- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Wednesday, June 26, 1996
- Date: Wed, 26 Jun 1996
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Wednesday, June 26, 1996
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
96-308 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Follow-up on Homicide
The victim of the June 21st homicide in the Wahweap concession dormitory has
been identified as L.T., 25, a local resident and graduate of
Page High School. The two men arrested for the killing were F.C.
19, and his 16-year-old brother, both of Tonelea, Arizona. The two
have admitted involvement in the incident; F.C. confessed to the
stabbing. Both are now in custody. An assault related to the murder
occurred on June 24th. A concession security guard was flagged down and
advised of an assault in the Wahweap dorms at 10 pm that evening. Rangers
and Coconino County deputies responded and found a badly beaten 16-year-old
male outside the dormitories. Extensive searches of the area resulted in the
apprehension of one of the assailants, 19-year-old L.M. of Kaibeto,
Leroy L.T.'s cousin. L.M. and five friends had beaten the 16-year-
old to "avenge" L.T.'s death. L.M. apparently did not know that
F.C. and his brother had been arrested for the murder. The names of three
of the other five men involved in the assault were obtained, and the
investigation continues. The victim was released from the hospital to a
parent on June 25th. There appear to be some Navajo Reservation gang
affiliations associated with the two incidents, both of which are part of a
trend of increased violence in the park. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
96-311 - Bryce Canyon (Utah) - Mountain Lion Stalking
A male hiker was stalked by a mountain lion while hiking alone on the Under
the Rim trail in the Swamp Canyon area of the park on June 21st. The hiker
said that the mountain lion followed him, then approached and growled. The
animal left only after the hiker waved a stick, then threw it at the lion.
It's not known if the mountain lion was a juvenile or adult, since the size
description given by the hiker would more nearly fit the size of a saber
tooth tiger. [Larry Nielson, CVS, BRCA]
96-312 - Lake Mead (Nevada/Arizona) - EMS Incident; Life Saved
Just before noon on June 25th, the park received a report that a drowning
victim was being taken by sailboat to the launch ramp at Katherine's Landing.
Rangers Brian Cooperider and Joanne Gillette and district ranger Ralph
Patterson responded. CPR was begun, and a weak pulse was detected. The
victim, J.G., was taken to a hospital, and appears to have
totally recovered from the incident. J.G. had been swimming between two
boats and went under. Friends who were with her said that she was underwater
for just a few minutes. [Grace Gerken, Dispatch Supervisor, LAME]
96-313 - Ross Lake (Washington) - Illegal Aliens
Visitors advised rangers of a man standing on the east shore of Ross Lake,
waving his t-shirt, on the evening of June 23rd. They contacted a 23-year-
old man suffering from mild hypothermia. The man informed rangers that he'd
become separated from his partner while hiking and had been caught unprepared
by an afternoon rain storm. The second man was found shortly thereafter just
north of the point where the first man was contacted. Interviews revealed
that both men - one a Palestinian, the other from Kuwait - were attempting to
enter the country illegally. They were turned over to Border Patrol
officers, who in turn released them to Canadian immigration officials. [Pete
Cowan, CR, NOCA]
96-314 - Dinosaur (Colorado) - Falling Fatality
During a hike on the afternoon of June 20th, N.C., 18, of Craig,
Colorado, and three other youths climbed out on a ledge overlooking the Yampa
River near Deerlodge Park. N.C. attempted to traverse a small ledge, but a
rock gave way and he fell about 200 feet into the canyon, coming to rest on a
scree slope. His companions hiked out and reported the accident. Rangers
flew to the area and found his body on a ledge above the Yampa River that
evening. On the 21st, Dinosaur and Rocky Mountain rangers, county deputies,
state game officers and a Forest Service heli-rappel crew worked
cooperatively to recover the body. Lightning storms with gusty winds and
rain hampered the operation. Assisting were Rocky Mountain climbing rangers
Jim Detterline, Dan Ostrowski and Jane Gordon and a Venezuelan exchange
ranger; Dinosaur ranger Ed Pontbriand led the technical rescue operation.
