NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, January 22, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

96-692 - Lake Meredith NRA (Texas) - Follow-up on Fatal Boating Accident

Rangers are continuing the search for the bodies of Pa.B., nine,
and his brother B.B., eight.  The boys, their father, R.B., and their
older brother, Ph.B., 11, were killed when their 14-foot boat capsized in
high winds on the lake on December 14th.  Extreme cold, high winds and snow
have severely curtailed efforts, but the area is being searched from shore
every day regardless of weather conditions and by boat and air as the weather
permits.  A massive search effort on December 21st and 22nd, involving search
dogs and 20 divers, yielded no new evidence.  The search area remains too
vast to effectively use divers, and the poor visibility, 34 degree water
temperature and obstructions preclude other search methods.  The park is in
daily contact with H.B., the wife and mother of the victims, B.B.,
the father and grandfather, and J.H., Robert B.'s
sister.  H.B. and J.H. would like to thank all the National
Park Service people who have sent them cards and letters.  J.H. has
passed along the following: "When the entire world seemed black and desolate
in the wake of this tragedy and Helen and I were on the verge of despair as
we began to realize the enormity and permanence of our loss, cards and
letters began to arrive from National Park Service people from coast to coast
and places we had never heard of who were reaching out to help us in our
grief.  The cards just kept coming; we lost count at 75 and it must be well
over 100 in all.  We were overwhelmed with the outpouring of sentiment.  It
was a miracle for us and helped immeasurably to give us the strength to face
life without bob and those wonderful boys.  God bless each and every one of
you in the National Park Service."  The park would also like to add its
thanks for all those of you who took the time to write or send cc:Mail
messages of support in dealing with this tragedy.  The moral support was
greatly appreciated.  [John Benjamin, Superintendent, LAMR, 1/21]

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

Heavy, wet snow and rain caused a rock slide outside the park Monday evening
which closed Highway 140 west of El Portal.  Only emergency vehicles are
allowed through the slide zone until further notice.  Snow accumulation has
caused delays in blasting the "Cookie" rock slide on Highway 140 between
Yosemite Valley and El Portal, but road repairs and other cleanup operations
continue where possible.  Winter storm warnings have been posted for from one
to three feet of snow in the central Sierras, and precipitation is forecast
to continue periodically for the next six to ten days.  Winter weather (heavy
snow, downed trees and broken limbs) have caused recurring electrical power
failures at El Portal and Wawona, and it's expected that both areas will be
isolated for a time today because of falling trees and landslides. 
Contractors continue efforts to repair the damaged and leaking sewer line
paralleling the Merced River, but the sewer system remains inoperable.  As of
yesterday, the incident management team estimated that about 60 percent of
emergency stabilization tasks, 80 percent of damage assessments, and two
percent of needed rehabilitation work had been completed.  Everglades
superintendent Dick Ring, who went through Hurricane Andrew in his park, is
in Yosemite as an advisor to share his insights on the long-term effects of a
major natural event.  Four community gatherings were held in Yosemite Valley
and El Portal over Monday and Tuesday for employees and their spouses and
families.  Ring shared personal perspectives about the extent and duration of
disruptions to employees and families at Everglades after Hurricane Andrew
and offered some suggestions about coping strategies.  Weather permitting,
Congressman George Miller of California will tour the flood impacts today. 
The southern portion of the park at Wawona is slated to reopen to the public
at noon today, but the event will likely be postponed due to the weather.  A
total of 569 people are currently assigned to the incident - 522 NPS (197 at
El Portal and 352 in the valley), 33 USFS, two BLM, eleven CDF, and one USGS. 
[Amy Vanderbilt, IO, and Greg Stiles, Plans Chief, "Highwater '97A Incident",
YOSE, 1/21]

97-24 - Blue Ridge Parkway (North Carolina/Virginia) - Climbing Fatality

On the morning of January 19th, E.W. and S.H. were ice
climbing at Ice Rock near milepost 242.  Vertical cuts above and below the
parkway at this location remain shaded during winter months, and springs and
snow melt from above the road accumulate in thick ice deposits that flow
across the road and over a masonry retaining wall.  E.W. was ascending
from below the road; S.H. was on belay at the top of the cut at the edge of
the road, secured by two ice axes attached to the back of his harness by
webbing.  E.W. began to fall while climbing.  S.H. partially broke his
fall, and E.W. landed unharmed after free-falling between 15 and 20 feet. 
S.H.'s anchor failed, though, and he apparently was pulled to the precipice
by the weight of E.W.'s body.  S.H. was unable to arrest his slide and
plunged headfirst over the ice-covered wall, striking rock about 80 feet
below and 15 feet from E.W., then sliding another 75 feet down an ice-
covered scree slope before coming to rest.  Ranger Terry Morris responded,
but found no signs of life.  S.H. apparently died instantaneously.  When
interviewed later on, E.W. revealed that the pair had a total of three
days of ice climbing experience, including the day of the fatality.  [CRO,
BLRI, 1/20]

