NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, May 14, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

                            *** NOTICE ***

All flags are to lowered to half staff tomorrow morning in recognition of
Peace Officers Memorial Day as a special tribute to the more than 14,000 law
enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.  Flags will return to
full staff on Friday morning.

INCIDENTS

97-194 - Canyonlands NP (Utah) - High Water Incident

The park has implemented its high water incident action plan, which goes into
effect whenever flows in Cataract Canyon exceed 50,000 cubic feet per second
(cfs), making passage down the river hazardous.  The Colorado is currently
flowing at 45,000 cfs and rising at a rate of 2,000 to 3,000 cfs per day. 
The Colorado River Basin Forecast Center yesterday released an updated flow
forecast which projects a 90% probability that the flow through Cataract
Canyon will exceed 54,000 cfs and a 75% probability that it will exceed
63,500 cfs.  When flow levels reach 55,000 cfs, a phenomena known as the "Red
Wall" emerges in the Big Drop Two section of the canyon.  The Red Wall is a
riverwide, lateral standing wave which is up to 30 feet tall and haystacks in
the middle.  The second whitewater patrol of this episode of high water was
launched yesterday; these four-day patrols will be initiated weekly.  Search
and rescue resources will be pre-positioned at a site just downstream from
the Red Wall by this weekend.  The camp will be staffed continually through
high flow periods.  The incident is being managed under ICS.  [Paul
Henderson, PIO, CANY, 5/13]

97-195 - Canyonlands NP (Utah) - Hiking Fatality

On May 9th, M.C., 46, and Jim Essler were hiking in the Upper Salt
Creek section of the park when M.C. complained of feeling tired and
nauseous.  Shortly thereafter, he collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. 
Essler initiated CPR immediately, but discontinued efforts after 20 minutes
in order to seek help.  After hiking for two hours, Essler came upon another
hiker, who ran out of the backcountry to report the incident.  Rangers from
Canyonlands and Arches were conducting a mock technical rescue at the time of
the report and were flown in to the site.  M.C. did not survive.  He had no
known history of heart problems.  [David White, CANY, 5/12]

97-196 - National Capital Parks Central (D.C.) - Special Event

On May 12th, the annual candlelight vigil was held at the National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington.  National Park Service
protection rangers and U.S. Park Police officers assisted organizers with
management of the event, which was attended by approximately 7,000 people,
including law enforcement officers from across the country.  The name of
seasonal park ranger Michael Beaulieu of Bryce Canyon NP, who was killed in a
motor vehicle accident while on patrol in the park last summer, was added to
the names of officers who have died in the line of duty that are inscribed on
the memorial's wall.  Among those names are those of 22 NPS rangers and USPP
officers.  [Einar Olsen, RCR, NCRO, 5/13]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

The preparedness level has gone up one step.  Preparedness Level II goes into
effect when the following conditions are met: One geographic area
experiencing high fire danger.  Numerous Class A, B, and C fires occurring
and a potential exists for escapes to larger (project) fires.  Minimal
mobilization of resources from other geographic areas occurring.  The
potential exists for mobilizing additional resources from other geographic
areas. 

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                    Mon      Tue    %   Est
State      Unit              Fire/Incident   IMT    5/12     5/13  Con  Con

UT   State                 * Cogswell          -       -    1,200    5  5/15
     Cedar City District   * Kolob Creek       -       -      115    0  5/17

NV   Winnemucca District   * Tolbert           -       -      500   40  5/14

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; LPS = limited
                protection status

NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FIVE DAY TREND) 

                    NPS    BIA      BLM     FWS    States   USFS     Total

Friday, 5/9          1      2         2       3       50     16        74
Saturday, 5/10       2      1         1       0        0     17        21
Sunday, 5/11         1      2         0       0       32     29        64
Monday, 5/12         0      9        11       1      179     37       237
Tuesday, 5/13        1      5         1       0      171     13       191

TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FIVE DAY TREND) 

                  Crews     Engines    Helicopters    Airtankers   Overhead

Friday, 5/9          3         25           4             1             0
Saturday, 5/10      26          7           4             0             0
Sunday, 5/11        17         27           5             1            53
Monday, 5/12        15         43           8             1            14
Tuesday, 5/13       30         69           8             2            31

CURRENT SITUATION

Large fire activity continued yesterday in the Great Basin, necessitating
mobilization of helicopters and crews through NICC.

NATIONAL OUTLOOK

No fire weather warnings or watches posted.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Reports, 5/14]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES


No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

EXCHANGE

Outdoor Classrooms - The staff at American Memorial Park is seeking ideas for
a simple outdoor classroom.  They have an area of about 250 square feet to
accommodate benches for seating about 30 elementary school students.  The
site is on the edge of a wetland and mangrove forest next to a Japanese
bunker from WWII, sheltered by a pandanus and casuarina canopy and frequented
by golden white-eyes, fantails and kingfishers.  The site is ideal for
natural and cultural history programs.  If you can help, please contact
Kimberly Uyehara via Internet at amme.admin@saipan.com or at 670-234-7207
(phone) or 670-234-6698 (fax).

                                *  *  *  *  *

Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
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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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