- Subject: NPS Morning Report - Monday, March 2, 1998
- Date: Mon, 2 Mar 1998
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Monday, March 2, 1998
Broadcast: By 1000 ET
INCIDENTS
97-753 - Southwest SO (NM) - Follow-up on ARPA/NAGPRA Prosecution
A joint FBI, FWS and NPS investigation into Native American Graves Protection
and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) and other violations led to the April, 1996,
conviction of R.C. for dealing in sacred Navajo Yei masks. R.C.
subsequently appealed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the
conviction in July; he then sought review of the case by the Supreme Court.
Last week, the Supreme Court turned down his appeal. A number of the Yei's
have been returned to the Navajo nation, but the FBI still has many objects
that will be made available for repatriation. The NPS will be assisting in
that process. [Phil Young, SA, SWSO, 3/1]
98-56 - Parks Servicewide - Follow-up on El Nino Winter Storm Impacts
Reports have been received from two parks that have suffered serious impacts
from the storms of the last two months:
Death Valley NP (CA) - The storms that struck Death Valley in February
dropped a year-to-date total of 2.40 inches on the park - considerably
more than the average annual rainfall of 1.85 inches. On February
24th, portions of a three-quarter mile section of park Route 8 were
undercut and washed away in Emigrant Canyon. The route has been closed
to vehicle traffic, and regional assistance has been requested. It's
estimated that it may take up to six months to repair and reopen the
road to the public. Access to Skidoo and Aguereberry Point will be
possible by coming south through Wildrose, but through traffic will not
be permitted. On the positive side, the above-average rainfall has
produced the most impressive display of wildflowers the park has had
since 1973.
Pinnacles NM (CA) - The incident command center closed on February
22nd. The park's temporary headquarters is now at Chalone Creek in a
vacant residence trailer. All park residents have returned home, but
the chief ranger and superintendent are living in houses without water
and the superintendent's house is without heat. The park remains
closed to visitors and will probably not reopen until late March or
early April. State highways on both sides of the park are still closed
and awaiting repairs. FHA plans to remove the destroyed bridge over
Chalone Creek and begin installing a temporary bridge this week.
Particular attention will be paid to avoiding impacts to the endangered
California red-legged frog populations at the bridge site. A temporary
water line is also being installed to serve the Bear Gulch developed
area. Clean-up and damage assessments are continuing. Assistance has
been received from Yosemite, the regional office, the system support
office and Denver Service Center. Damage and emergency response costs
have been placed at $1.92 million; costs to replace the bridge will add
another $1.16 million. This is the third major flood in the park in
two decades. The park is accordingly developing plans to relocate
facilities from vulnerable streambed locations as part of the recovery
package.
Reports from other parks that have also been significantly affected by these
storms would be appreciated. [Scot McElveen, Acting CR, DEVA, 2/26; Gary
Candelaria, Superintendent, PINN, 2/27]
98-82 - Yosemite NP (CA) - MVA and Rescue
Just before midnight on February 20th, snow plow operators discovered tire
tracks leading to a break in the snow berm on the Wawona Road. They stopped
to check, and saw vehicle lights about 100 feet below on the very steep,
snow-covered hillside. Emergency crews were dispatched and found a
critically injured 71-year-old man inside. He was suffering from major chest
trauma, including a tension pneumothorax. The man was stabilized, extricated
from the vehicle, and raised in a litter to the road. More than 20 people,
an engine company, two rescue trucks and a paramedic ambulance were involved
in the rescue. The victim was taken by ambulance to the park clinic, then
flown to Modesto, where he is currently recovering from his injuries. The
accident evidently occurred because the man fell asleep at the wheel. [John
Stobinski, IC, YOSE, 2/27]
98-83 - Rock Creek Park (DC) - Sexual Assault/Kidnapping Conviction
On February 25th, I.E. of Silver Spring, Maryland, was found guilty in
superior court of first degree sexual abuse and kidnapping for a May 24,
1996, assault on a 23-year-old female in Rock Creek Park. I.E. was arrested
by Park Police detectives on March 5, 1997, following an extensive
investigation. I.E. faces a sentence of from 30 years to life. Sentencing
is scheduled for April 17th. [Bill Lynch, RLES, NCRO, 2/27]
98-84 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ) - Assist to Agency
While heading home form work on the afternoon of February 25th, cash clerk
supervisor Joel Schwartz spotted smoke coming from around the front door and
windows of a home in the borough of Delaware Water Gap. Schwartz summoned
assistance from the borough's volunteer fire company through park dispatch.
At that point, flames broke through the wall next to the front door.
Schwartz checked the other side of the two-family house and found no one at
home; the building's owner appeared on scene and attempted to enter the
structure, but Schwartz convinced him to stay outside. When the fire company
arrived, Schwartz, who is a retired fire chief and carries turnout gear in
his vehicle, assisted in suppressing the blaze. Damage was kept to a minimum
and there were no injuries. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA,
2/27]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Cape Lookout NS (NC) - Horse Roundup
The park's third feral horse roundup began on Shackelford Banks on March 1st.
The roundup is being conducted to check the herd for equine infectious anemia
(EIA). In the roundups conducted in each of the last two years, 81 horses
tested positive for EIA. The roundup is being conducted in conjunction with
the North Carolina Department of Agriculture's veterinary division. The herd
on the island currently numbers 110 horses. [Laurie Heupel, Education
Specialist, CALO, 2/26]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No entries.
MEMORANDA
No entries.
EXCHANGE
No entries.