97-25 - Rock Creek Park (D.C.) - Oil Spill

On the afternoon of January 18th, a park neighbor reported a fuel odor
emanating from Soapstone Valley.  Investigation revealed that heating oil was
being discharged into Soapstone Creek.  Several local and federal agencies
responded, including NPS units.  The source of the leak was determined to be
an underground storage tank on the campus of the University of the District
of Columbia.  It's estimated that several thousand gallons of fuel oil leaked
into the surrounding soil and storm sewer which feeds the creek.  The
university accepted responsibility for the spill and hired a contractor to
perform cleanup activities.  Administrative or criminal enforcement action is
being considered; Park Police officers and rangers are conferring with the
EPA and FBI.  The university has been the source of at least three known
spills into park waters.  [Einar Olsen, CR, NCFA, 1/21]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Badlands NP (South Dakota) - Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep

Between 1991 and 1995, research on the population home range, habitat
utilization, demographics, foraging ecology, disease ecology, and genetics of
Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep was conducted in the park as part of an NRPP
bighorn sheep initiative.  In 1995, data from these studies was paired with a
GIS-based bighorn sheep habitat assessment.  This resulted in a management
decision to restore sheep to large areas of unoccupied but suitable habitat. 
The first translocation took place last October 12th, when a dozen ewes and
four young rams were net-gunned from the park's main herd by helicopter, then
radio-collared and transported by ground to a release site about 18 miles
from their original location.  By mid-November, the sheep shifted their
location about four miles west of the release site, where they have since
remained.  Courtship and breeding activity was documented for at least six
ewes during November, with mounts from the translocated young rams and from
at least four mature rams that travelled from the source population.  Despite
the onset of an early winter characterized by protracted snow cover and below
normal temperatures, all animals currently appear to be in good condition.  
Monitoring will continue to assess the viability of the new band, as well as
the effects on the source herd.  [Bruce Bessken, RMS, BADL, 1/20]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Field Operations Technical Support Center Response Capabilities - The Denver-
based Field Operations Technical Support Center (FOTSC) has provided
emergency response and other support to field areas that have been struck by
flooding and other storm-related damage this winter.  Parks needing their
assistance in emergencies or for routine operational needs can contact them
directly for support.  The main vehicle for this support is the Operations
Engineering Team, which is base funded and provides Servicewide support in
the management and operation of public utilities and wireless communications:

o Utilities - FOTSC utilities personnel have the authority and resources
to negotiate utility contracts (water, sewer, gas, electric and steam)
with public (commercial), municipal, governmental and private utility
companies.  This includes the installation, acquisition,
rehabilitation, modification, upgrade or retirement of public utility
services for park lands.  In addition, these personnel can negotiate
the sale of NPS-owned utility systems to public utility companies. 
Finally, they help ensure that compliance and policy issues are
satisfied.  Requests for support can be directed to Don Zieman at 303-
969-2085.

o Radio/wireless communications - FOTSC wireless communications personnel
act as the NPS liaison with the Department and are responsible for both
routine and emergency NPS radio operations.  They are also responsible
for the NPS transition to narrowband radios and the licensing of all
NPS radio frequencies and installations, and can provide technical
approval for siting commercial mobile service antennas on park lands
and for acquiring wireless equipment.  Request can be directed to Frank
Weed at 303-969-2084.

For additional information, contact Barry Hesker at 303-969-2082.  [John
Gingles, FMD/WASO]

MEMORANDA

"Ranger Advisory Group," signed on January 14th by Maureen Finnerty,
associate director for park operations and education, and sent to all field
directors.  The text follows:

"Based on the success of the Servicewide Maintenance Advisory Group (SMAC)
and with the concurrence of the National Leadership Council, we plan to form
a Servicewide advisory group for Ranger Activities.

"The primary function of the Ranger Advisory Group will be as an advocate for
improving ranger activities and services, to help provide direction on
Servicewide ranger issues, and to serve as a source of information,
communication and advice regarding ranger activities.

"This advisory group will consist of 16 members - two from each Field Area
plus the Chief and Deputy Chief of WASO Ranger Activities.

"We are seeking diversity in the advisory group's composition; diversity in
terms of work force, in terms of program complexity, in terms of background
and service, and in terms of grade level.

"We would like to receive three nominees for the Ranger Advisory Group from
each Field Area by February 15, 1997.  One of these nominees should be a
Chief Park Ranger, a second nominee a park manager with a background in
ranger activities, and the third nominee any ranger activities person from a
park, System Support Office, or Field Director's Office.  From those
nominees, we will select two individuals from each Field Area to serve on the
advisory group.  Please submit your nominees directly to WASO Ranger
Activities.

"We plan an initial meeting of the Ranger Advisory Group in the late spring
of 1997, at which time the group will elect a chair and vice chair and
determine its own operating procedures, communication and meeting dates and
times, and other organizational needs."

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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