NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

INCIDENTS

Chiricahua NM

Park Remains Open Despite Water System Shutdown

At noon on March 15th, visitors reported water pooling on Bonita Canyon Road near the park's campground. Maintenance crews responded and found a substantial leak in the main park water line that was threatening to undermine the road. In order to preserve the roadbed but still provide minimal water to park residents and visitors, all water at the park was shut off, then intermittently cycled on and off until being entirely shut down at 8 p.m. Spring is the busiest time at Chiricahua - the campground is usually full all week and day use visitation is very high. Portable toilets were put in place that evening so that the campground would not need to be evacuated. On March 16th, the leak was traced to the underground shutoff valve to the campground and repairs were begun. Non-potable water was restored to all facilities by March 17th. Visitors and residents continued drinking potable water brought in by a private contractor. The campgrounds remained open and no visitors had to be turned away because of the water system shutdown. Potable drinking water from the park's water system was restored on March 20th after water samples from the system returned as “safe to drink.” The park managed the incident using ICS principles; Larry Ludwig was incident commander. [Keith Flanery]

Golden Gate NRA

Investigation Underway Into Death On Park Beach

The park's communications center received a call from a man around 10 a.m. on March 19th reporting a body lying face down in the dunes at Ocean Beach. Park Police officers and Golden Gate rangers responded along with the city fire department units. When a USPP officer arrived on scene, he found several city medics performing CPR on a middle-aged man. They were not successful, and the man was declared dead. Detective Lawrence Morales led the ensuing investigation. No observable trauma was found on the man, but several bottles of prescription drugs and alcohol were found in the area and there was a letter with his belongings. A ranger assisting with the investigation found that there was an outstanding $10,000 warrant from San Francisco PD out against the reporting party, who was placed under arrest. The investigation into the death is continuing. [Lt. Constance Leonard, San Francisco Field Office]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:

Fort Sumter NM - A new exhibit on the international slave trade called “African Passages” opened in the Fort Moultrie Visitor Center this past Sunday. The fort is on Sullivan's Island, which was used as a quarantine station during the time when Charleston was the main port of entry for captive Africans into North America.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7469" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7469

Fire and Aviation Management - A memorandum has been issued providing the NPS with specific direction and information on how to implement the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's medical standards program transition plan during the transition between medical services contract providers.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7473" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7473

Bryce Canyon NP - Ranger Bryan Adams has received an exemplary act award for saving a life while he was employed at Badlands National Park.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2275" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2275

Denver Service Center - Samantha Richardson is rejoining DSC as the public affairs specialist within the Information Management Division. Samantha previously worked for the Service Center for almost five years, leaving in 2007.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2271" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2271

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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363

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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