MEETINGS, CONFERENCES AND EVENTS CALENDAR
Two calendars alternate in the Morning Report on Mondays - this one, which
contains meetings, conferences and events, and a second, which contains
workshops and training courses. If you know of a conference, meeting,
workshop or training session with Servicewide interest and implications,
please send the information along. Entries are listed no earlier than FOUR
months before the event, EXCEPT in instances in which registration dates
close much earlier. Asterisks indicate new entries; brackets at end of entry
indicate source of information. Brevity is appreciated.
3/12-14 Meeting: Restoration Exhibit and Conference
Location: Boston, MA
Details: ---
Contact: EGI Exhibitions, 129 Park Street, North Reading, MA
01864
Phone/fax: 508-664-6455; ---
E-mail: egiexhib.com
Submitter: Diane Vogt O'Connor, DCA/WASO
3/15-19 Meeting: 1998 Biennial Convention, Conference of National Park
Service Cooperating Associations
Location: ---
Details: NPS employees who are involved with cooperating
association operations will benefit from this
conference.
Contact: Glenn Clark or CNPCA
Phone/fax: Clark: 202-565-1058, CNPCA: 410-647-9001; CNPCA: 410-647-9003
E-mail: ---
Submitter: Joyce Howe, STMA
3/19-21 Meeting: Washington and DuBois at the Turn of Two Centuries
Location: Roanoke, VA
Details: The symposium will focus on Booker T. Washington and
W.E.B. DuBois, their historical context, their
thoughts, and the meaning of their legacies for
America. Keynote speaker Julian Bond will head the
program for academic and public historians,
educators, students and NPS professionals interested
in the lives of these two men and their impacts on
race issues in the U.S. today.
Contact: Organization of American Historians, Washington/
DuBoise Symposium, 112 North Bryan Street,
Bloomington, IN 47408-4199
Phone/fax: 812-855-7345; ---
E-mail: john@oah.indiana.edu
Submitter: Rebecca Harriett, BOWA
3/20-24 Meeting: 63rd North American Wildlife and Natural Resources
Conference
Location: Orlando, FL
Details: ---
Contact: LL Williamson, Wildlife Management Institute
Phone/fax: 202-371-1808; ---
E-mail: ---
Submitter: Sheila Lee, WASO
3/22-27 Meeting: African-Americans from Slavery to Contemporary Times
Location: New Orleans, LA
Details: This combined public conference and NPS training
session will provide an overview of the American
experience, starting with slavery and concluding with
diverse African-American cultures now associated with
national parks.
Contact: The Learning Place bulletin board, or Mary Robinson
Phone/fax: 304-535-6732; ---
E-mail: ---
Submitter: Joyce Howe, STMA
4/18-25 Meeting: NPCA's March for Parks
Location: ---
Details: The annual event brackets Earth Day, April 22nd.
Contact: March for Parks
Phone/fax: 800-628-7275 x 236; ---
E-mail: mrchpark@aol.com
Submitter: Sheila Lee, WASO
4/19-24 Meeting: Eleventh International Conference on Bear Research
and Management
Location: Gatlinburg, TN
Details: The International Association for Bear Research and
Management, a non-profit organization open to
professional biologists, wildlife managers and others
interested in the conservation of bear species
worldwide, holds a triennial international conference
on all aspects of bear biology, ecology and
management.
Contact: Dr. Michael Pelton, University of Tennessee
Phone/fax: 423-974-7126; ---
E-mail: ---
Submitter: Bill Stiver, GRSM
4/23-25* Meeting: Guadalupe Mountain Symposium: Celebrating 25 Years of
Cultural and Natural Resource Stewardship in
Guadalupe Mountains NP
Location: Pecos River Village and Conference Center, Carlsbad,
NM, and GUMO
Details: Two-day forum of oral presentations and poster
displays followed by a day of field trips focusing on
past and current research and resource management
contributions to the park, including presentations on
archeology, ethnography, history, historic
preservation, air and water quality, sociology, fire
ecology, geology, paleontology, plant and wildlife
ecology. Registration is $60 by April 6th; includes
receptions, lunches, dinner, proceedings.
Contact: Ann Watson (registration); Fred Armstrong (program);
Jan Wobbenhorst (chair)
Phone/fax: 915-828-3251 x101 (Ann), x132 (Fred), x102 (Jan)
E-mail: Each is on cc:Mail by name.
Submitter: Fred Armstrong, GUMO
4/27-28* Meeting: National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council Annual
Planning Meeting
Location: Bismarck, ND
Details: ---
Contact: ---
Phone/fax: 913-684-2749
E-mail: ---
Submitter: Sheila Lee, WASO
4/29-5/3 Meeting: "Rivers: The Future Frontier," Biennial Conference,
River Management Society (in conjunction with NRPA)
Location: Captain Cook Hotel, Anchorage, AK
Details: Topics will include wild and scenic river management,
river science, power boats, commercial trail
management, watersheds management, river restoration,
river education, river use education, and
citizen/public participation. Also workshops on
grant writing, the "Leave No Trace" program, and
other related topics. Celebration of the 30th
anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
Registration is $195 before March 30th, $225
thereafter.
Contact: Logistics, LLC
Phone/fax: 907-276-6060; 907-276-6061
E-mail: www.servcom.com/arpa
www.river-management.org
rms@igc.apc.org
Submitter: Jack Mosby, ARO
5/3-6* Meeting: National Conference on Environmental Decision- Making
Location: Knoxville, TN
Details: ---
Contact: National Center for Environmental Decision-making
Research, University of Tennessee Conference Center
Phone/fax: 423-974-0280; ---
E-mail: conference@gateway.ce.utk.edu
Submitter: Sheila Lee, WASO
* * * * *
Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
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pertaining to receipt of 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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