NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Friday, January 10, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

96-707 - Western Areas - Follow-up on Winter Storm Impacts

Storm damage reports have been received from two more areas.  The next update
on the situation in Yosemite will appear on Monday or Tuesday:

o Oregon Caves NM (Oregon) - The park has been closed since New Year's
Day because of roadway failures on Highway 46, the only access to
Oregon Caves.  Significant runoff from several days of heavy rains
damaged the pavement on the last three miles of the road and caused
several washouts and slides.  A small bridge over Lake Creek about a
mile and a half from the park has been closed until bridge inspectors
can assure its integrity.  Park staff have been walking past the eroded
areas and over the bridge to vehicles isolated on the other side.  High
waters on Upper Lake Creek completely destroyed the park's primary
water intake.  The catch basin, large valves and main lines were all
destroyed in a complete scouring of the stream bed.  Crews estimated a
storm surge of eight to ten feet of water washed over the site.  State
department of transportation officials estimate that it will take a
month before the highway can be reopened to traffic.  Temporary water
system repairs may be completed within a week.  Permanent repairs will
not be possible until May or June due to snow and storm damage
conditions encountered at the site.

o Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP and Devils Postpile NM (California) - The
storms that hit the west coast after the first of the year caused
significant damage throughout the two parks.  This storm dropped up to
four inches of precipitation at the 2,000 foot level and eight inches
at the 7,000 foot level.  The higher elevations already had a
significant snowpack; the warm rain falling on it caused a runoff which
exceeded anything seen in recent decades.  Devils Postpile had over 14
inches of precipitation within three days.  There were over 75 rock and
mud slides on the Generals Highway between Ash Mountain and Giant
Forest in Sequoia-Kings Canyon, and there were road washouts at Deer
Creek and Halstead Meadow.  All of these will be cleaned up and roads
will again be open within the week.  The foot bridge at Buckeye Flat
campground crossing the Middle Fork of the Kaweah has been washed away. 
This bridge was approximately 20 feet above the normal water levels in
this drainage.  Several sections of the road into Mineral King have
been undermined by the heavy flow of water.  Numerous county bridges
maintained by the local power company or county which are further
downstream in the Kaweah drainage have also been washed away.  There
are over nine major washouts on Highway 180 just outside Kings Canyon. 
The highway provides the primary access road into Cedar Grove.  One
washout is over a half mile in length.  There are also three
significant slides with boxcar size rocks on the highway.  The main
road bridge adjacent to the ranger station at Cedar Grove within the
park has been destroyed, and the motor nature trail in Cedar Grove has
been completely washed out.  The main foot bridge at Soda Springs in
Devils Postpile was washed out.  There was also extensive damage to the
campgrounds, culverts, and the local water system.  Additional damage
in the two parks will not be known until the snows melt in the late
spring.  Based on observations in the frontcountry and at the lower
elevations, however, its expected that there will be significant damage
to trails and backcountry bridges.

[Leslie Tyler, PIO, ORCA; Thomas Tschohl, SEKI and DEPO]

97-9 - Lyndon B. Johnson NHP (Texas) - Winter Storm Impacts

A winter storm brought freezing rain, sleet and snow flurries to the Texas
hill country on January 8th.  The resulting ice caused power outages that
curtailed operations and caused extensive damage to live oak trees and other
vegetation throughout the park.  All facilities received a liberal coating of
ice.  Generator power was needed to sustain Secret Service operations at the
Texas White House.  Electrical power was restored to the LBJ Ranch by late
afternoon on the 9th, but is still out in scattered sections of Stonewall and
Johnson City.  The Johnson Settlement was closed due to safety concerns.  Bus
tours of the ranch were curtailed on the 8th and canceled on the 9th.   It
will take at least a week to clean up downed branches and trees.  Evaluation
of damage to historic structures and other vegetation will continue during
the cleanup.  Another storm is forecast for the area for Sunday.  [Brian
Carey, DR, LYJO]

                   [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

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OPERATIONAL NOTES

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MEMORANDA

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EXCHANGE

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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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