NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Gila Cliff Dwellings NM
Severe Flooding Causes Damage, Closures
Heavy rains on the evening of Sunday, January 27th, and into the following morning led to the rapid melting of the snowpack in the Gila Wilderness, causing the West and Middle Forks of the Gila River to rise to the highest levels in over a decade. Flooding has isolated the park's cliff dwellings unit and washed away the approaches to the West Fork bridge. The visitor center and housing area are also currently isolated, with waters over the bridge at Little Creek just north of the village of Gila Hotsprings. The cliff dwellings unit will probably be closed for at least a month, as happened when the same bridge washed out in February of 2005, but it is hoped that the Little Creek bridge has not sustained significant damage and that Gila Visitor Center will be reopened in a couple of days. That determination was to be made after flood waters receded. Forest Service and NPS staff continue to work to evacuate a family trapped above the West Fork bridge at the Forest Service's Upper Scorpion campground. [Steve Riley, Superintendent]
Pacific West Region
Warrants And Subpoenas Issued In Operation Antiquity
On January 25th, federal agents from the NPS, IRS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) executed numerous search warrants and subpoenas at museums, galleries and residences in the Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco and Chicago areas. These actions are in support of Operation Antiquity, a more than five-year-long investigation by NPS, ICE, IRS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Operation Antiquity involves investigations of looting, importation, sale and tax fraud violations related to historical and cultural items from the U.S. and other countries. Nearly 500 law enforcement personnel participated in the warrant and subpoena service. The investigation continues. [Scott Hinson, Special Agent in Charge]
HYPERLINK "http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-museumprobe,0,6293537.story" http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-museumprobe,0,6293537.story
Yellowstone NP
Park Roads Temporarily Closed By Storm
Heavy snow and gusty winds associated with a major winter storm over the Northern Rockies created hazardous conditions yesterday which led to the temporary closure of most roads in Yellowstone National Park. The road between Gardiner, Montana, at the park's North Entrance and park headquarters at Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, was the only road open to travel yesterday afternoon. Blowing and drifting snow led to the temporary closure of the road between Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Junction, the Northeast Entrance and Cooke City, Montana, before 9 a.m. on Monday morning. This road is normally open to wheeled vehicles all year. Heavy snow along the park's East Entrance road prompted rangers to halt all oversnow travel across Sylvan Pass before 8 a.m. yesterday morning. Deteriorating conditions led park managers to close all other park roads and entrances to snowmobile and snowcoach travel by early afternoon. Up to 18 inches of new snow fell along the park's Grand Loop road over an 18-hour period. Snow depths at developed areas in the interior of the park ranged from three feet at Madison Junction to over five feet at Grant Village. Another six inches to two feet of snow were expected before the storm subsided. Gusty winds and decreasing temperatures are forecast on into Wednesday. The length of the temporary closures remains uncertain, as they are entirely dependent upon changing weather conditions. Park staff will reevaluate the status of each road segment this morning. The park anticipates a delayed, phased opening of road segments to begin no earlier than 10 a.m. Visitors are to call the park's 24-hour road condition report at 307-244-2117 for current updates before traveling to or within Yellowstone National Park. [Public Affairs]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external):
Fire and Aviation Management - The national Firewise communities program is calling for nominations for its annual awards, which recognize outstanding efforts to promote a cooperative approach to reducing the loss of lives, property, and resources in the wildland/urban interface.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6173" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6173
National Trails System - John Conoboy, chief of interpretation and resource management for the National Trails System office in Santa Fe, retired on January 3rd after 32 years with the NPS. Photo.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1816" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1816
Grand Teton NP - Bob Wemple will retire on January 31st after 30 years of working for the National Park Service, the last 17 years at Grand Teton National Park.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1817" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1817
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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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