NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, August 13, 2009

NOTICE

Hawaii Volcanoes NP

Tropical Storm Felicia Breezes By With Few Impacts

The tropical storm watch issued for all Hawaiian Islands was discontinued on Tuesday as Felicia's winds diminished and it passed through the area with few impacts. All backcountry trails and campsites within Hawai'i Volcanoes - closed Sunday due to the storm threat - reopened late on Tuesday morning. Volunteers returned to coastal beaches to resume round-the-clock monitoring of nesting endangered Hawksbill turtles. The surf was the only thing that developed on Hawai‘i Island, but not at the predicted heights and no damage was sustained. Felicia was a good "drill" for the park and its employees, a reminder that hurricane season in Hawai‘i continues through November 30th. The National Weather Service is tracking several more systems in the eastern Pacific that may turn into tropical cyclones. [Mardie Lane, Public Affairs Officer, and Talmadge Magno, Chief Ranger]

Sequoia-Kings Canyon NP

Significant Marijuana Plantation Eradicated

On Wednesday, August 5th, Sequoia/Kings Canyon rangers, a Pacific West Region special agent and a Yosemite ranger raided a marijuana plantation located near the northwest boundary of Sequoia National Park at an elevation of 6,000 feet. This grow site was the highest in elevation raided within Sequoia National Park to date. The tactical team was inserted near the site via short haul. The growers established this site in extremely steep terrain, causing a severe amount of damage to the area. Ninety-five percent of the trash, hoses, hazmat and plant materials brought into the site, weighing approximately 1,000 pounds, was flown out by helicopter at the end of the day. As a result of the raid, more than 3,500 plants were seized with an estimated street value of more than $14,000,000. An investigation is underway. [Adrienne Freeman, Public Affairs Officer]

Lake Mead NRA

Search For Drowning Victim Suspended

The park has suspended dive operations in the search for G.E., 50, of Lawndale, California, who drowned Sunday afternoon near Eighty-Three Dollar Cove in Lake Mohave. Park rangers will continue to make a daily search of the area by boat. G.E. drowned near the mid-channel of the lake, where water depths range from 90 to 110 feet. Bullhead City Fire Department divers dove where he was last seen on Sunday, and Bullhead City Police Department divers dove on Monday without success. A search of the area was also made employing an underwater camera and sonar. According to witnesses, G.E. jumped into the water to retrieve a lost hat. He went underwater and has not been seen since. He wasn't wearing a life jacket. [Andrew S. Muñoz, Public Affairs Officer]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. The first story on the list is the lead story.

National Natural Landmarks Program - Help select the winners of the sixth annual NNL photo contest by voting for your favorite photographs of National Natural Landmark sites. Photo.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=8042" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=8042

Midwest Region - Jennifer A. Pederson Weinberger, currently chief of resource management at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, has been selected as the park's new superintendent. Photo.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2439" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2439

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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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