arches National ParkAttn: Kim Hardy, Human Resources2282 SW Resource BoulevardMoab UT, 84532Fax: 435-719-2322Email: Kim_Hardy@nps.gov

For further information about this position, please contact:

Mary WilsonChief of Interpretation and Visitor ServicesArches and Canyonlands National ParksPhone: (435) 719-2140Email: mary_wilson@nps.gov

[Submitted by Mary Wilson, mary_wilson@nps.gov, (435)719-2140]


Southeast Region
GS-1101-11 Supervisory Revenue and Fee Specialist

The Southeast Region is seeking applicants for a full time permanent supervisory revenue and fee specialist located at Everglades National Park, Homestead, FL. The announcement closes on July 24th.

Please contact Dafina Williams, HR Officer at dafina_williams@nps.gov or by phone at (305) 242-7765 for more information.

Click on the link below to view the announcement.
More Information...


Scotts Bluff National Monument (NE)
GS-0341-9 Administrative Officer

Scotts Bluff National Monument is seeking applicants for a position as the park's administrative officer. It closes on July 27th.

Located in the Wildcat Hills of western Nebraska along the flourishing North Platte River valley, the site is approximately 200 miles northeast of Denver. The 3,000 acres allow visitors to experience unusual geological formations and historic stories of the pioneers as they passed through Mitchell Pass in the westward expansion. The 3,058 acre Agate Fossil Beds is an internationally recognized fossil site. Agate is more than fossils though; it is a cultural landscape that has evolved from early mammals roaming the valleys and hills, to nomadic nations of the plains, and later tales of life in the American West.

The duty station is located at Scotts Bluff NM on the western edge of the communities of Gering and Scottsbluff, Nebraska, with all basic amenities including Western Nebraska Community College.

The position will oversee all administrative and business functions of Scotts Bluff NM and Agate Fossil Beds NM. He/She will:

  • Manage, organize, and direct administrative work
  • Oversight of budget and fees revenues
  • Manage human resources program
  • Administer property management and procurement program
  • Communicate effectively and demonstrate interpersonal skills

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

The announcement closes July 27th.
More Information...