Ranger Dan Moses was IC. Investigation into the incident continues. [Dan
Moses, CR, DINO]
96-315 - Kenai Fjords (Alaska) - Bear Poaching
On June 18th, a group of sea kayakers on Aialik Bay advised park resource
managers conducting harbor seal surveys that a bear poaching incident had
occurred in Quicksand Cove, a remote beach in the bay that's accessible only
by boat or float plane. The kayakers said that another group camped in the
cove had shot a bear the previous day, and that the group was supported by a
small pleasure craft and the commercial fishing vessels Arctic Spring and
Hilda. They also reported that the members of the other party were planning
to stay there for two weeks to conduct suction dredge mining operations in
the lagoon, and that they were carrying sidearms. Rangers Peter Fitzmaurice
and Jeff Troutman flew to the site the following day along with National
Marine Fisheries Service officer Kevin Heck; rangers Mike Tetreau and Kelly
followed in a park vessel. While en route, rangers in the plane saw the
Hilda and a small runabout headed out of the bay under deteriorating rain and
sea conditions. At the cove, they found animal parts at a site where an
animal had been recently butchered. Fitzmaurice and Heck returned to Seward
in the float plane in a driving rain storm and spotted the Hilda and the
runabout anchored in a protected cove near Aialik Cape. The others remained
to gather more evidence and conduct further interviews with the kayakers.
Heck boarded the runabout when it returned to Seward Harbor just before
midnight and contacted the operator, T.P., who eventually revealed
that he had the hide and meat of the bear that had been shot in the bay on
board the boat. He said that S.B. of Palmer had shot the bear, and
that he was on the Hilda. A state trooper took T.P. into custody on a
warrant for a prior fishing violation. Heck and Fitzmaurice met the Hilda
and asked if any of the six people on board had a weapon. S.B. revealed a
.45 revolver under his heavy coat. All members of the group denied engaging
in any sport hunting or fishing on the trip until confronted with the
information about the seizure of the bear hide and meat. S.B. then
admitted to shooting the bear. He also said that he'd planned to mine in the
bay, but had found no suitable sites. Charges are pending for wildlife and
Lacey Act violations. [Peter Fitzmaurice, CR, KEFJ]
96-316 - Little Big Horn (Montana) - Special Event
On June 25th, the park hosted a three-day program to mark the 120th
anniversary of the battle in which Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer and
the 7th Cavalry were defeated by several thousand Lakota, Cheyenne and
Arapaho. The theme of the event was "Peace, Unity and Friendship." The
program highlighted the major participants in the battle; there were
representatives from the Crow, Arikara, Cheyenne and Lakota nations and 7th
Cavalry reenactors. Activities included prayers, a victory march, pipe
ceremonies, dancing and other observances. An article in the New York Times
on the controversy over the soon-to-be built memorial to the Native Americans
who died at the Little Bighorn created considerable national as well as
international media attention. The second day ended with a Lakota-sponsored
ceremony involving a prayer and handshake symbolizing unity for all nations.
About 4,000 people attended the event. Assisting the park's staff were
personnel from Bighorn Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, Knife River, Badlands,
Canyon de Chelly, and the Intermountain Field Area field director's office.
[Gerard Baker, Superintendent, LIBI]
96-317 - Natchez Trace (Mississippi/Alabama/Tennessee) - Special Event
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the northern end of the parkway
took place at the northern terminus of the Trace on June 22nd. Vice
president Al Gore participated and cut the ribbon which opened the last five-
mile section of the parkway in Tennessee; other guests included Congressmen
Bob Clement and Bart Gordon. An estimated 600 people attended that ceremony.
After the ceremony, a motorcade of antique cars representing every year of
the parkway's existence drove along the new section of the highway and across
a special attraction of the parkway, the double-arch bridge at Highway 96.
