NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, January 16, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

96-707 - Yosemite NP (California) - Follow-up on Winter Storm Impacts

The elementary school and day care facilities in Yosemite Valley both resumed
operation on Monday, but the children are being closely supervised because of
the countless hazards remaining in the valley.  Superintendent B.J. Griffin
and other key staff members have been interviewed by countless print and
television reporters regarding the impacts of this event and the resultant
changes to the park from the January 1st flood.  Initial assessments of storm
damage to infrastructure, utilities, roads and resources are nearing
completion, but progress on cleaning up the park was hampered by snow, rain
and icy roads on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Barring appreciable snowfall and
hazardous road conditions, park maintenance crews will continue clearing and
fixing repairable culverts and less severe road damage necessary to keep
emergency traffic moving on Highway 41, the Hetch-Hetchy Road, and along
South Side Drive from Sentinel Creek to Bridalveil Falls.  Crews will also
continue removing downed trees from Wawona Campground and repairing and
testing utilities and lift stations.  A total of 255 people are currently
dedicated to the "Highwater '97" incident.  [Amy Vanderbilt, IO, IMT, YOSE,
1/15]

97-13 - Big Thicket NP (Texas) - Follow-up on Winter Storm Impacts

The rare winter storm which struck the park on Monday and Tuesday coated
trees and electrical lines with over an inch of ice, causing widespread power
outages.  Power may not be restored until this weekend.  The colder
temperatures in the central and northern portions of the park brought over
two inches of snow, sleet and freezing rain.  All roads in the Woodville area
were closed on Monday and remained closed on Tuesday.  Damages to park
facilities were to be assessed yesterday, as warmer temperatures returned to
the area.  It's anticipated that all roads and trails will need to be cleared
of fallen trees, and that electrical service to remote radio facilities will
have to be restored.  [Bob Appling, CR, BITH, 1/14]

97-17 - Capitol Reef NP (Utah) - Winter Storm Impacts

The biggest snowstorm in the park's history began on the afternoon of January
12th and continued for about 36 hours, blanketing the park with 32 inches of
snow.  State highway crews are keeping Utah Highway 24 open, although drifts
across the highway stopped traffic for several hours yesterday.  All
secondary and backcountry roads in the park are closed indefinitely, and park
crews are still digging out the headquarters area and parking lots.  The
visitor center remained open throughout the storm.  The snow has settled to a
depth of about two feet.  By contrast, the park received a total snowfall of
about three inches last winter.  [Tom Cox, CR, CARE, 1/15]

97-18 - Cape Hatteras NS (North Carolina) - Shooting

Rangers and county deputies responded to a 911 call on Wednesday reporting an
assault in a parking area near a ramp leading to the ocean within the park on
Hatteras Island.  They found 42-year-old J.H. of Hatteras with
what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.  He was flown
to Norfolk General Hospital, where he is currently listed in critical
condition.  An investigation is underway.  [Jeff Cobb, CR, CAHA, 1/15]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Yellowstone NP (Wyoming) - Bison Management

Bison are continuing to migrate near Stephens Creek along the northern
boundary of the park.  The interim bison management plan requires that all
bison along the northern boundary moving toward adjacent private land where
cattle are grazed must be captured and taken to certified slaughter
facilities.  A total of 47 bison were removed from the park's capture
facility near Gardiner, Montana, yesterday.  Another 160 are being held in a
large pasture until they can be processed.  A total of 223 animals have been
taken to slaughter facilities so far this season.  [Marsha Karle, IO, YELL,
1/15]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Special Park Uses - The following provides updates on several activities in
this program area:

o The task force on commercial filming meets next week to finalize both
the policy statements and the procedures concerning all forms of
filming in the NPS.

o The full NPS-53 task force meets the week after that to consider all of
the comments that have been received from the field and central offices
and to put the entire document - including filming - into a final
draft.

o There will be a meeting in early February with representatives from
every field area to develop communication cell site antenna policies
and procedures and to develop a mini course on same for presentation to
cluster level groups and possibly others.

o Questions have been sent to me from time to time on NPS-20 on MOUs,
MOAs, and interagency and cooperative agreements.  The primary contact
on these types of instruments is Detrice Galloway, who can be reached
at 202-565-1151.  My responsibility is primarily for special park uses,
including First Amendment activities, rights-of-way, various collecting
permits, special events, military operation permits, filming and
photography, and, to a large extent, IBPs and reservations of use and
occupancy.

Questions regarding any of these matters should be sent via cc:Mail to Dick
S. Young at NP-COLO.  [Dick Young, RAD/WASO @ COLO]

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

EXCHANGE

No submissions.

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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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