Lake Mead National Recreation Area (AZ,NV)
Conviction for Theft of Mesquite
On January 11th, a Lake Mead ranger saw a truck exiting a road that
accesses the park adjacent to the town of Overton with a bed full of cut
wood. The area had recently been the site of mesquite theft and is hit
annually. The operator of the truck, R.M., took rangers back to
the area where he'd harvested the mesquite, which was found to be within
the park. R.M. also admitted to cutting and removing a truck load of
mesquite from the same location several weeks previously. A resource
damage assessment was conducted by Lake Mead resources management
personnel with assistance from an independent arborist. They estimated
the live mesquite value at $12,000. R.M. recently pled guilty to
removing and possessing mesquite wood and was ordered to pay $5,000 in
restitution to the park.
[Submitted by Talmadge Magno, Northshore
District Ranger]
Glacier National Park
Three Arrested for Poaching Mushrooms
Three men — C.E., 34, M.K., 43 and K.K.,
18 — were apprehended by rangers on Monday, May 10th, while in the
act of illegally harvesting morel mushrooms in the Fish Creek area of
the park. The men were each cited and released, and about 13 pounds of
morels were confiscated. C.E. and M.K. were also cited for
illegal possession of loaded weapons. Each citation carries up to a
maximum fine of $5,000 and/or six months in jail or both. In 2003, large
wildfires burned about 136,000 aces within the park, creating excellent
conditions for morels and attracting commercial harvesters. The park has
been working to educate the public on the importance of leaving them in
place. Mushrooms provide an important seasonal food source to park
wildlife, including grizzly bears, black bears, white-tailed deer, mule
deer, elk, moose, red squirrels, ground squirrels, other rodents, and a
wide variety of insects. Many species of birds are drawn to recent burns
to nest and feed on insects and seeds; some birds are dependent on
recent burns. Many trees and other plants are dependent on mushrooms, as
they help provide water and nutrients through their underground
mycelium. The mushrooms and the spores they produce are also essential
for reproduction of new mushrooms; mushroom nutrients not consumed by
park wildlife return to the soil.
[Submitted by Amy Vanderbilt,
Public Affairs]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Interagency Fire Center
NIFC Situation Report — Friday, May 14, 2004
Preparedness Level 1
Ninety-eight new fires were reported yesterday, only one of which escaped initial attack.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas.
Warnings and Watches
No warnings or watches issued for today.
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
Sat |
Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
Fri |
|
Date |
5/8 |
5/9 |
5/10 |
5/11 |
5/12 |
5/13 |
5/14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Crews |
84 |
87 |
23 |
39 |
3 |
1 |
36 |
|
Engines |
199 |
163 |
79 |
146 |
30 |
18 |
22 |
|
Helicopters |
23 |
22 |
19 |
15 |
8 |
4 |
14 |
|
Air Tankers |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Overhead |
436 |
314 |
254 |
277 |
61 |
55 |
109 |
National Team Commitments
No national teams committed.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Training and Employee Development
2005 Albright-Wirth Grant Progam Announcement
The Albright-Wirth Employee Development Fund is a grant honoring two former National Park Service Directors for whom it is named. Each year the Fund provides financial awards to permanent qualifying employees in all career fields, grade levels and geographic locations. The Capital Training Center, in partnership with the National Park Foundation, administers the Albright-Wirth Grant Program. Established in 1987, Albright-Wirth Grants underwrite the professional development and skills training of National Park Service employees. Grants are awarded annually through a self-nominating process. This Fund provides qualifying members of the workforce the opportunity to renew their personal commitment to job performance excellence, acquire or enhance new competencies, further educational pursuits, design new mechanisms, or participate in developmental opportunities. All competency-based, mission-related, learning experiences are considered for funding.
See the Word document for additional information and the application procedures.
[Submitted by Victoria Clarke/Katrina Fritts, 202-354-1403] More Information...
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.