Events at that location throughout the day included a Civil War encampment, a
Native American story-teller, longhunters, boatmen, cooking demonstrations,
and several exhibits. The day culminated with a concert by Amy Grant, music
by the 101st Airborne military band, and a fireworks display. Approximately
4,000 people participated in the Highway 96 events. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
96-318 - Fort Matanzas (Florida) - Vandalism
On June 17th, three juveniles entered the fort illegally and set off a silent
alarm. Ranger Andy Rich responded and discovered about $500 in damage to
safety barricades in the fort. The parents of the juveniles were contacted
and arrangements were made for restitution for damages. Each of the
juveniles also was required to complete 40 hours of community service in the
park. [C. Dale, CR, CASA/FOMA]
FIRE ACTIVITY
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III
LARGE FIRE SUMMARY
% Est
State Unit Fire IMT 6/25 6/26 Con Con
AZ Coconino NF # Peaks Cx T2 13,120 16,350 50 6/28
# Pot T2 7,000 7,000 100 CND
Kaibab NF # Bridger Cx T1/T2 3,100 33,408 20 7/3
State Bowie/Dos -- 1,227 1,227 100 CND
Apache/Sitgreaves NF Cottonwood T2 1,570 1,484 100 CND
NM Santa Fe NF Nicole T1 366 395 50 6/28
NV State Autumn Hills T1 4,000 3,430 70 6/27
UT Richfield District Little Sahara Cx T1 18,000 47,280 10 NEC
Salt Lake District Sheep Rocks T2 900 7,750 20 6/30
Fishlake NF Pole Creek T2 4,500 4,500 30 NEC
State Soldier Pass -- 600 2,000 10 6/27
Manti-Lasal NF * Abajo Cx T2 - 200 0 6/28
MN Superior NF S. Temperance T2 4,130 4,130 90 6/27
CA Sequoia NF Sierra -- 150 1,026 60 6/28
ON Thunder Bay, Ontario * Graham Cx T1 - 7,300 28 NEC
Heading Notes
Unit -- Agency = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA state resource
or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; District = BLM
district; NWR = USFWS wildlife refuge
Fire -- * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex; LSS =
limited suppression strategy; CSS = containment suppression
strategy
IMT -- T1 = Type 1; T2 = Type II; ST = State Team
% Con -- Percent of fire contained
Est Con -- Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report
FIRE HIGHLIGHTS
Kaibab NF - The Bridger Knoll fire in the Bridger Complex made a major run
yesterday, covering nine miles in four hours at its peak. The Big Springs
administrative site was evacuated. The forest also ordered a precautionary
evacuation of the Jacob Lake campground. Local businesses have also been
advised of possible evacuations. The Jump fire, also in the Bridger Complex,
made major runs yesterday, and is now threatening to burn into BLM's Arizona
Strip District.
Coconino NF - Good progress was made on the Hochderffer fire in the Peaks
Complex despite erratic winds up to 35 mph. Private lands and structures in
the Indian Flats are and other subdivisions were protected and held.
Richfield District - There was significant activity on the Little Sahara fire
in the Little Sahara Complex yesterday. The towns of Tintic, Boulter,
Lofgreen, Eureka, Silver City and Mammoth are currently threatened.
Utah State - Extreme fire behavior in heavy fuels made suppression efforts on
the Soldier Pass fire difficult. Threatened are FAA towers, powerlines,
repeater sites and an IRECO explosives plant.
FIRES AND ACRES BURNED
NPS BIA BLM FWS States USFS Total
Number 0 4 10 1 109 25 149
Acres Burned 5,493 8 45,526 12,105 820 29,262 100,214
COMMITTED RESOURCES
Crews Engines Helicopters Airtankers Overhead
Federal 210 198 72 13 1,053
Non-federal 41 126 7 0 215
CURRENT SITUATION
High winds continued to plague suppression efforts on several large fires in
the Southwest and eastern Great Basin. Resource mobilization through NICC
remained steady. Favorable weather has ameliorated the fire situation in the
Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Quebec; fire activity has also
moderated somewhat in Ontario.
NATIONAL OUTLOOK
NICC has posted FIRE WEATHER WATCHES for strong winds in southern and eastern
Nevada; for dry lightning and strong, gusty winds in northern and western
Arizona; and for high winds, dry lightning and low fuel moisture and
humidities in western Utah.
The fire workload is expected to increase in the Southwest and Great Basin
due to forecasted high winds over several areas in which large fires are
burning. These winds will make initial attack difficult and increase the
probability of escaped fires.
[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/26]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Badlands (South Dakota) - Canada Thistle
On May 22nd, the park began a biological control program for Canada thistle
(Cirsium arvense). The program is being conducted in cooperation with the
county weed and pest control department, with grant assistance from the park
and the challenge cost-share program. Five hundred stem mining weevils
(Ceutoryhnchus litura) were released on three thistle patches. These were
followed with 200 stem and shoot gall flies (Urophora cardui) on June 12th.
A third release of a seed head weevil (Larinus planus) is expected later this
summer; releases will also be expanded onto three additional sites. It's
hoped that the three insects will debilitate the thistle stands and provide
insectaries for harvesting insects and moving them to other thistle patches.
This biocontrol program is founded on successful research conducted at Wind
Cave by Deborah Kendall of Fort Lewis College and that park's staff. Wind
Cave was able to demonstrate the effectiveness of these measures, as well as
their species specificity. [Bruce Bessken, RMS, BADL]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Tribal Self-Governance - Tribal self-governance now potentially affects
almost 30 national parks and includes 60 self-governance tribes. Two new
documents provide additional guidance on self-governance to affected parks,
who should obtain copies of them. The first is a memorandum signed on May
17th by solicitor John Leshy on "Inherently Federal Functions under the
Tribal Self-Governance Act;" the second is a memorandum signed on June 5th by
Glynn Key, counselor to Secretary Babbitt, and is entitled "Negotiations for
FY 97 Agreements Under the Tribal Self-Governance Act." The Leshy memorandum
provides some long-awaited guidance on what is "inherently Federal" and
supersedes the December 16, 1994 opinion on the subject. The gist of the
memorandum is that the process for determining the "inherently Federal"
standard for the NPS remains the same as it was before, and relies on the
same OMB guidance that the Service has used since 1992. The OMB guidance,
however, is substantially relaxed in Indian country, so the memo will have
greater effect on bureaus with programs on tribal lands. The memo from Key
clarifies the nature of the Secretary's authority to enter into annual
funding agreements with the self-governance tribes under sections 403(b)(s)
and 403(c) of the self-governance act. It affirms that the non-BIA bureaus
will enter into self-governance agreements at their discretion, but also that
the act clearly mandates that the bureaus should use their discretion to
facilitate the inclusion of programs, services, functions and activities into
self-governance agreements. If you have any questions on these matters,
contact Pat Park at NP-WASO-MIB or call her at 202-208-5475. She will send
both documents to you upon request. [Pat Parker, WASO]
MEMORANDA
"Recreation Fee Demonstration Projects - 'Quick Start'", sent electronically
on June 19th by acting Directory Denis Galvin to all field directors and park
and SSO superintendents. The text follows:
As you may know, the Recreation Fee Demonstration Program, authorized by the
Appropriations Bill, took on an added urgency when the Department of Interior
requested the National Park Service (NPS) to submit a list of projects which
could be implemented within 30 days of approval (this fiscal year). A call
went out to the parks to identify those demonstration project proposals able
to meet the 30-60 day implementation criteria. The list was assembled and
went through an initial review by this office. We have submitted our
recommendations for the Secretary's
consideration.
At this time, we have identified nineteen projects as candidates for "Quick
Start", the initial phase of the fee demonstration program. We have also
provided general information on the types of new fees and methodologies under
consideration and potential locations for implementation in FY 97 based on
project proposals received to date.
Until we have received Departmental guidance regarding the direction of this
program and clarification regarding the final approval process, parks are to
take NO STEPS toward implementing their proposed fee demonstration projects
(this includes press releases). When the final selection of participating
projects has been made, you will be notified.
If you have any questions please contact the National Fee Program Manager at
(202) 208-4205.
EXCHANGE
No submissions.
Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
office and/or field area cc:Mail hub coordinators. Please address requests
for the Morning Report to your servicing hub coordinator.
Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
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